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'Elder Scrolls: Legends' may skip PS4 due to cross-play ban
Sony's ban on cross-play for PS4 titles may create more than just inconveniences for some gamers. Bethesda's senior global marketing VP Pete Hines told Game Informer in an interview that the console version of The Elder Scrolls: Legends won't launch on any system that doesn't support cross-play -- in other words, it would skip the PS4. The card battling title revolves around an experience you can carry from device to device, Hines said, and it would be unacceptable to have one version walled off from everything else. The feature is "essentially non-negotiable," the executive said.
'Fortnite' for Switch doesn't support PlayStation-linked accounts
If you're like many gamers, you rushed to download Fortnite for Switch as soon as it came out -- finally, console-quality battle royale on the road! You may be in for a crushing disappointment if you play on PS4, though. Players have discovered that the Switch version of Fortnite dosn't let you sign in with an Epic Games account linked to PSN, while Switch-first players can't sign in to the PS4 version. Sony's ban on cross-console play appears to be the likely reason, but it's particularly irksome here as this doesn't involve gameplay -- Sony won't even let you carry progress over to a competing product.
Windows Store 'CoD' buyers can't play with Steam friends
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered have come to the Windows 10 Store, but you may want to think twice about buying the games there. According to Activision, those versions don't support console cross-play, and won't even work with versions on other PC platforms like Steam. In other words, you'll only be able to play with other Windows 10 Store buyers and not the millions of players who bought the game elsewhere. They aren't part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program either, meaning you'll be stuck with the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version on Windows 10.
Sony to refund Vita customers in FTC settlement over false ads
Sony Computer Entertainment America has settled with the FTC over charges that it produced false and misleading advertisement during the Vita's launch campaign from late 2011 to early 2012. Sony will provide refunds to Vita customers who purchased the device before June 1, 2012 – either a $25 cash or credit refund, or a $50 voucher for select games and services. Sony will email eligible customers after the settlement is finalized. The FTC alleges that some of Sony's claims about the Vita were misleading, including that the Vita "would revolutionize gaming mobility" by enabling remote play and cross-platform play with the PS3, allowing players to start a game on PS3 and finish it on Vita. Sony is barred from similar advertising practices in the future. The FTC alleges the following: "Sony claimed, for example, that PS Vita users could pause any PS3 game at any time and continue to play the game on their PS Vita from where they left off. This feature, however, was only available for a few PS3 games, and the pause-and-save capability described in the ads varied significantly from game to game.... Sony's PS Vita ads falsely implied that consumers who owned the 3G version of the device (which cost an extra $50 plus monthly fees) could engage in live, multi-player gaming through a 3G network. In fact, consumers could not engage in live, multiplayer gaming.... In reality, most PS3 games were not remote playable on the PS Vita."
Terraria hits PS4 on Tuesday - can you dig it?
The PlayStation 4 version of 2D exploration/sandbox game Terraria will surface on November 11, according to a new post on the PlayStation Blog. According to publisher 505 Games, the PS4 version is almost three times as large as the PS3 version, featuring more than 1,000 new items. The PS4 version will also feature a "pinch to zoom" feature using the DualShock 4's touchpad so players can zoom out and see the world of Terraria on a different scale, as well as a bevvy of other improvements. Perhaps the best news for intrepid pixelated prospectors however is that the PS4 version of Terraria will be cross-play compatible, so you'll be able to join up with likeminded players on PS3 and PS Vita. To that end, 505 Games is also bundling a free copy of the Vita version with a new purchase of the PS4 version for a limited time. [Image: 505 Games]
Co-op shooter Helldivers drops this summer on Sony systems
As the weather clears up, we tend to break out our list of items well-suited for summer. Namely, we like to cruise in drop-tops and play top-down shooters once the sun is out and the temperature rises, and a recent PlayStation Blog post noted that Arrowhead's Helldivers will be one of those two to toy with in the sun (as a game, not a car). The multiplayer-focused, twin-stick action game will debut this summer for PS4, PS3 and Vita after it was first announced at Gamescom in August. Players on those three systems can come together in online cooperative missions to tear apart procedurally-generated levels thanks to its Cross-Save and Cross-Play support. Arrowhead locked in friendly fire for Helldivers however, so the term "cooperative" gets an extra point of emphasis for the game. There's still no word on whether Helldivers will be Cross-Buy-eligible, though. [Image: Arrowhead Game Studios]
Dragon's Crown gets Vita, PS3 cross-play in Japan [Update: North America too!]
Japanese Vita and PS3 players can now buddy up in Dragon's Crown, after Vanillaware added cross-play between the two platforms. The update looks to be restricted to Japan at the mo, so we've reached out to Atlus to see if it's headed for North America. Cross-play for Dragon's Crown also came to Europe ... except it didn't, really. Just after Atlus' announcement about Japan we received a letter of apology from NIS America, the company that brought the game to PAL regions earlier this month. We'll let the letter do the talking, as written by Marketing Manager Ryan Phillips. "We wanted to let you know that there has been a printing error with the initial run of the PS Vita retail packaging for Dragon's Crown in the European/Australian regions. The back of the packaging indicates that the game supports Cross-platform Play with the PlayStation®3 console. However, this information is incorrect. The game supports cross-save functionality only. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this printing error may cause." For the record, NIS America didn't have any news to share with us about European or Australian versions getting the cross-play update. We suspect Atlus' announcement came as something of a surprise. Update: Atlus has confirmed that the update will come to North America as well, clarifying that cross-play compatibility is being added for both cooperative and competitive modes. The publisher said it is "releasing the patch very soon, it's in our offices for testing." Update 2: Sure enough, NIS America get back in touch to let us know the cross-play patch is coming to Europe "in the upcoming months."
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault launches for PS Vita next week
The once-delayed PlayStation Vita version of Insomniac's hybrid tower defense-action game Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault will launch next week as a downloadable PlayStation Network title in North America and Europe. Full Frontal Assault was originally released as a retail and downloadable PlayStation 3 title back in November, boasting cross-play features with a Vita edition that was subsequently hit with a series of delays. Buyers of the retail version of Full Frontal Assault – and its renamed European counterpart Ratchet & Clank: QForce – will be able to download the Vita edition for free starting May 21 in North America and May 22 in Europe by accessing the game's "Disc Benefits" option. Those who purchased Full Frontal Assault's retail edition will also receive an additional bonus after redeeming the PS Vita version when it launches next week. Ratchet Deadlocked HD, an Idol Minds-developed PlayStation 3 port of the fourth PS2 entry in the Ratchet & Clank series, will be available as a free download for Full Frontal Assault buyers when it launches in the PlayStation Store. A release date for Deadlocked HD (also known as Ratchet: Gladiator in Europe) has not been announced.
Origin officially launches on Mac
Origin has had an alpha client on Mac since back in September, and today the service officially launches. Origin features on Mac are pretty much the same as on PC – you can upload saves to the cloud, interact with friends and the community through Origin's social feeds and, uh, play games.Select EA games that are compatible on both Mac and PC will also support cross-platform play – if you purchased a game on PC and it's also compatible with Mac, you also get access to that. Sound familiar?EA launched its digital distribution platform Origin in the summer of 2011. During its first year, the service garnered 12 million downloads and signed 50 publishing partners. As of October 2012, Origin has accrued 30 million registered players, 4.4 million of whom have forked over cash for content.
Dead or Alive 5 Plus to support Cross Play, Cross Buy DLC
Dead or Alive 5 Plus for the PlayStation Vita will not only allow players to challenge PlayStation 3 owners during online play, but also save a bundle on their provocative-costume bill. Well, in-game at least.Team Ninja's coming portable adaptation of last September's Dead or Alive 5 will support both Cross Play and Cross Buy functionality, according to Siliconera's translation of Famitsu. Like other Cross Play enabled titles, Vita owners will be able to challenge people playing the PlayStation 3 original when battling online. Likewise, any DLC purchased on either system will automatically be applied to the other, meaning that the PS3's limited edition/pre-order costumes will appear on the Vita, and vice-versa.
Cross-link, more alternate costumes announced for Street Fighter X Tekken
Capcom Producer Tomoaki Ayano recapped announcements from New York Comic Con, including "cross-link" features for Street Fighter X Tekken in a Capcom Unity blog. The feature allows players to use their PlayStation Vita consoles as controllers for the PS3 version of the game.Ayano also noted an October 30 release date for alternate costumes for Street Fighter X Tekken and a mid-December release window for the next "hefty" game update. The update will include character balance fixes, such as tweaked anti-air abilities for Tekken characters, in addition to several visual effects changes.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time hits PS3, PS Vita and PSN on Feb. 5
Nothing is quite as adept at stealing your precious free time like video games. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is making a grab for your life minutes when it launches on February 5, simultaneously on the PS Vita and PS3.Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will also be available as a PSN download on February 5 – purchasing the PS3 version through retailers or PSN will automatically give you the PS Vita version free, and both are cross-play compatible, the PlayStation Blog reports.Our brothers and sisters across the pond will need to wait a little longer for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. It will launch in Europe sometime in March across both PS3 and PS Vita, and the PSN version will also be available there day-and-date with the boxed retail versions. Ain't technology grand?
Sony demos Cross-Play, announces Cross-Controller DLC for Vita and PS3
One of the things we can look forward to in the coming year from Sony is some some lovely cross-platform content that makes the worlds of the PS Vita and PS3 just a bit more tightly integrated. Games like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale will allow players to compete against each other, regardless of which Sony console they're using. The so-called cross-play functionality isn't limited to live play either, some games (including the aforementioned PS All-Stars) will allow you to save your game on one and pick up where you left off on the other. There will also be new downloadable content that will span Sony's home and portable consoles. The cross-controller DLC will come first to Little Big Planet 2, which will let you use your Vita to actually create levels on the PS3. Sadly Sony wouldn't divulge too many more details, but we can expect Battle Royale to hit shelves this holiday season. We guess this multi-screen entertainment thing is really going to take off this year.
Let Sony sell you on the PlayStation Vita
We've talked about Sony's new handheld plenty, but we're not a pair of slickly-produced CG commercials now, are we? If anybody's going to give you the straight dope on the PlayStation Vita, it's surely the good people at Sony.