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Disney Infinity 2.0 swings to Vita in May with special Spider-Man
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes will arrive on PlayStation Vita in May 2015, Avalanche Software tweeted over the weekend. The Vita version of Disney's latest sandbox game will feature Black Suit Spider-Man, which VP of Production John Vignocchi noted will be exclusive to the Vita's starter pack for the game. The pack will come with a Bluetooth-enabled base and will be compatible with PlayStation TV. The Vita version will be about eight months late to the party, as Disney Infinity 2.0 first launched in September for a number of other platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. Disney issued the game as a stand-alone download for returning players last month and confirmed Disney Infinity 2.0 for Vita in June. While Disney Interactive laid off roughly a quarter of its staff in March, the division posted $116 million in annual operating profit in November. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Infinity takes Interactive division into profit and beyond
Disney Interactive posted $116 million in annual operating profit, which is the first time Disney's gaming arm has made a yearly gain under its current setup. The figure represents the division's profit for the fiscal year that ended September 27, 2014, underlining the impact of Disney Infinity and its array of collectible figures since launching in August 2013. It's not all been plain sailing for Disney Interactive this year, after the division reportedly laid off around 700 employees in March 2014, roughly a quarter of its staff. Disney Interactive President James Pitaro said at the time, "These are large-scale changes as we focus not just on getting to profitability but sustained profitability and scalability." A month later, Pitaro revealed Disney Infinity had notched 3 million starter pack sales and an estimated $500 million in revenue. The game's follow-up, Disney Infinity: 2.0 Edition, launched with a Marvel-boosted line-up in mid-September. In its financial statement, Disney said the sequel's shorter window ahead of the fiscal results "partially offset" the Interactive division's Q4 profit of $18 million, which was still up from the previous year's figure of $16 million.
New Nintendo eShop releases: It's raining nintendogs + cats
Among all the big games Nintendo chucks at the Q4 window is the weekly eShop cluster grenade, ready to spread just about everything across your Wii U and 3DS. This week there's plenty of stuff to pick and mix, from platform-puzzler The Swapper where you can create clones of yourself and swap (ah!) between them, to the GBA Super Mario Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 2 which also features a Mario Bros. remake. Or you could garden-gander at Shigeru Miyamoto's Pikmin Short Movies animations on 3DS and Wii U, and then try out the new Pikmin 3 demo. If you'd prefer something spikier and scarf-ier, there are Sonic Boom demos for both 3DS and Wii U ahead of next week's retail releases. Keeping the animal theme but travelling back in time, out of nowhere there are eShop versions of the three-year-old nintendogs + cats 3DS games, complete with a free theme when you buy one of them. A bit out of the blue, yes. On the other hand... d'awwww. It's one of those weeks where it might be easier to digest a full list of new releases, so it's handy you'll find one of those below the break. Bargain hunters, we refer you to Nintendo's press release for a list of this week's sales and permanent price reductions.
PSN Store Update: Digital Pros and CoDs
We're knee-deep in silly season, so it was already a stuffed-enough PlayStation Store update. Factor in that we've just had the first Tuesday of November and therefore the PlayStation Plus slew of games, well, we've got a fair bit to get through here. First off, there are the retail releases that get their downloadable accompaniments. That's MotoGP 14 (PS4 $60, PS3 $40 and Vita $30), The Wolf Among Us ($25 on PS4 and Vita), the standalone Toy Box download for Disney Infinity 2.0 ($20 on PS4 and PS3 for a limited time, regular price $30), Rocksmith 2014 ($60 on PS4), and finally the small matter of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare ($60 on PS4 and PS3.) If you've got $100 to burn, you qualify to be a Digital Pro thanks to CoD: Advanced Warfare - Digital Pro Edition. Earning this prestigious title comes with the added benefits of the season pass, a bonus multiplayer map and other in-game goodies.
Disney Infinity's Toy Box 2.0 offered as standalone download
When Disney formally unveiled Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes in April, the publisher announced that the power discs and base from the first game would be compatible with the one slated to arrive next week. Instead of buying a starter pack for Disney Infinity 2.0 with a new base, returning players will have the option to download the new game's Toy Box mode separately starting on November 4. The Toy Box mode has improved since the first game, offering options for procedurally generated content and themed templates. Priced at $19.99, the standalone Disney Infinity Toy Box 2.0 game will be available for PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U players. The developer opted for a November release date to time the digital launch with its physical 2.0 Edition Play Sets as well as the game's Disney Originals series. North American players that download Toy Box 2.0 will receive both the Stitch's Tropical Rescue and Brave Forest Siege game discs for free, with details on the limited-time offer on the way from Disney Interactive as November approaches. Disney Infinity 2.0 launches September 23 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Infinity 2.0's Toy Box pack stars Stitch, Merida
Following the recent news about Disney Infinity 2.0's Toy Box, Disney Interactive revealed a combo pack for the game that's centered on the mode. The Toy Box Combo Pack will be a new way to buy the game without all those pesky Marvel Super Heroes, as it stars Merida (Disney's Brave) and Stitch (Lilo and Stitch). The Toy Box Combo Pack will include a copy of the game, the Disney Infinity 2.0 base, one poster, figures for both Merida and Stitch as well as two Toy Box game discs: "Stitch's Tropical Rescue" and "Brave Forest Siege." The starter pack will launch November 4 in North America and November 7 in the UK. Disney Infinity 2.0 will launch September 23 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Donald Duck joins Disney Infinity 2.0 cast this Fall
Following last year's addition of Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, Disney has opted to deliver another of the company's "fab five" to Disney Infinity 2.0: Donald Duck. "Donald Duck delivers his signature catch-phrases, fiery temper and special abilities like tossing objects, sweeping up enemies with a broom and becoming a feathered fury to the new Toy Box mode where families will be able to use hundreds of Disney and Marvel themed items, locations, props, vehicles and characters to create one-of-a-kind adventures," reads Disney's official description of the iconic duck. Additionally, the developers claim that Donald will debut alongside the "All for One" Power Disc which allows the character to transform into his French revolution-era garb from the 2004 film Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers. No date has been revealed for Donald's Disney Infinity 2.0 debut, though Disney claims he will appear at some point this Fall. The All for One Power Disc will likewise appear this Fall, though it will be exclusive to blind Power Disc packs purchased in retail stores. [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity 2.0 is a whole new world with Aladdin, Jasmine
Disney Infinity 2.0 will include playable Aladdin and Princess Jasmine characters, Disney Interactive announced. Aladdin will have his magic lamp and scimitar on hand to defeat baddies, including familiar Agrabah guards from the Aladdin series of films. The acrobatic Jasmine will have the power to summon sandy cyclone winds. Aladdin and Jasmine will be accompanied by four power discs, one of which, named "Rags to Riches," transforms Aladdin into his more royal persona, Prince Ali. Another power disc gives the characters the ability to fly around the toy box on Aladdin's magic carpet. The final two discs affect the landscape of the toy box: The Sands of Agrabah and Jasmine's Palace View. Aladdin's figure will arrive this fall, whereas Jasmine's is slated to launch in early 2015. Disney Infinity 2.0 will launch September 23. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Loki, Green Goblin are Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel super villains
Oh sure, playing with superhero action figures is plenty fun and we fully endorse it, but what good is a plastic hero without a plastic villain to whack against them every once in awhile? While it's true that this often results in damaged toys, Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes is removing that particular risk by making Loki, Green Goblin and Ronan the Accuser playable, thus allowing them to trade virtual blows with Marvel heroes in-game. The baddies are bit underrepresented for now, especially with all five of the Guardians of the Galaxy set to lend a hand (or branch, or paw) in the fight against evil, but when has being outnumbered ever stopped a comic book supervillain? Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Villains Heroes will be available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U and PC on September 23. [Image: Disney]
Tinker Bell and Stitch run wild in Disney Infinity 2.0
Disney Infinity 2.0 is getting two characters tiny in stature but big on charm: Stitch and Tinker Bell. A new trailer shows off Tink and Stitch's moves in the Toy Box, including motorcycles, gloves that shoot pink cat faces and guns that spew colors. [Image: Disney]
Pre-order Disney Infinity Marvel Super Heroes, get a free hero at select retailers
There are a lot of character figurines for Disney Infinity, and we imagine it will be the same story with Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes. At least Infinity fans can save some cash by picking up Marvel Super Heroes through the right store: In exchange for pre-ordering the $74.99 Starter Pack, select retailers in both the UK and the US are offering one free Super Marvel Heroes figurine to help grow hero-filled collections. While GAME's listing states that customers can choose between Nick Fury, Hawkeye or Iron Fist as their freebie, GameStop's offer references a "14.99 value" rather than specific characters. We contacted GameStop to ask which heroes would be offered as a pre-order bonus, but that has yet to be announced. Still, if you already plan on adding Marvel to your virtual Disney sandbox, a mystery freebie probably won't hurt you. Besides, what if it's an Avenger? You're not going to be the one that splits up the Avengers, are you? [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity 2.0 announced for Vita, Vita TV
Amid the unveiling of PlayStation TV for the West, Sony slipped in that Disney Infinity 2.0 is coming to the Vita and its TV-connecting variant. Disney's second game in its new plastic-stuffed series is due to hit various PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox systems this fall.
Disney Infinity 2.0 Collector's Edition exclusive to PlayStation
Want to SMASH it up as the Hulk in Disney Infinity 2.0? He and his fellow Avengers will appear in a special Collector's Edition that will be exclusive to PS4, Sony announced during their E3 2014 press conference. While Hulk and co. will be available for other platforms, grabbing the Collector's Edition will be the only way to play as the big green machine earlier than everyone else. Make your friends green with envy! The game, developed by Avalanche Studios, is set to hit store shelves and collectors' shelves alike this fall.
Maleficent finally gets invited to something: Disney Infinity 2.0
Disney's drag-and-drop sandbox has cordially invited Maleficent to the next shindig in Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition. The announcement ties to this weekend's opening of Maleficent, a new fairytale film in which a horned Angelina Jolie puts at least one person to sleep. The villainous mistress that sullied Sleeping Beauty's christening joins a wide range of Disney characters in Disney Infinity, including that super-heroic bunch from the Marvel universe. And just like The Avengers, Maleficent comes in the form of a physical toy to be placed on a special base, which seemingly teleports her right into the game. Disney Interactive also used a Wednesday night preview of Maleficent in San Francisco to show off Princess Merida of DunBroch, the bold archer from Pixar's Brave. She'll join Disney Infinity, having been picked as a favorite in social polls. Merida's archery and Maleficent's magic will both be available in the Toy Box mode of Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition, coming to PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo platforms this fall. [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity 2.0 out in September, says official webcast
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes is soaring onto shelves in September, according to an official weekly webcast. At the 8:28 mark in the video, Executive Producer John Vignocchi says, "Definitely check out all the Avengers that are going to be part of the 2.0 edition of Disney Infinity out this September." Now, pinches of salt at the ready, because official announcements from earlier in the week only noted a fall window, and nothing more specific than that. Also, when Disney's official fan club let slip of the news a bit early, it noted an August launch, not September - that was all swiftly retracted ahead of the announcement proper. Finally, when we reached out to Disney a UK PR representative reiterated a fall window. If September is accurate, however, it means Disney Infinity 2.0 gets the jump on the new Skylanders, which is due to hit North America on October 5 and Europe on October 10. As for Disney's own magic box that turns plastic into gold, Infinity 2.0 calls on characters from Marvel's huge roster of heroes. The new characters include Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Iron Man, and promises of plenty more besides. The new game also brings expanded worlds for the heroes to fly around in, and a deeper Toy Box to sink time into. All the additions and expansions won't prevent returning players from using characters, power discs and Toy Box saves from the original game, because they'll all be compatible with Infinty 2.0. [Thanks, Tim!]
Disney Infinity 2.0 arrives this August with Marvel heroes [Update]
Update: D23 has since posted a correction, noting it "erroneously reported about the launch of the next chapter of Disney Infinity" and that the information it provided was incorrect. It added that further information on the future of the series will be revealed on April 30. Original story: Disney Infinity 2.0 is slated to launch this August, according to a since-removed snippet from Disney's official fan club site, D23. While the D23 blog entry in question is still available to view, a cached version of it notes that the Disney Infinity follow-up "is coming in August 2014, and a teaser trailer can be viewed at Marvel.com," likely referencing the teaser posted by Marvel earlier this month. "The teaser promises such Marvel-ous additions to the game as familiar Marvel characters, objects, and vehicles-the possibilities are infinite," the site continued. The previous sandbox-style adventure game from Avalanche Software did wonders for Disney Interactive, driving its revenue to $403 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2014. The company also saw losses in Q2 2013 and Q3 2013 to the tune of $54 million and $58 million, respectively. That led to layoffs in its games and Internet divisions in March that numbered 700, at which point Disney said it plans to scale back annual game output "by as much as 50 percent." We've reached out to Disney to confirm the release window for Disney Infinity 2.0 and will update as we learn more. [Image: Disney]
