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Xbox One 'Independent Developers Pack' revealed with new controller
It's not E3 yet, but Microsoft has taken the wraps off of this limited edition "Independent Developers Pack" Xbox One, in Australia of all places. Besides packing download tokens for five ID@Xbox (Hand of Fate, Threes!, #IDARB, The Jackbox Party Pack, and Never Alone) and DLC add-ons for two others (Warframe, Smite beta) it also has the new Xbox One controller with integrated headphone jack that we've been expecting. In Australia, the bundle is priced the same as any other Kinectless XB1 pack, at $499AU. There's no word on a launch for the US or anywhere else, but with the big gaming conference just a couple of weeks away, we should hear more soon. Update: It looks like Microsoft removed the reference to a new controller from its store page, but we have a picture of the listing as it originally appeared after the break. That detail may not have been intended to leak this early, but we'll check to see if there's any other information.
Nintendo reveals a flood of new games ahead of E3 2015
The NX console isn't the only product Nintendo's working on behind the scenes, naturally. Via a Direct Micro video session, the company has now shared an outlook of its game plan for this year and beyond -- though we're sure it's not telling us everything. Most notably, Nintendo revealed the Dr. Mario franchise is making a comeback with Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure, which will be launching for the 3DS on June 11th (exclusively in the eShop). But there's more: Bravely Second is finally coming to North America, where it's going to be available on the 3DS sometime in 2016.
Why 'Rock Band 4' got the gang back together
Walking onto the roof of the Shangri La Hotel in Santa Monica, California, I was nervous and curious to see Rock Band 4. After all it had been five years since Rock Band 3. Would it still feel good? Is this really the right time to bring back Harmonix's brilliant karaoke video game, with its comfy plastic instruments and catalog of songs? After playing it and then talking with Greg LoPiccolo, one of the creators of both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, my fears were laid to rest. Under a thick smear of sweet rock and roll, of course.
'Batman: Arkham Knight' is a fun distraction, but it's not Batman
Neon green and red lights flash as Batman maneuvers the Batmobile through loop de loops in a gaudy underground racetrack. On the streets of Gotham, giant, bulbous tanks strafe around each other shooting at the speeding Bat-vehicle as it tries to escape. Onscreen, a computer-animated Alfred appears and gets snippy with master Bruce. This is a description of the things I did in a demo of Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight, due out this June on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. And if any of the above sounds a whole hell of a lot like the camp film Batman & Robin, well, that's because it's eerily similar. If you were a fan of that Joel Schumacher-directed 1997 nipple fest or the open-world distractions of the 2011 video game Arkham City, then that gameplay might sound pretty awesome. But for a fan of Batman: Arkham Asylum like myself, however, this sample of Arkham Knight was disconcerting.
'Mad Max' the game lacks the charm and detail of 'Fury Road'
Like any Mad Max fan thrilled by the film Fury Road, I approached Avalanche Studios' new video game translation hoping to find echoes of the film's anarchic spirit. And while the full game may deliver -- we won't know until review time -- the current demo feels more like a mundane snapshot of Max's offscreen life in that post-apocalyptic world than an adrenaline shot from Fury Road. Mad Max, due out this fall for PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One, just doesn't have the same level of enervating detail.
Microsoft's E3 event gives you a chance to play upcoming games
It's not unheard of for game console makers to invite fans to their media events -- largely to get more cheering than they'd usually get -- but Microsoft is upping the ante for its E3 gathering this year. It's planning to offer 500 tickets that gets you into both the company's June 15th press conference as well as a FanFest (June 14th through the 18th) that lets you play upcoming Xbox games months in advance. You'll also have VIP access to an eSports event and a meet-and-greet with game industry bigwigs. Be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices if you're determined to get in, though. You'll have to be in the Los Angeles area, of course, but you'll also have to line up for those tickets on the 14th. Otherwise, you'll just have to watch the blogs and live streams like everyone else.
Nintendo World Championships are back for E3 2015
The Nintendo World Championships, a gaming competition last held in 1990, return this year for E3 in June. Nintendo fans can compete for a spot in the Championships on May 30 at select Best Buy stores around the country, and the winners will join competitors selected by Nintendo at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 14th, for a multi-round gaming competition. It's just like the old days. The Championships will be streamed live online and fans in LA will have the opportunity to attend the final event in-person. Nintendo promises more details in the coming weeks.
'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' delayed until spring 2016
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, the latest sequel in Sony and Naughty Dog's hugely popular action adventure game series and the first entry on PlayStation 4, has been pushed from its 2015 release date to spring 2016.
