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Gamescom 2013: a recap of the week's news
It's true -- we already gave Gamescom 2013 a quick wrap up, but now that the sun has finally set on the show's public days, it's time to look back on the past week and sift through the madness. Upon closing the Koelnmesse's doors, Gamescom announced the show's final numbers: over the course of five days 340,000 visitors from from 88 countries marched across 140,000 square meters of exhibition space. That's a 23 percent leap in attendance over the previous year, and it's hardly a surprise: the event was host to over 400 world premier announcements and gave many attendees their first look at Microsoft and Sony's next generation consoles. Combined with the more humble announcements that came out of GDC Europe, it turned out to be a pretty fantastic week for gaming. Read on for a breakdown of our time in Cologne, a look at the Gamescom 2013 show floor and a group chat between Joystiq and Engadget editors on the show's biggest announcements.
Call of Duty: Ghosts head Mark Rubin on creating six different versions of the same game (video)
Call of Duty: Ghosts executive producer Mark Rubin has a lot on his plate. In just two months, he's heading up the launch of one of the (if not the) biggest titles on two next-gen game consoles, not to mention the four other platforms it's landing on. He's got his team at Infinity Ward to manage, as well as the teams at several other studios that are assisting in the development process. And on top of all that, the two big next-gen versions of Call of Duty: Ghosts are headed to hardware that "literally just started showing up" at his company's offices. Rubin explained as much to Engadget in an interview this past week at Gamescom 2013. "Trying to design for something that you theoretically know about but don't physically have is an amazing challenge," he said. Beyond the stress and manpower required to produce so many versions of a single game, it's expensive. "It's required us to bring in a lot more resources than we had planned on in the beginning," Rubin added. And that's money that Infinity Ward's parent company, Activision, won't make up until the next year's Call of Duty game, when the "transition" period between console generations crests and enough gamers move to new game systems. Head past the break for the full extent of what that means for Ghosts and the Call of Duty franchise moving forward, and why Rubin's "hopeful" for the rarely spoken about Wii U version.
Xbox at Gamescom 2013: a focus on games big and small
The launch of a new game console is a fairly unique event in this industry. Unlike a smartphone or tablet, you don't see a new one released every year, or even every five years, and you likely don't have to worry about it feeling outdated a few months after you buy one. This year, we're getting two, with Microsoft and Sony jockeying for position to be the choice of gamers this holiday season. We saw that sparring at E3 earlier this summer, and it was again on display at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, where Sony made news with a release date for the PlayStation 4, among other things. We didn't get a date for the Xbox One from Microsoft, but the company did have plenty of other things to announce and show off. Read on for a recap -- or a refresher, as the case may be.
Xbox VP Phil Harrison: 'I hope we do have to deal with tens of thousands of games'
Microsoft Xbox corporate VP Phil Harrison isn't worried that making publishing open on Xbox One will flood the console's storefront with junk. In fact, he welcomes the impending flood. "I hope we have to deal with tens of thousands of games," Harrison told Engadget in an interview this week during Gamescom 2013. Harrison and co. unveiled the Xbox One's indie-friendly publishing approach this week, dubbed "ID@Xbox" or Independent Developers @ Xbox, which allows game makers to self-publish on the upcoming next-gen console. After a short approval process, small studios or individual game creators can make their game available digitally via the Xbox Live Marketplace. "That will demonstrate that our platform is a really attractive place for creators to build games for," Harrison added, in reference to dealing with a flood of indie content potentially hitting the Xbox One. "We will measure success by whether new and exciting experiences come to our platform." Head past the break for the full interview with Harrison, where we cover everything from his inauspicious gaming origins (he started developing games at 14!) to the future of Xbox One.
Oculus Rift's Palmer Luckey and Nate Mitchell talk VR as a platform, the new Share program
Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One may be the big next-gen stars at this year's Gamescom, but Oculus Rift is here as well, continuing to draw our adoration with news of a developer portal called Share. The portal facilitates easy distribution and cataloging of apps for current Oculus Rift dev kits, essentially centralizing the software world of the Rift in one convenient place. Company co-founder and Rift creator Palmer Luckey told us during GDC Europe this week that Share is just the tip of the iceberg -- a precursor to the future consumer portal of VR applications that'll exist alongside the eventual consumer model of the VR headset. He and product VP Nate Mitchell sat down with us for a candid interview, touching on everything from the future of Share, to VR as a platform (and the challenges therein), to why mobile is the next space to watch for virtual reality (seriously!). Head past the break for the full video...and for a peek into the future of gaming's most innovative product in, well, maybe ever?
Wrapping up Gamescom 2013 with Engadget and Joystiq (video)
There are still a few more days of Gamescom 2013 coverage coming to you from both us and our sister site Joystiq, but we're out of the thick of it and almost into the public days. Those are the days when nearly 300,000 people descend on quaint and historic Cologne, Germany for the largest public gaming event on the planet. It's pretty serious business! There's a campground and everything. Anyway, we've gathered up a quartet of editors to tackle the past few days of big news: the PlayStation 4's launch date, Microsoft's Xbox One indie push, and EA's love for all things FIFA. Join us below for a casual look into the the latest major game industry event in video form.
Sony at Gamescom 2013: the story so far
Miss our liveblog of Sony's Gamescom press conference yesterday, or the wealth of news we've covered on all things PlayStation? Well, we forgive you. After all, there's a whole lot to digest. Now, chances are they'll be more Sony tidbits appearing as the German gaming event runs its course, but for now we've collected, compiled and condensed everything we've learned in one handy place: right after the break.
Escape for Google Glass brings casual gaming to explorers (hands-on)
You know what's not new? Android games. You know what is new? Games for Google Glass. There has been the odd attempt so far, but french-based game developer AMA is porting one of its bonafide titles over to the small screen for real. Escape! is a simple puzzler, the sort that we're all familiar with on our phones, that is being squeezed into the wearable format. While games on the hardware might be something of an inevitability, we managed to get our eyes inside a pair to take a better look for ourselves. Head past the break to see how it worked out.
Here are the PlayStation 4's 33 'launch window' games, from Knack to Minecraft
Between the PlayStation 4's November 15th launch at retail and December 31st, Sony claims 33 games will be available. That includes heavy hitters like Knack, Watch Dogs, Minecraft and Battlefield 4, as well as smaller properties like N++ and Contrast. We've dropped the full list just after the break for your perusal / approval. Now all we need to know is when Rime is coming out!
Call of Duty: Ghosts PS4 upgrades will run $10, says Activision
During its Gamescon 2013 event, Sony said that upgrades for Playstation 4 games would come at a "significantly discounted price," though it didn't offer any details or actual numbers. Now, Activision has said that Call of Duty: Ghosts will cost $10 to upgrade from the PS3 to the PS4, mirroring a similar deal from retailer GameStop for the Xbox One. Based on Sony's statement, such discounts might be coming for other lynchpin titles for the new console for a limited time period, as well. Meanwhile, if you can't wait the ten days between the game's November 5th PS3 launch and the Playstation 4's November 15th US release, hit the PR after the break.
The Playroom to be pre-installed on every PS4 at launch
We just got word that Sony's tech demo, The Playroom, will be pre-installed on every PS4 at launch. It's essentially a bundle of demonstrations designed to show off the DualShock 4, the PS4 Eye and of course the console itself. For example, there's an air hockey game that gives you a feel of the controls, an interactive AR Bots demo that lets you play with tiny little robots using the DualShock's touchpad and accelerometer, plus a scenario where you can flick away those same bots using your hands in front of the Eye. If you have a Sony Xperia device lying around, you can also use the demo to see how it'll work with the next-gen console. For a more thorough walkthrough on The Playroom, have a peek at our hands-on of the PS4 controller and camera right here.
PlayStation 4 adds Twitch as livestreaming partner, service 'likely' available at launch
I share, you share, we all share video game video -- or, at least, that's the promise of the rapidly encroaching next generation of consoles. With Twitch now officially joining Sony's PS4 as an additional livestreaming partner, gamers will have one more option (the other being Ustream) to broadcast gameplay when they press that Share button. The announcement, made at this year's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, positions Twitch advantageously on both Sony and Microsoft's warring black boxes as an inbuilt app, although the similarities may end there. As Matthew DiPietro, Twitch's VP of Marketing, explained to us, "The product itself and the feature set that will actually be available on both of the consoles is still a little bit up in the air because they're actively being produced right now... but the key sort of feature set is clear." So crucial elements like video broadcast and viewing, picture-in-picture and audio capture -- all basic functions currently enjoyed by the service's 600,000-strong user base -- will be de facto at launch. But does that mean Day One or when the app launches? "Most likely for PS4 that's Day One and we're working on that for Xbox One," DiPietro said, so there's no guarantee. But he was able to elaborate a little more on how search will work when the service goes live, adding that "[Discovery] will be a very similar experience to the Twitch website and Twitch mobile applications. You can browse by game, by channel [and] we're exploring ways to explore by genre." You'd think, then, that the ability to filter video via your friends list would also make the cut, but that sorting feature's not something users can expect initially. Rather, it's something DiPietro said could come at a later date. It's clear that Twitch's UI across both PS4 and Xbox One is still a work in progress, or "squishy" as DiPietro obliquely put it. But what's not clear is how users will select and launch the app, or if they'll even be able to set Twitch sharing as default -- he couldn't say more. And while Twitch is essentially free to use, it remains to be seen whether or not console access to its video sharing service will be put behind a pay wall à la PS Plus or Xbox Gold. "That's entirely up to Sony," he said, and by Sony's own very public E3 promise, a remote possibility. Although, as Microsoft's recently proven again and again, you can never say never.
Sony drops PlayStation Vita price to $199, confirms Fez and other indie games are on the way
It's not just PS4 news from Sony at its Gamescom keynote today, the company has also just confirmed a big bit of PlayStation Vita news: it's dropping the MSRP to $199. That price goes into effect tomorrow. Sony also says that it's dropping the cost of the memory cards for the device, although it's not offering specific prices for those just yet. What's more, the company has also confirmed that a slate of indie games are heading to the handheld console this year, including Fez, which will also be making its way to the PlayStation 4 -- again, further specifics will have to wait, but we'll bring you those as soon as we know them. Update: We've just received specifics about those memory card price drops. The 4GB unit is falling from $19.99 to $14.99; the 8GB from $29.99 to $19.99; the 16GB from $59.99 to $39.99; and the 32GB from $99.99 to $79.99.
Sony makes Gran Turismo movie official, GT 6 game to land on December 6
Remember those rumors about Sony making a movie based upon the famed Gran Turismo racing games? Well, today at Gamescom 2013, Sony has officially announced that said film project is in the works. Unfortunately, Sony's not telling us anything about the story itself (other than fast cars being featured), but we do know it'll be a "full length feature film." Kazunori Yamauchi, Polyphony Digital head is helping make it along with filmmakers Mike de Luca and Dana Brunetti. When will their masterpiece be ready for theaters? We don't know. What we do know, however, is that the latest iteration of the Gran Turismo gaming series, GT 6 will be making its debut on December 6th of this year.
Sony PlayStation Gamescom 2013 liveblog!
While Microsoft continues to trip over itself in the lead up to Xbox One, Sony's PlayStation 4 message is staying on target and sailing straight into gamers' good graces. And, after an undisputed win at E3 this year, there's little doubt Gamescom 2013 will slow Sony's roll, instead giving the company yet another opportunity to increase its already positive mindshare and deliver on next-gen promises (PS Vita Remote Play, anyone?). So, what can we expect from Sony's center stage spectacle today? The company will probably dive a bit deeper into the particulars of its indie strategy and, hopefully, announce a hard date on that PS4 holiday release -- which is what most of us care about, anyway. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess. So, hang tight, we'll be back with the blow-by-blow (and every gloriously awkward corporate potshot) right here at 9AM PST / 12PM EST.
Watch Sony's Gamescom 2013 press conference right here at 1PM ET
Don't worry if you couldn't justify a flight to Cologne for Sony's Gamescom 2013 press conference -- the company is streaming its European media event for everyone. Will Sony provide final PlayStation 4 launch details? Will there be new games and services? Come back at 1PM ET and you can find out through the live feed embedded below.
EA launches Boss Mode for 'Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare' on Xbox One (video)
On top of showing off the new graphics for the upcoming Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare blockbuster, EA has announced a Boss Mode at its Gamescon 2013 liveblog, exclusively for the Xbox One. A trailer for the new feature showed a Svengali-like being controlling his zombie hordes while discussing plans for world domination, all with stunning in-engine graphics (see the video after the break). EA said you'll be able be able to use Boss Mode with SmartGlass and Kinect for the Xbox One when it arrives, mirroring an earlier Fighter Within announcement. Meanwhile, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare will debut on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 first, and pre-orders are now live for $30 on Origin, at the source.
EA's Origin store now allows downloaded games to be returned within a week
Gamers have been choking lately on some of the restrictive DRM for upcoming consoles and titles, but at least EA is offering some relief. It just announced that its Origin store now features the "great game guarantee," letting you return downloaded games after purchasing. You'll have 24 hours to send it back, digitally speaking, after you first launch the game, or seven days from the date of purchase (or release date for pre-orders). By contrast, Steam offers no refunds or exchanges on any of its games. Origin's new policy is now available in 20 countries, but only applies to EA-published games and not downloadable content. There's also a clause for any "abuse of the refund process," so if you're looking to see how many games you can beat in a day, you may wanna rethink that.
Get your Electronic Arts and Sony PlayStation liveblogs here today, live from Germany
Haven't got your fill of all things next generation? Well, stay tuned because Gamescom 2013 promises to shed a little more light on the coming console war and we're bringing the news to you live. While Microsoft's shied away from throwing a full blown presser here in Cologne, Germany, rival Sony's still got some PlayStation 4 (and Vita) secrets to share with the world at 10AM PST / 1PM EST today. But let's not get ahead of ourselves: Electronic Arts is also doing it up properly for this Euro-centric industry tradeshow, hosting its own live event at 7AM PST / 10AM EST. You can catch all the news as it happens at the times below. 1PM EST to 2PM EST: Sony press briefing liveblog 10AM EST to 11AM EST: EA press briefing liveblog
Let's take a deeper look at Xbox One's next-gen Kinect (video)
While Gamescom hasn't technically started yet, Microsoft's troops have already arrived in Cologne. In fact, we've already been gifted some details about new titles, but we also managed to get a little more intimate with the new Kinect. You know, the one there's been all that fuss about. But if you do plan on using it, skidaddle past the break to see more about how it works.
