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'Red Dead Redemption 2' starts its 100GB pre-release downloads tonight
After some long (or, not so long?) days by everyone on the Rockstar Games team, Red Dead Redemption 2 is nearly upon us. Ahead of its release October 26th on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Rockstar has revealed one more trailer and confirmed that starting at midnight tonight gamers will be able to start preloading digital copies on either console. They'll probably want to get started ASAP because a support page has confirmed what we'd heard about the game's install size, which is massive at 99GB for PS4 and 107GB for Xbox One. Additionally, anyone downloading the game on PS4 will need an extra 50GB free to complete the installation process.
Super Smash Bros. pre-loads on Wii U next Tuesday
As announced in late October, digital pre-loading on Wii U will start with the home console version of Super Smash Bros. Nintendo recently elaborated on how the pre-loading service will work for the upcoming fighting game. Starting on Tuesday, November 18, Nintendo will send a download code to those that pre-ordered the game through its online store. Redeeming the code will allow players to download most of Super Smash Bros. to their Wii U systems right away. Starting at 12:00 a.m. ET on the day of its official launch, Friday, November 21, a small update will be available to download that unlocks the game. Alternatively, players will be able to complete the same process by purchasing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U from the system's eShop directly, or by obtaining a download code from another retailer. Pre-orders for Super Smash Bros. surpassed that of Mario Kart 8 according to Nintendo, which expects "the impact on hardware will be similarly dramatic" to that of Smash. [Image: Nintendo]
Destiny opens pre-orders and pre-loading
Looking forward to getting into Destiny when it launches on September 9th? Then go ahead and pre-order it on your PlayStation 4, and you'll be able to pre-load the game before launch. No, really; Destiny is the first title on the PS4 to support pre-loading, allowing you to have the game installed and ready to play once the launch happens. It's in the PlayStation Store on both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 as of today. Players who pre-order the title will also have access to the game's beta once it starts up in July. Theyll need to also sign up at Bungie.net and link their PSN ID to keep informed about the beta and be eligible for participation. Keep your eyes peeled for more news as we approach the start of beta.
Sony pumps up its PS4 update with game pre-loading and SHAREfactory video editor
Sony just announced sales of seven million PlayStation 4 consoles and promised more details on its upcoming software update would follow soon, now here they are. We still don't have an exact timetable for when firmware 1.70 will arrive (update: According to PlayStation Europe's Twitter and this video from Japan, it's April 30th), but now we know more about its new "SHAREfactory" video editor and that game pre-loading is in the update. Many people are familiar with pre-loading via Steam and other PC services, which allows gamers to download pre-ordered games ahead of their release, then simply unlock the digital copy on the day it's "released." All it takes is enabling the PS4's "auto download" feature, and you're done, no more waiting while overloaded servers choke on release day.
Early Titanfall players won't be banned; preload now available on Origin
Those fortunate enough to score a pre-release copy of Titanfall can enjoy the game without fear of retaliation from Microsoft or developer Respawn Entertainment. This unexpectedly permissive news comes courtesy of no less a source than Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella. "About playing early: We won't stop or ban legit copies," Zampella tweeted, before warning early players that the pre-release gameplay experience may not be flawless. "It is prelaunch, so there may be interruptions in service as we prep servers," he added. On a related note, those who pre-ordered the PC incarnation of Titanfall from EA's digital distribution service Origin can now begin pulling down the game's necessary files. As with all preloading schemes, you won't actually be able to play Titanfall until its official, March 11 debut, but hopefully that wait provides enough time to download all 50GB of Respawn's giant robot shooter. [Image: Respawn Entertainment]
Preload Grand Theft Auto 5 on Monday in US, Sunday in Europe [update]
Update: Rockstar has sent out a tweet clarifying preload times for Grand Theft Auto 5 on PS3. In the US, PSN users who pre-ordered the game can download the game files on Monday at 3am EST; in Europe, it's Sunday at 3pm BST. Original story: Those who pre-ordered Grand Theft Auto 5 through PSN will not be able to preload the game ahead of its September 17 launch. A Rockstar representative confirmed the news with Joystiq, stating that there would be no preloading in the US and that "it's not our call." Those who pre-ordered the game in Europe will have to wait until Monday, September 16 to preload Grand Theft Auto 5, a post on the forums reads. Europe was originally supposed to be able to preload the game from today on. A whole slew of details about Grand Theft Auto 5's plot and soundtrack were leaked through a European PlayStation Store pre-order file last month. Sony took responsibility for the leak and removed the file, which could be the reason for the last-minute preload delay in Europe. We've followed up with Sony for further clarification on the matter and will update this post accordingly.
Star Wars: The Old Republic opens up pre-loading for early players [Updated]
It's almost the time that many players have been waiting for -- the opening of the gates for Star Wars: The Old Republic. According to the most recent news posts, mail will be sent out starting on December 13th to notify players of when their early access period will begin. But why wait that long when you can download the client now, making sure that you're patched up and ready to go when your early access goes live? The pre-order page for player accounts now includes a link to download and install the client, assuming that you've entered the code you received when you ordered. Curiously, this latest announcement says that players can receive up to seven days of early access, although that may well be a typo. If you'd missed previous announcements, players who took part in a beta weekend prior to November 24th will need to reinstall the game, so go ahead and download the updated client and get ready for the early launch in a few days. [Update: Darth Hater has collected several forum and Twitter posts that confirm the December 13th date is not a typo and is "different from previously advertised." Early-early-access, here we come!]
Google's Chrome 13 brings 'Instant Pages' to the masses, saves precious seconds of your life
Google just wouldn't be Google if it wasn't wringing out every last iota of performance from its products. The latest Chrome release is no different, ushering Instant Pages out of the dev channel and into the hands of the proletariat. The headline feature uses an algorithm to "guess" where you'll click next, pre-fetching and pre-rendering the result if it's confident enough. Mountain View says it's the only "high-profile" site to support the tech, but interested web masters can can partake of the instantaneous Google goodies by peeping the more coverage link below. Tweaks to the Omnibox -- which now returns URL and title history results based on partial queries -- and the addition of print previews for Windows and Linux round out the 13th version of the popular browser. Video of the über-swift search in action's below.
Dropbox joins arms with Sony Ericsson and Softbank, looks to expand elsewhere
By Dropbox's own numbers, its base has grown from five million to 25 million users in the last year, and now claims paying customers in 175 countries. Not content with this explosion, however, the company is establishing partnerships in the mobile arena to kick its growth into hyperdrive. Sony Ericsson is the first willing participant, and several of its phones (including the Arc and Play) will ship preloaded with the software throughout ten European countries. On the mobile carrier side, Tokyo-based Softbank will soon include the blue box on a handful of its Android devices, and Verizon is being courted by Dropbox, too -- nothing definite between these two, however. Good first steps, but if the company really wants to get rolling, it might want to pair up with a phone that has world domination in mind. Just a thought.
