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Chivalry: Medieval Warfare set for an October bloodfest
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare should be out on Xbox 360 ready for some Halloween knight-time fun, at least according to a new trailer and Xbox Marketplace listing. Going by the listing, Torn Banner's multiplayer close-combat chaos is available to download on October 28, while a new Xbox-published trailer pins the date as October 29. Who to believe, hmm? In any case, the trailer's narrator proclaims the game's out "this October." Also, chances are October 28 is accurate given it's a Tuesday, the traditional day of the week for new releases on Xbox. Nonetheless, we've reached out to publisher Activision to clarify which date is correct, and to see if the date - whichever one it may be - also applies to the upcoming PS3 version. [Update: A PS3 trailer also pins the date for October 28] By the by, you can check out the trailer's curious take on chivalry below the break.
Nidhogg gets off the fence and onto PS4 and Vita this week
We were wondering when the frenzied fencing of Nidhogg was coming to PS4 and Vita, and now we know thanks to the PlayStation Blog. Messhof's mano-a-mano madness is listed among this week's new releases, which going by traditional PSN schedules should mean it hits North America tomorrow, October 14, and Europe the day after. There's no word on a price as yet but for reference the Steam version is $15. Also it's cross-buy on PSN, meaning if you purchase it for PS4 you get the Vita version free and vice-versa. If you've yet to see Nidhogg in action - and you should - the game challenges two pixelated opponents to best each other with blades as they attempt to scroll from one side to the other. Sounds simple but it's a tense, terse affair of two-player swashbuckling, which for extra intensity can be opened up for up to eight players in take-it-in-turns tournaments.
The trailer for PlayStation's 'Powers' series doesn't hold anything back
If you were worried that Sony's transformation of Powers into a PlayStation Network show would lose the comics' grittiness, you can (probably) relax. The first trailer for the original series is now available, and it's pretty clear that the production maintains a dark, twisted world of superhero crime. Detective Christian Walker is foul-mouthed and not exactly sympathy-inducing, while the suspects he's chasing are more warped than your typical comic book villains. You'll probably have to wait until the series launch in December to see much more, but it's already apparent that Sony is taking advantage of Powers' console-only release to push a few boundaries.
Minecraft Vita also coming to North America next week
Lagging behind its European branch's announcement earlier in the week, Sony America has revealed an October 14 release date for Minecraft on Vita. The irony is, as ever, the $20 game will hit PSN stateside a day before it hits Europe. PSN traditions are odd traditions. Anyway, Sony did clarify one thing in today's announcement; anyone who owns a copy of Mojang's sand-blocks on PS3 can get a Vita copy free, and that includes disc owners as well as PSN buyers. The same applies in reverse, including retail copies of the Vita version which are due to hit shelves on November 11. Remember: the cross-buy offer only applies across PS3 and Vita - no PS4-sies, but you can upgrade to PS4 for $5. Also, saves do transfer between PS3 and Vita, and DLC purchases work across both versions too. [Image: Sony]
PSN going offline for maintenance October 13
Do you have next Monday, October 13 off work? Are you planning ahead to call in sick for school that day? Do you have that date circled on your calendar with the note "gaming marathon" written on it? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, be aware that Sony has PlayStation Network maintenance scheduled for that day. The routine maintenance is planned to begin at 1:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. PST) and will last until 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST). PlayStation's support team noted that those that log in to PSN at any point from yesterday on will retain online play and app access during the maintenance period. However, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and account management services will not be available during that time. [Image: Sony]
Axis all areas - Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions out next month
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions plots a course for PS4, PS3 and PC via Steam on November 25, with Xbox One and Xbox 360 launches scheduled for the following day. Activision announced the dates this week, pinning a $15 asking price across all platforms. The surprise return of one the last generation's defining twin-stick shooter series is helmed by Lucid Games, a company comprised of former staff from the defunct original Geometry Wars studio, Bizarre Creations. As the name implies, a major new element in the GW3: Dimensions are the 3D visuals and environments, though in his PAX Prime preview Joystiq's Mike Suszek said fans can expect more of the frantic, chaotic action they're used to. While Mike only got hands-on time with the single-player, Dimensions also features co-operative and competitive multiplayer modes, including face-offs between two teams of four players. [Image: Activision-Blizzard]
Minecraft Vita rolls into EU next week, NA date still unconfirmed
Minecraft continues its charge onto new systems with a European launch for Vita on October 15. 4J Studios, the UK team porting the sandbox game, tweeted there isn't a confirmed date as yet for North America, adding "hopefully we'll hear soon." The portable version of Minecraft is cross-buy with its PS3 sibling, meaning if you've already bought the game on PSN for PS3, you can also get it free on Vita, and vice-versa. Back in May, developer Mojang said the asking price is $20 as per PS3, you can transfer saves between PS3 and Vita, and DLC purchases are active across both editions.
Spend $100 on PSN in October, get $15 back
Sony's latest promotion is dishing cash back to those that buy goods on PSN this month. As of October 1, players that spend at least $100 using their Sony Entertainment Network wallets will receive $15 in credit. The credit will be delivered to those taking advantage of the offer "on or before November 7" via email or PS4, PS3 or Vita system notification in redemption code form. The promotion runs through Tuesday, October 28. Players will have until December 5 to redeem their $15 credit codes. Now the question is: What ever shall you spend that $100 on? PS4 players may consider the recently-launched and excellent Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, or may choose to pre-order Alien: Isolation via PSN. Or you could just blow it all on repeated rentals of Hocus Pocus. Your call. [Image: Sony]
Pre-order Alien: Isolation digitally, watch it download in terror
Digital pre-orders for Creative Assembly's frightful first-person game Alien: Isolation are now available. Players can put money down in advance of the game's impending launch in one week on Steam, PSN and Xbox Live to pre-download the game and pick up its season pass. Xbox One players can pre-purchase the game's Nostromo Edition on Microsoft's store, which includes the full game as well as the "Crew Expendable" bonus content. PS4 and PS3 players can scoot over to PSN to pre-order either the Nostromo Edition or the Season Pass bundle, with individual passes available on launch day, October 7. Likewise, the Nostromo Edition as well as the Digital Deluxe Edition are available to pre-purchase on Steam, the latter of which also includes the game's season pass. The $30 season pass give players access to Alien: Isolation's survivor mode map packs. [Image: Sega]
Chariot drags the dead to PS4 next week
Chariot, Frima Studio's cooperative platformer, will launch on PS4 next week. The game will arrive on Tuesday, September 30 in North America for $14.99, though European players will have to wait until October 22 to dig into the game. The platformer has two local players (or one solo player) working together to carry a king's coffin to its resting place. However, the king's ghost is particular about where his body winds up, so players must overcome physics-based obstacles to satisfy "His Majesty." The playable characters in question are the princess and her fiancé, who "gather gold and precious gems to decorate the sepulcher" while traversing Chariot's underground environments. The developer opted for local multiplayer only with Chariot, as "direct communication is very important in the game," and that "the tricks you'll need to do with the Chariot requires a lot of precision and we felt that precision might be lost because of the latency online." [Image: Firma Studio]
Weekend-long PSN Flash Sale discounts a pack of racers
Even if your weekend pace is relaxed and leisurely, you should still be able to reach the PlayStation Store's Flash Sale before it ends on September 22 at 3pm EST. You can make up for your slow-and-steady demeanor by setting lap records in this Flash Sale's racing-oriented deals, unless you prefer to destroy everything in sight in Burnout Crash. Pack leaders include Need for Speed: Most Wanted for $4.99 on PS3 and Vita, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for $9.99 on PS3 and Vita, Cel Damage HD for $2.49 on PS3, PS4 and Vita, Crazy Taxi for $2.49 on PS3, and GRID Autosport on PS3 for $12.49, among others. You can check the PlayStation Blog's complete breakdown of the sale's standings, or just round the corner as fast as possible and race straight into the deals. [Image: PlayStation]
First Bloodborne alpha invites roll out to Europe
Alpha testing invites for Bloodborne are now appearing in select email inboxes. Joystiq's own Sinan Kubba received an invite to the "small-scale test," which features early access to the game and "a sample of its online features," according to the email. Those that would like to take part in the testing phase for From Software's next sort-of-like-Dark Souls game can apply on the PSN Beta page. The trial is for European players only, as invites are granted at SCEE's discretion. The enrollment period ends on Tuesday, September 23 at 11:59am BST (6:59am EST). Bloodborne will launch on February 5 in Japan and early 2015 in Europe. [Image: From Software]
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare dashing onto consoles
The knightly carnage of Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is coming to PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year, with Activision on publishing duties. Torn Banner's melee-heavy multiplayer game is set for the consoles' digital storefronts, but prices and release dates are yet to be announced. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare passed two million units sold in July 2014, which isn't bad for a game that started life as a Half-Life 2 total conversion mod. Back in 2007, Age of Chivalry thrust pikes, clubs and bows into the hands of its Middle Ages warriors, and its first-person, close-combat multiplayer proved a hit. Realizing it was onto a winner, Torn Banner Studios followed it up with the Unreal Engine-based Chivalry: Medieval Warfare which, following a successful $86,000 Kickstarter campaign, made its debut on Steam in 2012. The two consoles may not be the only platforms welcoming the game in the near future, with Torn Banner seemingly teasing Mac and Linux ports "soon." That or penguin paladin DLC. Also, head below the break for a rather brutal new trailer.
Report: PSP users in Europe, Asia lose PSN access on September 15
Sony is closing off PlayStation Network access for its PlayStation Portable console in multiple regions starting this week, IGN reports. A Sony representative told IGN that the shutdown affects PSP owners in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and select regions in Africa. North American PSPs will still be able to access the PlayStation Network while Sony "evaluates market trends" to determine if it should expand its service shutdown plans. While affected regions will be unable to directly access the PlayStation Network from PSP hardware starting on September 15, Sony notes that users will still be able to buy PSN marketplace content and redownload previous purchases via the Sony Entertainment Network Online Store. Sony halted PSP production in Japan in June, and discontinued North American hardware shipments in January. [Image: Sony]
Vita oddball Murasaki Baby on board next week
Murasaki Baby - AKA that touch-based Vita game where you guide a little girl who has her mouth on top of her head - is out on September 16 in North America and September 17 in Europe. It's priced $15 for regular users, but if you've got Plus membership you'll be able to grab it for $12 during its first week. Murasaki Baby marks the debut of Sony Europe's self-proclaimed "avant-garde" Ovosonico studio, which was founded by former Grasshopper Manufacture director Massimo Guarini. That might explain the why of the game, but not the what: Well, in it you're guiding the head-mouth girl, a lost child called Baby, through nightmarish landscapes. While you can drag, tap and swipe to help Baby along, you're also in control of the world around her. Swipes of the rear pad, for example, can change the background to useful effect, like bringing in a wind turbine to drive lurking bats away. You can also tap on the front screen to take out dangers like, er, flying safety pins. They may not sound the deadliest of foes, but if one of them hits Baby's heart balloon then she immediately dies.
FIFA 15 demo starts rolling out today
Like Lionel Messi or an overexcited baby, FIFA 15 is dribbling all over the place this week thanks to the arrival of its demo. Xbox Live Gold members can already take out EA's sim for a kickabout on Xbox One and Xbox 360 (free members can join in starting September 16) and it's also confirmed to be hitting PC later today. Going by PSN tradition, the demo should reach digital stores on PS4 and PS3 later today too. As ever, Euro PS owners have to wait until tomorrow. The demo itself lets up to two players trial with eight club teams, including Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Napoli and Paris St. Germain. It also features a FIFA Ultimate Team demo for those who dream of dream teams.
Run Sackboy! Run! starts an endless stitch-hunt on Vita, mobile
Sony is pumping up the volume ahead of LittleBigPlanet 3 with Run Sackboy! Run!, a free-to-play side-scroller on its way to Vita , iOS and Android sometime in October. Going by Senior Producer Tom O'Connor's announcement on the PlayStation Blog, it sounds like an endless auto-runner in the vein of Canabalt and Jetpack Joyride. O'Connor said players use tap and swipe movements to make Sackboy avoid obstacles and for as long as possible stay ahead of the chasing Negativitron, which LBP2 players may remember as that game's main antagonist. The ragdoll hero can collect bubbles to unlock costumes and upgrades, as well as use power-ups such as jet-packs and gliders.
Build that city in Minecraft PS4, launching today
The ever-growing, seemingly insatiable Minecraft family welcomes PlayStation 4 today, with a stateside PSN launch locked in for "before 12PM PT" (3PM ET.) Mojang's blocky world of creativity and creepers is already out on PS4 in Europe, as of late last night. As we reported yesterday, the Xbox One launch is confirmed for tomorrow, September 5. Both the PS4 and Xbox One ports are features-wise on par with PS3/Xbox 360 editions, but the new hardware allows for worlds up to 36 times larger and greater draw distances.
Minecraft on Xbox One this week, PS4 'soon, maybe sooner' [update]
Not satisfied with mere bajillions, Minecraft starts racking up more sales this week when it launches as a downloadable on Xbox One - and perhaps PS4 too. The Xbox One release date is locked in for Friday, September 5, when 360 owners of Mojang's sandbox game will be be able to upgrade for $5/£4 - Microsoft notes the upgrade applies whether you own a disc or download copy. Otherwise, the full price version is $20/£16. While the PS4 date is unknown, Mojang's Daniel Kaplan tweeted that "Sony friends" can expect a "Minecraft surprise soon... or maybe sooner?!" That tease followed a PlayStation France tweet that claimed the PS4 version will release today, though as yet no other Sony channels have confirmed that. As soon as someone digs up a concrete release date for the PS4 version, we'll let you know. Update: The PlayStation 4 version of Minecraft appears to have launched in the EU. There's still no word on when the game will reach North America or other territories. [Image: 4J Studios]
Nano Assault Neo dodges bullets on PS4 later this year [update]
Nano Assault Neo is confirmed for PS4 now, and it's bringing its 3D rotational twin-stick shooting to the system in 1080p. Developer Shin'en Multimedia tweeted the new port of the 2012 Wii U game features PS4-specific improvements, though it's not yet detailed what those are. We've reached out to Shin'en to learn more, including whether or not the two-player local coop will make its way across. As PEGI revealed over the weekend, the new PS4 port is called Nano Assault Neo X - when in doubt, chuck in a X. Shin'en says we can expect the game to shoot onto PSN later this year, and for an idea of what to expect, check out the Wii U trailer below the break. Also, the original Nano Assault Neo is currently available on the eShop for $7.49, 25 percent off the regular price, until September 11.
