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The Walking Dead seasons start October 14 on PS4, Xbox One
Telltale's The Walking Dead seasons one and two will arrive on Xbox One and PS4 this month. That much we knew with certainty as of September. Now according to IGN, the first season will go next-gen on October 14 followed by the second season one week later, October 21. Xbox 360 and PS3 owners will get to enjoy each full season on October 21 as well. The release dates align with previous listings offered by Amazon. Those dates are for North American players; fans in Europe will have to wait a few extra days to receive both seasons on PS4 and Xbox One on October 24. Likewise, Vita players won't have access to the full second season until November 4. The adventure game series began with the launch of episode one in April 2012, and wrapped with the underwhelming fifth episode of Season 2 in late August. [Image: Telltale Games]
The Walking Dead, Wolf Among Us to hit PS4 & Xbox One soon
Telltale Games narrowed down the release window for its debut on PS4 and Xbox One, with The Walking Dead scheduled for sometime in October. Disc versions of Season 1 (including the 400 Days DLC) and Season 2 are confirmed for retail shelves next month, followed by the premiere season of The Wolf Among Us in November. The Walking Dead Season 2 and The Wolf Among Us are also getting retail releases on PS3, Xbox 360 and Vita, though Telltale's wording suggests they may not release alongside the PS4 and Xbox One games. There's nothing official on concrete release dates, but Amazon's been listing October 14 for TWD Season 1 on PS4 and Xbox One since June, with Season 2 dated for October 21. GameStop also has those dates listed, and both retailers have The Wolf Among Us on the new consoles for November 4. According to the listings, each game is priced at $30. [Image: Telltale Games]
Joystiq Weekly: Amazon buys Twitch, Madden 15 review, Early Access feature and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. PAX Prime 2014 is already underway, but as fun as joining a swarm of people buzzing around video game displays can be, you don't even have to leave the house to get this weekend's highlights. Well, unless your house is a black hole for Internet and phone reception ... The point is, Joystiq is on the front lines of PAX Prime, ignoring sensible limitations to bring you a slew of news and previews. With this morning's proof that survival in numbers is a relative concept in Don't Starve Together and a reminder that thinking every MOBA is interchangeable is a mistake when it comes to Gigantic, the good stuff is already underway. There's always yesterday's reveal of Xbox One and PS4 versions of Saints Row 4 too, as well as a new, standalone expansion called Saints Row: Gat out of Hell. Stick with us until PAX Prime's conclusion on Monday, September 1, and in return we'll tell you all about the show's highlights without subjecting you to the dreaded PAX Pox. For now though, we've got a full recap of this week's news, reviews and features. Amazon's surprise acquisition of Twitch, Nintendo's new 3DS models, reviews of Madden NFL 15 and The Walking Dead's season finale, an examination of what makes Early Access such a valuable space to developers ... it's all arranged neat and orderly-like for you after the break!
Zen Studios latest pinball table summons the Walking Dead
The silver ball maestros at Zen Studios have unleashed another meticulously designed table, this time within the horrific universe of Telltale's The Walking Dead adventure game. Despite its non-linear nature - pinball rarely adheres to a structured narrative - the table does a solid job of using skill shots and careful ball management to retell key story moments from the first season of Telltale's beloved The Walking Dead. Zen Studios was even able to get the original voice cast from the game to record new lines for the Walking Dead pinball table. Most crucially, the table is periodically littered with ambulatory corpses that, in proper Walking Dead spirit, must be avoided or, if you've got no other options, destroyed. Like all Zen Studios tables, The Walking Dead is DLC content available on a number of platforms. Today marks the table's debut on the PlayStation 3, PS4 and Vita, while PC, Mac, Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners will have to wait until tomorrow. Those playing Zen Studios' pinball games on Android and iOS will have a chance to relive the adventures of Lee and Clementine on August 28. While you wait, take a look at the trailer past the break. [Image: Zen Studios]
The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 5 review: Exit wounds
This review covers the latest episode in an ongoing season, and may contain spoilers. Players of Telltale's The Walking Dead have offered a singular, echoing criticism throughout its first and second seasons: "My choices don't matter." Detractors claim that the story is set in concrete and only the journey changes – and even then just slightly. They decry the game's decision-making mechanics as shallow and containing a falsely advertised level of impact on the narrative. I've never had a problem with The Walking Dead's subtlety. Regardless of the differences among every person's experience, the game always told a deep, uneasy story packed with drama and action in equal measure. The narrative rode waves of tension, crashing down on important dialogue decisions and cresting up to harried firefights and split-second amputations. In the final episode of Season 2, "No Going Back," the detractors win. In this episode, your choices matter in the deepest way – altering how the story ends. Unfortunately, this means that the balanced narrative loses in a spectacular and surprising fashion.
The Walking Dead Season 2 finale hits next week
The fifth and final episode of The Walking Dead Season Two launches for PC, Mac, PS3 and Vita on August 26 in North America, and then on Xbox 360 on August 27. Episode five hits iOS on August 28 as an in-app purchase. Episode five is titled "No Going Back" and it wraps up all of the bone-chilling insanity within Season Two so far. The trailer released today contains spoilers for seasons one and two of The Walking Dead, though Telltale promises no spoilers for episode five itself. It does, however, contain a heartbreaking home video of Clementine before the outbreak. Grab some tissues and see the trailer below. If you've been playing along this season, read our reviews of each episode under the Walking Dead home page. Episode four's review can be found here.
Payday developer reveals co-op Walking Dead game
Payday series developers Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios revealed that they are working on a Walking Dead game of its own. The Walking Dead creator and Skybound Entertainment CEO Robert Kirkman said the new take on the zombie survival series is the "co-op game that all of the Walking Dead fans have been waiting for" in a Payday 2 Steam community update. Starbreeze CEO Bo Andersson Klint said the developer "will bring The Walking Dead into the world of first-person shooter co-op games," and that it will be "gameplay focused, ferocious and bring chaos to the traditional industry model." While the developer did not specify the game's targeted platforms, it did mention that it will be powered by Starbreeze's Diesel engine, "updated for the next generation." It is expected to launch in 2016, which is when "Washington falls," according to the announcement trailer. [Image: Overkill]
The Walking Dead: Season 3 confirmed by Telltale
The Walking Dead: Season 3 was confirmed yesterday at San Diego Comic-Con, much to the delight of fans and emotional masochists. We're not even sure how Clementine and co.'s travels will end in Season 2, but time - and the shuffling hordes of undead - wait for no man. Season 3 is coming, prepare while you can. Which ... might be awhile. Or not! We're not really sure, as no details regarding a release window were given. Oh, those darn zombies - so inconsiderate to not let us know when they plan on dropping by. [Image: Telltale Games]
Joystiq Weekly: Battlefield delay, Dark Souls 2 DLC review, Dragon Age preview and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. This week hosted a smattering of high-profile release date changes. You thought you'd be playing Dragon Age: Inquisition in October? Nope! Figured you'd prowl through Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor on that same day? Wrooong. What about upholding the law in Battlefield: Hardline sometime in October? Sorry, criminals will go unchecked until next year. We suppose we'll persevere through the frightening uncertainty that is this dose of video game release dates, but we're not sure our frail hearts can handle any more excitement in this crazy life. Actually, we're fairly certain that frailty would combust into a five-story blaze if Destiny or Super Smash Bros. slip out of 2014. There was plenty more to this week than release-date musical chairs, though! There's details on how to get The Last Of Us: Remastered for cheap, when we can next expect Sonic Boom to break our hearts go fast, a review for Dark Souls 2's first bout of DLC, a video preview for DA: Inquisition and much more, all waiting for you after the break!
The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 4 review: Life and Death
This review covers the latest episode in an ongoing season, and may contain minor spoilers. Death is better than zombification, but life is the best option of all. Even in a hellhole of a world; even with rotting corpses hunting you down every path, salivating for your flesh; even when you have to kill your friends every day – life is the better option. That's what "Amid the Ruins" teaches us. More than any previous episode of The Walking Dead, it throws the importance of life in our faces – the fragility of breathing, the futility of fighting, the need to do it anyway – and it makes us wish for life harder than we ever have. Not necessarily our own lives, either. Clementine, for her part, is capable and in charge in this episode. She's rarely in direct danger herself (at least not in any way she hasn't already conquered 50 times before), but she bears witness to the potential deaths of many others, multiple times over. She saves some people. She kills some people. And she survives. She lives.
Walking Dead S2 Episode 4 gets release dates, trailer
Telltale Games revealed this morning that the snuggle-huggle fest known as The Walking Dead: Season 2 will return later this month with episode four. The current release schedule: PC and Mac worldwide, PlayStation 3 and Vita in North America: July 22 Xbox 360 worldwide and PlayStation Europe: July 23 iOS: July 24 We've placed the spoiler-containing trailer for the latest comforting episode after the break.
The Walking Dead's next episode is bloody, standoffish
Episode 4 of The Walking Dead's second season is dubbed "Amid the Ruins," but we doubt it takes place in an ancient Mayan temple or anything like that. Two new screenshots from the episode depict tense, mid-battle scenes: One shows Clementine splattered in blood and wielding an axe while surrounded by zombies, and the other has her back-to-back with other survivors, pointing a gun at someone – and not looking very pleased about it. Amid the Ruins should be out this month. On today's photo feast, Telltale says to look out for news next week regarding the episode's launch. [Images: Telltale]
Telltale expects the next Walking Dead episode to hit this month
Up until today, we expected July to be made up of a more relaxing breed of decisions. We were thinking stuff like whether to go with hot dogs or BBQ chicken, which sports to melt in front of, and which unnecessarily flashy sunglasses to buy. Blissful, meaningless decisions. Then Telltale's Job Stauffer said the studio expects Season 2 Episode 4 of The Walking Dead to arrive this month, and all of a sudden we're faced with choices that have consequences. You know, it's very rare someone's suffered a gratuitously cruel death after we've plumped for the BBQ chicken. When we buy our Ray-Bans almost no-one gets left behind.
AMC's plans for an internet TV service leak out, but don't expect 'Mad Men'
AMC's cable TV channel has evolved from the home of old movies to hosting TV series, topped by Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Now, the infamous "people with knowledge of the situation" have revealed that it's working on a new subscription internet service. First reported in The Information, the rumors suggest AMC will launch websites focused on specific categories, like documentaries or horror, possibly with the help of a web video startup it's invested in called DramaFever. That's one way to go of course, instead of the "some of everything" route currently dominated by Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. A Bloomberg report says it won't host licensed shows like Mad Men (already tied up in licenses to the other services) so it's unclear exactly what content they might have to start. AMC has two video on-demand channels already, and its cable experience should serve it well in the suddenly crowded internet market. If this is as good as it gets for the traditional cable bundle -- and AMC can't increase rates for its channel -- trying its hand on the internet could be a way to grow. Update: These sites probably won't have Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul either, but AMC just announced that while the series' premiere is delayed until 2015, it has already picked the show up for a second season. [Image credit: Jordin Althaus/AP Photo/AMC]
Joystiq Weekly: GOG's Galaxy, Murdered: Soul Suspect review, Homefront's combat and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. E3 doesn't technically start until June 10, but with all of this week's announcements and E3 trailers, you wouldn't really know it. Forza Horizon 2 will let you drive recklessly later this year, Homefront is due for a return in Homefront: The Revolution, and the thinly-veiled Mortal Kombat X tease is finally over. And that's just the early stuff - we're about to get trampled with news and hands-on demonstrations as the convention itself kicks off next week. Don't worry though, we'll survive by channeling Simba's light-footed evasive maneuvers. Just ... y'know, without the tragic loss immediately preceding our exercise. You don't have to stick around and watch us warm up though - this week's highlights are waiting for you after the break. There are release dates for The Witcher 3 and Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved, reviews for 1,001 Spikes and Tomodachi Life, and an exploration of combat in Homefront: The Revolution. It's all awaiting you neat and orderly-like after the jump!
Zen Studios creating The Walking Dead pinball table
Zen Studios is developing a table inspired by Telltale Games' The Walking Dead series for its pinball games. The table will launch across console, mobile and PC versions of Pinball FX 2 and Zen Pinball 2 this summer. The table will "bring the story and choice-driven gameplay" of the game's first season to the pinball series, complete with original dialogue from The Walking Dead's cast. Zen Studios' undead pinball table will offer locations based on Telltale's first five episodes, including Clementine's treehouse, Everett's pharmacy and "down the tracks to the walker-infested streets of Savannah." As the game rolls on, players will need to choose who lives and who dies during a zombie attack, search for food and supplies and improve their group's morale, not unlike the decisions they were pressed with in The Walking Dead as well. Zen Studios issued a brief teaser trailer that shows series stars Clementine and Lee as well as the table itself. [Image: Zen Studios]
The Walking Dead, Wolf Among Us coming to PS4 & Xbox One
Turns out those 326 retailer listings were true: The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us Season 1 are confirmed for PS4 and Xbox One. Telltale's two adventure series hit the consoles this year, and The Walking Dead Season 1 and Season 2 are packaged as separate games. The Season One box is the GOTY edition, so it includes the 400 Days DLC episode. Telltale's also bringing new discs to the Xbox 360 and PS3, with the two last-gen consoles getting The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead Season 2 too. Though it's not noted, we'll probably see both series on the PS4 and Xbox One's digital storefronts as well. [Image: Telltale Games]
The Walking Dead PS4, Xbox One listings just won't die
You can ignore the approaching horde for only so long – listings for The Walking Dead Game of the Year Edition on PS4 and Xbox One have popped up at online retailers over the past month or so, and recently the listings hit Amazon UK. This puts next-gen The Walking Dead Game of the Year Edition listings at GameFly, GameStop and Amazon. According to the Amazon description, the bundle includes the complete first season of Telltale's The Walking Dead, plus the 400 Days DLC and a download of the original soundtrack. GameStop lists it as $30, while Amazon UK puts it at £30. GameStop and GameFly note release dates of July 31, while Amazon has a release date of July 25. It's up for pre-order across the sites. We've reached out to Telltale for comment. The Walking Dead season one and 400 Days DLC both have big impacts on season two, which is currently in its third (and perhaps best) episode.
Joystiq Weekly: Xbox One's Kinect, Mario Kart 8 review, Godzilla's past and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. If machinery works the way The Brave Little Toaster suggests, you gotta feel for the Kinect - the solid experiences it supplements are often drowned in complaints about its underwhelming games, as well as its general inaccuracies as a listening, motion-tracking controller. We imagine Microsoft reassured the device about its playground reputation by including it with every Xbox One out there, but then ... well, this week happened. Kinect might be destined to just stay at home now, waiting for a band of appliance-shaped adventures to accept his flaws so it can tag along with for their straight-to-Blu Ray sequel. Hey, on the upside, at least that terrifying air conditioner died off before Kinect was ever able to meet him. Can you imagine being left alone in a house with that thing as a kid? Talk about new legitimate fears. Anyway, now that we're done painting a bleak picture of Kinect's secret social life, there's a lot more to this week than technological popularity contests. It's financial season, with Ubisoft, Take-Two and the NPD Group throwing numbers everywhere, we've got reviews for Mario Kart 8 and Super Time Force, and there's also a dip into Godzilla's past of ruining virtual metropolises. It's all stacked neat and orderly for you after the break!
PSN Store Update: Soul Sacrifice Delta, Borderlands 2 Vita
It's a quieter week on PSN, with just two new games each for PS3 and Vita. Starting with the portable, Borderlands 2 gets a standalone release ($40) after featuring in last week's Vita 2000 bundle, and Soul Sacrifice Delta has a few freebies in a limited edition bundle ($36). As for the PS3 new releases, there's Episode 3 of The Walking Dead Season 2 ($5, or part of $20 season pass) and the slightly belated Serious Sam 3: BFE ($20, or $15 with Plus). Also, JRPG fans may be tempted by a new Tales bundle that combines Graces f with Xillia ($60). Finally, some bits and bobs to round up: Skullgirls Encore on PS3 is the latest Plus freebie, Dishonored is permanently price reduced to $20, and the PS Blog has all the latest sales and Plus discounts. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
