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Skylanders Swap Force launches October 13th, headed next-gen as well
The Skylanders aren't just evolving into combinable characters in their next entry, they're also heading to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Skylanders Swap Force was given an October 13th release date today, alongside news of its two new platforms (in addition to being on basically every other video game platform in existence). Like previous entries in the Skylanders series, Swap Force employs a wired power pad where physical Skylanders toys (Swap Force versions seen above), power-ups, and new levels can be placed and then played in-game. This October's entry allows for toys from both the original Skylanders game and Giants to work with it; that also applies to PS4 and Xbox One versions. As for the launch date of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions ... well, that's a question of when Microsoft and Sony launch their consoles. The game will otherwise launch on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Wii and Wii U on October 13th.
E3 2013: What we know and what to expect from the big three
The annual game industry trade show that's spawned thousands of memes is just around the corner: E3 2013 kicks off on Monday morning with a quartet of press briefings. In another 72 hours, we'll have a full day of liveblogs for you that'll no doubt reveal much more about Microsoft's and Sony's intentions with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, respectively, along with Nintendo's press not-so-much-a-conference event the following day addressing the Wii U. Though the latter is a somewhat known quantity at this point, there's considerable promise of major game announcements and a first look at the much-anticipated next Smash Bros. entry. Microsoft and Sony, on the other hand, have a lot more blank space to fill in. We're here to explore what we know about all three, but more importantly, to identify what we expect to find out at the big show. Join us past the break and dive into the next wave of the console wars.
Xbox One: Microsoft won't charge fee for used game licenses, requires online check-in once every 24 hours (update)
Microsoft today unveiled plans to allow used games on its next game console, the Xbox One, ending speculation about fees associated with the process. "Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games," a Q&A regarding Xbox One licensing fees reads. "We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers." There is an exception noted, as the above only applies to Microsoft-published games apparently: "Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends. Loaning or renting games won't be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners." You'll also be able to give your games to friends, though you must be friends on Xbox Live for more than 30 days and "each game can only be given once." It's unclear if the game can be given away to subsequent people by the receiver. There's also a piece detailing how the console's always online requirement will work, with a check-in needed once every 24 hours if you're on your home console (you'll only get one hour offline on a friend's console before getting booted). Beyond serving to check whether the game license you're using is official or not, Microsoft says the requirement will, "verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend." Sounds to us like a way to get around issues associated with not needing discs post-install to play games on the Xbox One. The piece also notes that, "Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection." There's no word on exceptions for military personnel or people who live in areas without internet -- the minimum suggested speed to maintain a connection is 1.5Mbps. Finally, there's a piece about privacy which adds some interesting notes about the new, required Kinect. The "Xbox On" wake functionality can be disabled, and Microsoft assures that a variety of privacy settings will be available right from initial setup. Update: When asked whether the online requirement would allow exceptions for military personnel or consumers in areas without stable internet, Microsoft told us, "The blog posts on Xbox Wire detail everything we can share today. We look forward to sharing more details in the months ahead." Not exactly a comforting answer if you're an Xbox gamer serving overseas.
Xbox One gamepad goes into low power sleep mode during movies, when you step away
The Xbox One controller isn't full of new bells and whistles, but it does have a few new tricks up its sleeves. The new gamepad can apparently go into a low power sleep mode, "if you're watching a movie or need to step away from the TV," according to a feature at Microsoft's official Xbox site. The controller will then re-awaken "the moment" it's picked up, the piece claims, and won't require resynchronization. Aside from this new feature, the controller will apparently feature a the micro USB we've seen on prototypes in its finished form, so that it can be plugged in and used without batteries should the need arise (though with only one USB plug anywhere near the front of the console, it's not the most reliable solution for multiple people). This is in addition to the revamped thumbsticks and so-called "impulse triggers," as well as the more depressed battery compartment. For the full run down, check out our intro piece right here, and head through the source link below for more from Microsoft directly.
Diablo 3 bedevils consoles on September 3rd, heading to Xbox 360 as well
Diablo 3 isn't a Sony console exclusive anymore, it seems, with Blizzard Entertainment today announcing it's heading to Xbox 360 as well on September 3rd. The game will arrive for the PlayStation 3 on the same day as the 360 version, with the PlayStation 4 version arriving at an unknown point afterward. It's unknown if the game is also headed to Microsoft's next-gen console, Xbox One, though Blizzard told our friends at Joystiq, "We don't have any further platform announcements to share at this time." Not exactly a straight up "no!" The console version of the game is said to contain all the updates that PC / Mac users have enjoyed thus far, not to mention much needed relief for your clicking finger.
The Daily Roundup for 06.04.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Rock Band creators team up with Disney for next-gen in 'Fantasia: Music Evolved,' headed to Xbox One / 360 in 2014
The tattoo-laden, musically-inclined game developers behind Frequency, Amplitude, Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance Central are taking on Disney's Fantasia, this morning announcing next-gen Kinect game Fantasia: Music Evolved. Like its last game franchise, Harmonix is keeping exclusive to Microsoft game consoles with Kinect -- the game is planned for launch some time in 2014 on both Xbox One and Xbox 360. Fantasia: Music Evolved -- which we're assuming must feature Master Chief somewhere given the naming convention and Microsoft exclusivity -- aims to turn gamers into aspiring orchestra conductors. Er ... sort of. The game is played by using both your arms to synchronously gesture in a variety of directions, with two on-screen icons indicating how to place your arms and which direction you'll be gesturing toward. Ostensibly, the game asks players to conduct various pop songs (Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven" and Queens' "Bohemian Rhapsody," among others), occasionally punctuated with a push, depth-wise, for various auditory flairs (among other things). You are the sorcerer's apprentice, conducting the heavens (as it were). Moreover, the songs get remixed as you go along, with players choosing one of four musical styles to introduce dynamically as the track continues to play in the background. If it sounds overwhelming, that's because it is.%Gallery-190189%
Lionhead launches new Fable forums with suspicious timing [update]
Lionhead Studios has launched a brand new set of Fable-related forums, now available on the developer's website for users to discuss and dissect the popular series of role-playing games. Lionhead's also giving away virtual founders' medals to anyone who signs up in the forums' first two weeks of existence, and you can log right in using your Xbox Live ID. The last game in the series, Fable: The Journey, arrived back in October of 2012, which raises the question of why the Microsoft-owned developer would announce brand new forums for an IP that's all but fallen off of the radar. Don't forget, though, that E3 is next week, and Microsoft has $1 billion worth of games coming to the Xbox One. The fates may dictate a return to Albion very soon. Update: That didn't take long. Lionhead is teasing a Fable HD remake.
Get your hands and eyes to LA and put them on Microsoft's Xbox One next week
Microsoft's Xbox spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb is giving fans a chance to take a very early hands-on look at the Xbox One's new gamepad next week. On Monday June 10th, just a day before the official kickoff of E3, Hryb is taking to Microsoft's Century City company store and allotting a solid 90 minutes for controller touching, as well as ogling of the new box and its always-on Kinect. Wouldn't you know it, that's right during Sony's PlayStation 4 press conference! As the event is both free and full of loosed next-gen hardware, Hryb suggests showing up well ahead of time -- we'll be on-hand, snapping your picture and distributing high fives. He also teases, "one or two other surprises" as well, which we're hoping isn't a free Kin for every person who gets in.
The Daily Roundup for 05.28.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The After Math: An Xbox One special
Welcome to The After Math, where we attempt to summarize this week's tech news through numbers, decimal places and percentages. We doubt you missed it, but Microsoft unveiled its new games console this week, and it even showed off some Xbox One hardware to prove it. While the new name is offering casual gamers a bit of confusion -- Google "Xbox One" for a taste -- the specifications sound like they could make for one very potent console. Billions of transistors? We're just hoping they ensure there's plenty of Covenant to shoot in the requisite Halo sequel. There was a very heavy focus on TV, Call of Duty and sports games, so plenty of big-hitter titles to get excited about. But numbers and decimals make us just as happy, so join us for plenty of 'em after the break.
The Weekly Roundup for 05.20.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Switched On: One box to rule them all
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. When Microsoft introduced the original Xbox, the company had a lot to prove. The console newcomer promised that it was laser-focused on building a great system for games. There wasn't much to distract it. In a time of DVDs and dial-up, "convergence" in the space was focused on the ability for consoles to play back movies rented at Blockbuster. But everyone knew that the new kid on the box had an agenda beyond taking its share of industry profits away from Nintendo and Sony. Particularly versus the latter, Microsoft knew it would be engaged in a war for the living room and the future of digital entertainment distribution including, but beyond games. Nothing came close to matching the processing power that consoles had brought to the living room, but no one had really cracked the broader application beyond disc-based games. It surely wasn't web browsing, as Nintendo and Sony had tried. Still, as streaming services from Netflix, Hulu, Pandora and others began to proliferate across lots of different add-on boxes, it made sense to add them onto Xbox Live (even if the programming wasn't) as well as the PlayStation Network.
Report: Xbox One has remote play between consoles so a friend can help
Unnamed sources speaking with Polygon say the Xbox One has a remote play feature between consoles, both hardwired and online, allowing friends to take over gameplay remotely. The demonstration the sources claim to have witnessed featured one Xbox One connecting to another using "a local hardwired connection between consoles," with a Skype call bridging the two users. A similar feature is available on Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 4, both between consoles and via PlayStation Vita. The other piece of the report adds to a bit we already knew concerning the new Kinect. "At some point, we'll be able to have conversational understanding," Microsoft hardware lead Todd Holmdahl told us last week. That "some point" may be sooner than later, as Microsoft reps were apparently already demonstrating the functionality, and said it'll be available either at launch or "post-launch within the first few months."
The Daily Roundup for 05.24.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This week on gdgt: Toshiba brings a Retina-class display to Windows
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their latest picks -- along with a few you should probably avoid. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
Editor's Letter: One more Xbox
In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. Can you believe we've had the Xbox 360 since 2005? As a child of the two- or three-year console cycle, a system still going strong after eight seems inconceivable. Finally, it's being put out to pasture -- somewhat unceremoniously. The Xbox One is its successor and, with no backwards compatibility for disc-based or downloaded games, those looking to make the leap to the next generation in the fall will already want to start weaning themselves from Microsoft's current wunderconsole. It'll make it easier for both of you when it comes time to unplug it. And you probably will want to unplug it and make the upgrade, though to be fair there's plenty to be cynical about with the Xbox One. So, I'll get that out of the way first, starting with the name. Microsoft is trying to send the message that the new Xbox is the only device you'll need to control your living room. That may be, but One? HTC, of course, called its latest flagship the One, but that was a case of a company distancing itself from previous, complicated naming schemes and going with something simpler. Here, there have been only two previous generations of the Xbox. Calling the third one the "One" is simply confusing. Still, it beats "Xbox Foo," which is what Microsoft's initial press release mentioned. Someone, it seems, got the memo on the official name a little too late.
Engadget Podcast 345: Xbox One debrief - 05.23.13
Still restless from the Xbox One unveiling, we bring you episode 345 of the Engadget Podcast. This time around, Peter Rojas and Tim Stevens grace the microphones (Brian sadly wasn't able to make it). Ready for our post-event thoughts with sides of Tumblr, Flickr, Yahoo and more? Stream all the audio goodness below or join us past the break to subscribe and watch the video version. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Peter Rojas Producer: Joe Pollicino Hear the podcast:
Distro Issue 92: Building the Xbox One
In case you hadn't heard, Microsoft pulled the wraps off of its next-gen gaming console earlier this week at an event on its Redmond campus. A brand new issue of our slate magazine steps inside the lab where the Xbox One was built for a behind the scenes look at how the new "all-in-one" box came to be. We also offer up our initial impressions of the unit and both its gamepad and Kinect 2.0 peripherals in an extended hands-on. Forum examines Nintendo's next-gen problem, Eyes-On gazes at Numark's handheld accessory and Visualized visits Maker Faire's Bay Area expo. Get comfy, there's a lot to digitally digest via the download repositories below. Distro Issue 92 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Retailers reportedly briefed on how the Xbox One used-games market will work
The stage lights had barely dimmed at the Xbox One event before the internet started tripping over itself with questions about how the second-hand market was expected to operate -- or if there was going to be one at all. Microsoft assured us there would be, but aside from whispers of a used game "activation fee" the finer details were kept under wraps. We may know a little more now, however, as MCV claims to have heard specifics from retailers who have been briefed by Redmond on the trade-in process. Allegedly, shops that wish to buy and sell a title will need to be hooked up to a Microsoft database so that access to the game can be removed from the previous owner's account and transferred to a new one. A retailer can sell the game for whatever it likes, but the system will ensure that a cut goes to publisher as well as Microsoft. It all sounds fairly logical, but who knows? The truth could be even more complicated.
