An update for the console versions of Battlefield 4 that introduces a new user interface for DICE’s shooter has been released. The cleaner menu system is part of the studio’s attempt to establish a unified interface across all Battlefield games.
The changes are included as part of a 4GB patch for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, and are predominantly designed to make it easier for players to get into multiplayer. Menus are much easier to read at a glance thanks to big icons and distinct white text, while tabs scrolled through using shoulder buttons make navigation a bit quicker.
As part of the changes, Battlelog has been removed and there’s a menu that allows players to switch from one Battlefield title to another. You can check out the changes in the video below.
EA has confirmed this new interface will be available in Battlefield 1 when it launches. Battlefield Hardline, meanwhile, will be updated with it a little later.
EA will offer an Ultimate Edition of the game for $130. This consists of the game’s deluxe edition and the Premium Pass. This is separate from the previously announced Collector’s Edition, which apparently won’t come with the Premium Pass.
The Battlefield 1 open beta kicks off soon and, for planning purposes, you might be wondering how long it will last. Unfortunately, DICE isn’t ready to say when the beta will wrap up.
In response to a fan’s question about this, the official Battlefield Twitter channel said, “The open beta begins August 31st, but we don’t have the end date just yet. Stay tuned for more beta info soon.”
If you signed up to to the free Battlefield Insider service before August 21, you can start playing ahead of the official start date, though DICE has not yet offered any specific timing details.
Battlefield Insiders will receive an email containing a code to grab the Battlefield 1 beta on their platform of choice. There is no word yet, however, on when the codes will go out.
“We don’t have a date on when the codes will be sent. Keep an eye on your inbox!” Battlefield said in another tweet. The beta is being held on all platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. It’s an open beta, so come August 31, you can jump right in without needing a code.
With the Battlefield 1 open beta scheduled to begin in just a few more days, the client has apparently appeared on the Xbox Store. While you of course can’t play it, we do learn the Xbox One file size: 6.2 GB.
This information comes from Battlefield fan site Battlefield Bulletin. You can see the Battlefield 1 open beta product page in the tweet below.
The product page for the Battlefield 1 beta does not yet appear to be available on all Xbox One systems, as GameSpot’s search for it this morning yielded no results. It’s also not listed yet on Origin or the PlayStation Store. We’ll report back with new details on the Battlefield 1 beta as they become available.
Starting with resolution for consoles, the PS4 edition runs at native 1080p while the Xbox One version outputs at 900p. Both make use of a “high-quality temporal anti-aliasing solution” for cleaning up edges. However, Digital Foundry explains that this is impacted by an “aggressive, non-defeatable sharpening effect that produces visible edge ringing across the image.”
As for the PC version, the resolution will depend on your hardware setup. On computers, Mankind Divided can disable both the options above independently and also makes use of MSAA. However, there is apparently a cost to this; “its impact on memory consumption–and indeed performance–is high,” Digital Foundry said.
As for frame rate, both PS4 and Xbox One aim for 30 FPS and “generally” manage to hold up, though each is not without its issues.
“Each of the main areas within Prague tend to impact frame rate while simply moving around the world, a problem possibly tied to asset streaming as these problems can clear up once data is finished loading,” Digital Foundry said. “The game uses an adaptive v-sync solution, resulting in screen-tear along the top portion of the image when either game drops below its target.”
This happens more often on Xbox One, the report said, but both versions face it. The good news is that it doesn’t happen all that often, according to Digital Foundry.
“There is a massive gulf in performance between the lowest and highest settings with ultra averaging around 33 frames per second on a GTX 970 when using the in-game benchmark at 1080p,” the report said. “Thankfully, the game itself does run quicker than this during normal gameplay and a mix of high and medium settings were enough to reach 60 frames per second.”
On lower settings, Mankind Divided has “little issue” reaching better frame rates. This is to say that the game should be playable enjoyably across a number of machines. If you’re looking to play in 4K, Digital Foundry said you may need to cap the frame rate at 30 FPS.
No matter what platform you’re playing on, Mankind Divided will deliver a solid experience from a technical perspective, according to Digital Foundry.
“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is looking to be a great game no matter where you play it,” the report said. “The PC version offers the smoothest possible experience provided you have the hardware to handle it, but the console versions are still very good. Of the two, the PlayStation 4 version has an advantage with a smoother frame-rate, a higher resolution and shorter loading times.”
[UPDATE] While an official announcement has not been made, GameSpot found Forza 6 listed as a “Free Play Days” title in the “Gold” section on Xbox One.
The original story is below.
Looking for something new to play this weekend? Microsoft’s racing game Forza Motorsport 6 might be joining the Free Play Days promotion this weekend, letting you play it free for a limited time.
This rumor comes from Reddit (via VideoGamer.com). Someone there posted a picture that shows Forza 6 listed as a “Free Play Days” game, letting them download and play for free.
Microsoft has not yet announced Forza 6 as a Free Play Days title, so this might not end up happening. We’ll report back with more details as they become available.
Previous Free Play Day titles have included Halo 5: Guardians, NBA 2K16, Madden NFL 16, and Rocket League, among others. You typically need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play for free. Also, the promotions typically run for just a weekend, after which you need to pay to continue playing.
The live-action adaptation of anime classic Ghost in the Shell is now in post-production, having wrapped principal photography in June. To date only one official still from the movie has been released, alongside a handful of on-set images. New pictures have now emerged online, that show what the main characters might look like in the upcoming film. Check them out below, alongside their anime counterparts, via Kotaku:
Ghost in the Shell stars Scarlett Johansson as the Major, who leads a futuristic anti-terrorist taskforce known as Section 9. It also features Game of Thrones‘ Pilou Asbæk as the Major’s partner Batou, plus Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, and Michael Pitt. The movie is directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously helmed the fantasy hit Snow White and the Huntsman.
Ghost in the Shell was one of the key anime films to break through to a western audience during the 1990s. It was created by Masamune Shirow, and originally published as a manga series in 1989.
The popularity of the manga led to four anime movies, the latest of which, Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, was released last year. There have also been a number of video games.
In February, it was announced that pioneering animation studio Production IG, who produced the original Ghost in the Shell movie and its TV spinoff Stand Alone Complex, were developing a new anime show called Perfect Bones for Netflix.
Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.
James Cameron’s live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga classic Battle Angel: Alita has been in development for a long time, but casting is now underway. It has been reported that Spectre villain Christoph Waltz is being considered for a key role in the sci-fi action movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Waltz is in talks to play Doctor Dyson Ido, a cybersurgeon who becomes a mentor to the title character. In May, THR reported that Maze Runner star Rosa Salazar had been cast as the film’s lead.
Battle Angel: Alita is to be directed by Sin City‘s Robert Rodriguez, with Cameron producing and writing. Cameron intended to direct the movie for many years, but last year handed over the reins to Rodriguez, who is also known for the likes of From Dusk Till Dawn, Desperado, and the Spy Kids movies.
In October, Cameron told Variety: “Robert and I have been looking for a film to do together for years, so I was pumped when he said he wanted to do Battle Angel. He’s very collaborative and we’re already like two kids building a go-kart, just having fun riffing creatively and technically.
“This project is near and dear to me, and there’s nobody I trust more than Robert, with his technical virtuosity and rebel style, to take over the directing reins. We’re looking forward to learning a lot from each other while we make a kick-ass epic.”
Battle Angel: Alita is the futuristic story of an amnesiac cyborg who becomes a deadly bounty hunter. It was first published in 1990, and ran for nine volumes until 1995. In 1993, a two-episode anime version was produced, which adapted the first two volumes of the manga.
While Fox are yet to announce a release date for the movie, THR states that the studio is aiming for July 2018.
Sony has enabled 2-Step verification for PlayStation Network accounts, introducing an increased layer of security when trying to login.
“Passwords can be compromised if you use the same password for multiple accounts, click on malicious links, open phishing emails and other methods,” Sony says on the PlayStation website.
“If your password is compromised and becomes known to someone other than yourself, your account will still require a verification code to gain access when you activate 2-Step Verification.”
With 2-Step Verification enabled, a text message will be sent to a linked mobile phone number when you enter your password. The code sent in this text needs to be used to gain access to the account.
“By requiring two forms of identification for sign-in, your account and personal information will be better protected,” Sony added.
Sony doesn’t explicitly say what it will be showing, but it’s hard to imagine it won’t be the rumored console unveiling. Additionally, a slimmer version of the existing PlayStation 4 has leaked, indicating it could also be showcased at the event.
Interested in Konami’s latest soccer game, PES 2017? You can now check it out for free.
A demo for PES 2017 was released today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It features nine teams (including two national sides) and two stadiums, all of which are listed below.
You can pick up the demo right now using these download links: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360. The full game launches on September 13, which is two weeks before rival game FIFA 17 comes out on September 27.
According to PlayStation Universe, a demo for FIFA 17 will come out in early September, featuring teams like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. It will also apparently include stadiums like Stamford Bridge and Centurylink Field.
As explained on the PES website, the team rosters for the PES 2017 demo are based “primarily” from May 2016 data. Additionally, some players in the demo might not be on the team roster for the full, retail version “due to licensing.” The site also mentions a 10,000GP bonus for playing the demo.
A woman has been killed in Japan after she was struck by a man who was playing Pokemon Go while driving, according to police. The driver hit two female pedestrians, killing one and seriously injuring the other, authorities in Tokushima said, according to The Japan Times.
The driver, a 39-year-old man, reportedly told police that he was playing Pokemon Go while driving. The National Police Agency said this is the country’s first fatality related to the popular mobile game.
According to reports cited by Kotaku, the woman who died was a 72-year-old. She was brought to a hospital, where she passed away. The woman who survived was 60 years old, according to the reports. As for the driver, he was reportedly arrested.
Before Pokemon Go’s launch in Japan last month, the country’s government released a flier that spelled out various warnings related to Pokemon Go.
Through in-game messaging, Pokemon Go itself warns players to be aware of their surroundings while playing the game. Pokemon Go encourages players to go out into the real world in search of Pokemon to catch, but playing behind the wheel is obviously a bad idea. A recent update introduced a prompt stressing that you should not playing while driving a car.
