Player's Choice Video Game Superstore

Category: Gamespot

  • Free Mario Items Come to Minecraft Wii U Next Week

    Free Mario Items Come to Minecraft Wii U Next Week

    The Wii U version of Minecraft is adding a series of Super Mario Bros. items through the soon-to-launch Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, Nintendo announced today. The items, which include things like a Super Mario-themed pre-made world, Mario music, and skins, will come to Minecraft Wii U for free on May 17.

    This content will be delivered through a free game update on that day. Additionally, the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will be included on the Minecraft Wii U game disc when it launches on June 17, priced at $30.

    “Both the Super Mario franchise and Minecraft embrace the magic of exploration and discovery,” Nintendo VP of publisher and developer relations Steve Singer said in a statement. “Players will have a great time adventuring and creating in this free game update that embraces the unique and memorable elements of both franchises.”

    The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack includes 40 themed skins for characters like Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, as well as bad guys like Bowser, Wario, and all of the Koopalings.

    “All the world and item textures in the game will also be redone, providing players the opportunity to create their own Super Mario-themed locations within the world of Minecraft,” reads a line from today’s press release. “While building, players will even enjoy listening to the smooth sounds of 15 pieces of music from Super Mario 64. Builders of all ages will love crafting massive new worlds using building blocks inspired by a series as accessible and recognizable as Super Mario.”

    There was no mention of the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack coming to the Xbox or PlayStation versions of Minecraft. For its part, the Xbox version of Minecraft has exclusive Halo skins. Microsoft owns Minecraft and developer Mojang.

    You can get a closer look at the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack items in the video and image galley above.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Forza 6 Leak Reveals NASCAR Expansion

    Forza 6 Leak Reveals NASCAR Expansion

    Following this year’s Porsche expansion for Microsoft’s Xbox One racing game Forza Motorsport 6, it appears another is on the way, themed around NASCAR. Reddit user smakel101 posted a picture of a download card for the unannounced expansion. Take a look (via WindowsCentral):

    The download card shows UK pricing. However, if the NASCAR expansion is indeed real, it is expected that it would also launch in the United States, where the auto-racing events are very popular.

    Forza 6 already has NASCAR courses like Daytona International Speedway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The rumored expansion is said to add Miami Homestead and presumably others, in addition to cars and other items.

    GameSpot has contacted Microsoft in an attempt to get more details. We will update this post with anything we hear back.

    In other news about the Forza brand, the beta for a version of Forza 6 titled “Apex Edition” launched Windows 10 PCs last week. It represents the first Forza game ever released on PC. Looking ahead, Microsoft has confirmed that all future Forza games will be made for console and PC.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Resident Evil Getting "Full-Scale Offensive" From Capcom This Year

    Resident Evil Getting "Full-Scale Offensive" From Capcom This Year

    The release of Resident Evil shooter spinoff Umbrella Corps next month represents just a “warm up” for what Capcom has in store for the full year, the Japanese company teased today.

    In Capcom’s newest earnings report, released today, the company said Umbrella Corps is a “warm up to the full-scale offensive planned for the second half of the year.”

    This is not necessarily a reference to Resident Evil 7, which is rumored to be in development. In the statement, Capcom pointed out that the Resident Evil series is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, so it could be that the “full-scale offensive” is in reference to the company’s celebration plans.

    Whatever the case, GameSpot will bring you more news as it becomes available.

    Umbrella Corp launches on June 21 for PC and PlayStation 4, priced at $30. The game was originally scheduled to come out in May, but was delayed to give developers extra time to “optimize” for launch. An Xbox One version of the game has not been announced.

    As for Capcom’s financials, the company reported that, despite Street Fighter V’s underpeformance, the company still saw its profit climb.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Don't Rush Through Uncharted 4, Director Says

    Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End co-director Bruce Straley has advised players not to rush through the action-adventure game’s campaign. Writing on Twitter, Straley said Uncharted 4 is “not like the last three” entries in the series. He encouraged players to slow down and “enjoy the moment.”

    #Uncharted4 Trick Tip: Take your time. Its not like the last 3. Don’t try to gobble it down in one sitting. Settle in. Enjoy the moment.

    — Bruce Straley (@bruce_straley) May 6, 2016

    Straley didn’t say why he recommends playing Uncharted 4 in this manner, but one possibility is because of the game’s story. The ominous-sounding subtitle suggests something serious will happen when all is said and done, so to better appreciate the story, it follows that you may not want to zip through it. Of course, you can play the game however you want, and it is understandable that some fans would want to reach the end quickly to see what happens.

    Also related to Uncharted 4’s story, the game’s other director, Neil Druckmann, warned that “lots of spoilers” will start showing up online today, May 9. “Stay strong. You’re almost there,” he said.

    Uncharted 4 launches on May 10 exclusively for PlayStation 4. Reviews for the game started to show up last week, and critics are handing out high praise. It is the last game in the series Naughty Dog plans to make and the final one that stars Nathan Drake. However, there could be an Uncharted 5.

    GameSpot scored Uncharted 4 a 10/10.

    “In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to,” critic Mike Mahardy said. “It’s a shining example. And we’ll be talking about it for years to come.”

    For more on the game’s critical reception, check out this review roundup.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Crash Bandicoot Rights Still Belong to Activision, Sony Confirms

    The rights to Naughty Dog’s Crash Bandicoot series continue to be held by Call of Duty publisher Activision. This was reiterated recently on Twitter by Adam Boyes, a VP of publisher relations for Sony.

    Here is the tweet in question (via VideoGamer.com):

    @tulupowdan yes, as I’ve said before Activision owns the rights to Crash Bandicoot

    — Adam Boyes (@amboyes) May 8, 2016

    You can read this spoiler-filled post to find out why Crash Bandicoot is in the news again.

    In July 2014, Crash Bandicoot creator Naughty Dog–which is owned by Sony–said it was open to the idea of making a new entry in the series someday. “We never forget our past and it’d be great for nostalgic reasons,” Naughty Dog’s Arne Meyer said about returning to the franchise.

    However, it doesn’t sound like this would happen anytime soon. Meyer explained that a new Crash Bandicoot, or a fourth Jak & Daxter game, don’t match up very well with the developer’s current trajectory.

    “I don’t know if it’s playing to our strengths right now,” Meyer said about making new entries in its classic franchises instead of moving ahead with story-driven, cinematic style games like Uncharted and The Last of Us.

    The latest title to bear the jorts-wearing Bandicoot’s name was mobile game Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2 in 2010. Despite this, Activision said in 2013 that it “continue[s] to explore ways in which we could bring the beloved series back to life.”

    It’s been rumored lately that the Crash Bandicoot series is coming back. In February 2016, the PlayStation Middle East Twitter account posted the tweet below, the English translation of which is, “Most wanted person… where are you Crash?”

    أكثر شخص مطلوب… أين أنت يا كراش؟ pic.twitter.com/aj85Ap018v

    — PlayStation Mid East (@PlayStation_ME) February 6, 2016

    Also that month, the director of toy company NECA mentioned a Crash Bandicoot revival, but the company later put out a statement saying the comments were “misunderstood.”

    Before that, at PlayStation Experience in December 2015, PlayStation boss Shawn Layden wore a Crash t-shirt, but no Crash announcements were made during the show.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • New Assassin Creed Movie Images Showcase Michael Fassbender in Action

    New Assassin Creed Movie Images Showcase Michael Fassbender in Action

    The hugely anticipated adaptation of Ubisoft’s action-adventure series Assassin’s Creed is now in post-production, and some new images from the movie have now been revealed. Check them out below, via the Spanish site Omelete:

    Assassin’s Creed stars Michael Fassbender and comes to cinemas on December 21, 2016. The movie is directed by Justin Kurzel, who helmed last year’s Macbeth, which also featured Fassbender in the lead role. His Macbeth co-star Marion Cotillard will also appear, alongside Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and Michael Kenneth Williams.

    In March it was reported a sequel was already in development, and that Fassbender was on board. Despite the track record of mediocrity of many video game adaptions, the calibre of the cast and Ubisoft’s commitment to creative control over this project are unusual.

    Additionally, because there is no new mainline Assassin’s Creed game coming this year, the movie’s marketing team has more space and opportunity to promote the film.

    In a recent interview with Empire, Fassbender cited The Matrix as an inspiration for Assassin’s Creed. “This idea of DNA memory elevates it from a basic fantasy genre [piece], because you have something an audience can actually believe in,” he said. “Then the journey becomes so much more elevated, because you’re on board in a different way.”

    Fassbender also said the movie will not rely heavily on CG shots. The film will include the franchise’s trademark “leap of faith” jumps, and at least one of which was performed by a stuntman who leapt 120 feet without a rope.

    It has also been reported that a VR experience is being developed, to tie into the release of Assassin’s Creed. As reported by Eurogamer, it will feature scenes “filmed alongside the movie.” It is being made by Fox Studios and the VR company Practical Magic.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Bloodstained: Ritual of The Night Dev Details DLC Plans

    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, will have a “staggered” release for DLC expansions, according to developer Inti Creates.

    Posting on the game’s fan forums, a dev said “Bloodstained is going to be a huge game” and likened the game’s DLC release strategy to that of Shovel Knight, which received its Plague of Shadows expansion over a year after initial launch.

    Similarly, Azure Striker Gunvolt, which was also developed by Inti Creates, was updated with six months of additional content following its launch.

    “It can be confirmed that Bloodstained will follow a staggered content release,” the dev said. “Some portion of the game will release first and then additional content (as outlined by the Kickstarter) will follow in the months to come.

    “How much of the game will be there at launch day (Just the main game? More?) is unclear and probably hasn’t been decided yet but at the very least we should be able to avoid an extremely protracted release as with Mighty No. 9. We are still a longs way off from the game being done so of course anything could change.”

    In January, Koji Igarashi, designer of a number of acclaimed Castlevania titles and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, showed off visual styles and tweaks to one of the playable characters.

    Although Deep Silver is publishing Bloodstained, the game’s development was partially crowdfunded. Pledges for Bloodstained passed $3.5 million, securing a PlayStation Vita release for the game.

    Bloodstained is planned to launch in 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, PC, and Wii U. The game will be available digitally and physically, and PlayStation versions will support cross-save.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Five Nights at Freddy's Console Remakes in Discussion

    Five Nights at Freddy's Console Remakes in Discussion

    Popular PC horror series Five Nights at Freddy’s could be released on consoles, according to creator Scott Cawthon, who has said he’s in discussions with “a few companies” to make it happen.

    Posting on the game’s Steam community page, Cawthon responded to a question from a fan asking about whether the series could come to consoles, in particular the Wii U.

    “Have you ever thought of about porting one of them to a console?,” he was asked, to which he replied, “Actually, yes! It will happen. I’m talking with a few companies who are interested in doing console remakes of the original games.”

    Cawthon’s statements indicated the remakes, should they happen, would be the first four Five Nights at Freddy’s titles, and not the RPG spin-off Five Nights at Freddy’s World.

    The indie point-and-click horror series started with players having to survive a night at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, which is inspired by popular American chain restaurant Chuck-E-Cheese. The restaurant’s animatronic animals roam around freely at night and, as the security guard, the player must keep an eye on them. Over time, it is revealed something more sinister is going on.

    The three follow-up titles expand on the first game’s lore, building a universe for the series. Its success proved to be attractive to Hollywood studios and, in April 2005, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to develop a movie based on the property.

    A director, cast, or script has not yet been announced, but high-profile Hollywood names have come aboard to produce it. Roy Lee (The Departed, The LEGO Movie) and Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg of KatzSmith Productions (the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel) are signed on as producers.

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Top 10 UK Sales Chart: Battleborn Debuts at No.1

    Gearbox Software’s Battleborn debuts at No.1 on the UK sales chart for the week ending May 7. According to sales monitor Chart-Track, it is the first game to do so from publisher Take-Two since Grand Theft Auto V over a year ago.

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 maintains its position at No.2, ahead of Ratchet & Clank, which was last week’s top performer. Grand Theft Auto 5, meanwhile, moves up four positions to No.4, and is followed by Tom Clancy’s The Division at No.5.

    You can see the full top ten in the list below. This table does not include digital sales data, and thus should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.

    1. Battleborn
    2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
    3. Ratchet & Clank
    4. Grand Theft Auto V
    5. Tom Clancy’s The Division
    6. Far Cry Primal
    7. Lego Marvel Avengers
    8. Dark Souls 3
    9. EA Sports UFC 2
    10. FIFA 16

    Powered by WPeMatico

  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Dev Praises Battlefield 1 Announcement

    Following DICE’s Battlefield 1 announcement on Friday, competitor Infinity Ward (Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare) has come out to praise the World War 1 shooter’s announcement and more.

    Writing on Facebook (via DualShockers), Infinity Ward said about Battlefield 1’s announcement, “It’s a great reveal trailer. Kudos to the DICE team.” You can see the comment, and the context for it, below.

    Elsewhere, Infinity Ward director of communications Eric Monacelli said on Twitter, “Congrats to the @EA_DICE team on the reveal. Great song choice, looks superb with interesting mechanics teased. #BattlefieldWorldPremiere.”

    Battlefield 1’s announcement video (watch it here) used a version of The White Stripes hit “Seven Nation Army,” while Infinite Warfare’s trailer was set to a heavier version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

    Other Infinity Ward developers also spoke to out to praise Battlefield 1’s announcement; head to DualShockers to see a recap of who said what.

    Infinite Warfare and Battlefield 1 are direct competitors in the FPS space. Battlefield 1 comes out first, launching on October 21, while Infinite Warfare is slated to debut on November 4.

    For more on both games, check out all of GameSpot’s coverage through the links below.

    In other news about kind words from competitors, Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently praised Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, an action-adventure game that is exclusive to Sony’s PlayStation 4.

    Powered by WPeMatico