“We get more and more that feeling of this definitely [being] the end of an era for us as a studio,” Druckmann said in the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine (via GamesRadar). “We’ve been with this franchise for almost ten years now from inception all the way to this point. Luckily, we don’t get too much time to dwell on that feeling because we’re so busy, but every once in a while… you know?”
Druckmann also revealed that, after he and Bruce Straley were brought on to co-direct the game in the wake of Amy Hennig’s departure, they decided to change the story significantly.
“I remember when Bruce and I came onto the project. A few weeks later we pitched a pretty new story to the team, kind of like a new direction for the project,” he recalled. “A lot of things were pretty rough and just slotted in, so there was an ending but it wasn’t as well defined, and at some point we defined more of the [plot] thread and a more definitive ending, and we did a second pitch for the team.”
CD Projekt Red is preparing to release a new update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt‘s PC Modkit, featuring bug fixes and new features, among other things
The full list of changes, as published in The Witcher 3’s forums, is below. Community manager Marcin Momot said the update’s release is “right around the corner,” though a specific date was not announced.
Witcher 3 Modkit Changelog
Fixed a bug causing wcc_lite to fail when uncooking the game.
Added the abilty to mod textures from the textures array.
Added a warning information when wcc_lite failed due too long file path.
Claned up wcc_lite output log.
Fixed a bug when some normal maps and speculars were imported incorectlly. Now imported textures which name ends with “_n” and “_s” will be assigned to proper categories.
It is now possible to add new textures using mods.
Several fixes and minor improvements to Script Studio.
Released in August, The Witcher 3’s Modkit, which allows users to modify the game in a number of ways (see the video above for a few examples), was not universally adored. Some fans say it’s not enough. Instead, what they were expecting was a new version of CD Projekt Red’s “REDkit,” a more fleshed out mod tools package that’s currently available for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
FIFA 16 has secured the top spot on the UK sales chart for the week ending October 17, marking the fourth week in a row at No.1 for EA’s football sim. Following it at No.2 is Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, now in its second week at this position.
Prey for the Gods is poised to be the next independently developed game everyone and their Twitter followers will be talking about. Its first trailer has very quickly built up buzz, and it’s easy to see why.
The minute and a half long trailer shows the game to be the neapolitan ice cream of gaming genres, mixing a little bit of Tomb Raider, with some Shadow of the Colossus, and pick any recent scavenge to survive game to top it off.
“Prey for the Gods is a brutal journey set on a desolate frozen island, where your only chance of survival is to destroy the very gods you believe in,” developer No Matter explains.
“You play a lone hero sent to the edge of a dying world to discover the mystery behind a never-ending winter. Arriving with only the clothes on your back, you must survive the colossal dangers that you encounter. To restore balance and reclaim the land from the brink, you will be faced with questions that not even a God knows the answer to.”
The trailer shows PC and Mac as release platforms, but does not provide any indication of a release date. Take a look at some screenshots from the game below.
Valve has released a short video showing off how its Steam Link device bridges the divide between your PC–where you’ve presumably been doing your gaming–and your television.
The video, which features the acting talents of the ever-versatile Team Fortress 2 cast, shows players taking their traditional desktop gaming experience and moving it into the living room, bathroom, laboratory, fridge, and home base.
Steam Link enables game streaming from Steam Machines, PCs, Macs, and Linux PCs within the same network. It supports 1080p gaming at 60Hz .The device will be available from November 10 for $49.99.
Launching alongside it and also priced at $49.99 is the Steam Controller, which features the traditional directional pads and four face buttons, but also includes a touch-sensitive pad that emulates mouse control.
It’s the middle of October, which means Halloween, and its various jack-o-lantern festivals, are upon us. Video game pumpkin carvings are nothing new, but this new Halo 5: Guardians creation is quite impressive. Courtesy of Twitter user Daniel M comes a stunning Master Chief vs. Locke carving. See it below.
With just 10 days to go before the release of Halo 5: Guardians, Microsoft has now announced more details about the game’s multiplayer component regarding its ban policy, skill ranking system, medals, and more.
First up is Halo 5’s ban policy. In an effort to “maintain the quality of the Arena experience and sanctity of competition,” developer 343 Industries will track the following behavior:
Quitting matches
Betrayals or team killing
Idling (AFK)
Intentional suicides
Excessive disconnects
Players who “repeatedly engage” in actions like these will receive temporary bans that prevent them from accessing Arena multiplayer. “The duration of each ban is dependent on the offense and becomes more severe with each successive infraction, so continually killing your teammates to steal the Sniper Rifle will quickly lead to long timeouts from matchmade play,” 343 said.
Below is a roundup of some other details that 343 announced about Halo 5’s multiplayer component.
You will never join an Arena match that’s already in progress, but Warzone matches (which can last 30 minutes or longer) do support join-in-progress.
Competitive Skill Ranking (CSR): When you play Halo 5 for the first time, you’ll first have to complete a series of “placement matches” before receiving a CSR. Finish 10 games and you’ll be placed into one of seven CSR ranks (see them below)
Matchmaking: The algorithm prioritizes match quality “above all else.” This begins by attempting to find other combatants at your exact CSR. If that’s not enough, the pool will be widened to include players who are “around your same skill.”
Seasons: These challenge players to reach the highest CSR possible in one month. They take place in “select Seasonal Arena playlists” and reset every month. Special cosmetic rewards are given to top players.
CSR Ranks and Emblem Designs
The seven ranks are: Bronze, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Onyx, and Champion. After you’re given a starting rank, the only way to increase it is to win more matches, independent of individual performance. “Whether you drop 30 kills in a game of Slayer or single-handedly capture every flag in a CTF match, wins are the only way to improve your CSR,” 343 said.
There are six tiers of each rank; achieve them all and you’ll proceed to the next rank. Lose games, however, and your rank will decrease, though 343 says you’ll never drop an entire rank from losing.
The Onyx and Champion ranks work differently than the rest.
“Once you reach Onyx, you will be shown your raw CSR score,” 343 said. “Winning no longer increases your tier–it instead increases your CSR score. This allows you to compare yourself with greater precision to other players within the Onyx rank. If you establish yourself as one of the top 200 players in a playlist, you will earn the highly coveted rank of Champion and be shown your place within the top 200.”
Check out the designs for each rank in the gallery above.
Commendations:
Returning from Halo: Reach, commendations in Halo 5 reward players for completing tasks in multiplayer. It’s basically the same as you remember it, but this time they have five tiers.
“Every tier of a commendation rewards XP,” 343 said. “Completing tier 3 of a commendation rewards a bonus REQ Pack with boosts and other single-use REQs. The 5th tier of every commendation unlocks a pack containing a specific emblem. This allows a player to flaunt their reward and let everyone know via that emblem and the corresponding back plate that they have put the time in and had the skill required to finish the commendation.”
343 added that it plans to introduce more commendations in the future, while it will also “watch the current ones” to ensure they are “fun and balanced.” Some of the commendations available at launch include Scorpion Gunner (Kill enemy spartans with a Scorpion), Assistant (Earn any Assist medal in Warzone), and Carbine (Kill an enemy Spartan with a Carbine). There are dozens and dozens of commendations in all. See the full lineup here.
Medals:
These will of course return in Halo 5. For this game specifically, they exist for three reasons: “to reward objective play, to earn REQ points, or to highlight incredible feats.” In Warzone, every Medal you earn will increase your level, in turn letting you unlock more powerful REQs. The classics are all here, including Killing Spree, Double Kill, Stuck etc, as well as some new ones like Ground Pound (kill an enemy using the new ground pound ability). Others are available only in Warzone, while some were cut.
“For as many new Medals that appear in Halo 5, there are just as many that we tinkered with during development that didn’t make the cut,” 343 multiplayer designer Max Grossman said.
Concerning the look of the medals, 343’s overall aim was to “preserve the classic feel of the legacy medals while giving all of our Medals a fresh new look.” Take a look at some of the new designs below, while the full lineup of medals available at launch can be seen here.
After three seasons and millions of viewers, Syfy’s transmedia Defiance TV show has been canceled. However, the accompanying game will live on, developer Trion Worlds has confirmed. Defiance the TV show premiered in April 2013 alongside the tie-in game for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
“We’ve had a great time working closely with the team of stellar writers, designers, producers, and actors on the Defiance TV show,” Trion Worlds CEO Scott Hartsman said in a statement to Polygon.
Hartsman added that Defiance the game will “continue exactly as before.”
Friday the 13th Game Announced, Dev Promises Blood, Gore, Guts, Brutal Kills: Masked murderer Jason Voorhees is making a comeback in an officially licensed horror game announced this week. Developers are looking for $700,000 on Kickstarter to make it happen. Click through the link to get the full story.
Nintendo NX Details Revealed: According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo’s mysterious NX system is a console/mobile hybrid that sports “industry-leading” tech. In addition, software development kits for it are reportedly being sent to developers right now, signalling a release possibly in 2016.
In an effort to build a more authentic game, EA developers on the Star Wars Battlefront team attended seminars with Lucasfilm. How cool is that? Get the full story here.
Having sold more than 65 million copies, the Halo franchise is now worth an estimated $4.6 billion, Microsoft has announced. And this is before the release of Halo 5 on October 27. Dang.
This is not a joke. Arma developer Bohemia Interactive bought a tank, a decommissioned T-72. Here are some quick facts, courtesy of Bohemia, while a video follows below.
The tank was originally used by the Czechoslovak People’s Army and its successors.
The tank driving controls have been disabled.
The tank’s cannon has been disabled and can only be rotated manually (this would normally be machine-operated).
The tank needs to be driven at least once a year to keep it operational.
The tank can only be transported over public roads during the night and this requires a special permit (in the Czech Republic).
Decades after its initial release, The Oregon Trail is still making headlines. No, no, no. This is ORGAN Trail. A Complete Edition of the game was released this week, and developers even prepared a pretty cool live-action video. Watch it below.
XCOM series creator Julian Gollop was “outraged” when he heard that the franchise he created was being turned into an FPS with the game The Bureau: Declassified. Get his full quotes here.
Double Fine’s Day of the Devs campaign continues for its third year when it’s held on November 7. The one-day gathering aims to celebrate the “creativity, diversity” and magic” of indie games. Yeah! Read more about it here.
EA’s new mobile game Minions Paradise, based on the hugely popular animated series, is out now. Among other things, it introduces a brand-new character named Phil. Get it today on iOS and Android.
IGN has an excellent, in-depth feature regarding EA’s “Player-First” mentality and exactly how that’s been fulfilled since CEO Andrew Wilson first revealed the plan. This is a good read.
It’s not gaming-related, but it’s SO COOL. You need to watch robots play Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” You do.
Mario voice actor Charles Martinet plays Super Mario Maker in this excellent video, making the iconic Mario noises and catchphrases along the way. He then makes his own level himself. This video is pure gold.
Here’s a good interview with Eidos Montreal about how they’re going about ensuring that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided can appeal to both RPG and shooter fans alike. A tall task, for sure. Watch the interview here.
Even more free DLC is coming to EA Sports’ new PGA Tour game, Rory McIlory PGA Tour. The content includes new golfers, courses, modes, and more. Get the full rundown here.
Check out this new Assassin’s Creed Syndicate trailer, which highlights the real-world historical figures that will show up in it, like Karl Marx, Alexander Graham Bell, and Charles Darwin. Pretty cool!
GameStop is holding a Halloween Sale to mark the spooky holiday. See everything on sale, games, merch, and more, at the retailer’s website.
With Valve’s various Steam Machines launching next month, gamers will finally be able get to their hands on these compact gaming PCs. To help you get the full details before you potentially take the plunge, we’ve compiled all the Steam Machine’s first wave details you need to know!
This collection of over a dozen small living-room PCs–each with their own different specs, prices, and release dates–together encapsulate Valve’s vision for Steam Machines: Scalable and modifiable units that aren’t the typical desktop setup.
Each box will come with SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system designed by Valve, along with a Steam Controller. We recently did impressions on the controller itself, which you can watch in the above video.
If you’d like to learn more about the Steam Machine and the Steam Controller, check out our full coverage in the links below:
Because the system runs on Steam OS, you won’t have access to the complete Steam library; only Linux-supported games will work on the machine. For a full run down on what you can play, SteamDB has a comprehensive list of compatible titles.
Listed below are all 14 current units, with final details and images. Those interested in buying can also find these machines on the Steam Store page. They will also be available for purchase at GameStop.
Alienware Steam Machines
Price: $480 upwards. Release date: Due November 10. Steam Page.
Gaming laptop specialist Alienware offers a living-room PC with a glowing alien logo on its front panel, which depending on your taste is either a wonderful idea or cast-iron deal-breaker. There are four variants available, with the most basic offering 2GB of video memory, 4GB of system RAM, and an i3 processor. The high-end model doubles the system RAM and swaps the processor for an i7, making it a far more forward-thinking system. Pricing on the more advanced systems, however, is not available yet. All units can play up to 4 Steam Controllers at once.
Specs:
Alienware Steam Machine A
CPU: Intel Core i3 Dual-Core processor
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX – 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 4GB DDR3L 1600MHz
Storage: 500GB Hard Drive
Alienware Steam Machine B
CPU: Intel Core i3 Dual-Core processor
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX – 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3L 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB Hard Drive
Alienware Steam Machine C
CPU: Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX – 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3L 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB Hard Drive
Alienware Steam Machine D
CPU: Intel Core i7 Quad-Core processor
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX – 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3L 1600MHz
Storage: 2TB Hard Drive
Alternate Steam Machines
Price: $1100 upwards. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
Alternate is positioning itself for the more affluent PC games enthusiast. Its range of Steam Machines start at $1100, and for this you can expect an NVIDIA Geforce GTX 750Ti and 8GB of system memory. That’s not too distant from the more affordable Alienware system, but the key difference is Alternate’s Steam box comes with a 500GB solid-state hybrid drive, which will theoretically make things run faster.
Specs:
Alternate Steam Machine
Price: $1,099 USD
CPU: Intel Core i3-4130
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 750Ti
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600MHz
Storage: 500GB SSHD
Alternate Steam Machine – Advanced
Price: $1,299 USD
CPU: Intel Core i5-4570
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600MHz
Storage: 1TB SSHD
Alternate Steam Machine – Power
Price: $1,499 USD
CPU: Intel Core i5-4570
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 970
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600MHz
Storage: 1TB SSHD
Alternate Steam Machine – Ultra
Price: $1,899 USD
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 980
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600MHz
Storage: 2TB SSHD
Asus ROG GR8S
Price: $700 upwards. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
Hardware jack-of-all-trades Asus offers a compact PC tower with a unique, angular look. As well as being visually arresting, it’s also designed to be upgradable with straightforward slide-off panels. The unit starts at $700 for a Intel i5, a GeForce 9 graphics card, and 4GB of system memory. The range on offer has some customisability too, with the option of paying extra of a solid-state hard drive.
Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5/i7 processors
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9-series graphics
Memory: DDR3 4GB ~ 16GB
Storage: 500GB/1TB 7200rpm HDD, or 128GB ~ 512GB SSD
One for the traditionalists, the Digital Storm Eclipse comes in a familiar frame that can either stack vertically or horizontally. One of the benefits of this standardised size is that its graphics card can be swapped out, while other key components are upgradable too. Opting for a hard drive instead of solid state, the Digital Storm Eclipse offers 1 terabyte of storage at a reasonable price.
Specs:
CPU: Intel Pentium G3220
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960 2GB
RAM: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB 7200RPM Machnical
Falcon Northwest Tiki Steam Machine
Price: $2000 – $5000. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
Just four inches wide and 13 inches tall, Tiki is a premium micro-tower that is described by manufacturer Falcon Northwest as the world’s most powerful. It also has a shot at being the most expensive too, with top-of-the-line models fetching $5,000. GPUs range from GeForce 9 series to the Titan-Z class, with up to 8 terabytes of solid-state memory, and a liquid-cooled Intel i7. Comes in a range of colours too, which you can see in the gallery above. One thing worth asking yourself before you give into temptations to splurge: how much would this actually cost if I made it myself?
Specs:
CPU: Intel Core up to i7-4790K
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 900 series, including Titan and Titan-Z class
Memory: Up to 16GB of DDR3-1866 MHz
Storage: Up to 8 TB of SSD or SSDs and a standard HDD
Completely customizable configurations
Liquid cooled CPU
Overclocking available
Gigabyte BRIX Pro
Price: $600. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
Though some might find its stout body a little uninviting, Gigabyte’s BRIX Pro is tiny, measuring just 62mm high and 114mm wide and deep. This barebones unit shrinks its size so rapidly by integrating its GPU onto its Intel i7 chip. The likelihood is you’ll need to turn settings down on modern PC games. It also will require additional laptop memory and a 2.5 inch drive before it’s up and running.
Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770R
GPU: Intel Iris Pro graphics 5200
Memory: 2 x SO-DIMM DDR3L slots 1600 MHz
Storage: Supports 2.5” SSD/HDD (1 x 6Gbps SATA3)
Maingear Drift
Price: $850 upwards. Release date: Due November.Steam Page.
It would be somewhat futile to gauge the value of the Drift since Maingear lists the cheapest price and the highest spec, but does not detail the prices relative to the specs. At maximum, the machine offers an i7 processor and a GTX 980, with the option to throw in up to 16GB of system memory, and two 1TB solid-state hard drives. It uses liquid cooling so will likely be quieter too.
Specs:
CPU: Up to Intel Core 4790K
GPU: Up to NVIDIA Geforce GTX 980 and AMD R9 290X
Storage: Up to 2x 1TB SSD and 1x 6TB 3.5’ HDD
RAM: Up to 16GB of DDR 3 Memory
Other: Epic 120 Liquid Cooling
Materiel.net Steam Machine
Price: $900. Release date: Due November.Steam Page.
Looking past its curious look (slightly resembling an unfinished washing machine), Material.net’s imaginatively titled Stream Machine packs an i5 processor with a GeForce GTX 960, and a 1TB hybrid drive. The system memory spec isn’t final yet, so it’s hard to determine the true value of this set.
Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 4440
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960 OC
Memory: TBD
Storage: SSHD – 1TB To (8GB Nand)
NextBox
Price: $800 – $1300. Release date: Due November.Steam Page.
Straddling the line between creative inspiration and copyright violation, the NextBox offers a trio of mid-to-high-end systems emblazoned with a green X logo. Word of warning: Some might mistake it for an amp. The low-end unit offers an i3 processor, a GTX 750, 8GB or system memory, and 1TB hard drive for $800.
Specs:
NextBox Steam Machine – $800
CPU: Intel Core I3 4160
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 750
Memory: 8Gb DDR3
Storage: 1TB
NextBox Steam Machine – TBD
CPU: Intel Core I3 4160
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960
Memory: 8Gb DDR3
Storage: 1TB
CPU: Intel Core I5 4460
NextBox Steam Machine – $1300
CPU: Intel® Core™ I5 4460
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 970
Memory: 8Gb DDR3
Storage: 512GB SSD
Origin Omega Steam Machine
In a game of PC spec oneupmanship, OriginPC’s Omega will prove hard to beat. The high-end model offers 32GB of DDR3 system memory, an Intel i7 4770k, up to three Nvidia GTX980 cards, and up to 14TB of disc space. That’ll fetch you $5000, while the more modest systems start at $900. It also comes in a range of form factors, from bulky boxes to units that resemble hi-fi seperates.
Specs:
Price: $899 – $4,999+ USD
CPU: Up to an Intel Core i7 4770k
GPU: Up to 3-WAY Nvidia Geforce GTX 980
Memory: Up to 32GB of 1866Mhz
Storage: Up to 14TB
Scan 3XS ST Steam Machine
Price: $1000 – $1300. Release date: Due November.Steam Page.
Offering a console-sized system that’s fully upgradable throughout, Scan’s 3XS ST range offers three variants of a premium living-room PC. At $1000, the 3XSST offers 8GB of system memory, a GeForce GTX 750 Ti, and Intel i3 processor, and 120GB solid-state drive. Upgrading to the i5 and a GTX 970 will cost about $300 more.
Specs
Scan 3XS ST5 Steam Machine – $1000
CPU: Intel Core i3
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 750 Ti
Memory: 8GB of Corsair DDR3 as standard, with 16GB available
Storage: 120GB SSD as standard, with larger options available
Scan 3XS ST10 Steam Machine – $1160
CPU: Intel Core i5
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960
Memory: 8GB of Corsair DDR3 as standard, with 16GB available
Storage: 120GB SSD as standard, with larger options available
Scan 3XS ST15 Steam Machine – $1300
CPU: Intel Core i5
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 970
Memory: 8GB of Corsair DDR3 as standard, with 16GB available
Storage: 120GB SSD as standard, with larger options available
Syber Steam Machine
Price: $500 – 1400. Release date: Due November 10. Steam Page.
Syber is offering the widest range of Steam Machines, from humble $500 units (4GB RAM, AMD Athlon X4, 2GB Radeon R9) to high-end $1400 systems (8GB RAM, Intel i7, GTX 980 4GB). It resembles a PlayStation 2 if it were designed by Batman, with its corrugated plastic available in a range of hues.
Specs
Syber Steam Machine A
Price: $500
CPU: AMD Athlon X4 840
GPU: AMD Radeon R9 270 2GB
Memory: 4GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 500GB 7200 RPM HDD
Syber Steam Machine I
Price: $700
CPU: Intel Core i3 4150
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 750Ti 2GB
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
Syber Steam Machine X
Price: $1400
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 980 4GB
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
Webhallen S15-01
Price: $950 upwards. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
Fans of Fred Perry apparel might have thought the outfitter has expanded into PCs when admiring the designer look of the S15-01. Manufacturer Webhallen says it has built the unit from the ground-up with optimum price in mind. It packs together an Intel i5, a 2GB GTX 960 and a 1TB solid-state hard drive for $950.
Specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460
GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960 2GB
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB SSHD
Zotac Steam Machine SN970
Price: $1000. Release date: Due November. Steam Page.
The SN970 delivers premium specs within a diminutive case, which explains the $1000 price tag. Zotac says the CPU will be Intel 6th gen, but didn’t specify, along with a 1TB Laptop-size hard drive, plus a 64GB SSD for zippy booting. Perhaps the standout feature is the 3GB GDDR5 GeForce 970M.
