Category: Gamespot

Publishing giant Electronic Arts has announced the date and time for its upcoming press conference at next month’s Gamescom, one of the world’s biggest video game conventions.

According to reported invitations currently making the rounds, EA’s briefing will take place Wednesday, August 5, starting at 9:30 AM in Germany.

That comes out to 12:30 AM PDT / 3:30 AM EDT. Better brew some strong coffee.

EA’s press conference is scheduled to run 90 minutes. The publisher did not say what it will talk about during the event, but we’d be surprised if Star Wars Battlefront doesn’t make an appearance.

We have followed up with EA in an attempt to confirm the briefing date/time.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Gamescom press conference–during which the company will talk about Xbox One exclusives missing from E3–is slated for Tuesday, August 4, starting at 7 AM PDT / 10 AM EDT. Sony is not holding a Gamescom briefing this year, instead choosing to make announcements at Paris Games Week in October.

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The PC version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will not launch on the same day as the Xbox One iteration.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed the details on Twitter recently. “Gears on Windows 10 is later than Xbox One version,” he said in response to questions from fans.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for PC was announced at E3 2015 last month with no mention of a release date whatsoever. The game supports 4K resolution, but Microsoft has not announced any other further details about PC-specific features.

The Xbox One version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition launches August 25 for $40. Also on that date, Microsoft will release a new $350 Xbox One bundle that includes a copy of the game.

As its name suggests, the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a remaster of the 2006 original Gears of War. In addition to better visuals, the game features five missions that were cut from the Xbox 360 version of the game so the game could launch on time.

In addition, everyone who buys the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will receive access to the Gears of War 4 beta on Xbox One; this beta begins in spring 2016.

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The court battle against Microsoft over a reported Xbox 360 design problem that causes disc-scratching is moving forward this week. Ars Technica reports that the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday set the table for Microsoft to potentially eventually face a class-action lawsuit over the issues.

Judges Johnnie B. Rawlinson and Carlos T. Bea voted to deny Microsoft’s petition for rehear the case with a larger group of judges. This is called an En Banc Rehearing. According to the decision, “No further petitions for rehearing or rehearing en banc will be accepted.”

This week’s proceedings follow another court decision in March, when judges ruled that the disc-scratching case could move forward as a class-action lawsuit.

The case, which dates back to 2007, claims that Microsoft “negligently designed and manufactured” the console. Plaintiffs in this case allege that the Xbox 360 optical disc drive is “unable to withstand even the smallest of vibrations, and that during normal game playing conditions discs spin out of control and crash into internal console components, resulting in scratched discs that are rendered permanently unplayable.”

Microsoft, on the other hand, argues that the vast majority of the Xbox 360 systems don’t have any problems with scratched discs. In a statement, Microsoft said only 0.4 percent of systems are affected by disc-scratching. The company further argues that the main cause of gouged discs is actually consumer misuse, not a product defect.

As of June 2014, Microsoft had sold more than 84 million Xbox 360s worldwide since the console originally launched in November 2005.

You can view the full court statement through this PDF.

This is not the first time Microsoft has faced legal action over reported problems with Xbox 360 hardware. Following the system’s release in 2005, a man sued Microsoft over claims that the system had a design flaw that made it overheat. Microsoft has also faced legal battles concerning the Xbox 360’s infamous “Red Ring of Death” hardware issue. This problem cost Microsoft more than $1 billion.

Looking to the new generation, Microsoft in summer 2013 updated the Xbox One terms of service to block class-action lawsuits against the company. Microsoft is not the only major game maker to forbid class-action lawsuits. Sony’s PlayStation terms of service restrict gamers from suing the company en masse, while Valve also blocks class-action suits.

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Capcom has shared new images and details about Necalli, the brand new character recently confirmed for upcoming fighting game Street Fighter V.

Writing on the Capcom Unity blog, Capcom posted a handful of images (see them in the gallery below) and provided an overview of Necalli and his brutal moves.

Here is Capcom’s official description for Necalli, whom the publisher describes as a “straightfoward, hard-hitting character” who specializes in a variety of close-range attacks.

“Hailing from a mysterious background, Necalli utilizes a wild, animalistic fighting style to brutalize his opponents. There’s no finesse here as all of his attacks have been forged through the heat of battle to inflict maximum pain upon his opponents. However, beneath the surface of the crazed warrior lies a hidden genius that is unleashed upon V-Trigger activation. Players who enjoy a straightforward, hard-hitting character will feel right at home with Necalli, as he possesses a wide variety of savage, close-range attacks, as well as a command grab, all with the goal of demolishing his foes.”

Capcom teased that it will share details regarding the “many mysteries” surrounding Necalli’s origins and storyline “in due time.”

In other Street Fighter V news, the game’s beta starts this week on PlayStation 4–get all the details here. In addition, Capcom has announced extensive DLC plans for Street Fighter V.

Street Fighter V launches in March 2016 for PS4 and PC; cross-platform play will be supported.

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Engineer Edward Zarick, builder of totally epic console mods, has revealed his latest creation–and it certainly does not disappoint. It’s a custom PlayStation 4 laptop themed around R2-D2 from Star Wars.

Not only is the case itself gorgeous (“it kind of pays respect to the R2 Xbox 360,” Zarick says) but it also features R2 sound effects and lighting, and 3D printed parts. Press a button and R2 will even “talk” to you.

For a closer look at the R2-D2 “PlayBook 4,” as it’s called, check out the video and image gallery below.

Zarick writes on his website that the console was “my most favorite system to work on to date.” Some of his past creations included PS4 and Xbox One laptops, among other things.

He builds custom consoles for order, but said he made this one just for a “fun challenge.” Visit Zarick’s website to see more of his creations and to place an order.

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Like previous Windows versions before it, Microsoft has committed to a ten-year support lifecycle for Windows 10. The company confirmed the news just days before the OS is scheduled to arrive on July 29.

According to the Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet, the end of mainstream support for Windows 10 will come on October 14, 2020. Extended support, meanwhile, will come to a close on October 14, 2025.

The fine-print states that a device needs to install the latest Windows 10 updates, which can include new features as well as security updates, to remain supported. However, Microsoft warns that, “a device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacking current drivers, or otherwise outside of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s support period.”

Ed Bott, a writer for GameSpot sister site ZDNet, adds more on the subject about potential OEM issues.

“If you’re concerned about the ramifications of that OEM support clause, you can rest easy, based on what I’ve heard from insiders with knowledge of the new rules,” he said.

Be sure to read ZDNet’s full report for lots more on Windows 10’s supported lifecycle and more.

In other recent news about Windows 10, Microsoft has announced that Xbox One-to-PC streaming is now available to everyone running an early version of the new OS.

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Electronic Arts will show off a “sweet new game mode” for its cops-and-robbers shooter Battlefield Hardline next month at Gamescom, the developer has announced.

Lead multiplayer designer Thad Sasser shared the tease on Twitter recently. The new mode is included with the second expansion for Hardline, called Robbery.

“Some great new stuff to show off, including a sweet new game mode. Any guesses?” he said.

Hardline currently has a handful of modes, including:

• Team Deathmatch
• Crosshair
• Conquest
• Blood Money
• Rescue
• Heist

Robbery follows the Criminal Activity expansion, which launched in June. The DLC is expected to launch sometime this summer, and also comes with more maps and gear. Two additional add-ons will follow: Getaway (fall 2015) and Betrayal (early 2016). You can get them all through the $50 Hardline DLC pass.

Gamescom runs August 5-9 in Cologne, Germany. GameSpot will be reporting live from the show all week.

What are you hoping to see from Hardline’s Robbery expansion and new game mode? Let us know in the comments below.

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