Free-to-play massive multiplayer online role-playing game Neverwinter will be starting its closed beta on the Xbox One next month, publisher Perfect World Entertainment has announced. The closed beta will run for three days from February 5 and players can sign up to participate via the Neverwinter site.
The Xbox One version of the game will integrate with the friends list and use “optimized controls.” The full game is scheduled to launch on Xbox One in early 2015 and will be free-to-play, although an active Xbox Live Gold subscription will be required.
Based in the Dungeons & Dragons Universe, Neverwinter launched on PC in 2013 to positive reception. An expansion, titled Tyranny of Dragons, launched in August last year. Speaking about bringing the game to console, Perfect World CEO Alan Chen said in a statement, “Consoles are a perfect fit for action-oriented MMORPGs like Neverwinter, and we are thrilled to be one of the first publishers to bring premium free-to-play titles to leading next-gen platforms.”
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This week, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell sweeps into retailers and brings a whole new slew of crazy with it. A standalone expansion to Saints Row IV, the game places players in the shoes of Johnny Gat or Kinzie Kensington as they journey into Hell to save the leader of the Saints from being forced to marry Satan’s daughter.
The game will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. It will be bundled with Saints Row IV: Re-Elected for launch on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Saints Row IV: Re-Elected comes with various downloadable content, including mission packs, additional weapons, new vehicles, and wardrobe items.
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell does not require Saints Row IV, although players can import their save file from the latter to change the appearance of the boss. Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell features a two-player online co-op mode and is set in an open world, although solo players can still journey into hell on their own. The game will be released at Australian retailers on January 23.
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343 Industries said that the content update is undergoing further testing, but for now it has released detailed notes on what the update will include. As it previously said, the update will focus on UI, matchmaking, game-specific multiplayer and campaign, controls, and stability.
“We continue to work on additional content updates that will include added improvements for matchmaking, parties, and other top community items,” 343 Industries said.
Below are the content update notes as written by 343 Industries.
MATCHMAKING:
Improved matchmaking search success rates.
Made an update to reduce instances of “Awaiting Privileges” matchmaking errors.
Made an update to ensure player counts more reliably match the expected numbers for each playlist.
Fixed an issue where player would sometimes appear to be searching in an incorrect “FIND GAME” screen.
Added countdown sound effect to the voting timer.
GENERAL MULTIPLAYER:
Made several improvements to party joining through the in-game Roster.
Made an update to ensure that the mute icon is visible while in Matchmaking.
Fixed an issue in Halo 4 where players could equip the same weapon as their primary and secondary weapons.
GENERAL CAMPAIGNS:
Made several improvements to stat tracking for Halo: CE, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4.
Made changes to Halo 3 and Halo 4 scoring to ensure that players are not penalized for destroying empty vehicles.
GENERAL MENU:
Lowered the music volume level in multiplayer menus.
Fixed an issue where friend emblems in roster would show up as default when exiting a game session.
Made updates to UI and menus to improve multiplayer status messaging, such as when a player joins your lobby.
CONTROL LAYOUTS:
Made an update to the Halo 2 Anniversary “Legacy” Stick Layout.
STABILITY:
Made stability improvements across multiple titles for campaign and multiplayer.
The Master Chief Collection launched in November, and immediately faced a number of networking issues that made the game near-unplayable for some. 343 has worked consistently since then to fix the game’s online woes, which have now been largely eradicated. In a bid to make it up to fans, Microsoft is giving Master Chief Collection owners a free copy of Halo 3: ODST and more.
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It appears that Blizzard Entertainment is sending some players who have been World of Warcraft subscribers for 10 years the statue you can see in this picture.
“The orc statue is a constant presence in our life at Blizzard entertainment. It’s where we meet to talk, to eat, to celebrate,” a note on the bottom of the base of the statute reads. “As we celebrate ten years of World of warcraft, we present this token of appreciation to you, stalwart adventurer. Thank you for being a constant presence in our lives as we adventure together.”
According to mmo-champion, Blizzard said that to be eligible for this gift, a player must have created a World of Warcraft account within 60 days of the game’s release in America or Europe. Players who are eligible should have received an email at the address listed on their Battle.net accounts. If you did not receive that email by now, you’re probably not getting the statue.
Hatred, the controversial massacre simulator, has received an Adults Only rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the organization that rates games in North America.
“Well, I’m not quite convinced why Hatred got AO rating while it lacks any sexual content, but it’s still some kind of achievement to have the second game in history getting AO rating for violence and harsh language only,” a Destructive Creations developer said on the game’s official forum. “Even if this violence isn’t really that bad and this harsh language is not overused. The guy from ESRB (by the way – very nice, polite and cooperative one) told me it’s all about ‘the context’ which people they’re testing gameplay video on will see.”
The Adults Only, or AO rating, is the harshest rating the ESRB has for content. It’s rarely used, and is described by the ESRB as suitable for ages 18 and up for prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content, and/or real money gambling. All three major console manufacturer—Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo—have a policy that forbids publishing Adults Only-rated games on their platforms, so unless Destructive Creations changes to content in Hatred, we won’t see it released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Hatred was pulled from Steam Greenlight recently and then reinstated a little more than a day later, following an intervention by Valve managing director Gabe Newell. However, Valve has never made Adults Only-rated games available for sale on Steam before.
“I would prefer to get a standard M+ rating, because with AO we will have problems to get to consoles in the future, but on the other hand I think you guys (our fans) would be disappointed with it,” the Destructive Creations developer said.
Physical copies of Dying Light have been delayed in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, developer Techland has announced in an official statement to the game’s Facebook page.
“As physical production has a longer lead time than digital there is some delay in the aforementioned territories,” Techland said. “We will share information on the availability of physical copies as soon as it is confirmed.” Techland also said it will be a “short delay.”
To be clear, you’ll still be able to get the game digitally in those territories on its January 27 release date, just not in stores.
Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg thinks that virtual reality is still in its early stages of development, but that it could replace our smartphones and computers in the future.
“You guys all remember the first mobile phones were terrible, and that’s kind of the stage where we are now with virtual reality and augmented reality,” Zuckerberg said during a Q&A in Bogotá, Colombia. “It’s extremely early stage and the early stuff is very rough still, but I think that’s going to be a really important trend.”
Zuckerberg added that it could take between 10 to 20 years, but that eventually another computing platform will replace our smartphones and computers.
“We’re really excited about that as well,” he said. “We’re building that with Oculus which I think is by far the leader in virtual reality and it’s going to be very exciting to see how that develops.”
XBOX ONE PRICE DROP: Microsoft on Thursday announced an Xbox One price drop for the US. From January 16 on, the system will be available for $350, a $50 markdown from the regular price. The deal is valid in the US only. It’s only a timed price drop, but Microsoft won’t say when it will end.
GTA 5 PC DELAYED: Rockstar Games this week announced that the long-awaited PC version of the acclaimed open-world action game has been delayed for a second time. It was originally due to launch in fall 2014 alongside the Xbox One and PS4 editions, but was later pushed to January 27, and then again this week to March 24, 2015.
NEW 3DS DATED: During a Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, Nintendo officially announced that the upcoming New Nintendo 3DS XL (yep, that’s the real name) will launch in the United States on February 13 for $200. The units will come in red and black, but there will also be special, epic-looking bundles for upcoming games Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D.
The Other Stuff (Stories We Like, But Didn’t Cover With a Standalone Post):
Mario Party 10 now has a release date. Nintendo announced this week that the tenth entry in the party game series will launch for Wii U on March 20. The latest entry in the classic party game series includes a number of new features, including an “Amiibo Party Mode” that works with the real-world Amiibo toys you already own.
New DLC is now available for wrestling game WWE 2K15. 2K Sports on Tuesday released the WWE 2K15 Moves Pack, which adds more than 30 new moves to the game. You can read more about the DLC and watch a trailer now at the game’s site.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End doesn’t launch until later this year, but you need new information right now, don’t you? You’re in luck, as Game Informer has posted an excellent interview with the game’s directors and voice actor, Nolan North. The interview dives into the game’s story, and who Drake is as a person. “Everybody believes that he’s quippy and he’s off the cuff, but over the course of each game, you’ve seen that he’s actually driven by something way deeper than what’s on the surface,” co-director Bruce Straley says. Read the full interview here.
Nickelodeon this week released a new, browser-based Spongebob Squarepants game called SpongeBob QuestPants. It’s a free, episodic game. The first episode, The Legend of Dead Eye Gulch, is available to play right now here.
On Monday, free-to-play publisher Gazillion (Marvel Heroes 2015) announced the hiring of Eric Garay as its new Chief Financial Officer; he’ll oversee the company’s entire global financial and business operations. Garay previously worked at Electronic Arts for more than a decade, holding management positions at Sims studio Maxis.
Social gaming giant Kabam is expanding. The company on Tuesday announced that it had acquired LA-based game studios TapZen and Magix Pixel Games for undisclosed sums. Kabam says: “The move will expand Kabam’s global presence directly into the entertainment capital, bolster the company’s AAA console quality development experience, and add industry luminary Mike Verdu as a new executive on the Kabam team.”
Looking forward to checking out indie developer Poppermost’s upcoming extreme sports game, Snow? You’re in luck, as the developer announced this week that the PC game’s closed beta will begin on March 28. You can sign up here, and you’ll want to do so soon, as invitations will be delivered on the basis of when you signed up. There’s also a new trailer to check out. Watch it above!
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has launched a new mobile app called “Skin and Bones.” It’s a free app (get it here on iTunes) that promises to “reinvent” how museum visitors can experience the specimens on display at the museum’s Bone Hall, which features almost 300 skeletons. Using the app, which uses 3D and AR technology, you can see how the creatures’ skeletons work.
Tropico publisher Kalypso is growing. On Thursday, the company announced the formation of a dedicated mobile studio in Hamburg, Germany. The new office will focus on making mobile games for iOS and Android devices. Kalypso has hired Marcus Behrens, who previously held a senior position at Bigpoint Games, to work as the studio’s new publishing director.
Team Ninja this week announced the latest playable character for upcoming fighting game Dead or Alive 5 Last Round. The new fighter is Honoka, and here’s how Team Ninja, rather excellently, sums her up: “Having been raised all her life by her gentle and loving grandmother, Honoka is a sweet, easygoing kind of girl… but when she sees a fight, she cannot contain her excitement, or the mysterious power surging within her.”
Master modder Ben Heck has revealed his latest creation: an Xbox One laptop. Yeah, he’s not the first one to tackle the job, but Heck’s creation is different in that it features an LCD tablet with a fold-out cover that morphs into a stand. How did he do it? Thankfully, cameras were rolling the entire time.
Independent game developer Hinterland Studio announced Thursday that its “exploration-survival experience” game The Long Dark has now sold more than 250,000 copies since its release through Steam Early Access in September. The developer also teased an upcoming update for the game, due to arrive in January, that will “nearly double” the size of the game world. Exciting times!
Excited for the upcoming release of Grim Fandango Remastered? if you are, you’re probably happy to learn that the $15 game is now available to preorder for PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and PS Vita. GOG.com will sell a DRM-free version ofo the game that comes with exclusive wallpapers, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Mobile game Summoners War has taken over Los Angeles, at least one part of it. Publisher Com2uS tapped Melbourne street artists Meggs to create an epic-looking, 2,000 square foot Summoners War mural in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. Check out an image of the mural above, which shows Summoners War characters Arch Angel, Dragon, and Angelmon.
Is Ubisoft working on a remastered version of the 2007 original Assassin’s Creed? Probably not, but that’s what we’re led to believe from this image that appeared on Twitter recently. For now, take this with a grain–or maybe a heaping–of salt. Until we hear from Ubisoft, this should be a considered a rumor–and a big one at that.
Looking for a deal on last-generation console hardware? GameStop and coupon site RetailMeNot.com have parterned up for an in-store event where shoppers can buy secondhand Xbox 360 and PS3s for as low as $55. Here’s a rundown of the offers, which are valid through January 31 or while supplies last.
Pre Owned Xbox 360 Original (Wired Models) for $54.99
Pre Owned Xbox 360 Original (Wireless Models) for $74.99
Pre Owned Xbox 360 4GB Slim (any Pre Owned 4GB Slim Models) for $99.99
ANY Pre Owned PS3 80GB for $134.99
There has been an awakening. Have you felt it? By that I mean, the voice of the narrator in the Star Wars Episode 7 trailer, Andy Serkis, is lending his voice to Mike Bithell’s upcoming stealth title Volume. You can hear a brief snippet of Serkis’ voiceover right here.
The Lego franchise continues to grow, as Asian free-to-play publisher Nexon announced this week that it had signed a licensing agreement with TT Games and The Lego Group to make a new Lego role-playing game for mobile devices. The game will be based on “several” Lego franchises, including Lego Ninjago and others.
The PlayStation 4 (and PlayStation 3!) got another new media app this week in the form of SnagFilms. Users can now watch more than 5,000 movies–comedies, thrillers, horrors, and more–for free. Check out a screenshot of SnagFilms on PS4 above.
A really cool new indie game from Team 17, called The Escapists, will ship on Xbox One from February 13. It’s a 2D strategy game where a group of innamtes must plot their escape from a prison whilst avoiding detection. Looks really fun, here’s a trailer:
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The ridiculous board game from the sitcom Parks and Rec, The Cones of Dunshire, may become a reality. Mayfair Games is attempting to create a “miraculously playable” version of the made-up game.
The project is on Kickstarter, so the developer won’t receive any funds unless they meet their full $300,000 goal. But to get a copy of the full game, you’ll have to pay at least $500.
Why is it so expensive? Mayfair writes on game’s Kickstarter page: “This is going to be a very small, one-time run of a giant prestige edition of the game, with disparate pieces, from a licensed property, for a niche audience. We think there exist a few hundred people who desire such a collector’s item, and we’ve provided a few cheaper items for folks that want more modest souvenirs of the show. This is why we went Kickstarter: to quickly gauge the actual interest for an expensive deluxe version similar to what you see on the show. This game will NOT be sold through any our normal channels; backers will receive it and there will be no more. “
Backers of the full version will receive a “multi-level board” that’s “over ten square feet in size.” Of course the game’s “box/crate” will also include “a mountain of coins…such that if they were real coins, you would be very rich.”
A “very special version of the game” from GenCon 2014
As of this writing, 25 people have backed at the $500 dollar and above, putting the total at just over $20k.
While the game is based on a joke, Mayfair games is taking the project (mostly) seriously. “This Deluxe version of the game is as close to the on-screen version of the game that you see in season six of Parks and Recreation as we can manage (and for us to be comfortable about the playability of it). This is meant to be the sprawling riot of pieces shown on the show, and the price reflects what it’s going to take to make something like that.”
As a huge Parks and Rec fan, I probably won’t be ordering a copy myself, but it’ll be interesting to see if Mayfair can pull it off.
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Green Man Gaming has the best new deal of the day, offering a Grand Theft Auto V for PC pre-purchase for $46.20 with the code SAVE23-PEROFF-MOSANT. The preorder also comes with $1,000,000 in-game currency, a bonus $300,000 for GTA Online, and a free copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Below you’ll find the rest of today’s best deals divided by platform:
GameSpot’s gaming deals posts always highlight the best deals we can find regardless of retailer. We also occasionally use retailer affiliate links, which means that purchasing goods through those links helps support all the great content (including the deals posts) you find for free here on the site. Got questions? Email news@gamespot.com or ask us in the comments!
