Blog

  • Mass Effect 3 adding Omega DLC this fall

    Mass Effect 3 is not finished growing yet. As part of his farewell address to retiring BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, studio general manager Aaryn Flynn announced that additional single-player content is coming to Mass Effect 3, including Omega DLC this fall.

    No further information regarding the content was made available. Flynn also said that additional multiplayer content is coming to Mass Effect 3, though he did not share any more details.

    On top of further DLC for Mass Effect 3, BioWare also recently confirmed that a brand new Mass Effect game is in the works, with Casey Hudson returning as executive producer. No information is available about the game, but BioWare producer Michael Gamble teased in February that the studio has “so much to draw from.”

    “Without going down any specific path, you can think of many, many different areas throughout the [intellectual property], throughout the history, where there are large wars to be won, large battles to be had, and a lot of development to be done around where these races came from, how they came about,” he said at the time.

  • Dark Souls DLC hitting Xbox 360, PS3 Oct. 24 in Europe

    September 19, 2012 8:39AM PDT

    Namco Bandai announces Artorias of the Abyss DLC hitting consoles late next month in Europe and Australasia; no word on North American launch or pricing.

    Console gamers will soon have new ways to die in From Software’s well-received role-playing game Dark Souls. Publisher Namco Bandai announced today that the Artorias of the Abyss downloadable content will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in Europe and Australasia October 24.

    It was not mentioned when or if the content would arrive in North America, and a Namco Bandai representative was not immediately available to comment.

    The DLC made its debut in Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, a PC-exclusive version of the game that was released in August to a warm critical reception. The content adds new dungeons and boss battles, as well as an “enhanced” online player-versus-player mode, and weapons and armor.

    It appears Namco Bandai has bumped up the release date for the console release of the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, as it was originally scheduled to arrive sometime this winter. At the time, it was suggested that the content would bear a $15 price tag.

    Dark Souls was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in October 2011 to a glowing critical reception. It went on to ship more than 1.5 million units worldwide and was October’s sixth-best-selling title.

  • Call of Duty releases teaser video

    Activision appears to have more to share regarding this November’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The official Call of Duty YouTube channel today posted a video titled “power_on_v1.wav,” teasing something for the franchise. It depicts an antiquated television set displaying an image shrouded by static, as well as audio that increases in volume as the video progresses.

    Activision has shared numerous details regarding Black Ops II’s competitive multiplayer mode, but has kept relatively quiet regarding the game’s single-player and Zombies modes. The game’s campaign will jump through time, with some missions taking place in 2025 and others picking up directly after the events of the original Black Ops.

    As for Black Ops II’s Zombies mode, Activision has confirmed that this fan-favorite mode will be the “most expansive” offering to date, and will run on the game’s multiplayer engine. Black Ops II is due out on November 13 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. A Wii U version was recently confirmed, though neither Nintendo nor Activision has announced a launch date for it.

    Activision has also announced that the fourth and final content bundle for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will arrive for the PC and PlayStation 3 on October 10. The offering, which came to the Xbox 360 earlier this month, includes five multiplayer maps (Decommission, Offshore, Gulch, Parish, and Boardwalk), and releases a day earlier for Call of Duty: Elite premium subscribers.

  • New Mass Effect forming at BioWare

    September 18, 2012 1:05PM PDT

    Company general manager says studio has plans for next game in the series, as well as brand new IP set in fictional universe.

    BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka left the role-playing game studio today, but that does not mean the company is slowing down. Studio general manager Aaryn Flynn announced today that BioWare, under the direction of producer Casey Hudson, has plans for an additional “full” Mass Effect game.

    Flynn did not divulge any concrete details regarding this project, but called on fans to offer up their own ideas for where the Mass Effect series should go next. Mass Effect 3 executive producer Michael Gamble teased in February that BioWare has “so much to draw from” for a future Mass Effect game.

    Additionally, Flynn announced that Hudson is also presently leading a team that is assembling the vision for an all-new game set in a fictional universe. This project is being built from the bottom up, he said, running on “new gaming technology.” Further specifics were not mentioned, but he may be referencing new platforms from Microsoft and Sony, which are rumored to be on store shelves during the back half of 2013.

  • FIFA 13 preorders hit 875,000

    September 17, 2012 5:49AM PDT

    Reservation figures for EA Sports’ soccer sim up 62 percent in North America, 37 percent in Europe; demo downloaded nearly 2 million times.

    As of September 13, gamers across the globe have preordered more than 875,000 copies of EA Sports’ upcoming soccer simulator FIFA 13, Electronic Arts has announced. That represents a jump of 37 percent year-over-year in Europe and an even healthier 62 percent surge in North America.

    Additionally, EA announced that the demo for FIFA 13–made available last week–was downloaded 1.99 million times in its first three days across the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This represents a 29 percent increase compared to the three-day download figure for FIFA 12’s demo.

    FIFA 13 is due out on September 25 in North America, but gamers will not need to wait that long to hit the pitch. Subscribers to EA Sports’ Season Ticket program ($25 for 12 months) will be able to download the game in full on September 21. European Season Ticket holders can download FIFA 13 on September 22, a full six days ahead of its launch in that region on September 28.

    For more on FIFA 13, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.

  • Metro 2033 movie in the works

    MGM is bringing Metro 2033 out of the tunnels and onto the silver screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s science fiction novel, which was the source material for 4A Games’ THQ-published 2010 shooter of the same name.

    Newcomer F. Scott Frazier (Line of Sight) is penning the Metro 2033 script, with The Notebook, Rain Man, and Chronicles of Narnia producer Mark Johnson attached to produce with Gran Via Productions. A director for the film was not mentioned, nor was a potential cast list or release date.

    In Metro 2033 the game, players spend much of their time in underground subway tunnels travelling from station to station, climbing to the surface on occasion to explore the toxic atmosphere.

    A sequel to Metro 2033–Metro: Last Light–is currently in development at 4A Games, and is set to arrive for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC in 2013.

  • Dragon Age III: Inquisition hitting late 2013

    BioWare officially announced the next entry in the Dragon Age series today. Writing on the BioWare website, executive producer Mark Darrah revealed the project as Dragon Age III: Inquisition.

    Due out in late 2013, Dragon Age III: Inquisition will run on a new engine, with the team at BioWare using DICE’s Frostbite 2 as a foundation. This engine will allow the company to build a “more expansive world” with improved visuals, more “reactivity” to player choices, and deeper customization options.

    It was not mentioned which platforms Dragon Age III: Inquisition is in development for, and as of press time, neither outfit responded to GameSpot’s request for comment. Next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony are rumored to be on store shelves during late 2013.

    Darrah further explained that much of the same team that has been working on Dragon Age since Dragon Age: Origins remains on board for Dragon Age III: Inquisition. In addition to the veteran developers, he noted that BioWare has added new talent as well.

    Dragon Age III: Inquisition is in development at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Montreal.

    The game’s announcement today comes as little surprise. BioWare has been openly hiring for Dragon Age III since May 2011. Additionally, the company spoke at PAX East in April and not-so-subtly suggested that co-op gameplay was planned for the next entry in the series.

    Darrah added that fan feedback and communication is important to BioWare with Dragon Age III: Inquisition. He said BioWare is aiming to be “as open as we can” regarding development on the project, and said gamers should always feel free to provide feedback.

    Lastly, in an accompanying press release, publisher Electronic Arts revealed that the Dragon Age series has now moved over 8 million units. The franchise launched in 2009 with Dragon Age: Origins, with a sequel in Dragon Age II arriving in 2011.

  • Bayonetta 2 Wii U exclusive

    September 13, 2012 8:02AM PDT

    Platinum Games developing Bayonetta sequel for March 2013 release; developer’s Project P100 renamed The Wonderful 101.

    Bayonetta 2 will be a Wii U exclusive, Nintendo revealed today. Platinum Games, creator of the original Bayonetta, will be taking up development duties once more, with the game set for release in March 2013.

    Nintendo also revealed that Platinum Games’ Project P100 has been renamed The Wonderful 101. The game is also a Wii U exclusive, but no release date has been given.

    Bayonetta 2 was previously rumoured to have been cancelled as part of a company-wide restructuring at publisher Sega. Bayonetta 2 is now being published by Nintendo.

  • Black Ops II confirmed for Wii U

    NEW YORK CITY–Activision today confirmed what had been long speculated. Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg took the stage during Nintendo’s Wii U event in New York City and officially announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops II is coming to the Wii U.

    A live demo of the game was shown during the presentation, with two developers playing a multiplayer match in a map set in Singapore. One player was looking at the television screen, while the other played entirely on the GamePad.

    When utilizing a two-screen approach, players can use the GamePad to change loadouts, look at an overhead view of maps, and call in point streaks.

    Additional controller support for Black Ops II on Wii U includes the Wii U Pro controller and Wii Remote and nunchuck. The game will run at 60 frames-per-second and will also feature the franchise’s popular Zombies mode.

    The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of Black Ops II launch on November 13. No word on when the game will arrive for the Wii U was provided. The Wii U itself launches November 18 in North America, November 30 in Europe, and December 8 in Japan.

  • Darksiders II confirmed for Wii U launch

    Nintendo is keeping quiet on the games it plans to launch with the Wii U on November 18, but THQ is not. The publisher has announced that Darksiders II will be a Wii U launch title, arriving for the new platform with additional content.

    The Wii U version of Darksiders II will come bundled with the game’s first downloadable content expansion, Argul’s Tomb, as well as preorder bonuses from other editions. Altogether, THQ claims this content adds about five hours of playable content, as well as new weapons and armor.

    Darksiders II for the Wii U will use the system’s tablet-like GamePad controller to display maps and objectives. Additionally, players can use the controller to scroll through and select items from main character Death’s inventory.

    Darksiders II launched for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in August to a warm critical reception. It had long been rumored as a launch title for the Wii U. For more on the game, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.