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The Biggest Stories Of The Week (October 26, 2013)
This week gave us some news about the upcoming consoles from Microsoft and Sony. More importantly though, we are reminded just how much is in flux up until the moment the hardware is in our hands (and even right after we bring it home).
This week, we learned that Sony is readying a 300MB patch that will enable a number of core functions, including DVD and Blu-ray playback. This inspired us to think about what we're really getting next month (read Matt Kato's opinion on the matter) and just how important it is to wait to make a purchase decision until the last minute (I had some thoughts on this matter).
We also got some clarity about how many people will be supported for party chat on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the status of PlayStation 4's real name ID, a change to the DualShock 4, the status of key Ubisoft exclusive content on PS4, and the bad news Sony won't have the PS4's sleep mode functioning on November 15. The picture is slowly being colored in, but there is a lot of white space left.
Quick Hits
- Take a look at our handy holiday shopping checklist!
- Dark Matter from Interwave was revealed to have a suspiciously abrupt text ending. It was later pulled from Steam.
- Magic: the Gathering Tactics will be sunset (turned off) next year.
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted is skipping the Wii U because of sales of Most Wanted on the console.
- A trademark for Alien: Isolation was uncovered.
- The Wii is now out of production in Japan and Europe. It will still be sold in the US, at least through the holidays.
- Hotline Miami is currently free for PlayStation Plus members.
- The Nosgoth closed alpha is now taking applications.
- The Wii U is getting a new deluxe bundle with two Mario games.
- A group of Firaxis veterans have formed the new Oxide Games studio and are working on a new engine.
- Assassin's Creed IV might look different on next-gen platforms, but it will be the exact same game otherwise.
- Nintendo is getting ready to release a docking cradle for 3DS XL, but only for Club Nintendo members.
- Microsoft had a strong first quarter despite declines in Xbox 360 sales.
- Rockstar is planning two new content packs for Grand Theft Auto V. Stimulus Package payouts have been delayed until next week.
Previews/Reviews
The Order: 1886
- Screenshots from the November 2013 issue.
- The History-Bending Art Of The Order: 1886
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Review)
- Hometown Story (Review)
- The Stanley Parable (Review)
- Marvel Puzzle Quest (Not a Review)
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies (Review)
- Batman Arkham Origins: Blackgate (Review)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (Review)
- Wii U Party (Review)
Announcements and Release Dates
- The Stanley Parable is coming to Mac. It sold over 100,000 copies in its first week.
- The director's cut of Lone Survivor is coming to PC and Mac this month.
- Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies comes to iOS and PC later this year.
- Slender: The Arrival is coming to Steam with extra content.
- Deep Silver has announced that it will publish Eutechnyx's NASCAR '14.
- EA is working on a high-end, mobile Battlefield game.
- Blood of the Werewolf will be out on Steam on October 28, 2013.
- Titanfall will be out on March 11, 2013, and it's getting a $250 collector's edition.
- The Sims 4 will be out in Fall 2014.
- Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God is coming to Vita this December.
- No Goblin's first game is a chauffeur puzzler called Roundabout.
- Plants vs. Zombies 2 is on Android devices now.
- Rayman Fiesta Run is out next month.
- Robot Entertainment has released its next iOS game, Echo Prime.
- The Wolf Among Us is coming to iOS and Vita.
- Mugen Souls Z and Hyperdimension Neptunia PP are coming to North America in 2014 from NIS.
- Tecmo Koei is bringing Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky to the US on March 11, 2014.
- Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is coming to PS3 on January 14, PC on January 15, and Xbox 360 a bit later.
- BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1 will be out on November 12, 2013.
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