Game Rant

EA: PS4 and Xbox One ‘Ahead’ of High End PCs; Microsoft Thinks 1B Units is Possible

Anthony Taormina — Sat, 25 May 2013 03:13:45 +0000

Although we don’t have the complete picture regarding either the PS4 or the Xbox One, we know both consoles are leagues above their predecessors. But just how powerful are these new machines, and more specifically, how do they compare to current high-end PCs?

With PC gaming becoming not just an alternative but a preferred option for games over the past few years, these new consoles will, at the very least, have to match the rigs gamers use today. And thankfully, according to Electronic Arts‘ CTO Rajat Teneja, they do.

In fact, Teneja believes that the “architectures” of these new machines are a “generation ahead of the highest end PC on the market.” Not on par with, but actually superior to current-gen PCs.

“Our benchmarks on just the ...

Click to continue reading EA: PS4 and Xbox One ‘Ahead’ of High End PCs; Microsoft Thinks 1B Units is Possible

Click to continue reading EA: PS4 and Xbox One ‘Ahead’ of High End PCs; Microsoft Thinks 1B Units is Possible

Xbox One Reportedly Won’t Charge Used-Games Fee; New Controller Buttons Explained

Brian Sipple — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:58:52 +0000

It might have taken days of conflicting statements from Microsoft and decibels of outspoken wariness from gamers, but a concrete image finally appears to be solidifying regarding the Xbox One‘s policy on charging fees for the playing of used games.

It appears that GameStop can breath a sigh of relief.

According to a new report from Polygon, the Xbox One will not require an extraneous monetary fee in order to play games purchased secondhand. Instead, the console will leverage its pathology of requiring a persistent Internet connection to perform periodic authentication checks on discs in the tray.

The concept is similar to technology we reported on earlier this year rumored to be a feature of the Xbox One’s “Durango” dev-kits. And it’s rather simple: Each Blu-Ray disc for ...

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Click to continue reading Xbox One Reportedly Won’t Charge Used-Games Fee; New Controller Buttons Explained

Xbox One’s Kinect Might Include Visual DRM Feature

Anthony Taormina — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:24:21 +0000

Like it or not, Kinect will continue to be an integral part of the Xbox experience, even as Microsoft prepares for a new console generation with the Xbox One. The next generation of Kinect will better register players, work in low light conditions, and it will be much more responsive.

With a more competent motion-controlled device, however, comes an even greater connection to the Xbox One. So much so, in fact, that the Kinect might introduce a new concept: visual DRM. In other words, “Big Brother” might be coming sooner than we think.

If a patent application by Microsoft is to be believed, the publisher might be looking to use Kinect 2.0 to evaluate consumer claims. For example, if a gamer purchased a rental through the Xbox One, and claimed it ...

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Click to continue reading Xbox One’s Kinect Might Include Visual DRM Feature

Bungie Not Sure if ‘Destiny’ Can Stretch to PC

Hannah Shaw-Williams — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:55:07 +0000

To the surprise of no one, game developer Bungie has announced that their ambitious new sci-fi shooter, Destiny, will be released on both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, as well as current-generation consoles. There’s been plenty of concept art released already to keep anticipation warm, but E3 will finally allow us to get a better look at some actual gameplay, and hopefully clear up some specific details about the game.

The game has not yet been announced for either the Wii U or the PC, and though the latter is the more likely of the two to be added to Destiny‘s list of release platforms, there’s still been no indication either way as to whether or not Bungie is co-ordinating a PC release.

Speaking to IGN, Bungie’s senior ...

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Click to continue reading Bungie Not Sure if ‘Destiny’ Can Stretch to PC

‘Dead Space’ Developer Visceral Games Hiring for Next-Gen ‘Star Wars’ Title

Ben Kendrick — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:20:44 +0000

Following the dissolving of LucasArts and cancellation of several in-development Star Wars projects, the future of gaming in that galaxy far, far way has become increasingly clouded. Furthermore, while positive buzz continues to build among movie fans for the J.J. Abrams-led Star Wars Episode 7, game fans were dealt a divisive blow with the announcement that mega-publisher Electronic Arts will oversee all Star Wars-related video game projects. While some gamers remain optimistic that EA and a host of talented third-party developers will return Star Wars video gaming to its former glory (after a string of middle-of-the-road titles from the in-house LucasArts), for the time being there are very few concrete details about what to expect.

Gamers continue to speculate that Battlefield series developer DICE is hard at ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Dead Space’ Developer Visceral Games Hiring for Next-Gen ‘Star Wars’ Title

Did Microsoft Inadvertently Confirm ‘Crackdown 3′ for Xbox One?

Anthony Taormina — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:50:20 +0000

No matter how you shake it, Microsoft’s Xbox One presentation was decidedly light on games. To be fair, the publisher revealed a ton of information about their upcoming new console, but still, they only showed off a handful of games.

However, while Microsoft put specific games front and center – Quantum Break, Forza Motorsport 5, Call of Duty: Ghosts – they might have also unveiled a few additional games, just without mentioning them. It could be for something completely different, but if a very small icon is what we think it is, then the Crackdown franchise might live on in the next-gen.

Early on in the Xbox One presentation, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi gave a live demonstration of the new Dashboard in action. Thanks to the power of
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Click to continue reading Did Microsoft Inadvertently Confirm ‘Crackdown 3′ for Xbox One?

‘Need for Speed Rivals’ Trailer, Screenshots & Details; Releasing on PS4 and Xbox in 2013

Anthony Taormina — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:17:34 +0000

Shortly after Microsoft’s Xbox One event, Electronic Arts announced they would have closer looks at their upcoming next-gen slate at E3 next month. They confirmed titles like Battlefield 4, Need for Speed, FIFA, and Madden would make appearance, and they also teased a Star Wars announcement.

While most of the attention was focused what Star Wars related news EA was preparing, the publisher simply slid confirmation a new Need for Speed was in-development right under the radar. Luckily, that new title – Need for Speed Rivals – didn’t stay secret for long.

Today, Electronic Arts have confirmed the existence Need for Speed Rivals, which will be developed by Ghost Games, a new in-house developer. Ghost Games won’t be flying solo, however, but will be working closely with Criterion Games.

Click to continue reading ‘Need for Speed Rivals’ Trailer, Screenshots & Details; Releasing on PS4 and Xbox in 2013

Click to continue reading ‘Need for Speed Rivals’ Trailer, Screenshots & Details; Releasing on PS4 and Xbox in 2013

‘Grand Theft Auto 5′ Special and Limited Editions Priced and Detailed

Anthony Taormina — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:52:05 +0000

As one of the most anticipated games of 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 has some pretty big expectations to live up to. It’s been five years since the last entry in Rockstar Games’ open-world crime franchise, and since then the genre has changed quite a bit thanks to games like Sleeping Dogs and Saints Row.

Nevertheless, Rockstar hopes that fans will return to the well once again, and have promised a multi-layered experience that is bigger than anything they have done before. And just to sweeten the pot a little more, they are also rolling out two special editions of the game to give fans a little more incentive to buy.

Both the ‘Special Edition’ and the ‘Limited Edition’ offer players some decent trinkets ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Grand Theft Auto 5′ Special and Limited Editions Priced and Detailed

Has Microsoft Abolished Used Games on the Xbox One?

Hannah Shaw-Williams — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:22:48 +0000

This week’s reveal of Microsoft’s next-gen console, the Xbox One, is best described as a mixed success. We were impressed by some of the new technology on display, but a little disappointed by the lack of focus on video games and the emphasis placed on the ability to watch TV on a gaming console. Another fairly major chink in the Xbox One’s armor is the fact that independent developers will not be able to self-publish their games on the platform – a decision which stands in stark contrast to Sony and Nintendo’s current policy of enthusiastically chasing the indie market.

One of the most pressing questions – and one of the most difficult to get an answer to – is fundamentally a simple one: “Will you be able to buy a used game ...

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Click to continue reading Has Microsoft Abolished Used Games on the Xbox One?

‘Pokemon X’ & ‘Y’ Gets New Screenshots, Dedicated E3 Presentation

Riley Little — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:05:22 +0000

There’s a lot for Nintendo to gain and lose at this year’s E3. The company has already announced that it won’t be hosting a traditional press conference this year, and will instead be airing a Nintendo Direct which will highlight several upcoming games for its Wii U and 3DS platforms. One of Ninty’s larger properties, Pokemon, traditionally skips out on E3 in favor of doing its own thing, but this year the forthcoming Pokemon X and Y will be basked in the ever-present glow of the show’s spotlight.

The pair of Pocket Monster titles will receive their own Q&A session during the year’s E3; in an isolated event similar to the initial Nintendo Direct presentation that unveiled the games. The Pokemon-dedicated Q&A will be held following a brief presentation of Pokemon X and Y. This presentation and sequential question and answer portion will commence on June ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Pokemon X’ & ‘Y’ Gets New Screenshots, Dedicated E3 Presentation

‘Destiny’ Cinematic Trailer: Star Wars Without Lightsabers (That We Know Of)

Andrew Dyce — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:02:24 +0000

Bungie is no stranger to designing pulse-pounding cinematic trailers, and the first extended look at Destiny is no exception. It may not contain any actual gameplay, but it will definitely get fans excited for the Halo-developers next journey into deep space.

Stunning screenshots and inspired concept art prove that the studio’s desire to build movie-level settings and environments, but nothing compares to a highly-polished CG cinematic. A dusty landscape reminiscent of Star Wars and an emphasis on pack-hunting take center stage in this minute-long trailer, giving gamers an introductory lesson to ‘the law of the jungle.’

While it’s true that we would like an extended look at Destiny gameplay – now that it’s confirmed to be releasing on both the PS4 and Xbox One – the cinematic certainly succeeds at its main goal. That is, getting gamers anticipating ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Destiny’ Cinematic Trailer: Star Wars Without Lightsabers (That We Know Of)

Joker Highlights ‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Cover Art & Screenshots

Samuel James Riley — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:59:57 +0000

Hot off the heels of last week’s tantalizing trailer debut, Batman: Arkham Origins is hard at work once again, this time boasting a bevy of bone-crunching screenshots and artwork. One piece in particular, an imposing shot of the caped crusader fused alongside his foes, has even appeared online under the guise of the game’s official box art and we can confirm that it is authentic, first appearing on the Arkham Facebook page.

Similar reports emerged ahead of the Arkham City release back in 2011, but were eventually debunked by virtue of the game’s final, altogether less punchy packaging. In a knock to the case’s initial credibility, the Arkham Origins’ web page remains curiously unchanged, despite the rush to recognize the ‘official’ artwork elsewhere. Adorned only in a simple logo shot, the site’s stand-in casing throws up yet another puzzle worthy of the Dark Knight’s attentions.

Indeed, ...

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Click to continue reading Joker Highlights ‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Cover Art & Screenshots

News Wrap Up: PS4′s Kinect, Agent, Ryse, Gaming Anniversaries & More!

Rob Keyes — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:14:09 +0000

It’s time to play catch-up on a few key games that are releasing later this year and share some fun news bits for some of our recent favorites. We’re going to look at PS4′s answer to Kinect; Rockstar’s seemingly dead Agent; Batgirl kicking butt; Wii U’s Wonderful 101, Deadpool and Ghost Recon Online; Crytek’s Xbox One exclusive, Medal of Honor’s mobile attempt; the worlds of The Elder Scrolls Online and The Last of Us; and major milestones for EA and Blizzard.

Read on for the details and a few more stories.

PS4 Kinect

Does Sony need voice recognition or hands-free controls to compete with Xbox One? We won’t know until see how effective the new Kinect is and whether or not this time, it can get some quality games. Sony is however not going to miss the boat on this one as SCEA ...

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Click to continue reading News Wrap Up: PS4′s Kinect, Agent, Ryse, Gaming Anniversaries & More!

‘Dying Light’ Wishes Gamers ‘Good Night, Good Luck’ on Current and Next-Gen Consoles

Riley Little — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:06:16 +0000

In an industry that’s often heavily criticized for being too prone to sequels rather than exploring new IPs, there’s something special about a new title that doesn’t have any links to an existing brand. The opportunity to experience something new is one that many gamers cherish, but the opportunity to experience something fresh in an incredibly popular genre provides its own brand of intrigue. That’s where Warner Bros. Interactive‘s Dying Light comes into play.

Dying Light is a brand new title that’s being created by Techland (the developer behind the Dead Island franchise), so the team has a rather solid background in the zombie genre. What’s allegedly going to set the new game apart from other first-person zombie properties is the “portentous day-night cycle” that occurs within a massive open-world. As day turns to night, players will be forced to do everything in their power to ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Dying Light’ Wishes Gamers ‘Good Night, Good Luck’ on Current and Next-Gen Consoles

Battlefield 4: Screenshots, Box Art & ‘China Rising’ DLC Details

Rob Keyes — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:41:48 +0000

When developer DICE teased a “big announcements” the day before Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, it added a little credence to reports that publisher Electronic Arts may have struck a partnership deal with Microsoft for timed exclusivity for Battlefield 4 DLC, not unlike the deal Microsoft has with Activision for timed DLC on all things Call of Duty.

As it turns out, EA’s non-sports branches were nowhere to be found at the presentation, but shortly thereafter, Battlefield 4 was confirmed as an Xbox One release. Since the game’s announcement last year fans have only seen the 17 minutes of single-player gameplay and it won’t be until the EA press conference at E3 on June 10th that we see the game’s key feature (multiplayer).

We already know the game looks wonderful, built upon the already-impressive Frostbite 2 engine, which has seen upgrades and was re-dubbed Frostbite 3. The latest three screenshots revealed ...

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Click to continue reading Battlefield 4: Screenshots, Box Art & ‘China Rising’ DLC Details

The Xbox One: Our Thoughts

Andrew Dyce — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:46:59 +0000

Now that the wait is over, and Microsoft’s next console has been revealed to be the Xbox One, the industry is preparing to make the most of it. More games are being confirmed for the platform as we speak, and more of the…less flattering facts about the new console are coming to light.

There’s no better time to take a breath, have a seat, and weigh the positives and the negatives of Microsoft’s unveiling. The press event certainly didn’t answer every question or set all our concerns to rest, but expectations were as high as they could get.

Here are our own thoughts on the Xbox One, and why E3 2013 may be a make-or-break showing.

Click to continue reading The Xbox One: Our Thoughts

‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’ Trailer; Tech & Behind-The-Scenes Videos [Updated]

Rob Keyes — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:11 +0000

This year’s Call of Duty isn’t that far off and Activision is taking advantage of the launch of next-gen gaming consoles later this year to lift any creative restrictions Infinity Ward may have had if their next game were titled Modern Warfare 4. Instead, Infinity Ward aims to lead the genre and build off of the advanced next-gen tech specs with a new game engine to launch a new series within a series with Call of Duty: Ghosts.

During Microsoft’s long-awaited unveiling of the Xbox One moments ago, they closed the event with the reveal trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts while also sharing details of the behind-the-scenes work going into this year’s installment.

Along with a partnership with the NFL that promises to “change the game” with Xbox One innovations ranging from interactive viewing of live events and integrated fantasy pools, Microsoft confirmed the continued ...

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Click to continue reading ‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’ Trailer; Tech & Behind-The-Scenes Videos [Updated]

Remedy’s Sam Lake Says ‘Alan Wake’ Will Return When the Time is Right

Anthony Taormina — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:02:30 +0000

Earlier this year, Remedy Entertainment teased that they had big news for 2013. Without much to go on, most speculated that the developer was working on a proper sequel to Alan Wake, one that would launch on Microsoft’s next-gen console.

However, that was not the case. Instead Remedy was working on an entirely new IP, titled Quantum Break, which they revealed at Microsoft’s Xbox One event on Tuesday.

So what does that mean for Alan Wake? According to Remedy’s Sam Lake, there were plans to develop Alan Wake 2, but a lack of funding got in the way. As Lake explains in the video above, Remedy would love to make Alan Wake 2 – they just have to wait until the time is right.

Although Alan Wake has gone on to attain a cult status among Xbox and PC gamers – selling ...

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Click to continue reading Remedy’s Sam Lake Says ‘Alan Wake’ Will Return When the Time is Right

Microsoft Considering ’1 vs. 100′ Type Game for Xbox One

Anthony Taormina — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:34:18 +0000

Microsoft is considering bringing back their massively multiplayer online quiz game 1 vs. 100, or some derivation on that basic concept, for the Xbox One. Although the game only lasted two “seasons” it was widely considered one of Microsoft‘s more popular online endeavors.

Microsoft’s Phil Spencer teased a 1 vs. 100 return when he mentioned bringing “thousands of people together in a virtual environment.” He didn’t mention resurrecting 1 vs. 100 specifically, but rather an experience influenced by the lessons learned from that game. He didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself, though, saying that the game would probably not be available at launch.

For those that might not know, 1 vs. 100 was a moderately popular game show in the late 2000s. The show featured a ...

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Click to continue reading Microsoft Considering ’1 vs. 100′ Type Game for Xbox One

Electronic Arts Reveals They ARE Working on Wii U Games

Anthony Taormina — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:25:55 +0000

Electronic Arts has been laying it on Nintendo real thick as of late, with things coming to a head when the publisher revealed they had zero Wii U games in development. EA then took a bad thing and made it worse when Software Engineer Bob Summerwill called the Wii U “crap,” and labeled Nintendo the “walking dead.”

Now it seems EA is doing a little bit of back tracking – finding a way to keep the loyal Nintendo fan base on their side while still pushing a next-gen agenda. In fact, as it turns out, claims that the company doesn’t have any Wii U games in development are untrue.

To be fair, the number of Wii U games Electronic Arts is working on pales in comparison to the number of
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Click to continue reading Electronic Arts Reveals They ARE Working on Wii U Games