Frostbite 2 rendering architect Johan Andersson said through twitter that beginning next year, some games powered by Frostbite 2 will require a 64-bit OS.

“We’ll have Frostbite-powered games in 2013 that will _require_ a 64-bit OS. If you are on 32-bit, great opportunity to upgrade to Windows 8,” Andersson said in a tweet.

Why should you be concerned? Well, if you’re PC gamer, this means Battlefield 4, Mirror’s Edge 2, Bad Company 3 and all other DICE games will require the upgrade. Furthermore, EA has been making a point of using the engine to power many of its titles, including Black Box’s Need For Speed: The Run which was released last year, and the upcoming MOH: Warfighter being developed by Danger Close.

In the future, expect most of EA’s games to be powered by the tech.

Epic Games has a unique position in the games industry because Unreal Engine, owned by the venerable firm, is used by more developers than any other. Because of this, the company’s bosses believe they have the ability to help shape what next generation games should look like, however after seeing PS4 and Xbox 720′s specs, they’ve concluded it’s not enough and are actively lobbying Sony and Microsoft to make the next PlayStation and Xbox more powerful.

“There is a huge responsibility on the shoulders of our engine team and our studio to drag this industry into the next generation,” said Gears of War design director Cliff Bleszinski in a Wired article. “It is up to Epic, and Tim Sweeney in particular, to motivate Sony and Microsoft not to phone in what these next consoles are going to be. It needs to be a quantum leap. They need to damn near render Avatar in real time, because I want it and gamers want it – even if they don’t know they want it.”

Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney added: “We’re much more in sync with the console makers than any other developer is. That means we can give detailed recommendations with a complete understanding of what is going to be commercially possible.”

With the recently released Unreal Engine 4 screenshots, Epic Games is hoping to set a high standard for the next batch of consoles, and we applaud them for their efforts. But will Sony and Microsoft take seriously what the firm has to say? Because although Epic Games is giving advise freely, at the end of the day it’ll take lots of cash to have PS4 and Xbox 720 render such visuals, and we all know who’s footing the bill.

Unreal Engine 4 will be unveiled at E3 next month.

Square-Enix seems to be extremely confident in the Just Cause franchise, because even if the third game isn’t even out yet, the firm’s gone on to secure Just Cause 4 domains. We’re not complaining one bit, however.

According to Fusible, SE has secured a plethora of Just Cause 4 domains, including “JustCause4.com” and “JustCause4.fr”, among others.

Avalanche Studios is the developer behind the much-loved franchise, but we haven’t heard a word from them, nor Square-Enix concerning the third game, far less a fourth. But with this action, our confidence has been bolstered.

How do you feel about another Just Cause title? Although the second had its issues, the open-world setting and freedom that’s given throughout sets it apart from the bunch. It has a lot potential.

A very interesting week in the UK games market, last week was. Check the full story below, including sales-by-console breakdown and other stats.

It’s the first time the Max Payne franchise, formerly owned by Remedy Entertainment made it to number one, beating Max Payne 2 by a ration of 10-1. It’s also the biggest launch in the UK this year, beating out Mass Effect 3.

Per console, Max Payne 3 saw sales of 58 percent on Xbox 360, compared to 42 percent on PS3. The PC version sees a release next Friday in Europe.

Diablo III’s second spot is nothing to scoff at, however, as it was bested by only 8,000. It’s also become the 12th biggest PC launch in history, and was released on only one platform. Imagine if the game was also available on consoles…

Here’s the full quencher:

1. MAX PAYNE 3
2. DIABLO III
3. FIFA STREET
4. SNIPER ELITE V2
5. FIFA 12
6. [PROTOTYPE 2]
7. CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3
8. BATTLEFIELD 3
9. ASSASSIN’S CREED: REVELATIONS
10. MARIO & SONIC LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
11. MASS EFFECT 3
12. SKYLANDERS: SPYRO’S ADVENTURE
13. TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 13
14. KINECT STAR WARS
15. THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
16. BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
17. CATHERINE
18. SAINTS ROW: THE THIRD
19. FOOTBALL MANAGER 2012
20. RAYMAN ORIGINS

An imaged posted on Twitter by a QA tester for LEGO developer Traveler’s Tales that has since been deleted, shows a Wii U controller with traditional twin analog joysticks, and not analog pads similar to the 3DS’, as had been shown at last year’s E3 when Nintendo first debuted the new console.

According to Games Radar, the site which first reported the picture, the start and select buttons have been shifted, as well as the existence of a new square button on the left side whose function is yet unknown. Unlike the first Wii U controller, the latest carries Wii U branding.

This leak wasn’t supposed to happen, as Nintendo has been gearing up to reveal the latest revision at E3, but it’s the internet. Stuff happens.

As promised, EA and Danger Close has sent live the new Medal Of Honor: Warfighter trailer. Quench it below.

Starting May 20 in “participating” US retailers and today in their Canadian equivalents, college students have the opportunity to get a free 4GB Xbox 360 with purchase of certain Windows 7-based PCs

Microsoft didn’t announce specific models, but you can ask at the retailer instead of blindly assuming you’ll get a free Xbox. Don’t forget to bring your student ID.

“Together, a Windows 7-based PC and an Xbox 360 console provide students the functionality they need for school while also helping them stay connected to friends and family far away,” Microsoft noted in the announcement, giving students a hint as to the angle they should use to make an Xbox 360 sound like a totally necessary, responsible thing to have for college.

The main story in The Elder Scrolls Online will be a solitary experience, game director Matt Firor revealed in a video interview with Game Informer.

“In the Elder Scrolls games you’re always the hero, whether you want to be or not,” Firor said. “You go out there and you kill the dragons. You kill Mehrunes Dagon in Oblivion. In Morrowind, you’re up there fighting the Tribunal – those are huge, global, epic things that you don’t want to stand in line to do in an MMO. The last thing you want to do is have the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon as he’s stomping across the Imperial City, and you see like 15 guys behind you waiting to kill him because they’re on the same quest.

“We have a whole part of the game that is 100 per cent solo, which is the main story, where the world focuses on you. You are the hero, everything you do is solo and the world reacts to you that way,” Firor said.

Previous details do include PvP matches of up to 200 players, but those are obviously separate from the main quest. The Elder Scrolls Online will be played in a third-person perspective and is attempting to be a “modern” MMO, blending The Elder Scrolls features into this new genre. Not all Elder Scrolls fans are happy with the new title’s angle, but Firor said that’s just fine.

So, you’ve successfully rallied hundreds of strangers to pay for your brilliant game idea on Kickstarter, IndieGoGo or some other crowdfunding site.

Now you need to make the damn thing. But an even bigger problem looms after you develop and test Amazing Game X: getting it to everyone who wants it, including backers.

EA, of all companies, wants to help with that wrinkle. They’ve announced today that they’ll make crowd-financed games that are “fully-funded, complete and ready-to-publish” available on their Origin digital distribution platform and will waive any distribution fees for three months. Of course, once those three months are over, EA presumably goes back to taking their cut.

It’s savvy for EA as the mega-publisher tries to attract more games away from Valve’s Steam platform and looks like they’re helping fledgling developers. And if you’re a veteran game creator like Brian Fargo, the loving audience who paid out to Kickstarter probably won’t care where they’re buying your game from as long they get to play it. On the other hand, once a consumer signs up for Origin, EA’s free to dangle all of their own wares in front of them so they get a marketing boost off of this initiative, too.

Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee said during a press conference today the $1.25 million check 38 Studios handed the Economic Development Corporation has cleared the bank.

Earlier reports stated that in order to make the required payment, the firm deferred payroll and let go of all contract and temporary staff. The report also said the check handed over to the state bounced, but it seems to have cleared now.

“It’s time for them to go out and get private capital funding,” said governor Chafee. “That’s the deal. It’s a generous deal, but stick to it.

“I want to make sure we’re doing everything possible to make sure 38 doesn’t fail. We’re in deep. There’s not going to be any money from the state. They’re not coming here for easy money.”

Chafee said he knew the loan was a risky move on the state’s part due to the capital it takes to start a new gaming studio, but the rewards outweighed the risks when the deal was signed due to what a “huge success” it would have been for Rhode Island, providing 38 Studios had done well.

“I said from the beginning that it was a risky enterprise,” he told the press. “Again, these are the ramifications of being in a risky business.”

The next loan payment of $2.6 million, which is a debt service payment, is due to the state is due on November 1. The firm will them owe $12.6 million in full annual debt service in 2013.

Ubisoft has said it intentionally let the trademark applications for Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 lapse due to a rejection from the USPTO.

when the firm filed for the trademarks, it listed Gearbox as a co-applicant; however, since Gearbox holds the exclusive registrations for all Brothers in Arms trademarks, the USPTO rejected the applications filed by Ubisoft.

“Initially, Ubisoft submitted the trademarks on behalf of Gearbox with Gearbox and Ubisoft as co-applicants,” said a representative for Ubisoft. “The [United States Patent and Trademark Office] rejected this approach (about 9 months ago), noting Gearbox’s exclusive registrations for all Brothers in Arms trademarks.

“Given the USPTO choice between abandonment or continued administrative confusion on the matter, we simply opted for administrative abandonment until re-filing becomes necessary. To avoid confusion with the USPTO, Gearbox will be filing its future Brothers in Arms-related trademarks directly and individually.”

The trademark abandonment was noted earlier today by internet sleuth Superannuation, which had everyone scrambling to figure out whether the game was getting a name change, or worse case scenario, cancelled.

Games Thirst is about games, yes, but today I’d like to encourage you. It doesn’t matter what circumstance you may be facing at the moment, just remember in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. You will make it. True, things may be tough right now but with the dawn of a new day comes new waves of opportunities. So go crank up that old PS3, 360, Wii, Vita, 3DS, PC or whatever it is you play. Go make magic in Diablo III, or cause some Payne in Max Payne 3. MW3 is waiting on you and so is Battlefield 3. In other words, instead of worrying about your situation, an act that’s not going to help, keep yourself occupied by delving into your favorite pastime. See the pic up top? They’re waiting on you, ready to take on the world.

Be encouraged, life is good. It’s the weekend, friends, what’s the deal?

It’ll be a momentous one for me. I’ll be hosting a radio program for about two hours tomorrow, later that day I’ll be attending a meeting, and that same night it’s boys time out: shooting pool, talking rubbish, drinking mild things, etc.

That’s my deal, what’s yours? Enjoy it.

All temporary staff and contractors have been laid off, claims source.

38 Studios is the developer behind Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the RPG that’s gone on to sell a fair amount of units globally, with over 400,000 in the U.S. alone in just a few months. However the firm is struggling to make loan payments to the state of Rhode Island.

The news was confirmed by a Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation spokesperson, which funded the studio.

As of now, the developer’s working towards paying a past due bill of $1.125 million to RIEDC.

Bond documents reveal 38 Studios employs 379 full time employees, however it wasn’t clear how many of them were affected.

Meanwhile, the RIEDC will hold meetings on Monday to determine what it will do with 38 Studios, and whether keeping it solvent is a viable option.

Thanks, Videogamer.

Sony announced PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale to much fanfare for PS3, however the firm never mentioned a PS Vita version. But if you’ve been wishing for the Super Smash Bros. Brawl look-alike on the latter console, keep hope alive, son, your wish might just become a reality.

That’s because of one response Omar Kendall, game director on PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale gave when asked about a Vita version.

“Maybe… Stay tuned,” he told Digital Trends in a lengthy interview.

That’s on the heels of the Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time PS Vita announcement.

Sony’s announced overnight that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, the upcoming platformer once bound solely for the PS3, will now be launched on PS Vita day and date alongside the PS3 version.

“Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time picks up the relationship where Sly 3 left off, Sly is feigning amnesia so he can be with the love of his life, Carmelita. But when he re-joins the Cooper Gang on their time-travelling escapade to restore his family’s legacy, you can be sure Carmelita will quickly become embroiled in their wild adventure,” said Glen Egan, Sanzaru Games boss.

About the Vita version, Sansaru said: “The portable version will contain all the same awesome Sly Cooper action you will find on the PlayStation 3 along with some very cool Vita specific features that incorporate the front and rear touch screens and motion controls. The game will also feature cross save capability; players will be able to save the game from either machine to the cloud and then pick up right where they left off at home or on the go.”

No release date was given, but we should “stay tuned for more Vita details including date and price coming very soon.”