Electronic Arts is closing the multiplayer servers for its boxing game Fight Night Round 4. An update on EA’s website confirms that the servers for the 2009 Xbox 360/PS3 game will close on March 9, 2020.

In an email, EA informed players that the servers are being pulled down because the daily active playerbase “has reached very low numbers and we can no longer ensure a quality online experience.” You can read the full message below.

Fight Night Round 4 has a number of achievements that can only be unlocked through online gameplay, so you have just a few months more to grab them. Fight Night Round 4 will continue to be playable after the server shutdown in offline mode.

After Fight Night Champion in 2011, EA put the Fight Night series on hold as it instead focused on its EA Sports UFC franchise. That same year, EA CEO Andrew Wilson told IGN that the Fight Night series might come back someday, but as of yet it hasn’t happened.

Earlier this year, EA announced that it will add another sports game to its catalogue in the next fiscal year, which means it will launch between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. EA already makes officially licensed FIFA, NFL, NHL, and NBA video games, and there are rumors of EA Sports UFC 4 being in development. It remains to be seen what the new sports game will be, but we’ll report back with more details as they are revealed.

Would you like to see the Fight Night series return? Let us know in the comments below!

EA Statement:

“Hello Fight Night Round 4 Fans, after eleven years of an incredible online community, the daily active playerbase in Fight Night Round 4 has reached a very low number and we can no longer ensure a quality online experience. As of March 9, 2020, the Fight Night Round 4 servers will be retired. After this date, you’ll still be able to play all offline modes on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.Thanks for your continued support”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-is-closing-the-servers-for-fight-night-round-4/1100-6472100/

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, the consoles are starting to get back into their regular routine of weekly deals. This week, the Xbox One has a ton of discounts featured on some great games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Far Cry 5.

In addition to Origins, several remastered Assassin’s Creed games are on sale. Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection, Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered, and Assassin’s Creed III Remastered are all discounted. Other Ubisoft deals include discounts on For Honor, South Park: The Fractured But Whole, and Far Cry Primal.

Some of my personal favourite games included in this sale are Hitman: Game of the Year Edition, DMC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition, and Mortal Kombat XL. You can see more of the best deals in the list below.

As usual, this week’s deals last until Monday, December 16, but specific discounts may expire before then, so be sure to note how much time is left when checking the games you’re interested in. You can see the entire sale on Xbox.com.

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition — $15 ($50)
• Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales — $15 ($30)
• XCOM 2 — $15 ($60)
• Assassin’s Creed Origins — $15 ($60)
• Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection — $12 ($40)
• Assassin’s Creed III Remastered — $16 ($40)
• Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered — $15 ($30)
• Far Cry 5 — $15 ($60)
• Far Cry Primal — $9.90 ($30)
• For Honor — $9.90 ($30)
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole — $15 ($50)
• Little Nightmares — $5 ($20)
• Mortal Kombat XL — $6 ($20)
• Resident Evil Revelations 1 & 2 Bundle — $16 ($40)
• Dragon Ball: Xenoverse — $10 ($40)
• Saints Row IV: Re-Elected & Gat Out of Hell — $6 ($30)
• Mafia III — $10 ($40)
• Hitman: Game of the Year Edition — $12 ($60)
• Hunting Simulator — $8 ($40)
• Strange Brigade — $15 ($50)
• Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition — $7.50 ($25)
• DMC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition — $9.90 ($30)
• Dead Rising Triple Bundle Pack — $14.87 ($59.50)

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-xbox-one-games-sale-is-full-of-awesome-titles/1100-6472099/

Payday 2 developer Overkill Software has recently restarted work on their co-op shooter after a rough year that began in December 2018 when their office was raided. The team is now in a better place to discuss what is happening with the game going forward, including with the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch versions of the game.

In a post on Overkill Software’s site, CEO Mikael Nermark has opened up about the console versions of the game, admitting that the disparity that exists between them and the PC version (which has received numerous updates and heists that have not come to consoles) will remain. Although update 1.5 is now live for PS4 and Xbox One, it does not bring the console version in line with the PC release.

“We’ve had to look at the future console updates from our situation as it looks today, with the limitations that we have, rather than looking back at what has been said and done before and make choices accordingly, even though they might not be what we wish,” Hermark admits. “We simply have too many constraints in available manpower to be able to fix the situation in the short term.”

The following heists and features are not available in console versions, and are unlikely to be made available in the future:

• Shacklethorne Auction Heist (part of Icebreaker Campaign)
• Reservoir Dogs Heist
• Hells Island Heist (part of Breaking News Campaign)
• No Mercy Heist (part of Breaking News Campaign)
• The White House Heist (part of Breaking News Campaign)
• The Safe House feature

Because of this, “The Secret” storyline will remain inaccessible on consoles. Nermark says that the team is investigating bringing over the masks, weapons, and mods associated with these heists, though. “Some additional content has licensing and collaboration restrictions attached to them, which unfortunately will make them challenging to release,” he notes. It’s also unclear whether the upcoming Silk Road campaign will be exclusive to PC or not.

The Switch version, meanwhile, is “very unlikely” to receive further updates. Because the Switch version was developed externally, the team is not in a position to continue work on it in their current form, so Switch players will miss out on future content. The Switch port of Payday 2 received a 5/10 in our review, with reviewer James Swinbanks finding that in this version of the game “almost every aspect is outdated or diminished in some way.”

Nermark says that Overkill Software is “very unwilling to close the door completely on some of these issues,” but for now, it’s likely that the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game will lag behind the PC version, and the Switch will not receive updates. The silver lining here is that Nermark says that the changes are being made internally to ensure that, with Payday 3, they can “do it right” from launch onwards.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/payday-2-devs-address-console-disparity-and-what-h/1100-6472095/

Pokemon Go‘s big December Community Day takes place this weekend, but that isn’t the only event on the horizon for the hit mobile game. Niantic has now outlined a handful of other events that are happening this month, and they include a new Special Research quest, a special Raid weekend, and more.

First, Niantic is rolling out new Team Rocket-focused Special Research questline called A Challenging Development. This questline will be available until the end of December and will give players another chance to confront Team Rocket leader Giovanni. If you can defeat him this month, you’ll be able to rescue Shadow Zapdos.

On top of that, you’ll have a chance to hatch different kinds of Pokemon from eggs this month beginning Monday, December 16. The following day, the Gen 5 Legendary Virizion will make its debut in the game. You’ll be able to encounter the Legendary Pokemon in five-star Raids until January 7.

Virizion isn’t the only Legendary Pokemon you’ll have a chance to catch this month. Ho-oh and Lugia will also return for a special Raid weekend. From December 20-23, you’ll be able to encounter the two Legendary Pokemon again in five-star Raids.

Finally, Niantic is closing out the month with Pokemon Go’s annual holiday event, which runs from December 24 to January 1. During that time, you’ll be able to encounter Pichu, Pikachu, Raichu, and Stantler wearing holiday outfits in the wild and Raids. Ice-type Pokemon like Sneasel, Delibird, and the debuting Cubchoo will also appear more frequently in the wild. You’ll also have a chance to catch another new Gen 5 Pokemon, Cryogonal, when you use Glacial Lures during the event, and shiny versions of Snover and holiday Stantler will be available as well.

On top of that, Niantic is offering different bonuses each day of Pokemon Go’s holiday 2019 event. You can read more details on the official Pokemon Go website.

In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s December Community Day takes place this weekend. Unlike typical Community Days, this month’s event takes place on two days–December 14 and 15–and brings back all of the featured Pokemon from previous Community Days. You can read more in our Pokemon Go December Community Day guide.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-december-events-include-new-gen-5-pokem/1100-6472091/

A new update for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is coming on December 11. In addition to a new Photo Mode, the update makes a small but welcome change to how your lightsaber can look. The change involves understanding a certain plot point, so be aware this post contains some spoilers down below.

Mild spoilers for Jedi Fallen Order follow below.

After completing a certain amount of the story, you’re required to equip a switch given to you by Cere to your lightsaber following a story event. This throws off the symmetry when you’re using a double-bladed lightsaber, and players have complained about this for a while.

With the new update, players can simply remove the switch from the lightsaber customization menu. It’s a small but welcome change that gives players more control of how they look.

The December 11 patch also improves the stability of Fallen Order by reducing the number of crash scenarios that players could encounter. The update also fixes collision issues in the caves and temple on Zeffo, so Cal shouldn’t get stuck in the geometry as often. There waa also an issue with the game that could cause Cal to fall out of the world on Kashyyyk, and this has been fixed.

You can see the full patch notes below, as posted by developer Respawn on Reddit.

Jedi Fallen Order December 11 Patch Notes

New Features

• A Photo Mode has been added and can be accessed from within the game by pressing L3 and R3 at the same time.

• Implemented a toggle that will allow you to remove a specific part of Cal’s lightsaber from within the customization menu.

Bug Fixes

• We’ve made a pass of the game in an effort to reduce the number of crashes you should encounter. The end result of this is now a more stable game.

• Fixed collision issues across several planets in the game

  • Collision within the caves and temple on Zeffo have been improved, reducing clipping issues and lowering the possibility of Cal becoming stuck.

  • Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause Cal to become stuck in a floating state below the train on Bracca.

  • We identified a few areas on Kashyyyk where Cal could fall out of the world, this will no longer happen.

  • We’ve fixed some collision on Dathomir, preventing Cal from falling through the ground.

  • Collision on Illum has also been improved, making sure that Cal doesn’t become stuck.

  • During a fight with the Second Sister, it was possible for her to get stuck in a door. She has been freed.

  • Bogano has had its collision improved, preventing Cal from becoming stuck on world geometry.

  • In some rare cases, Cal was floating while on Kashyyyk. He has since been grounded.

• BD-1’s ability to slice panels was sometimes not working as intended, preventing you from progressing. This has been fixed and should no longer occur.

• A mural scan on Bogano wasn’t working properly, this should now be fixed.

• The train on Bracca could get stuck in a state where grates would fall off too early, preventing progress. We’ve fixed this so that Cal can continue climbing.

• On rare occasions Bounty Hunters would stop hunting Cal, we’ve now re-enabled their trackers, so be careful.

• For some players, BD-1 had gotten left behind on Bogano, preventing further progression. This should now be fixed.

• The chest count on some planets was not working as intended, this has been fixed.

• On rare occasions Greeze would refuse to open the ship doors and expose Cal to the sunlight on Dathomir. We’ve fixed this so that the story can continue.

• Fixed an issue that prevented Holomap areas and gates from not working properly on Dathomir, Kashyyyk and Bogano.

• An issue would sometimes occur that would cause the Holomap tutorial on Bogano to remain on-screen. This has been resolved and it should no longer occur.

• An elevator on Zeffo could lead to Cal getting stuck in an infinite loop, our maintenance crews have fixed this particular elevator.

• A dropship on Zeffo wasn’t showing up as intended, preventing the player from progressing further. We’ve ensured all landing zones are clear for arrival and this should no longer occur.

• PC players were having issues selecting difficulty with the mouse, this should now be resolved.

• We’ve fixed an issue where Cal could avoid enemies on Zeffo, to the extent that gameplay events wouldn’t trigger, halting progression to the story.

• On rare occasions cinematics on Dathomir get stuck in an error state, preventing progress. This has been fixed.

• Fixed an issue that would cause world loading issues on Kashyyyk for players with double jump. We’ve optimised the level to ensure loading completes properly.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-patch-makes-a-welcome-/1100-6472092/