Xbox One E3 2019 Briefing Date And Time Announced

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E3 2019 is less than two months away, and Microsoft has been teasing that this year’s event will be a big one for Xbox. With the show quickly approaching, the company has now announced the date and time of its annual E3 briefing, and like past years, it’s set for the Sunday just before the expo proper begins.

This year’s E3 Xbox One briefing takes place on Sunday, June 9, at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. Beyond that, Microsoft hasn’t shared any further details about the presentation, but Major Nelson touted that this year’s show will be the company’s “biggest E3 presence ever” between the briefing and its various fan events. As usual, the presentation will be broadcast online via Mixer, Microsoft’s website, and other streaming platforms.

Ever since Sony confirmed it won’t have a presence at this year’s E3–the first time it’s skipped the show since entering the console space in the mid-’90s–Microsoft has been teasing that it has big plans for the event. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said the company’s showing at this year’s expo will be “as big” as it’s ever been for Xbox.

“There was some news about E3 back in the fall,” Spencer said, presumably referencing Sony’s decision to skip the show. “We had a discussion internally about, ‘Should we go big?’ ‘Should we save some money?’ ‘What does that mean?’ We decided, no [we’re not going to save money], we’re going to do our thing. We’re going to go and be as big at E3 as we’ve ever been. I love that opportunity.”

Developing…

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-e3-2019-briefing-date-and-time-announced/1100-6466283/

Death Stranding Might Come To PS5 – Report

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Death Stranding could be making the jump to PlayStation 5, according to a new report. Wired state that PS5 (and PS4) lead system architect Mark Cerny implied the upcoming PlayStation 4 game might instead release on both that console and the next-generation PlayStation.

While talking about PS5’s backwards compatibility, Cerny says the transition from PS4 to next-gen will be “gentle,” with many games launching on both platforms. When Wired asked how Death Stranding fits in to all this, Cerny reportedly smiled and didn’t reply, before a spokesperson merely repeated the game would come to PS4. GameSpot has contacted Sony for more information on whether Death Stranding will come to PS4, PS5, or both.

The much-anticipated game is the next project from Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima. It’s an open-world action title that includes an optional online multiplayer component. Revealed at E3 2016, Death Stranding has become a game of much interest to fans of both PlayStation and Kojima himself, but we’re no closer to knowing even a vague release window.

The game sees you play as Sam Bridges, an employee for a mysterious organization who embarks on a journey to reunite a shattered world filled with dangerous invisible enemies of unknown origin. His profession seems to be that of a delivery man of sorts, but the nature of the parcels he delivers remains unexplained. For more, check out everything we know about Death Stranding.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/death-stranding-might-come-to-ps5-report/1100-6466284/

Yes, You Will Be Able To Play PS4 Games On PlayStation 5

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Sony has a patchy history with backwards compatibility, ranging from embracing the concept to more recently dismissing it as an unused feature. We’ve now seen the first details for the PlayStation 5, and they include backwards compatibility with PS4.

Mark Cerny, who was lead system architect for the PS4, says the next-generation PlayStation (which is still not technically named “PlayStation 5”) uses a similar architecture to its predecessor, allowing for the feature. It will use physical discs as well, and Cerny expects some games to be released across both consoles.

However, the PS4 games will run a bit faster on PS5, thanks to the inclusion of a solid-state drive (SSD). As an example, Cerny compared the load times for fast travel in Spider-Man. The PS4 Pro load took roughly 15 seconds, but the same sequence took less than one second on the PS5 dev kit. So if you upgrade your hardware, you’ll probably have a nice smoother experience in some respects.

We still don’t know exactly how far away the next-generation PlayStation might be. Last year the head of PlayStation, John Kodera, suggested the new system was still three years away. That would mean it’s still two years away now, so either Sony is preparing a long ramp to launch or the timetable has been accelerated considerably.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/yes-you-will-be-able-to-play-ps4-games-on-playstat/1100-6466282/

Sega’s Judgment Now Has A New Character Model To Replace Pierre Taki After Legal Controversy

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Judgment, the new game from Ryu ga Gotoku Studios (creators of the Yakuza franchise), recently went through a tumultuous time due to legal troubles of an actor who lent his likeness and voice to a major character. Pierre Taki, who played the high-ranking yakuza Kyohei Hamura, was arrested for suspicion of cocaine use in March 2019. The game was subsequently pulled off shelves and digital storefronts in Japan, and the state of the worldwide release was in limbo.

Soon after the controversy hit, it was confirmed that Judgment would be made available again in Japan in the future and still hit its intended Western launch date of June 25, 2019 with the necessary changes. And now, the new character model for Hamura has been revealed. Sega has confirmed that it’s using an original character model as opposed to another actor’s likeness–you can see a comparison between the two models in the image below.

The new, original character model for Hamura (left), Pierre Taki as Hamura (right)Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6

In the video above, you can watch Hamura’s introductory cutscene in Judgment featuring the character’s new look; however, the clip has English voice acting which remains unchanged. Sega stated that it’s in the process of recording the new Japanese voice work and will be shown in the near future, but it’s not ready to say who the actor is yet. There is also currently no word on when the game will go back on sale in Japan. The worldwide release of Judgment will feature dual audio with English and Japanese voiceovers and EFIGS (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish) subtitles, which is a first for a game in the Yakuza universe.

As mentioned in previous stories, Japan has very strict drug laws with severe consequences, especially as it relates to one’s public image. Not only was Taki removed from Judgment by Sega, all screenshots, trailers, and social media via official channels were deleted. Sales of Disney’s Frozen were also halted since he plays the jolly snowman Olaf in the Japanese dub. Disney is looking for a replacement to voice Olaf in the Japanese release of Frozen 2 as well.

Earlier this year, I got hands-on with Judgment and came away impressed with its narrative-focused action-adventure crime drama, similar to that of the Yakuza games. While the game takes place in the same world as the Yakuza series (even using Kamurocho as the central location), Judgment flips the script by having you play as a private detective named Takayuki Yagami. You’ll investigate the on-going turf war between the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance and a deeper mystery about a series of murders that hit close to home.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/segas-judgment-now-has-a-new-character-model-to-re/1100-6466268/

PS5 First Details: Specs, Backwards Compatible, 8K, PSVR Support, And More

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Sony has revealed some information about its next-generation PlayStation. In an interview with Wired, Mark Cerny, who was lead system architect for the PlayStation 4 and is currently working on its successor, divulged details on the components that will power the next-gen system and teased some of the breakthroughs it is making.

In the interview, Cerny didn’t name the console, though conventional thinking states it will probably be PlayStation 5. The next-gen PlayStation is partially based on PS4 architecture, which means that it is backwards compatible. Cerny also revealed that it is not an all-digital device, and will accept physical discs. Wired’s article describes the transition from PS4 to PS5, as indicated by Cerny, as a “gentle one,” adding that numerous games will be released for both PS4 and the next-gen console.

Housed in the console will be an AMD chip that has a CPU based on the third-generation Ryzen. It’ll have eight cores of the seven-nanometer Zen 2 microchip. Although the console will support 8K, displaying at this resolution will be dependant on TVs catching up.

The graphics, meanwhile, will be driven by a custom version of Radeon’s Navi line. This graphics chip will support ray tracing, something which is starting to become popular in movies and video games. Although it is traditionally thought of as a lighting technique, Cerny says that there are implications beyond creating realistic environments.

“If you wanted to run tests to see if the player can hear certain audio sources or if the enemies can hear the players’ footsteps, ray tracing is useful for that,” he explained. “It’s all the same thing as taking a ray through the environment.”

One of the first big steps forward the next-gen PlayStation makes that Cerny is keen to talk about is audio. The AMD chip will enable 3D audio, and this, according to Cerny, is key to immersing players deeper. This naturally led to discussions of PlayStation VR, and while Cerny didn’t confirm whether a new version of Sony’s headset will be released, the existing one will be supported.

The other key leap the next PlayStation will make comes through it’s hard drive. According to Cerny, developers let Sony know that what they want an solid-state drives in the new hardware. These SSDs are relatively prevalent now in laptops, and what Sony is bringing to the next PlayStation is described as being specialized for the hardware.

Cerny demonstrated the change an SSD introduces to gaming by comparing a load sequence from Insomniac’s Spider-Man on a standard PS4 Pro and a dev kit of the next-gen PlayStation. On the former, it was around 15 seconds, while on the latter it was 0.8 seconds. This, Cerny added, has implications on how the world can be rendered too, which in turn impacts how quickly Spidey can move through the world. On the new hardware, the camera moves through the city much quicker, as the hardware is capable of keeping up with rendering requirements.

Discussing the SSD, Cerny said “the raw read speed is important, but so are the details of the I/O [input-output] mechanisms and the software stack that we put on top of them. I got a PlayStation 4 Pro and then I put in a SSD that cost as much as the PlayStation 4 Pro—it might be one-third faster.”

Developing…

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-first-details-specs-backwards-compatible-8k-ps/1100-6466281/

PS4’s Dreams Enters Early Access

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LittleBigPlanet creator Media Molecule has long been teasing its ambitious new game, Dreams, and now PS4 players finally get the chance to play it. The game has launched in early access in some territories, with others getting the early edition of the game in the next few hours.

The version available for download is named Dreams Creator Early Access, as it’s designed to get creators inducted in order for Media Molecule to gather data on how users interact with its game, as well as feedback on how it can improve the experience. “The core of Dreams–the creation bit–is ready,” studio director Siobhan Reddy explained last month. “There is so much we want to do with and add to Dreams–but to start, we want players to be able to see their creations on their own TV screen and be able to have all the tools they need to make games or stories or art or music accessible from their couch.

“[Early access] won’t feature everything that the full release will have (our story mode being a big piece of that) but you’ll get our full toolset for creating, our interactive tutorials and arcade games, templates and additional content created by Media Molecule and access to what you, the Community, made during our Dreams Creator Beta. You’ll also be getting the first hands-on with new features and content as we add them.”

Dreams’ early access version costs $30 / £25 / $40, and this will also grant you access to the full version once that launches. Your creations will also carry over to the final version, though we’re no closer to knowing when that might come out. Be warned, however, that this early access version is a limited release, meaning Sony may take it off sale once a certain number of copies have been sold so Media Molecule can adequately listen and respond to player feedback.

Dreams had a beta in January and players were immediately coming up with interesting ways to use the game. One person, for example, created a battle royale-style game inside Dreams. Another even remade Konami’s P.T.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4s-dreams-enters-early-access/1100-6466278/

Final Fantasy 15 Director Working On Official 2020 Paralympics Video Game

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Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata left Square Enix last year and announced a new studio, JP Games, in December. Now he’s revealed the studio’s first project.

JP Games is starting in high-profile fashion. The studio is developing The Pegasus Dream Tour, which is the official video game for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. JP Games is developing the game with the International Paralympic Committee.

“I wish to thank everyone involved, who helped me up to this point and make this announcement today. You’ll be able to enjoy the game when the timing’s right in 2020. So stay tuned,” Tabata said in a post on Facebook.

The Pegasus Dream Tour is officially described as a “completely new sports role-playing game where players participate in a virtual Paralympic Games that takes place inside a fantasy metropolis known as Pegasus City.”

Players control characters who have special abilities known as “Xtra power.” The game is being made for “various platforms,” including smartphones.

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said in a statement, “We are eager to explore innovative ways to engage with new and younger global audiences. We believe this game will help boost interest in the Paralympic Games and make it easier for people all over the world to enjoy and experience the heated atmosphere, passion, and excitement of the event.”

He added: “The sport at the Paralympics is outstanding and helps transform attitudes towards persons with disabilities like no other event. I am really excited to see and play this game and see how the outstanding abilities of Para athletes are represented.”

As for Tabata, he said, “This is not just an ordinary video game about sports. JP Games is going to represent fully the wonders that are unique to Paralympic sports in this brand-new role-playing game–a genre we excel in. With this video game, we want to contribute to the future growth of the Paralympic Games, not just as a sporting event, but as entertainment as well, with contents that we hope will have lasting value in the future.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-15-director-working-on-official-2020/1100-6466277/

Nintendo Switch Update Out Now, Adds Save Transfers And More

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A new firmware update for Nintendo Switch has arrived, and it makes some big changes, the most notable of which are save transfers between Switch consoles and the ability to sort your games in various ways.

Starting with the save transfers, update 8.0.0 introduces the ability to transfer save data between Switch consoles. You can do this by heading to System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Save. One major thing to note is that once you transfer your save data, it’s erased from the console it was originally on, known as the source system.

As for the sorting feature, this lets you sort by last played, time played, game name, and publisher.

Another notable addition in the update include the introducing of a “zoom” feature to get a closer look at things; you can use this by pressing the home button twice. Additionally, Nintendo has added 15 new player icons from Splatoon 2 and Yoshi’s Crafted World.

You can see the full patch notes below, as posted on Nintendo’s website.

Nintendo Switch 8.0.0 Update

  • A Sort Software feature is available after selecting to view All Software from the HOME Menu
    • Software can be sorted by time last played, total play time, software title, and software publisher
    • The All Software option displays when there are 13 or more software icons on the HOME Menu
  • A View All Available News option is available within News, allowing you to view all news items currently being distributed
    • Go to News > Channel List > View More

    Select from 15 new icons from the Splatoon 2 and Yoshi’s Crafted World games for your user

    • To edit your user icon, head to your My Page on the top left of the HOME Menu > Profile
  • A feature to Transfer Your Save Data is now available, allowing you to transfer your save data for individual games between your Nintendo Switch systems
    • Go to System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data
    • Save data will not remain on your source system after the transfer process completes
  • A Zoom feature can be enabled from within System Settings
    • Go to System Settings > System to turn Zoom ON
    • Once enabled, you can use the Zoom feature by pressing the HOME Button twice
  • An option is available to prevent the system from waking from Sleep Mode when an AC adapter is disconnected
    • Go to System Settings > Sleep Mode > Wake When AC Adapter is Disconnected
    • This also applies when undocking your console
  • A VR Mode (3D Visuals) restriction is available within Parental Controls
    • This will also be available in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app through a later update
    • Go to System Settings > Parental Controls
    • These settings can also be changed from within Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit
  • Hong Kong / Taiwan / South Korea is available for selection in Region
    • Go to System Settings > System > Region
  • The following names have been changed (functionality remains the same)
    • Save Data Cloud Backup > Save Data Cloud
    • Transfer Your User and Save Data > Transfer Your User Data
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-update-out-now-adds-save-transfers/1100-6466272/

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Pre-Order Bonuses, Deluxe Edition, Black Series Figure Bundle

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It’s been nearly a year since Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order was announced at E3 2018, but new details were finally revealed during a panel at this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, where the first trailer was finally shown and a release date was confirmed: November 15, 2019. The game will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with PC distribution limited to EA’s Origin store.

Jedi Fallen Order is being developed by Respawn, the team behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. The game is solely single-player and story-driven, with no microtransactions. The story takes place after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and follows a young Padawan named Cal Kestis (played by Gotham actor Cameron Monaghan) who is on the run from the Empire and its Inquisitors after Order 66 was issued, directing all Jedi to be hunted down and killed. Cal is working on completing his Jedi training while also dealing with the tragic events of his past. While no gameplay has been shown, we know the third-person action will include intense lightsaber battles, melee and Force abilities, platforming, and puzzle-solving.

More details will certainly be revealed as the release date draws closer, but in the meantime, you can catch up on all the confirmed details about Jedi Fallen Order with our guide. And if you’re interested in pre-ordering the game, you’ll find all the latest information about pre-order bonuses and the different editions below.

No Caption Provided

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order pre-order bonuses

As of right now, details on Jedi Fallen Order’s official pre-order bonuses are vague, but we know that they’ll include cosmetic equipment for your lightsaber and droid companion. As usual, the PlayStation Store is also giving away a free Jedi Fallen Order PS4 theme with pre-order purchases.

Meanwhile, My Best Buy members will receive $10 reward credit if they pre-order the game from Best Buy.

Pre-order Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order standard edition

The standard edition will include just the base game and any pre-order bonuses. You can pre-order it at the following retailers:

PS4

Xbox One

PC

No Caption Provided

Pre-order Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Deluxe edition

The Deluxe edition will include a director’s cut with behind-the-scene features and additional cosmetic equipment, plus any applicable pre-order bonuses. It’s only $10 more than the standard edition. You can pre-order it at the following retailers:

PS4

Xbox One

PC

Pre-order Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Black Series Figure Bundle

GameStop is offering a bundle that includes the game for either PS4 or Xbox One and an exclusive, six-inch Star Wars: Black Series action figure. There aren’t many other details–and we’ll update this guide when more info is revealed–but it’s selling for $83.

PS4

Xbox One

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-pre-order-bonuses-delu/1100-6466262/

Switch’s Mario Tennis Aces Gets New Mode And More In Big Update

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Nintendo and Camelot continue to roll out updates for Switch’s first Mario sports game, Mario Tennis Aces. The title’s 3.0 update is now live, and it’s a fairly significant one, introducing a new mode, kicking off a new Co-Op Challenge, and making another round of balance adjustments to a handful of characters.

First, Ring Shot has been added to the game’s main menu. The mode supports up to four players locally on one Switch console and comes in three varieties: Singles, Doubles, and Yoshi’s Ring Shot. The object of each is to rally the ball back and forth through rings that appear on the court, racking up as high of a score as you can within the time limit.

Yoshi’s Ring Shot also returns as the game’s latest online Co-Op Challenge. The event runs until June 1 and will give players the chance to unlock three more alternate Yoshi colors: pink, orange, and light blue. The rules are the same as standard Ring Shot, but this time, you’ll rack up more points if you shoot the ball through a ring that’s the same color as your Yoshi.

In addition to those modes, Camelot has added a new opening cinematic for Adventure Mode. If you’ve already have an Adventure save file in progress, you’ll be able to watch the movie from the Bonus option in the Adventure Mode menu. A new rank, Ace, has also been added to the online Tournament mode, and several characters have received small buffs. You can read the full patch notes here on Nintendo’s website.

Following the addition of Pauline last month, the newest character to join the Mario Tennis Aces roster is Magikoopa. Everyone who competes in one online Tournament match in April will unlock the character immediately, while all other players will get him after May 1. Another classic Mario villain, Dry Bones, will be added as a playable character next month.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/switchs-mario-tennis-aces-gets-new-mode-and-more-i/1100-6466263/