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EA to show Star Wars plans at E3

In an E3 conference not so far away, EA will offer a first look at its upcoming Star Wars games. The ink has barely dried on the exclusive contract with Disney in the wake of LucastArts' demise, but with next-gen consoles around the corner, it's no surprise EA is keen to offer a glimpse of what's to come.

The news was spilled on EA's The Beat blog by Labels President Frank Gibeau, who name-checked Battlefield 4, EA Sports games, and the Need for Speed franchise as part of the company's E3 showcase of next-gen games.

Around the time the post went up, Need for Speed's Facebook page uploaded a new screenshot (below the break) of what's very likely the next game in the racing series. The shot was tagged with the description "Have no rules, show no mercy."

The screenshot completely negates any possibility of it, but we're gonna call it anyway. At E3 next month, prepare to meet Need for Hyperspeed. You heard it here first.

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Xbox One, PS4 game box art appears on Battlefield 4 site

Xbox One, PS4 game box art appears on Battlefield 4 site
Are these the designs for Xbox One and PS4 game covers? The images come via the official Battlefield 4 site, where they're pictured prominently on a couple of pages. They may just be EA mock-ups - no other companies, including Microsoft and Sony, have released any images - but maybe they are the real deal. We reckon they look elegantly crisp.

CryEngine 3 already runs on Xbox One

CryEngine 3 already runs on Xbox One
Crysis has thrown its card into the hat of today's Xbox One announcements, to say that CryEngine 3 does indeed run on Microsoft's new console. The company is already licensed to provide middleware and tools for Xbox One, which means that any developers looking to use CryEngine 3 to make their games will have no problem running the code on the new box.

There are a number of titles already announced for the Xbox One, but nothing using CryEngine 3 just yet. Don't weep, though; We're sure to hear about something soon.

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Microsoft: 'Only Xbox One controllers, accessories will work with the new console.'

Xbox One doesn't support 360 controllers, Kinect, maybe other accessories
Microsoft confirmed to Joystiq only Xbox One controllers and accessories are supported by the new console. The new system won't support the Xbox 360 controller or Xbox 360 Kinect. When approached, a Microsoft spokesperson provided us with the following statement:
"Xbox One was designed from the ground up with entirely new technology to deliver a new generation of experiences for both games and entertainment For example, the Wireless Controller will connect to the console using high speed data transfer to enable higher fidelity headset audio and future controller add-on experiences that are not possible with Xbox 360 wireless technology. Additionally, the all-new Kinect sensor's ability to locate the wireless controller is dependent on new technology. In order for Xbox One to deliver robust, meaningful gaming scenarios for all users across all experiences, only Xbox One controllers and accessories will work with the new console."
Microsoft previously confirmed to Polygon and Engadget the Xbox One won't support the Xbox 360 controller or Xbox 360 Kinect respectively. Neither is surprising, given Microsoft's new system has a redesigned controller and a next-gen edition of the Kinect sensor.

However, while it isn't explicitly said, Microsoft's statement seems to indicate the Xbox One won't support any Xbox 360 accessories. When asked on Twitter if the new system supports Xbox 360 headsets, Xbox Support reiterated the statement we received, saying, "Only Xbox One accessories will work with Xbox One, which helps us deliver better headset audio and other benefits."

Wii U 3.0.1 system update released

Nintendo released what looks like a minor system update for the Wii U this week, and it's available to download now. Going by the patch notes, 3.0.1 U offers "further improvements to overall system stability and software compatibility."

We've downloaded the update and can't see any obvious changes. Maybe the Wii U just wanted to make itself heard over the clamor of a certain other box.

Skullgirls to beat down Japanese arcades

Skullgirls to beat down Japanese arcades
Skullgirls, the little fighting game that could, just keeps on chugging. The magazine image above was discovered by NeoGAF, showing Skullgirls listed for release in Japanese arcades (7th from the bottom). That's a very big deal for an independently developed American fighting game. Developer Lab Zero Games acknowledged as much on NeoGAF, with studio head Peter "Ravidrath" Bartholow confirming the news saying, "We are stupidly excited for this, just because I can't think of a single other non-Japanese dev that can say they have a game out in Japanese arcades."

He added that a Japanese company is handling the port. Furthermore, the game will be out "as soon as possible," and the recently crowd-funded DLC characters will be added in future updates.

Massively surveys WildStar's Scientist and Settler paths, the Esper class, and the crazy things Jeremy Gaffney says

WildStar -- hells yeah
So who wants to hear some cool stuff about WildStar? Thought so!

Massively's Gavin Townsley recently attended a WildStar media event in San Francisco, at which he was treated to a hands-on look at the upcoming sci-fantasy MMORPG's Scientist path and Esper class. He also chatted with Carbine Studios executive producer Jeremy Gaffney, who pulls a Gaffney (I'm coining that) and can't resist leaking a bit of new info about tradeskills while filling Gavin in on how endgame will work, why we should play the Settler path, and whether talent trees are passé. If you think making 10 pairs of cotton space pants sounds boring, then yeah -- you're going to like what he's got to say.

Enjoy all three articles plus the brand-new path videos we've embedded past the cut!
Hands-on with WildStar's Scientist path and Esper class
There is something exciting about taking your first steps into the mysteries of a new planet. I was anxious to mingle with the locals, analyze artifacts, and even pick a few plants -- that is, until I saw a flower burst from the ground as a giant vine-like beast.
WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on the Settler path
WildStar's Settlers don't just build bonfires for sappy Explorers to sing around; these titans of construction will save you time in dungeons, establish bigger outposts, and open up new realms of quests for everyone.
WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on progression, tradeskills, and endgame
Jeremy Gaffney divulges the beautiful details on essential parts of the game: character progression, tradeskills that don't suck, and life in the elder game.

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Rumor: Slant Six worked on Medal of Honor PS Vita game

Slant Six linked to canned Medal of Honor Vita game

At one point, Slant Six Games was apparently working on a Medal of Honor game for PS Vita. Some concept art for the game showed up over on an artist's portfolio site, spotted by the @supererogatory Twitter account.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter was the latest entry in the Medal of Honor series, developed by EA's Danger Close studio. Following that game's poor reception, EA's Peter Moore announced the franchise is now "out of the rotation."

Slant Six Games' last release was the lackluster Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City for Capcom - a spin-off that takes place during the outbreak of Raccoon City, first seen in Resident Evil 2. In April, Slant Six Games issued temporary layoffs, a stopgap measure to help keep interim operating costs down in-between contract work. Slant Six issued similar layoffs in 2010 and after shipping RE: Operation Raccoon City last year.

Dying: Sinner Escape absconding to Vita, iOS

The Vita and iOS devices are set to receive a new dose of horror courtesy of Dying: Sinner Escape. The game is being made with help from the creator of Saw, according to developer Nekcom Entertainment, though the announcement neglects to name exactly which creator it's referring to. Neither Saw's director, James Wan, nor its screenwriter, Leigh Whannell, are mentioned specifically.

Regardless, Dying clearly has a Saw vibe. It's story revolves around characters being trapped in foreboding environments, forcing them to solve strange puzzles and try to escape. The game will be released episodically with the first episode, "Last Hour," slated to arrive on May 25.

Cheap Firaxis bundle headlines Amazon Digital Mayhem sale

Amazon is bundling together three of Firaxis Games' most recent at a really low price. For $20, you can snag PC download codes of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Civilization 5: Gold Edition – a definitive version with Gods and Kings and a bunch of other DLC – and Civilization 4: The Complete Edition, also including a host of DLC and extra goodies.

The Firaxis bundle headlines Amazon's Digital Mayhem promotion, with other discounts spanning Telltale's The Walking Dead, Battlefield 3, BioShock, Mark of the Ninja and many more. The sale ends on May 31, so feel free to take your time perusing the hundreds of eligible discounts.

PSN Tuesday - Ratchet: Deadlocked, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

PSN Tuesday  Ratchet Deadlocked, Call of Juarez Gunslinger
This week's PlayStation Store update brings the release of Techland's first-person shooter Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, along with an upgraded, HD version of Insomniac Games' PlayStation 2 platformer Ratchet: Deadlocked.

PS Vita owners can opt for the budget-priced janitor sim Men's Room Mayhem or the Cross-Buy enabled tower defense game Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault, which includes a free copy of the PlayStation 3 version with purchase. Reminder: Ratchet: Deadlocked is available as a free download for players who purchased the retail PlayStation 3 version of Full Frontal Assault.

Pinball Arcade and Germinator headline this week's PlayStation Plus update, and subscribers also have access to discounts for ten DLC-bundled Ultimate Edition titles.

The full list of this week's store additions is available on the PlayStation Blog.

Xbox One's live TV features coming to North America first, everyone else later

HIT NEXT Xbox One's live TV stuff to begin in NA, roll out elsewhere later
Microsoft has announced that the live TV features coming to its newly revealed Xbox One will first be available in North America, and then will then transition into other regions after that. In a press release from the company, Microsoft noted that "live TV with Kinect Navigation, live TV with OneGuide, Trending, and NFL on Xbox" will all roll out in the US "at launch," but was "anticipating global scale over time."

Microsoft also said that the Xbox One will require a separate cable box, specifying "at launch," so it's possible that the console maker has other plans to deliver television content. The Xbox One is set for release later on this year, and Microsoft has not yet revealed a price.

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Super Joystiq Podcast Special: Xbox One revealed

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Sony made the first move in the next-gen battle in February, and now, mere weeks before E3 2013, Microsoft has revealed its next console, the Xbox One.

Ludwig and Alexander are in Redmond covering the full goings-on at the Xbox One announcement event, but the home crew of Xav, Dave, and Jess are here to recap all the currently known details. There are still plenty of questions surrounding the system, especially when it comes to software, but Microsoft did spill plenty of details regarding the hardware.

Facts, opinions, speculation – it's all here.

Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast: Details about each segment are available after the break.

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Xbox One interface shots show Netflix, Hulu, other streaming apps

While no one explicitly named any streaming media applications during Microsoft's Xbox One reveal ceremony, screenshots have emerged on the new console's official site that give us a hint at what we'll be watching on day one.

So far, apps listed include such staples as Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBOgo, in addition to slightly more esoteric offerings such as Crackle and The CW. Microsoft has yet to specifically name any of these apps during today's flurry of announcements, however, so we're keeping an ear to the ground for further confirmation and (hopefully) information on other streaming media apps launching with the system.

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Xbox One's Kinect discerns heartbeat and who has the controller

The Xbox One's next-generation Kinect has a greater interest in your facial features, and is capable of discerning your identity, even if you hand off the controller.

In a brief demonstration in one of its Kinect testing rooms, Microsoft showed press how the Kinect kept track of two player profiles, each tied to a controller in use. When Player 1 and Player 2 swap controllers, the Xbox One is able to recognize which profile is the new Player 1. The Kinect also monitors the position of players, meaning it can match portions of split-screen games to the side of the screen at which that player is looking. This may also translate to fighting games, which is good news if you're the sort to get confused when your spot in the couch isn't aligned with your character.

Microsoft also demonstrated a few more tricks made possible by the new Kinect's enhanced sense of depth, its greater field of view - which does make closer gaming in smaller apartments a more feasible – its ability to see in the dark via infrared, and its flattering scrutiny of facial features. By examining your face's skin color and transparency, the Kinect and Xbox One are able to estimate your current heart rate. Whether or not someone puts that information to good use in Kinect games or fitness programs is another matter, as we've learned from Nintendo's flatlined "vitality sensor."

Valve has experimented with biometric data in games too, adjusting game difficulty, objectives and timers in response to the player's physical state. With a Kinect shipping alongside every Xbox One, and assuming the camera is relatively accurate, biometric influence over gameplay may become less esoteric in the near future.

GameStop stock takes hit following Xbox One used game story

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Microsoft's plans for the used games market on the newly announced Xbox One were a roller coaster ride this afternoon, with GameStop being the one to lose its lunch on the ride. The company's stock started an immediate dip once the news began to circulate that the console wouldn't support used games, closing the day down five percent (down -1.98 to 36.78/share).

Microsoft issued a statement after the market's close regarding Wired's report, stating the news wasn't accurate, but wouldn't detail exactly how the information was incorrect.

"It doesn't help Microsoft to block, and will alienate consumers. They should stay out of the controversy," said Wedbush Security analyst Michael Pachter who attended today's reveal of the new console at the Microsoft campus. "It is a dumb idea for Microsoft to get involved."

He continued, "They could just as easily invalidate a download if the same disc is subsequently downloaded to another Xbox One, and the seller of the game wouldn't complain. The article reaches a conclusion without foundation, and was irresponsible."

As of this posting it's still unclear what Microsoft's plans are for the used games market. GameStop's pre-owned video game products represented $2.4 billion in sales, representing 27.4 percent of the company's income and $1.1 billion (48.1 percent) of company's gross profit in its previous fiscal year.
[Image: nuttapol yupothong via Shutterstock]

Xbox One pre-orders, info lists live via Game, Amazon, Microsoft Store

Xbox One preorders already happening at Amazon, M$ and GAME
We don't know when it's coming out, but the Xbox One is available for pre-order at European retailers Game and Zavvi. It's also up for "pre-order notifications" on Amazon, the Microsoft Store, GameStop and Best Buy. Best Buy's ad lists the Xbox One with a "holiday 2013" release window, though all we know officially is that it's coming "later this year."

Game lists a pre-order holding price of £20 for the Xbox One, while Zavvi's pre-order down payment is £400. Zavvi also has a lineup of Xbox One games for £50, including Call of Duty: Ghosts and four EA Sports games.

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Xbox One uses non-removable hard drive, supports external USB storage

Xbox One uses nonremovable hard drive, external storage supported via USB
Microsoft senior director of product planning Albert Penello confirmed with Engadget that the upcoming Xbox One console will ship with 500GB of non-removable, non-replaceable integrated storage. He assures, however, that alternative storage solutions are available.

While users will be unable to service the Xbox One's internal hard drive or replace it with a larger-capacity device, Penello notes that external storage devices can be connected via one of the console's three included USB 3.0 ports. Connected USB devices will be capable of storing all content supported by the Xbox One's hard drive, including installed game data and downloaded software.

Huffpost Live tackles Xbox One with our reviews editor, Richard Mitchell [Update: watch the replay]


Update: The live segment is over, but you can watch the recording right here.

Huffpost Live is diving into today's Xbox One announcement at 6:20 ET tonight – right now, even – for Tech Tuesday. Of course the Huffpost team needs an expert on the matter, so it brought in Joystiq Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell – after all, he spent the day immersed in Xbox One news.

Watch Huffpost Live's "Tech Tuesday Talks Xbox, Apple & Microsoft!" right here, right now.

Thief sneaks onto Xbox One

Thief coming to Xbox One
Eidos Montreal confirmed through its official Tumblr today that Thief will be coming to Xbox One. The game, first announced in 2009, was confirmed for PS4, PC and other next-gen consoles in March, which we can now take to mean the next-generation Xbox revealed today.

The Thief reboot reportedly suffered many setbacks during its five-year development period, including significant turnover in staff at Eidos Montreal. The developer included a "glimpse" at the next-gen game in its Tumblr post in the form of a screen with an alarming amount of fire in it.

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'You know what? We're Blacklist, let's try to build on it.'

— Splinter Cell: Blacklist Producer Sébastien Ebacher on evolving Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer.

The Joystiq Podcast

The Joystiq Podcast

Super Joystiq Podcast Special: Xbox One revealed

Latest episode: Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

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