Joystiq

Rumor: Battlefield 4 alpha build screenshots leak

Alexander Sliwinski — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 09:15:00 EST

Images reportedly showing off an alpha build of Battlefield 4 have leaked on site NSS. The images reveal loadouts, a map, menus and what's clearly some very early in-game screenshots. Head on over to NSS to view them all.

Rumor: Battlefield 4 alpha build screenshots leak originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: GameStop discontinuing Wii U Basic after June 18 [Update: Nintendo responds]

David Hinkle — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 EST

Update: Nintendo of America Senior Director of Corporate Communications Charlie Scibetta has provided the following statement to Joystiq: "There is a current misperception about Wii U hardware. To clarify: Nintendo is working with its retail partners to simply rebalance the stock of the White 8GB and the Black 32GB Wii U models in the market. Consumers looking for either model will continue to find them available."

Some GameStop locations will no longer sell the 8GB Wii U Basic console after June 18, according to a Kotaku source. CNET also says it's confirmed this with several GameStop stores. We've contacted both Nintendo and GameStop for comment.

Other retailers have held sales for the Wii U Basic over the last few months, though it's hardly indicative of retailers looking to get rid of stock ahead of a recall. In its year-end financial report, Nintendo revealed Wii U shipments fell below the company forecast. As of March 31, 3.75 million Wii U consoles have been sold worldwide.

Rumor: GameStop discontinuing Wii U Basic after June 18 [Update: Nintendo responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lionhead launches new Fable forums with suspicious timing [update]

Mike Schramm — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:30:00 EST

Lionhead Studios has launched a brand new set of Fable-related forums, now available on the developer's website for users to discuss and dissect the popular series of role-playing games. Lionhead's also giving away virtual founders' medals to anyone who signs up in the forums' first two weeks of existence, and you can log right in using your Xbox Live ID.

The last game in the series, Fable: The Journey, arrived back in October of 2012, which raises the question of why the Microsoft-owned developer would announce brand new forums for an IP that's all but fallen off of the radar. Don't forget, though, that E3 is next week, and Microsoft has $1 billion worth of games coming to the Xbox One. The fates may dictate a return to Albion very soon.

Update: That didn't take long. Lionhead is teasing a Fable HD remake.

Lionhead launches new Fable forums with suspicious timing [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Doodle Jump for Kinect heading to XBLA next month [Update]

Danny Cowan — Fri, 31 May 2013 21:30:00 EST

It shaped smartphone gaming in the early days of the App Store. Today, it's available on nearly every capable mobile device. It may even be lurking at your local arcade.

Next month, a Kinect version of Lima Sky's runaway hit, Doodle Jump, could be coming to Xbox Live Arcade, according to a recent Australian ratings classification and evidence uncovered by self-proclaimed Xbox Live Marketplace watchdog, "Lifelower."

The Australian Classification Board confirms Smoking Gun Interactive as the developer behind the upcoming Doodle Jump for Kinect. Lifelower, meanwhile, has obtained boxart and a gallery of purported screenshots, suggesting that the game is nearing completion. Lifelower expects the game to launch near the end of June at 400 Microsoft points.

A Kinect adaptation of Doodle Jump was first announced back in 2011 when creator Lima Sky outlined its plans for expansion after surpassing 10 million paid downloads on mobile platforms. We've reached out to developer Smoking Gun Interactive for more information.

Update: Doodle Jump for Kinect will be available on Xbox Live Arcade for 400 MS Points sometime this summer.

Rumor: Doodle Jump for Kinect heading to XBLA next month [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Prey 2 in hands of Dishonored developer

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:30:00 EST

Bethesda's Prey 2 is rumored to be under development at Arkane Austin, the studio behind last year's excellent Dishonored. Kotaku has been tracking the winding road of Prey 2's development, along with fan site Alien Noire, who have both heard of Arkane taking over.

"We don't have any new info to share on Prey 2. We don't comment on rumors," said Bethesda VP of marketing and PR Pete Hines.

Bethesda stopped acknowledging the existence of Prey 2 late last year when it pulled the game from its company site. A few months prior to that the company stated Prey 2 had "not been canceled" after it removed developer Human Head over "quality standards."

Rumor: Prey 2 in hands of Dishonored developer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Ubisoft Reflections working on racer 'The Crew'

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 29 May 2013 17:30:00 EST

Driver series developer Ubisoft Reflections is working on a new racing game called The Crew, The Examiner reports. Citing an unnamed source, Examiner says the game is an all new racing franchise that is intended to be a "realistic title, possibly being positioned against Forza and Gran Turismo."

Reflections has been out of the racing game circuit for the past couple years after the release of Driver: San Francisco. The studio has spent its time since playing second fiddle on Just Dance, Far Cry and Watch Dogs for Ubisoft's Montreal and Paris studios.

Ubisoft Reflections is expected to announce its new game at E3.

Rumor: Ubisoft Reflections working on racer 'The Crew' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Sony making Remote Play mandatory with PS4 [update: Sony confirms]

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:15:00 EST

Update: Yoshida has confirmed on Twitter that all PS4 games will indeed feature PS Vita Remote Play. Says Yoshida, "Yes, it's true unless the game requires specific hardware like the camera. It will be great to play PS4 games on PS Vita."

If a new report is to be believed, it looks like nearly all PlayStation 4 games will be required to support Remote Play on the PS Vita. The rumor comes courtesy of "a trusted PlayStation 4 developer source" to Eurogamer, who states Sony is mandating Remote Play on all PS4 games that don't require the PS4 Eye camera.

Sony certainly made a big deal of PS4's Gaikai-fueled Remote Play during the console's announcement event. Today's report also jives with previous statements from Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida. Back in February, Yoshida told Engadget that Sony was requesting all developers test their games on Remote Play before submitting them for certification, though he made no mention of a mandate.

Of course, the Vita doesn't have as many inputs as a DualShock 4, though Yoshida noted that developers can create custom control schemes for the Vita that make use of contextual buttons on its touch screen.

Rumor: Sony making Remote Play mandatory with PS4 [update: Sony confirms] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Blizzard MMO restarts development, pushed until 2016 [update]

Mike Schramm — Tue, 28 May 2013 22:15:00 EST

VentureBeat is reporting via "a source familiar with the matter" that Blizzard Entertainment has reset development on its long-rumored post-World of Warcraft MMO, codenamed "Titan." The source says Blizzard had 100 people working on the project, but that number has been reduced to just 30, with those dismissed being put to work on other games. Titan never had an official release date, but VentureBeat claims it won't be ready to publish until 2016 at the earliest.

Joystiq has also gained information on this development, with a source claiming the project "just wasn't up to polish." Stripped down to the core ideas, the game will now restart its process from the ground up.

Blizzard is no stranger to long and laborious development schedules. Diablo 3 famously went through multiple redesigns over ten years of development, and StarCraft Ghost was "postponed" after years of work, then never seen again.

Blizzard is gearing up to release a new digital card game named Hearthstone later this year, and then host a sold-out BlizzCon 2013 in November.

Update: Zam (via Massively) reports Blizzard, when approached, responded with this statement:

"We've always had a highly iterative development process, and the unannounced MMO is no exception. We've come to a point where we need to make some large design and technology changes to the game. We're using this opportunity to shift some of our resources to assist with other projects while the core team adapts our technology and tools to accommodate these new changes. Note that we haven't announced any dates for the MMO."

Report: Next Blizzard MMO restarts development, pushed until 2016 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 May 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Xbox One to feature Skype remote play

David Hinkle — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:45:00 EST

Rumor has it that Microsoft's Xbox One console will feature remote play through Skype, allowing someone to remotely take over gameplay on the local console directly from a Skype call. Either player may break the remote play session at any time.

Supposedly the feature is in testing phase right now, though Polygon's source notes that certain details are still up in the air - like how long that individual can remotely play or whether they need to own the same game or not. During the Xbox reveal event, Microsoft unveiled group Skype calls using the Xbox One's improved Kinect sensor.

Rumor: Xbox One to feature Skype remote play originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 May 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Freefall Racers for Kinect being published by Deep Silver, headed to XBLA [update]

David Hinkle — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 EST

Deep Silver will publish an upcoming gesture-based racing game for Kinect called Freefall Racers. The first breadcrumb in this trail comes from an Australian rating that has surfaced, outing Deep Silver as publisher.

The developer is Smoking Gun Interactive, whose most recent work includes two Kinect experiences, Mars Rover Landing and Home Run Stars, so a new Kinect project would make sense. The Vancouver-based studio at least partly funded Freefall Racers with help from the Canadian government, as evidenced by the $461,243 contributed through the Canada Media Fund (PDF) last year.

Our first glimpse of the game is courtesy of environmental artist Anthony Leonati, who ~~published six screens from Freefall Racers on his personal website.~~ [Update: The images have been pulled from Leonati's website.] In addition to the screens, he also pegs Freefall Racers for Xbox Live Arcade, though his LinkedIn profile indicates he has since moved on from Smoking Gun to become a senior environment artist at EA.

We've followed up with Deep Silver and Smoking Gun Interactive for comment and will update this post accordingly.

[Thanks, lifelower]

Gallery: Freefall Racers

Rumor: Freefall Racers for Kinect being published by Deep Silver, headed to XBLA [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 6 product page discovered at official site

Danny Cowan — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:45:00 EST

The Sony-managed website gran-turismo.com now features a product listing for the as-of-yet unannounced Gran Turismo 6. Currently, the link in question leads to its own unique (if empty) page; further URL manipulation produces generic results.

The discovery yields no details, but Sony is expected to announce a new entry in Polyphony Digital's driving simulation series at an anniversary event tomorrow in the UK. Drivers, start your...waiting.

[Thanks, Szczesny!]

Gran Turismo 6 product page discovered at official site originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: PS4 to hit Europe this year

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:15:00 EST

The PS4 won't be delayed into 2014 in Europe, according to a CVG source. "An insider involved with PlayStation's business strategy" told the site Sony is expecting Microsoft to more aggressively target Europe. The insider claims Sony, mindful of the Xbox 360's early arrival ahead of the PS3, will release the PS4 on the continent this year to maintain the region's affinity for PlayStation.

As CVG notes, Edge sources previously claimed the PS4 would be delayed in Europe until "early 2014." Sony has precedent here; the PS3 reached Europe in March 2007, having arrived in North America and Japan in November 2006. Europe was originally lined up for November 2006 too, but Sony delayed the PS3's arrival with two months to go.

At the PS4 reveal in February, Sony said the console was coming in "Holiday 2013," but refused to commit to which regions the window applied to. E3 would seem a good bet for Sony to get more specific about the PS4's arrival, especially depending on just how much Microsoft reveals next week.

Rumor: PS4 to hit Europe this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of New World to get PS3 HD remakes

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:45:00 EST

PS2 and GameCube RPG Tales of Symphonia and its Wii-exclusive sequel Dawn of the New World may come to the PS3 via an HD upgrade. Spanish site Koi-nya gained info from internal sources on a PS3 HD bundle of the two games, which it reckons is called Tales of Symphonia: Perfect Edition. Koi-nya quizzed series producer Hideo Baba, who's already teased 2013 as being a bountiful year of Tales news, the cheeky scamp that he is.

While Baba said he couldn't confirm Perfect Edition, he did say such a game would be "a representation of the dreams and hopes of the fans, who have long been wanting it."

One Koi-nya source also says Tales of Xillia 2 is coming to the west, but given we're still waiting on the first Xillia to arrive - it's due in August - don't expect a localization soon.

We've reached out to publisher Namco Bandai for comment.

Rumor: Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of New World to get PS3 HD remakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: 'PS4 E3' video shows the console in the eyes of the beholder [Update: It's fake]

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:45:00 EST

This could be the first glimpse of Sony's PlayStation 4 console and a look at the next generation of designer contact lens trends. This video contains the correct amount of blaring electronica for an E3 presentation, but we've reached out to Sony to clarify if it is, in fact, legitimate.

Sony announced the PS4 in February, but has yet to show off the console itself. Microsoft, Sony's next-gen competitor, is preparing to reveal its new Xbox on May 21.

Update: A Sony spokesperson tells Joystiq, "We don't comment on rumors or speculation." Other outlets have received confirmation that the ad is indeed fake. That doesn't mean it's not pretty.

Rumor: 'PS4 E3' video shows the console in the eyes of the beholder [Update: It's fake] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Microsoft set-top box in prototype stage, supports Kinect [Update]

Mike Suszek — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:30:00 EST

With the next Xbox reveal just ten days away, it's as good a time as ever to revisit a report that dates back to November 2012: Microsoft's reported interest in developing a set-top box, or "Xbox TV." Anonymous sources recently told the Wall Street Journal that Microsoft has come as far as producing working prototypes of said media device. Those prototypes reportedly work with Kinect, and are built to provide streaming services for viewers.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that it's unclear whether Microsoft will introduce the as-yet-unannounced device at all. We've contacted Microsoft for comment and will update as we learn more. In the meantime, we recommend that you take a ten-day nap, because the rampant speculation leading up to the Xbox reveal on May 21 probably won't go away.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson got back to us with the following: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."

Rumor: Microsoft set-top box in prototype stage, supports Kinect [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate coming to PS3/360

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:45:00 EST

An enhanced version of last year's Dead or Alive 5, dubbed Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, will fight its way onto the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at some point in the future, according to a story at Siliconera. The announcement, made in the pages of the latest issue of Famitsu, states that Ninja Gaiden's Momiji will be added as a playable fighter.

Momiji's inclusion in a new Dead or Alive project was teased during a Japanese tournament late last month. We've reached out to Tecmo Koei for more information and will update with anything we learn regarding North American and European plans.

Rumor: Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate coming to PS3/360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Nintendo offering Wii U conversion software to smartphone app devs

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:15:00 EST

Nintendo reportedly wants to expand the Wii U's library by actively helping smartphone developers to adapt their apps for the system. According to "company sources" at The Japan Times, Nintendo "has offered professional-use conversion software" to app devs in the hope smartphone software will help boost the Wii U's underwhelming sales figures.

The report tallies with Nintendo's increased affinity for the downloadable games market; the company's digital sales figures for the last fiscal year more than doubled the previous year's. In a recent Q & A session, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said the new strategy isn't limited to selling packaged games digitally.

"We will not simply change our existing packaged software distribution channel," Iwata said. "Rather, we might have many other types of business models in addition to packaged software. For example, we might see more games that are similar to free-to-play games, games that cost much less or games that require a monthly subscription fee.

"Digitalization allows for greater flexibility, whereby having more ways to make payments, both software developers and consumers have more options. And Nintendo 3DS and Wii U have flexible systems to handle such trends, so it is now a question of putting these ideas into action. I can definitely say that Nintendo will make new offers that go well beyond simply replacing packaged software with digital software."

Rumor: Nintendo offering Wii U conversion software to smartphone app devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 15 isn't happening

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST

Tiger Woods PGA Tour is going to sit the next round out, according to sources speaking to Kotaku. The site has been informed by folks with knowledge of the series that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 15 - which was to be outsourced - isn't happening in the wake of EA CEO John Riccitiello's departure. An in-house team will work for the next two years to make Tiger Woods 16 and take advantage of next generation systems.

EA responded: "We don't comment on speculation about our franchises. We have nothing to announce today about future games on the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 is now available on PS3 and Xbox 360."

An EA Sports representative also tells us the company will be delivering patches this week to fix known issues with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14.

The Tiger Woods brand has hit a rough patch these past few years. EA reaffirmed its relationship with Woods in 2010 despite the golfer's penchant for putting around. Later that same year EA did note it'd like to see the golfer winning to make their relationship worthwhile. But, here's the hard truth: As much as EA may want to move on from Tiger, um, name another golfer...

Report: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 15 isn't happening originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Japanese trademark suggests Dragon Quest Monsters 2 remake

Danny Cowan — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:45:00 EST

A recently registered trademark in Japan hints that Square Enix may be planning to remake its 2001 creature-battling RPG Dragon Quest Monsters 2.

The trademark for "Iru to Ruka no Fushigi na Fushigi na Kagi" - yes, that's two fushigis - translates to "Iru and Luca's Wonderful Mysterious Keys." Iru and Luka were the stars in the Game Boy Color's Dragon Quest Monsters 2.

Dragon Quest Monsters 2 was originally released as a set of two cartridges, as was the popular thing to do back when the Pokemon craze was at its peak. Each cart featured a different playable protagonist and its own unique set of collectible monsters, which players could trade with others via the Game Boy's link cable. Both versions were later released in North America as Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Tara's Adventure and Cobi's Journey.

A remake of 1998's Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland launched for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan last year and met with stellar sales. The remade sequel will likely join its predecessor on the Nintendo 3DS, and the trademarked subtitle indicates that it will consolidate content from the two Game Boy Color releases.

A U.S. release for Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D has not been announced.

Rumor: Japanese trademark suggests Dragon Quest Monsters 2 remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Scribblenauts DC comics game in development

David Hinkle — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST

Scribblenauts Unlimited developer 5th Cell is reportedly working on a DC super hero entry in the write-em-up series, called Scribblenauts Unmasked. According to IGN sources, the game is currently mired in redesign and may even lose the Scribblenauts Unmasked moniker altogether, though the game is assuredly focused on the DC Comics license.

The original design called for a game where Max would embark on adventures to help out DC super heroes, but that may not be indicative of the final product. One scenario detailed includes Max trying to bypass a hungry Killer Croc to infiltrate Wayne Manor through the sewers below. Another anecdote provided presents Max with two seemingly identical police officers, yet one is the villain Clayface and must be discovered.

IGN's sources say the game announcement is due at this year's E3, with PC, Wii U and 3DS being listed as supported platforms.

Rumor: Scribblenauts DC comics game in development originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Batman: Arkham Origins to have multiplayer mode

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST

Batman: Arkham Origins will reportedly be the first game in the series to have a multiplayer component. Kotaku, citing two sources, notes that one mode will place players in Joker or Bane's gang to bring down The Batman and Robin.

"The villains involved - who may be playable and customizable - include Killer Croc, Deadshot, Firefly, Black Mask, Deathstroke, and 'some kind of Electroman character,'" reports the site. "This could be one multiplayer mode, or it could be the only one. We don't know."

Batman: Arkham Origins will launch on October 25 for current generation platforms and PC, alongside a portable version for 3DS and Vita called Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.

Rumor: Batman: Arkham Origins to have multiplayer mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Whore of the Orient faces uncertain future, studio layoffs

Sinan Kubba — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:30:00 EST

Whore of the Orient, the next game from the makers of L.A. Noire, looks to be in jeopardy following multiple reports of its team being laid off by Kennedy Mitchell Miller. MCV Pacific, Kotaku, and Player Attack sources say KMM has shuttered the Whore of the Orient division; KMM absorbed the remnants of L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi in 2011.

KMM partner Doug Mitchell didn't comment on the reports when speaking to MCV, but noted the company is still "actively pursuing the right investor to partner with" on Whore of the Orient.

Online sleuth supereroregatory dug up a blog post, now deleted, by a purported partner of a KMM staff member which indicated Warner Bros pulled out from the game in December 2012, and that any new deal with a new publisher, expected to happen this month, "would come too late."

As Kotaku notes, KMM Interactive, the company's games division, advertised for a Lead Engine Programmer as recently as April 5, raising doubts over the Whore of the Orient team being laid off so soon after. In any case, without a partner to invest in it, the game's future is in doubt. If it does come out, rumors suggest the earliest we'll see it is 2015.

Report: Whore of the Orient faces uncertain future, studio layoffs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Dark Souls 2 screens show what's going to kill you

Mike Schramm — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:30:00 EST

All Games Beta has posted leaked screenshots and a trailer it says are from Dark Souls 2. See 12 minutes of gameplay right here.

Continue reading Rumor: Dark Souls 2 screens show what's going to kill you

Rumor: Dark Souls 2 screens show what's going to kill you originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bloomberg: Next Xbox has X86 AMD chip

JC Fletcher — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST

Microsoft will match Sony's example and use an X86 series processor from AMD in its next console, according to Bloomberg's anonymous sources. The still-unannounced console is said to use a "Jaguar" CPU with integrated GPU, abandoning the IBM PowerPC tech used in the Xbox 360.

That means, like the PS4, the new Xbox will have difficulty emulating its predecessor, since it will be built on different architecture. The good news, however, is that with both of those consoles (allegedly) using similar architecture, and PCs also similarly laid out, multiplatform game development will be much easier.

Except for the Wii U, of course.

The Verge reports that Microsoft is holding some kind of event on May 21, believed to be an Xbox event.

Bloomberg: Next Xbox has X86 AMD chip originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon screens are swathed in neon

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST

Several purported screenshots for Ubisoft's mysterious, potentially standalone Far Cry 3 continuation Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon have surfaced on All Games Beta, and they seem to mesh with the game's over-the-top, post-apocalyptic plot.

Three first-person perspective shots show what appears to be gameplay from the perspective of the Blood Dragon's protagonist, Mark IV Cyber Commando Sergeant Rex Power Colt. We've reached out to Ubisoft for more information.

Leaked Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon screens are swathed in neon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 deploys 'Uprising' DLC on April 16

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:30:00 EST

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is arming its second DLC pack, titled 'Uprising,' for April 16, at least according to this supposed promo material. Posted on Twitter by a user claiming his friend found it at Best Buy, the card discloses an April 16 release date for the Uprising DLC, which according to it includes Vertigo, Encore, Studio, and Magma maps, along with something called 'Mob of the Dead.'

The posting follows the recent discovery of info in the Call of Duty website's source code that indicated the same content. As Call of Duty Online reports, the info detailed the same inclusions in a DLC pack with the same title, along with an Xbox Live theme. If the April 16 date is accurate, it likely only pertains to Xbox Live Marketplace; the traditional time difference between the Xbox 360 and PS3 and PC releases for the game is around 30 days.

We've reached out to Activision for comment.

Rumor: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 deploys 'Uprising' DLC on April 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Final Fantasy X HD includes FFX-2 HD, PS Vita versions separate downloads

David Hinkle — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:15:00 EST

Rumors from Japan suggest the upcoming remaster of Final Fantasy X - remember, it's not a remake - will come bundled with another game on PS3: a remastered version of its direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. Though each will supposedly be sold on a single PS3 disc, the latest issue of Japanese mag Shonen Jump says they'll be separately available on Vita.

The remaster of Final Fantasy X was first announced back in late 2011, only for Square Enix to go silent for almost the next two years. The HD version resurfaced last month, when Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto gave us a brief glimpse at the game running on PS Vita. Square Enix has said an announcement with further details regarding the Final Fantasy X remaster is coming "soon."

[Thanks, Draco.]

Rumor: Final Fantasy X HD includes FFX-2 HD, PS Vita versions separate downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: New Strider coming to XBLA, PC, Double Helix involved

JC Fletcher — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST

NeoGAF user canIhasAnAccount discovered a temporary XBLA box art and banner for a new Strider game. Subsequently, users found a Strider entry on the Steam database, complete with icon of Strider Hiryu's face from the Capcom ninja series.

To extrapolate further, user Sega1991 found a Steam Community page connected by number with the leaked Steam information, posted by a user "ascarlston" whose profile offers a first name "Andrew." A quick search finds one Andrew Carlston in the game industry, a junior programmer at Double Helix. He's Steam friends with someone named Jorge Oseguera, a name belonging to a producer at Double Helix. Double Helix is the studio behind Silent Hill: Homecoming, as well as Front Mission Evolved and the Battleship game (based on the movie based on the game.)

As we find ourselves trapped deep within this rabbit hole, we called out to Capcom for verification of any of this. Capcom told Joystiq only that "We have made no announcements in regards to that title." In the absence of more info about that, why not look back at the last attempted Strider reboot, by GRIN Barcelona?

Rumor: New Strider coming to XBLA, PC, Double Helix involved originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bungie not concerned about Destiny's always-on connection requirement

Mike Schramm — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST

In a new Mail Sack blog post, developer Bungie has responded to concerns about its always-on requirement for Destiny, the studio's upcoming multi-platform shooter. The developer says it's not worried about a SimCity-style server outage for Destiny when "the massive onslaught of players" arrive on launch day because it's dealt with high-demand in the past.

"This isn't our first rodeo," the post reads. "Bungie is no stranger to anxious mobs of players who rush home after a midnight launch and put our best-laid plans to the test." Bungie says it plans to "focus on some less frightening but equally important challenges" for now, worrying about release day problems at a later time.

Elsewhere in the Sack, there's also a question about whether or not the alien races will be playable in the game, and Bungie mysteriously teases that it's "barely scratched the surface on the character and customization options." When graphic designer John Stvan is asked to tell a tale about playing the game, he says he once "loaded a build, shot a gun, killed a dude." Sounds riveting!

Bungie not concerned about Destiny's always-on connection requirement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: SimCity modded to disable disconnection timer, open debug mode

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:15:00 EST

Reddit user AzzerUK claims to have enabled SimCity's debug mode and to have disabled its disconnection timer, both of which imply that there is more to the game's inner workings than EA and Maxis originally stated.

Currently, a user that loses their connection to the server during gameplay will be logged out of the game after 20 minutes. This is supposedly because the client must sync simulation data back to the server on a regular basis, in order to ease the computational load on the user's machine and to ensure the simulation as a whole runs smoothly.

Though not demonstrated in the video above, AzzerUK claims to have disabled that disconnection timer, and that playing an offline city for extended periods of time resulted in no issues with the simulation itself. Since SimCity does not support local saves in any way, it is not possible for AzzerUK to actually save anything that happens in his offline city, but the important thing is that the simulation reportedly did not come to a screeching halt after being unable to sync with the server.

The modder/hacker also claims to have enabled SimCity's debug mode, which allows for cities to be edited beyond their typically imposed borders. Though clipping and texture mapping issues are easily visible in the above clip, the traditionally impossible highways created at least appear to function properly. This supposes that, at least theoretically, the game is capable of supporting city sizes that are larger than what is currently available.

Rumor: SimCity modded to disable disconnection timer, open debug mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumored 'Star Wars: First Assault' footage storms the web

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST

LucasArts never officially announced Star Wars: First Assault, but it was scheduled to launch this spring as a multiplayer shooter, according to Kotaku. First Assault is still in production, but it's caught up in a company-wide freeze following Disney's purchase of LucasFilm in September, according to reports.

And it looks something like this, Kotaku says. The website has two pieces of footage that it says are from First Assault, both cut from a trailer used internally late last year; the gameplay video shows action mostly in first-person, though there are a few scenes of third-person fighting. It's all in-game footage, including a few bugs and incomplete art, and it is an "older" version of the game, Kotaku says.

Rumored 'Star Wars: First Assault' footage storms the web originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Lego City Undercover eShop download requires external hard drive

David Hinkle — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST

Aside from the payment required to download Lego City Undercover when it launches on the Wii U eShop next week, on March 18, you'll also need an external hard drive.

The information comes from the official game page. Clicking pre-order on the top-right provides two options: retail and eShop download. The eShop listing says: "An external hard drive is required to download this software." It may be a situation where the basic Wii U's 8GB of storage isn't enough for the download, or it's possible an external hard drive is needed even with the 32GB deluxe model.

We've contacted Nintendo for more information. We'll be sure to relay Nintendo's final word as soon as we get it.

Rumor: Lego City Undercover eShop download requires external hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Maxis insider claims SimCity servers not essential

Mike Schramm — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST

Though EA's official stance on SimCity's persistent Internet connection has been that it's absolutely required for the core game to function, a report from Rock, Paper, Shotgun claims that is not the case. An inside source who asked to remain anonymous told RPS the online servers are "not handling any of the computation done to simulate the city you are playing."

According to the source, the servers are coordinating social messages between cities in a region, as well as "cloud storage of save games, interfacing with Origin, and all of that. But for the game itself? No, they're not doing anything."

Even when the servers go down, certain cities have stayed online and playable for a period of time, suggesting off-site computation is not entangled in the main gameplay loop. The RPS source claims servers are also being used to repeatedly check for instances of hacking and cheating - and the game's verification messages to servers are creating queues and hampering responsiveness.

Finally, the source casts doubt on EA's claims that a single-player version of this SimCity would be impossible to produce. "It wouldn't take very much engineering to give you a limited single-player game without all the nifty region stuff." EA's current public reasoning about why the game needs to stay online has done little to quell frustration voiced over the game's tremendous launch issues.

Joystiq has contacted EA for comment regarding the source's claims.

Rumor: Maxis insider claims SimCity servers not essential originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Star Wars: First Assault is a multiplayer shooter

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST

Star Wars: First Assault, an unannounced game from LucasArts, was a multiplayer shooter designed to test interest in Battlefront 3, Kotaku reports. First Assault was going to host a closed beta in September, with a launch scheduled for this spring, but when Disney bought LucasFilm in September the project was put on hold, the website says.

The September beta timeline agrees with a leaked image promoting First Assault on XBLA, uncovered in early October.

Kotaku cites someone "no longer familiar with the goings-on" at LucasArts, but with knowledge of the project for the following information: First Assault was a downloadable, multiplayer shooter supporting up to 16 players in various Star Wars worlds, and was supposed to gauge interest in a rebuilt Battlefront game. After years of being passed around studios, having been nearly completed and canceled, starting Battlefront 3 from scratch would probably be a good call.

We've reached out to LucasArts for more information.

Rumor: Star Wars: First Assault is a multiplayer shooter originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Injustice 'Blackest Night' DLC pack will offer a zombie Batman

Mike Schramm — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST

Germany's Amazon page appears to have revealed the first pack of downloadable content for the DC superhero fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us. A confusing listing for the DLC has appeared on the site for a little while now, but Amazon has added a detail page complete with a trailer for the DLC that shows off new zombie skins for the characters, and teases a "zombie mode" that turns all of the game's characters into the undead.

The DLC is based on the "Blackest Night" DC storyline by Geoff Johns, in which a Black Lantern Corps power ring brings back various superheroes, including Batman, from the dead. The DLC is mentioned as an Amazon exclusive preorder bonus, but that doesn't mean it won't be available as a separate purchase sometime in the future. In the meantime, we've contacted Warner Bros. for confirmation and clarification on exactly what this content is.

Rumor: Injustice 'Blackest Night' DLC pack will offer a zombie Batman originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: EA asks SimCity affiliates to 'stop actively promoting the game'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST

Rumor: EA asks SimCity affiliates to 'stop actively promoting the game' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: EA Maxis takes 'full responsibility' for SimCity issues via internal memo

David Hinkle — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:15:00 EST

An internal memo from Maxis general manager Lucy Bradshaw details the state of the developer, who is hard at work trying to get SimCity fully operational in North America. "SimCity is an online game and critics and consumers have every right to expect a smooth experience from beginning to end," she wrote. "I and the Maxis team take full responsibility to deliver on our promise. Trust that we're working as hard as possible to make sure everyone gets to experience the amazing game we built in SimCity."

Polygon claims to have the internal memo in question, presented in a series of quotes. It claims that the issues experienced in North America are starting to spread overseas. "It's also now evident that players across Europe and Asia are experiencing the same frustration." It also claims 700,000 cities were built in the first 24 hours after launch.

Yesterday, EA Maxis disabled certain non-critical features in SimCity in an attempt to help lighten the load on the servers, which are also growing in number. SimCity is dependent upon a constant online connection. Being an unavoidable part of the experience, server woes have caused us to hold back our review.

Update: An EA representative has confirmed with Joystiq the internal memo in fact leaked today; however, this representative did not go into any further detail than that.

Rumor: EA Maxis takes 'full responsibility' for SimCity issues via internal memo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Watch Dogs designer leaves Ubisoft, heads back to EA

David Hinkle — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST

Jamie Keen, lead game designer on Ubisoft's upcoming open-world action game, Watch Dogs, is rumored to have left the company. According to his altered LinkedIn profile (pictured below), Keen has taken a new position with EA at Ghost Games, the Gothenburg, Sweden studio rumored to be working on a new entry in the Need for Speed series.

Aside from his work on Watch Dogs, Keen also worked on Far Cry 3 as a writer while at Ubisoft Montreal. Before his time at Ubisoft, he did a stint at EA where he served as a producer on Battlefield: Bad Company.

Ubisoft has not officially provided comment on the matter.

Continue reading Rumor: Watch Dogs designer leaves Ubisoft, heads back to EA

Rumor: Watch Dogs designer leaves Ubisoft, heads back to EA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BioWare San Francisco closes, up to 30 staffers laid off

Mike Schramm — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST

According to a report on GamesRadar, BioWare San Francisco - the studio formerly known as EA2D and responsible for titles like Dragon Age Legends and Mirror's Edge 2D - has been closed by EA, leaving between 25 to 30 employees jobless. Citing a source inside the studio, the report suggests EA felt it was "too expensive" to make mobile games in Redwood Shores, CA.

Joystiq has followed up with EA to check the veracity of this claim. Dragon Age Legends' servers were shut off last year, but the developers at BioWare San Francisco were kind enough to make an offline version available for fans to continue to play.

Report: BioWare San Francisco closes, up to 30 staffers laid off originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tecmo Koei Canada closing

Mike Suszek — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST

Tecmo Koei Canada will close at the end of March, according to a company official speaking with the Financial Post. The Toronto-based studio was responsible for console games Fatal Inertia and Fatal Inertia EX, and mobile games My Monster Rancher and Samurai Cats.

We've reached out to Tecmo for confirmation of the studio's closure, and will update as we learn more.

Report: Tecmo Koei Canada closing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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