Watch out for the announcement this weekend.
You might recall that The Behemoth, developer of Castle Crashers and the recent Battleblock Theater, is making a game for Xbox One. Will it be another violent, whimsical effort, pitched primarily at fans of retro platformers and shooters? Or will it be something a bit more sedate? Has The Behemoth got all that wackiness out of its system, now? Is it time to make a gritty David Fincher-style horror thriller in which absolutely nobody slides down a wall of pink gloop? Oh look, here's a picture of a giant, angry cupcake.
Our magazine! Your face! Together, what beautiful music they make!.
Pity the man standing at your local newsagent: from today till 1st August, he must cower beneath the implacable orange glare of Master Chief, whose helmet adorns the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine in the UK. The issue is stuffed with information about Halo 5: Guardians and Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One, plus breakdowns of the recently announced Scalebound, Forza Horizon 2 and Assassin's Creed: Unity among other upcoming delights.
"Just watch out. Check out what we're announcing.".
Nordic Games is still making its mind up about the future of Darksiders and Red Faction, two of the licenses it acquired from now-dead THQ. That product development director Reinhard Pollice is happy to talk concepts at length could be a good sign, however.
$4.99 or #163;3.99 for a trial? Um.
Talk about timing. I've just written a piece for the mag about EA's two-time Worst Company in America win, in which former executives talk up (and down) the publisher's track record. The latter's chief operational officer Peter Moore recently defended EA's often-controversial adoption of new revenue models, claiming that some of its consumers simply fear change. And now, it appears to be charging for demos on Xbox One.
Any recommendations?.
OK, so that headline is a little bit cheeky, and it's not like I'm unimpressed by what I've seen of Tom Clancy's The Division - on the contrary, I included it on our (pre-delay-announcement) list of the most promising Xbox One games of 2014. Still, the thought of one of the people behind the Tom Clancy series - in which grizzled secret agents judo-toss terrorist stereotypes like screaming bowls of salad - calling for a "gaming Shakespeare" makes me giggle. Sorry Ubisoft. Don't cross me off the Christmas card list.
Ferris Wheel and other attractions now playable.
Yes that's "rollercoaster" as in a literal rollercoaster, not "this [heavily sponsored entertainment product] is a regular rollercoaster of thrills" or some other soul-sapping buzzphrase. The next time you're in Los Santos (and after you've downloaded GTA 5 update 1.15), you might like to stop by Del Perro Pier in GTA Online - certain of the fairground attractions are a little teractive nowadays than once they were. Find video proof below.
Meet ANNA, your next generation Drivemaster.
Solo enthusiasts will be amply catered for in Playground's Forza Horizon 2 - providing, that is, you're not expecting a story.
Three might be a crowd, but eight is a party.
Misery loves company, it's said, but you know what loves company more? The mass-murdering of mutants, that's what. Insomniac has released a new trailer for Sunset Overdrive, the only Xbox One exclusive out there in which it's possible to kill using obsolete media formats (to be exact, lovely retro vinyls).
Shepard's stealthy spacecraft gets stowed away on a train in Garden Warfare's new map pack.
If you're planning on getting the new Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare DLC, The Tactical Taco Party Pack, be sure to keep an eye out for the train on the new Jewel Junction map. You may notice something... a little French. And spacey. The kind of something you might associate with suicidal assaults on space stations that are located inside the galaxy's core. Thanks for that, EA.
And yes, he only has one testicle.
Some people like to start the day with a bit of Beethoven, or a nice refreshing stroll in the park. Others might prefer to gaze upon a short piece of ultra-violence involving one of history's best-known mono-testicular baddies. I'm not here to judge, either way. What you do with the below video, considerately put together by OnlySP, is your business.
Escape Dead Island will be an XBLA title.
Do you remember how stealth felt very, very good in Dead Island? *pauses for laughter, applause and industry awards ceremonies to die down* Yes, so there's now a Dead Island stealth game. It's a cel-shaded, third-person downloadable title for Xbox 360, it will be out come this Autumn, and it will cost #163;39.99. *light titters*
Details allegedly extracted from update.
On top of recent additions Wingman and Marked for Death, Respawn Entertainment appears to be planning four brand new modes for Titanfall. Highlight: "Capture the Titan". See if you can work out what that involves.
"Demonstrate your exceptionalism!".
Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online get a new set of vehicles, weapons and properties today, as part of Rockstar's Independence Day update. Are you US-born and ready to "demonstrate your exceptionalism"? Or are you simply eager to run things over in a Monster Truck? Either way, this wodge of free DLC shouldn't be missed.
Up to 75% off assorted titles and DLC.
Reading about this week's Xbox 360 Live Marketplace deals is a regular punch to the nostalgia glance for yours truly - not because the selection of games on offer is particularly retro-inclined, but because X-Blades was one of the first games I ever previewed. Oh, don't tell me you've never heard of X-Blades. Come on - X-Blades! That wonderful, innovative action game from 2009! The one with the monstrous thong! Oh fine, run along and play Child of Light instead.
Men are from Mars, four-armed robot warriors are from Venus.
Destiny's Xbox One and Xbox 360 beta is almost upon us - according to Microsoft, it will launch in late July (the exact date is rumoured to be the 21st). According to the official FAQ, the beta "includes most major modes and activities featured in the game" - presumably, the competitive and co-operative multiplayer options available in the recent [REDACTED]-exclusive alpha are on board.
"Become legend." Earn Gamerscore.
Alas, this Destiny achievement list doesn't cover how much Gamerscore you'll earn for each achievement, but it does contain a selection of handsome emblems. I wonder how long it'll take me to discover 50 "dead ghosts" - presumably, the reference isn't to old school haunted house spectres but to Ghosts like the flying orb voiced by Peter Dinklage. Which are you most eager to put on your profile?
Visible breathing! Dirty shorts! Patchy grass!.
EA's grand design has become horribly clear. It's not just making football games any more. It's making... footballers. Footballers who look and act just like the Real McCoy - well, save for the tales of tabloid heartbreak and mid-match outbreaks of biting. It begins, my children. Soon, the EA Sports team will perfect the Ignite engine's secret DNA-cloning technology, and we will all become expendable assets.
Unity developers spent a year getting the engine right.
If you were to place a copy of Assassin's Creed: Unity next to an Xbox 360, the clingfilm would flinch back, then split and pucker into an angry, growling mouth. Ubisoft wants to make a fresh start on next generation consoles, see, and that applies as much to the game's engine as the new parkour mechanics and mission types.
New characters! Brought to you by your friends at Aquafina FlavorSplash!!!.
Like some radioactive greenhouse during an episode of the Twilight Zone, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare continues to sprout downloadable features and functions. Tomorrow, Xbox One and Xbox 360 players will lay hands on the Tactical Taco Party Pack, which includes a new map, mode and playlist, plus additional character variations and co-op challenges.
"I don't just want us to make the best next generation Gears of War".
Microsoft's old director of Xbox Live enforcement Stephen Toulouse has joined Gears of War developer Black Tusk Studios as director of community engagement. So if you're thinking of signing up to the forum, behave. This guy knows how to wield a banhammer. But just how adept is he with a Lancer?
