Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 225 views | 0 comments

Starbreeze announced the sale of to 505 Games today in a deal worth $500,000. Starbreeze CEO Andersson Klint said the transaction represented his studio's "final transition to the digital strategy," following its recent efforts to push sales through digital distribution channels. The deal includes full rights to the game and intellectual property (IP).

With Brothers, Swedish studio Starbreeze created a new IP that gained strong traction with critics and consumers alike. The story-driven puzzle platformer earned and went on to sell more than 800,000 units to date.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 241 views | 0 comments

Just a quick reminder: at no extra cost, and it's yours to keep even if your Gold subscription runs out. Don't forget, you have until January 31 to grab The Witcher 2 while it's hot and, more importantly, free.

The Enhanced Edition of Witcher 2 features . Geralt of Rivia's third game hits Xbox One, PS4 and PC on May 19.

For more on The Witcher 2 of Xbox 360, check out .

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 209 views | 0 comments

Next week, 'Crota's End' will get its revenge for all of the players (maybe us included, maybe not. What's it to you?).

Bungie is unlocking hard mode for the latest raid on January 21, the developer revealed in an today. In Crota's End hard mode, both Crota and standard enemies will be far more challenging. Thankfully, though, the mode features swanky new loot.

Those stamping out Crota in the mode will have a chance to earn powerful new primary weapons (see them after the break!), an exclusive color palette and a devious-looking ship known as "The Bane of the Dark Gods" (It's the ominous looking ship, above).

"If you've experienced Hard Mode in Vault of Glass, you have some clues for how we can scale up a Raid," Bungie says in the weekly update. "Prepare to take better care of your teammates. You'll have fewer options for healing yourself, and each other."

Croat's End hard mode is set to launch in Destiny at 1pm Eastern on January 21.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 224 views | 0 comments

Video game hardware sales saw a significant uptick last year in comparison to 2013, but software sales at retail continue to chart a decline, the NPD Group's latest report states.

Hardware sales saw a slight drop to $1.31 billion in December compared to the $1.37 billion earned during the same period last year. Annual hardware sales for 2014 peaked at $5.07 billion, however, representing a 20 percent increase over the $4.24 billion reported in 2013.

Software sales at retail channels totaled $5.30 billion in 2014, dropping 13 percent compared to 2013's reported $6.11 billion.

Though console-specific sales numbers are not available, Microsoft notes that the Xbox One emerged as 2014's "best-selling console in the U.S. in November and December."

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 220 views | 0 comments

To prepare existing copies of expanded re-release, From Software will issue a free update on February 5.

The list of changes included in the update is immense, but highlights include improved loading times on the PlayStation 3, longer-lived white phantoms, more consistently useful rewards during multiplayer combat, new item flavor text and the addition of the titular Scholar of the First Sin character. For a comprehensive list, see Bandai Namco's .

Since there are so many changes included in this update, the Dark Souls 2 servers will be brought down for maintenance on February 4 at 9AM EST. Barring any technical problems, the servers should be back up and running by 12PM EST. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is scheduled to launch on April 7.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 220 views | 0 comments

Publisher EA has announced plans to beta test its upcoming cops vs robbers shooter on the PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

EA's announcement fails to mention when the beta test will take place, but it does offer a handful of new details on what will be included. Alongside the series' mainstay Conquest mode (with support for up to 64 players, assuming you're playing on a PC, PS4 or Xbox One), beta testers will have access to the new Hotwire game type, which the publisher describes as "an all-new mode coming to Battlefield focused on combining all-out warfare with all-out speed." There won't be any progression cap during the beta, so players are free to gain as many ranks and new gadgets as they can (though none of this progression will carry over to the final game).

EA's decision to beta test Battlefield Hardline on a wide range of systems stands in contrast to other imminent shooters, notably Turtle Rock's , that heavily promote a console-exclusive beta test prior to launch. Battlefield Hardline is scheduled to launch on March 17.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:13 | 248 views | 0 comments

The first episode of is now due on February 24, a week later than originally planned. So if your name is Barry Burton and you're planning a return in an upcoming zombie game, we'd recommend grabbing some form of food and chilling out.

You can check out Capcom's full release schedule below the break, but the CliffsNotes are that Revelations 2 is split across four episodes, with one out each week. Episodes individually cost $6, while the $25 "Complete Season" comes with two extra spinoff episodes and Hunk as a bonus RAID character. And yes, Barry is indeed back as a playable protagonist.

By the by, there's a similar delay to .

[Update: Capcom noted a similar delay to the retail box in new promo art, which you can find below the break too. We've amended the post accordingly.]

For more on Resident Evil's second book of Revelations, check out .

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 221 views | 0 comments

It's easy to forget the Xbox's place inside the Windows empire. The bespoke platform is hinged on games and entertainment, looming over the console world but still living in its own fiefdom under Microsoft. The Xbox 360 and Xbox One are seen as instrumental to the software giant's goals, but their reach is about a billion behind that of Windows. Microsoft wants to dismantle the barriers within itself now, unifying games, productivity and phones under the banner of Windows 10.

The Xbox One will host new universal apps - programs designed to run on both Windows devices and Xbox architecture - alongside a Windows 10 update later this year, but that's a lesser gesture compared to what Microsoft announced on Wednesday during its Windows 10 event. Even having the Xbox and its games there, on stage, represents a change in the Windows message.

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, took that stage to announce a PC version of

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 227 views | 0 comments

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 234 views | 0 comments


We're fairly certain that New Orleans Pelicans basketball player Jrue Holiday has perfectly functional arms in real life. As demonstrated by YouTube user disagrees. As seen in the video shared shared above, a recent glitch in the game caused Holiday's arms to seemingly retreat into his body following a server-side update to its MyTeam mode, leaving his hands to jut out from his shoulders like fish fins with opposable thumbs. To make matters worse, the shirtless Holiday was also missing part of his torso and occasionally disappeared, but none of it stopped him from sinking multiple three-point shots.

According to based on the face-scan glitch to print out and wear.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 217 views | 0 comments

Publisher Sega and developer Creative Assembly are indirectly responsible for one hell of a laundry bill, as it was announced today that . We're not aware of any spikes in detergent sales, but it seems like a given.

We're rather fond of Alien: Isolation here at Joystiq, where the game stealthily crept into our

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 218 views | 0 comments

A whole lot of superstars in this game here tonight, but I want you all to know one thing: This is Resident Evil in high definition. Whose blood? Chris' blood. I said whose blood? Chris' blood! Y'all know what time it is!

While the impossible dream of a Resident Evil soundtracked entirely by classic Run DMC cuts remains elusive, the HD remaster of Capcom's Gamecube classic is a sweet, sweet reality this week. After 13 years restricted to Nintendo's SD consoles, the hardest, prettiest version of the survival horror game is finally playable on more modern machines. How does it stack up? Do the new controls make it too easy? Is this indeed Chris' blood and will we ever discover the ingredients in a Jill sandwich? Join us and find out.

We're streaming Resident Evil on PC starting at 4:00PM EST on . This will be a New Game+ run so some fresh costumes will be on display as well. Plus: we're giving away a few copies of the game on PC and PS4. Join us!

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 211 views | 0 comments

White Knuckle IP filed a , which described methods that record real-world parameters, then store those elements on a server so players can download them to update their games. The patent dates back to October 2002.

While the patent is related to another one that deals with updating an athlete's statistics and skills based on real-life performance, the lawsuit focuses on changes to the appearance and attributes of stadiums and venues. The lawsuit specifically targets games in EA Sports' NCAA Football and Tiger Woods PGA Tour series, from , White Knuckle "did not identify any specific feature in its complaint."

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 208 views | 0 comments


The latest trailer for for Xbox One and Xbox 360. Havoc also includes four multiplayer maps, the AE4 assault rifle and Widowmaker custom variant.

While the Havoc DLC can be purchased separately for $15, season pass holders will receive the pack at no additional charge. Advanced Warfare's with Microsoft to bring Advanced Warfare DLC to the Xbox platforms before it arrives on other systems, so the publisher has yet to offer a release date for Havoc on PS4, PS3 or PC.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 214 views | 0 comments

Super Smash Bros Wii U and Melee are two of the nine games already confirmed for this year's . As revealed during last night's Twitch stream, the line-up for Las Vegas this July also includes returning games Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Ultra Street Fighter 4 and Killer Instinct, The remaining four games are new for this year, and they are Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, Mortal Kombat X and Tekken 7.

Recent years have seen more games added closer to the event, though a roster of nine is already on the high end for an EVO championship. Whatever the full line-up proves to be, it's coming to the Bally's/Paris Las Vegas Casino, where the world's fighting game specialists will duke it out across July 17-19.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 213 views | 0 comments

is set to mix beauty with beastly platforming when it hits Xbox One and PC on March 11. Moon Studios' side-scroller is priced $20 on both platforms.

Ori caught the eye last year with its picturesque look, comparable to the UbiArt engine as seen in the watercolor-like was the speedy, precise platforming.

According to the developer, Ori's agile, fluid movement was inspired by Super Meat Boy - when we say fluid, we don't mean the red kind. Ori is a less gruesome, more spiritual affair then Team Meat's offering, but its air-dash combos and wall-to-wall platforming tricks look like they require some dexterity.

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 235 views | 0 comments

It's only fair to start this with an apology to , which joins us just as every second game gets to be called a 'roller coaster ride,' usually because it has a car chase, some explosions, and at least one scene of the protagonist going NO NO NO N- [explosion cuts off the rest, but an additional NO is strongly implied].

Screamride, in contrast, is actually about roller coasters: riding them; building tightly coiled tracks for them; destroying them in fiery catastrophe. It's so in love with pleasing disaster that it's likely to be wrongly categorized as 'cinematic action game.'

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 228 views | 0 comments

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 226 views | 0 comments

Added: 01.02.2015 2:03 | 265 views | 0 comments

And now for something completely similar: Right now you'd need a microscope to find the week-to-week changes in the UK charts. Nonetheless, it's interesting to see stay ahead of traditional front-runners FIFA and Call of Duty, especially since Rockstar's game is a re-release on current-gen. At this new release-less time of year, we'd normally be talking about a 28th consecutive No. 1 for FIFA [Insert Year Here].

The current top three are the same trio that , though FIFA 15 won out overall in 2014. Moreover, seven of this week's top ten are in the 2014 top ten, and most of those hit store shelves in the second half of the year.

Right, stop that UK charts analysis! It's silly. This week's full top ten can be found below the break, along with the customary music video that's a bit suspect.