Monthly Archives: June 2015
Hitman: Sniper Release Date Revealed
Hitman: Sniper is launching June 4 on the App Store and Google Play for mobile devices.
Developed by Hitman: Go studio Square Enix Montreal, Hitman: Sniper is a mobile game that features over 150 missions for Agent 47. The iPhone and Android title previously had a soft launch in Canada, which has led to notable changes, like the move from a free-to-play experience to premium game.
"As some of you may have noticed, we’ve spent quite some time in soft launch receiving feedback and comments from everyone who enjoyed and shared the early version of the game, during which we worked hard to iron out all the wrinkles before putting it out there for everyone," said Square Enix Montreal in a statement. "We are excited to share that Hitman: Sniper will launch as a premium title focused around a creative, leaderboard-driven sandbox for players to experience."
Assetto Corsa Coming to PS4 and Xbox One Next Year
Assetto Corsa's developer Kunos Simulazioni has teamed up with 505 Games to bring the previously PC-only racing sim to consoles in 2016.
That's not all, though. The PC version will also be receiving new content, to be showcased at E3 later this month.
Launched late last year on Steam after spending a year in Early Access, Assetto Corsa is a racing game with a focus on realistic car handling and physics.
According to the announcement from Kunos Simulazioni, cans can expect over 100 cars, such as the Ferrari LaFerrari, Mercedes C9, Team Lotus 98T, Pagani Zonda R, and the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, as well as 20 track configurations.
App Store Update: June 3
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Blades of Brim – (Free)
From the makers of the super-popular endless runner Subway Surfers, it's high-flying, dragon-riding fantasy in Blades of Brim:
Mighty No. 9 Supports PlayStation Cross-Buy Functionality
Mighty No. 9 will feature cross-buy functionality on PlayStation platforms.
Deep Silver senior global brand manager Pete Brolly announced on the PlayStation Blog that cross-buy for Mighty No. 9 works across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. In addition, the cross-buy functionality is also supported by the retail PlayStation 4 version of the game.
Speaking of the console retail version of Mighty No. 9, the package comes with the Ray DLC. This add-on includes the Abandoned Lab stage, a battle against Ray and the ability to play as her throughout the whole side-scrolling action game.
Netflix Experimenting With Original Advertisements
Netflix is testing advertisements that tease the service's original programming before and after users watch a video, reports say.
The company is showing trailers for Netflix originals, such as Orange is the New Black or Marvel's Daredevil, before and after viewers in select markets stream a video, according to Cord Cutter News. However, Netflix said it runs experiments and tests like this often, and has no plan to implement any third-party advertisements in the future.
“We are always testing new things via the service, many of which never see a rollout," a company spokesperson said. "We have nothing more to add at this point.”
Twisted Metal’s Sweet Tooth Joins Rocket League
The action-sports mashup Rocket League has an official release date, and it's bringing an iconic character to the roster, developer Psyonix announced today.
Rocket League is coming to PS4 and PC July 7, and will feature 8-player cross-play between the two platforms, according to the PlayStation Blog. The trailer above shows Sweet Tooth's iconic ice cream truck of Twisted Metal fame, as well as numerous other vehicles, partaking in the chaotic soccer game replete with car pileups and acrobatic flips.
As the sequel to 2008's Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, Rocket League essentially plays like a soccer game on steroids from the driver seats of numerous customizable cars. Psyonix is showing a playable demo at E3 in just a few weeks, shortly before its early-July release date.
Gears of War Developer Renamed ‘The Coalition’
Black Tusk Studios, the studio currently developing the next Gears of War game for Xbox One, has been renamed "The Coalition," Studio Head Rod Fergusson announced today.
"Beginning today, the Vancouver-based Xbox team working on the Gears of War franchise will be known as The Coalition," Fergusson said in the announcement. "What's in a name? In short, The Coalition speaks to who we are as a team, and what it is we're working on.
"A coalition is a team of diverse individuals working together for a common purpose, a concept that we feel describes our studio quite well."
Fergusson continued, "Fans will also recognize the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) from Gears of War lore.
Star Wars Comic Delivers Huge Twist for Han Solo
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Star Wars #6!
Writer Jason Aaron delivered a pretty significant twist to the Star Wars mythos today with the release of Star Wars #6. That issue culminated with the surprise reveal that Han Solo has a wife named Sana Solo.
Art by John Cassaday
Aaron's Star Wars takes place in between Episodes IV and V and has been largely focused on the Rebellion's efforts to press their advantage in the aftermath of the Death Star's destruction. Issue #5 saw Leia and Han reluctantly team up for a new smuggling mission. This twist came as the two found themselves marooned on a remote planet after failing to sneak through an Imperial blockade. Han's efforts to woo Leia with fancy Corellian wine were already going poorly when Sana showed up with blaster drawn.
The Goal Is to Make Jurassic World as Big as The Avengers
Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow probably won't direct any sequel to the restarted franchise, but says his job to relaunch it and make it as prominent as the Avengers and Star Wars.
When IGN asked the director about plans for a new trilogy, the director said: "I think what they wanted
the most was to have it identified as a franchise again. That was the top priority. Can you take this and bring it back into the forefront of people's minds? When they think of what the big franchises out there right now they're going to say Avengers, Star Wars, and then Jurassic Park is in that arena. Tall order.
"I knew the only way to do it was to create a singular experience that worked on its own – that would give people that same feeling."
New Batman Figure Gives the Dark Knight Some Color
Square Enix has revealed a new Play Arts Kai Batman: Arkham Knight figure with added tones of blue and yellow to accompany his normal black and grey. The figure is set to be an exclusive offer for San Diego Comic-Con 2015.
The figure features a metallic sheen and battle scars on the armor from Batman's various tussles with villains. Additionally, several interchangable hands with different textures and a cape that "more realistically replicates the movement of cloth" will be included.
Fans can pre-order this figure for $100 via the official Square Enix store website. Online pre-orders cannot be picked up on-site at SDCC and will ship after August 31, 2015.