Monthly Archives: April 2016
Plunder Mode Makes a Return to Uncharted 4 Multiplayer
Plunder has been announced as a multiplayer mode for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
Plunder mode was in Uncharted 2 and 3, and is a variant on Capture the Flag where you can throw the object of interest, in this case an idol.
Changes from the mode found in the previous games include being able to traverse the environment with the idol. Also, instead of being 5 v 5, Plunder is now a 4 v 4 game type. Naughty Dog assures fans not to worry, as "the number of mechanics that have been introduced into our multiplayer’s moment-to-moment gameplay" makes up for it.
Persona 5 Countdown Could Lead to Release Date
Long-awaited Persona 5 news is coming in less than two weeks.
A countdown on the game’s official Japanese site is ticking away toward May 5th (05/05, appropriately enough) and is currently set to end at 5:30 AM PT / 8:30AM ET / 12:30PM GMT that day.
The countdown could mean we’ll finally learn Persona 5’s release date, following a delay to Summer 2016 during last year’s TGS. For now, Atlus hasn’t announced any additional details about the countdown, so we’ll have to wait until it ends to know for sure.
Persona 5 was originally announced for PlayStation 3 back in 2013 with a Winter 2014 release date. It was later announced for PS4 as well and confirmed to be headed to the West, but we’ve still never received an official date, though Atlus did announce that a Persona 5 anime special is also on the way.
Microsoft: Xbox Revenue Up, Hardware Sales Down
Microsoft has released its latest quarterly earnings report, revealing that revenue from its gaming division has increased, but hardware sales have fallen.
The report states the following statistics:
- Gaming revenue has risen 4%
- Xbox Live revenue has risen 22%
- Video games revenue has risen 9%
- Hardware revenue has fallen 26%
Microsoft puts the significant increase in Xbox Live revenue down to a growth in subscribers and sales, along with those sales being worth more per transaction (presumably because of the gradual shift to online store purchases).
Fresh Evidence Points to at Least One New Console in 2016
An AMD investor statement could signal at least one new console launch in 2016, and suggests the existence of three new consoles.
As reported by Gamesindustry.biz, AMD CEO Lisa Su announced three "design wins" for its console-focused Semi-Custom division that will begin to return income in the latter half of 2016. Su made clear that these wins were separate from "our current game console business".
However, Su also announced that at least one of these designs will not enter the manufacturing stage until 2017.
AMD's technology is used in all three major home consoles, and with rumours circulating about the Nintendo NX, "PS4.5" and new Xbox prototypes, it's possible that AMD has created new designs for each console developer.
Steam Reportedly Going to Accept Bitcoin
It seems as though Valve is getting ready to accept payment for Steam purchases via digital currency bitcoin.
PCGamesN first reported the news, with screenshots from an announcement on the private developer forums on Steam starting to appear.
"We're using an external payment provider to process bitcoin payments to help partners reach more customers on Steam," reads the announcement (via Reddit). "If customers choose to pay via bitcoin, they'll still be charged the price already set in the local currency."
IGN UK Podcast: Why the Crystal Maze Was A-Mazing
The Crystal Maze was arguably the greatest game show ever to feature small rooms, mental challenges, jumpsuits, and tinfoil money. Chris even had a chance to take part in a recreation of the show this week.
We also explain why Stickbold! is so great and so addictive, why The Jungle Book is fantastic, and why allowing people to text in the cinema is an outrageous idea. So watch the video up above or download the audio below or over on iTunes
IGN UK Podcast #328 - Why the Crystal Maze Was A-Mazing
(right click to save)
Overwatch Team ‘Failed Horrifically’ on Blizzard’s Titan MMO
Designer Jeff Kaplan has spoken about Blizzard's cancelled MMO, Titan.
In an interview with Gamespot, Kaplan said "you had a really amazing group that was working on Titan...They were really talented individuals, but we failed horrifically in every way... In every way that a project can fail. It was devastating."
Members of the team had previously worked on World of Warcraft and other successful Blizzard properties. "To go through such a complete and utter failure is very hard for people who are used to experiencing success," Kaplan continued. "Here you have these great projects like StarCraft, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, and then you're sitting on the smoking pile of a cancelled project."
The Division: New Exploit Found Hours After Ubisoft Fixes Another
Ubisoft keeps putting out The Division-related fires, but new ones keep appearing.
Two major exploits were patched out of the Division yesterday, one of which was a "double revive" glitch, and the other allowed you to massively increase damage by switching weapons quickly.
Today, Eurogamer reports another bug has been found which means you're able to fool the enemies into killing the Falcon Lost incursion's boss for you.
Hitman Patch Prepares for Episode 2, Improves Load Times
Hitman is getting a Sapienza pre-release update before Episode 2 launches on April 26.
The update adds a couple of features to the PC version that will be coming soon on console. Namely, an option to instantly reconnect after losing connection, rather than returning to the main menu, and in addition, Challenges are now awarded and saved immediately upon completion, rather than at the end of a mission.
Load times have been improved in the update. Xbox and PS4 players should be seeing around a 50 percent improvement across all locations.
There are now HUD options for displaying the holstered/equipped icon. Full HUD shows it for both equipped and holstered, Minimal shows it for just the equipped weapon, and Off removes the HUD entirely. You'll also now be able to see dropped items such as disguises, weapons, and items on the in-game map.
Watch Us Play Hitman Episode 2 Live
The second episode of Hitman releases next Tuesday, April 26, and we're back to livestream the game so you can check it out yourself.
IGN UK's best (or at least most enthusiastic) agents, Rory Powers and Gav Murphy will slip back into Agent 47's shoes to play through the second episode, where we'll take you through the fictional Italian coastal town of Sapienza. Expect those clear, blue waters to be crimson by the time we're through.
So bookmark this page and check back at 12PM BST / 4AM PST / 9PM AEST, on Tuesday April 26 to see the game in action.