[UPDATE] Quantum Break is heading for PC

[UPDATE]: Our original story indicated that most of Xbox’s biggest exclusives were coming to PC. Scalebound and Gears of War have not been announced for PC, which was an error in our source article. Quantum Break will be making the leap to PC with cross-platform saves. Whether the other games are hitting PC is still up in the air. As I mentioned below, this seems like a good way to pull up the Xbox platform overall and make sure that third parties want to keep making Xbox games despite the console’s performance.

Original story:

With the Xbox One trailing behind the PlayStation 4, Microsoft had to do something to make sure its exclusives had a good reason to stay that way. That something also brings a long-unfulfilled promise to fruition.

In addition to releasing on Xbox One, games like Gears of War 4, Scalebound, ReCoreand Quantum Break will see the light of day on PC in addition to Xbox One.

While Rise of the Tomb Raider took a couple extra months, Quantum Break will hit PC on the same day that it hits Xbox One.

While Xbox One owners may be disappointed to see exclusives heading to PC, this is great news for the titles in question and for gamers in general. More gamers will have access to what looks like a stable of awesome games this year and next.

Xbox head Phil Spencer had been paying lip service to PC gaming for some time, but now it looks like those promises are starting to come true thanks to the Xbox One’s difficulty in its competition with the PlayStation 4. Regardless of the reason, we’re happy to see these games getting the exposure they deserve.

SOURCE:  GAMESPOT

Sony might be teasing a new Crash Bandicoot for PlayStation 4

Crash Bandicoot, where are you? The last time the franchise was in the hands of its original creator, Naughty Dog, was in 1999 with Crash Team Racing.

It’s been in a few other hands since then, published by Activision and developed by companies like Radical Entertainment.

Now, Sony seems to be teasing some sort of return for the anthropomorphic bandicoot.

PlayStation’s Middle Eastern arm posted that image. The phrase with it loosely translates to “Most Wanted: Where Are You Crash?”

Come on, now. Don’t play with our hearts.

Is this little more than a community manager gone rogue? Or, is Sony really starting to hype the world for the return of Crash Bandicoot? Since Crash is currently published by Activision, maybe we’re looking at some sort of remaster for the originals before a proper new entry.

If Naughty Dog is set to take a break from the likes of Uncharted and The Last of Us in favor of making a brand new Crash game, I might lose my mind.

SOURCE:  GAMEZONE

Final Fantasy IX available now for iOS and Android in surprise-launch

 

Square Enix has just stealth-launched an iOS and Android version of Final Fantasy IX. The mobile build of the PlayStation Classic will be available for 20 percent off the normal asking price, sitting at $16.99 until Feb. 21.

Buyers might have to clear out their phones, though, because this is one hefty file, taking up 4GB of space after additional downloads upon opening the game. My guess is at least two of those gigabytes are swallowed up by Quina’s fantastic girth.

Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. To their surprise, however, the princess herself yearned to escape the castle. Through a series of unusual circumstances, she and her personal guard, Steiner, fall in with Zidane and set out on an incredible journey. Meeting unforgettable characters like Vivi and Quina along the way, they learn about themselves, the secrets of the Crystal, and a malevolent force that threatens to destroy their world.

Final Fantasy IX is the entry I’ve played most recently in the series. I’d like to give it another spin on mobile, but I only have the option for Japanese text on my tablet in Japan.

Plus, I’m getting ready for a push through Breath of Fire III, finally on PSN at long last. Decisions, decisions.

SOURCE:  APP STORE, GOOGLE PLAY

Bloodborne’s brutal Saw Cleaver gets the Man at Arms blacksmith treatment

Bloodborne was an amazing game. It wasn’t just the best thing to hit PlayStation 4 last year, it was one of the best games last year, period. I couldn’t help but be entranced by Youtube channel Man at Arms’ recreation of Bloodborne‘s iconic Saw Cleaver.

We’ve highlighted their work before. Pyramid Head’s Great Knife from Silent Hill was awesome, and so was their take on the Legend of Zelda Hylian Shield. That doesn’t even start to climb the list of swords and other game and anime-centric hardware they’ve built.

The Saw Cleaver, though, might be my favorite. The team starts from the usual starting point of picking some unique source for the blade’s steel. In this case, a piece of railroad track. Then they not only meticulously re-created the look of the blade in a level of detail beyond impressive for a group that generally doesn’t have a lot of familiarity with the properties they tackle, they built a sturdy mechanism for the weapon’s coolest feature: the transforming trick blade. With the flick of a switch, it turns from a brutal saw to a razor-sharp cleaver (which is, for some reason, covered in cloth. What’s that about, Bloodborne?)

While I don’t cosplay at all myself, I’m always impressed to see people recreate these things that otherwise only exist digitally or, at best, as toys, and this is no exception.

source: technobuffalo

The PC version of The Division is not being held back by consoles, according to Ubisoft

Earlier this morning, we ran the news that one of Ubisoft’s developers had essentially said that the console versions of The Division were keeping the PC edition from hitting its full potential. Ubisoft has officially denied that notion.

The full quote for those interested? Here it is.

“We do have to keep it in check with the consoles; it would be unfair to push it so far away from them. But it’s been good having a dedicated PC build for this game. I’m really happy that we’re pushing the PC build as much as we are. There’s a lot more customized options than the console.”

Ubisoft’s response? Succinct.

It has come to our attention that a comment from one of our team members has been perceived by some members of the community to imply the PC version of The Division was ‘held back’ and this is simply not true. From the beginning, the PC version of The Division was developed from the ground up and we’re confident players will enjoy the game and the features this version has to offer. And the feedback from PC players who participated in the recent closed beta supports this.

They sent that statement to PCGamesN today.

They’re adamant about the fact that the earlier implication is “simply not true.” I can state, though, that I played the game on both the Xbox One at a preview event and on PC during the recent beta. It looks miles and miles better on PC, for what it’s worth.

Was it held back? That’s hard to say. Ubisoft would never officially admit that fact.

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SOURCE:  PCGAMESN

Breath of Fire III is out this week on PlayStation Network – Pick it up!

Capcom is delivering a much needed slice of retro to the PlayStation Network this week, and it comes in the form of the lost classic, Breath of Fire III. Capcom announced late in January that it would put the decade-old PSP port on the PlayStation Store in early February, and now, more specifically, it will do so this week.

Breath of Fire III will be available for $9.99 when the PlayStation Store updates Tuesday, Feb. 9, according to PlayStation Blog.

The legendary RPG series Breath of Fire returns with tales of long forgotten worlds, intrepid heroes, and ancient, mystical powers. A destiny awaits you. A small boy on the run. A dragon reborn in flames… The last of an extinct race, with mighty powers.

Breath of Fire III follows a human incarnation of the dragon god Ryu from his days as a childish whippersnapper all the way up into adulthood. Along the way, he bumps into a huge cast of anthropomorphic heroes like the tiger-man Rei, the lizard-man Garr, and the onion-thing Peco. Somehow, Momo fits into this too, but I have no idea what animal she is modeled after.

Most consider this to be the ultimate embodiment of the series with Breath of Fire IV tiptoeing a little too far into dark fantasy territory and Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter throwing out the series’ mythology altogether.

It was my first entry into the series as well, and I recommend it if you are a stranger. It’s a long, meandering game, but it grows on you by the end once its story starts to pull together.

Thanks again for the retro push, Capcom. These crowd pleasing releases look good on you. Hey, Square Enix! How about some Star Ocean 2 love? I know that has a PS Vita and PlayStation 4 port just waiting for a similar retro release.

SOURCE:  PLAYSTATION BLOG

Logitech’s latest keyboard comes with The Division

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the only thing better than getting new stuff is getting new stuff with other new stuff included for free. If you’re in the market for a new gaming keyboard, Logitech might have the answer for you.

Logitech announced the G810 Orion Spectrum and G910 Orion Spark mechanical gaming keyboards. Set to retail for $159.99 and $179.99 respectively, these keyboards are RGB-backlit keyboards with all the customizable lighting you could ask for. The Spark features tons of macro keys and an ARX dock for a smartphone using the Logitech ARX software.

The keyboards, which go on sale on February 8, come with a code for Tom Clancy’s The Division, which comes out a month later. Considering these keyboards are priced pretty competitively compared with offerings from Corsair and Razer, this seems like a pretty good deal.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is set to hit PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on March 8.

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source: technobuffalo

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Marvel Avengers Academy casts you as your favorite superheroes

Captain America: Civil War is still months away, but if you’re looking for your next comic-book fix, you’re in luck: Avengers Academy just went live. It’s a mobile app that lets you guide your favorite characters through the treacherous landscape of college life.

The game is the brainchild of TinyCo, which has teamed up with Marvel to create an adventure/sim title that follows the stories of your favorite super heroes before they were so super. Unlock younger versions of the Avengers as they are just discovering their superpowers. In this game, you’ll assist them not only in the ‘super’ aspects of their lives, but also in the everyday matters such as managing their social and dating lives. Depending on the decisions you make, the school will grow and change around you.

From all appearances, this seems to be a highly detailed sim game. Its Marvel affiliations are sure to garner a wide usership, so if you want to get in on the action early, now is the time to act. A light-hearted approach to the Avenger universe is a welcome respite from the grit of recent films, and although this game isn’t canon, it certainly looks fun.

Marvel Avengers Academy is free to play on both Android and iOS, but it comes with some optional in-app purchases. If you want to get in on the action, click the button below to download it from the Google Play Store. Once you’ve given it a whirl, let us know what you think of it in the comments!

GET IT IN THE PLAY STORE!

Spyro the Dragon’s first level remade in Unreal Engine 4

Modders have used the Unreal Engine 4 to recreate some of gaming history’s most iconic levels and even entire games. Time to throw another impressive one onto the pile.

Spyro the Dragon is one of the oldest “non-Japanese” games I feel nostalgic towards, and I remember it was actually a gift for my sister back in the days of the PlayStation. It came loaded with fun characters, and more importantly, expansive worlds with fun environments to bumble around in. Here, we have the first hub-level, the Artisan World, recreated by IAmMurloc. Nostalgia ahoy!

No playable version has been made yet, but congratulations to IAaMurloc for making me want to fire up my PSOne Classic version. That was a pretty sweet game, wasn’t it? Much better than Crash Bandicoot.

SOURCE:  IMGUR

Rollcage inspired racer, GRIP, rips and roars to a second life on Steam Early Access

I’ve been smitten with Caged Elements’ gravity defying racer GRIP ever since the first reveal trailer. The team fought hard to reignite the spirit of the PSOne classic Rollage with a modern day Unreal Engine 4 make-over, but sadly, its Kickstarter failed to secure the needed funding.

However, thanks to the magic of Steam Early Access, GRIP has been given a second chance to become a reality. For just $15.99, you can contribute to what could be the most fantastic racing game in a while. Just watch these trailers and convince me they don’t get your heart racing!

GRIP is bringing old-school style combat racing back with a bang. Inspired by the Rollcage games and developed by some of the original team, GRIP is a true tribute to the explosive fun had in a past gaming era.

• Intense Racing: Hit speeds of up to 700 kmph, driving on floors, ceilings and walls. GRIP’s car designs allow for driving on both sides, so flipping the car no longer means game over

• Awesome Pick-ups: Use an array of power-ups and weapons to get the edge on your opponents. Ranging from missiles and guns to shields and turbos, we plan to have a wide array of exciting pick-ups to use

• Exotic Planets: Race on a variety of planets, from hostile icy worlds to alien jungle to sprawling non-terrestrial cities. Use destruction as a tool to win, crashing your surroundings down on your opponents, or lose your tail by heading through an alternate track route

• Badass Rides: Choose from a roster of armoured cars, manufactured by different companies from around the galaxy. Each car has different specs – some swift and agile, others brutish and heavily armoured. There’s a killer car for every taste

• Bangin’ Tunes: Race to a thumping soundtrack from some of the best electronic music artists. Drum n Bass is our main kick

So far, the acclaim has been nearly universal by early adopters. Be sure to help secure a future for this racing game. It needs to happen, partially because it looks amazing and partially because Sony is sitting on the original Rollcage games and won’t put them on the PlayStation Network.

SOURCE: STEAM