StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Gets a Release Date
Blizzard have announced that StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, will arrive on the 12th March, 2013!
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 Gets Release Date
Tecmo Koei have announced that Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 will be released on 1st February 2013, for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Max Payne 3, Tomb Raider, and More Bundles
Rockstar Games’ Max Payne 3 is out today.. along with the Rockstar Pass, which provides access to all the planned DLC as it is released over the year: five map packs, and Deathmatch and Co-op modes have been confirmed this far. Max Payne 3 is on my wanted list, but I’m probably going to wait for a Game of the Year edition.
Tomb Raider‘s release date has also finally been announced: 5th March 2013, worldwide! There’s also a new trailer out, with some gameplay showing poor Lara being put through her paces!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkBZ6kKeoTI]
Also out at the moment: three more indie bundles! These are the Indie Royale’s Graduation Bundle, the Bundle in a Box, and the fifth Humble Indie Bundle! (more…)
Five Days Till Diablo III and Other Stuff
There’s just five days left till Diablo III is released!
The Mark of Valor Sigils are now unlocked on the website, so you can create your own banner for each character to use in-game, using your own uploaded photographs or designs. Blizzard have also made a Launch Day Preparation Guide.. purchasing, downloading, creating a Battletag and so on.
They don’t suggest what to do while waiting these last five days, tho 😉 (more…)
GAME Over and Other News
GAME has now officially filed for administration, after suspension of their shares this morning. Stores will continue to trade for the time being.
BioWare’s Mass Effect 3 woes continue this week.. gamers complaining about the ending, Amazon allegedly offering refunds on copies of the game, and now Dr Ray Muzyka, the co-founder and GM of BioWare, has released a statement which seems to suggest they may change the ending, or add more endings, at least.
To counter bad news with good.. I was pleased to see that the Chancellor has now announced tax credits for the UK gaming industry, this should hopefully boost the industry and allow the UK to compete with the rest of the world! (more…)
News of the Leaked Variety
Almost all the news that has caught my eye today has been leaked in some way or other.. maybe this is the new thing for bored PR? 😉
Ubisoft have released a CGI launch trailer for the American Revolution-themed Assassin’s Creed III:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVUMPrv8oRw] (more…)
Borderlands 2 Release Date and Trailer!
2kGames have revealed that Borderlands 2 will be released on 18th September in North America, and on the 21st for everyone else. They’ve also released a three-minute official trailer for the game:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GbEvsk3_8] (more…)
THQ Japan Shutting Down
THQ Japan is shutting down on February 29th, with all staff leaving the company. This is said to be due to the recent financial problems of the parent US company. Via VG247.
This closure was rumoured a fortnight ago, when THQ made employees in their Australian office redundant. These offices were said to be involved in distribution, rather than game development.
THQ have just announced a release date and pre-order details for Darksiders II, and the latest installation in their MMA franchise, UFC Undisputed 3, releases on Friday in the UK for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Darksiders II – Release Date Announced
THQ have announced that Vigil‘s action-adventure Darksiders II will be released for the PS3, 360 and PC on the 29th June 2012.
Exclusive pre-order bonuses have been announced too: the ‘Death Rides’ pack from GAME contains extra side-quests, the ‘Deadly Despair’ pack is available via Amazon and adds a speed boost for Death’s steed, Despair, and the ‘Angel of Death’ pack will provide enhanced armour and weapons.. the shop this preorder will be available through has not yet been announced.
The Witcher 2 – Xbox 360 Info
CD Projekt have revealed that the Xbox 360 version of third-person RPG The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition will be released on 17th April.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-iebFxlowo]
The console version of the game will include new cinematics, four additional hours of gameplay, new characters and locations and more. A PC version of the Enhanced Edition will also be available for sale, whilst existing owners will receive the new content via a free download.
An exclusive Dark Edition, including some extras for hardcore fans and collectors, will also be made available on the same date.
The Witcher II has also been announced as one of the upcoming additions EA’s digital distribution service Origin, along with Trion Worlds’ RIFT.