http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 18 Jul 2014 07:39:42 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-beta-now-playing-part-2/2300-6420291/ Chris, Shaun and Mary gave some live impressions of the Destiny Beta. Check out Part 2 of this 2 part series from our Live stream! Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-beta-now-playing-part-2/2300-6420291/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-gist-3-reasons-why-pc-is-still-my-platform-of-/2300-6420265/ Jess explains why PC will always be the very best gaming platform in her mind. Find out why! Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-gist-3-reasons-why-pc-is-still-my-platform-of-/2300-6420265/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-doom-announced-and-detailed-by-id-software-and/1100-6421188/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600675" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600675"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg"></a><figcaption>Via Polygon</figcaption></figure><p style="">After years of waiting, the fourth iteration of <a href="/doom/" data-ref-id="false">Doom</a> has been officially unveiled, detailed, and named. Called simply Doom, this game brings the story back to the beginning. It's an origin story.</p><p style="">At this year's QuakeCon conference, id Software showed off the new game, finally detailing what exactly we can expect. It focuses on fast-paced combat and it takes place on Mars, outside of a Union Aerospace Corporation building. You'll be using melee combat a lot, and combat is brutal. Id is designing crazy enemies and weapons, and you'll be able to carry around a large arsenal "all at the same time," executive producer Marty Stratton said.</p><p style="">Doom looks to be especially violent. During one section of the demo id presented, the player ripped an arm off of a guard to get through a biometric scanner. The player proceeded to then wield a chainsaw, wreaking havoc.</p><p style="">In 2008, id announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/id-faces-fourth-doom/1100-6190526/" data-ref-id="1100-6190526">it was working on Doom 4</a>, the next installment in the long-running first-person shooter franchise. Publisher Bethesda then revealed in 2011 that the project had been <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-4-still-exists-bethesda-unveils-doom-beta/1100-6417840/" data-ref-id="1100-6417840">completely scrapped and restarted. </a>Original Doom creator and longtime id Software programmer John Carmack also <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-co-creator-john-carmack-officially-leaves-id-software/1100-6416346/" data-ref-id="1100-6416346">left the studio last November</a>, joining Rift VR developer Oculus as its Chief Technical Officer.</p><p style="">Finally, when Wolfenstein released in May 2014, we got word of the game again. We learned that there would be a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-4-still-exists-bethesda-unveils-doom-beta/1100-6417840/" data-ref-id="1100-6417840">beta for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC</a>. Now, we know what it's called and how it looks.</p><p style="">No release details have been announced yet, but the game will launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It runs on id Tech 6 at 1080p and 60 frames per second. Are you excited by a new Doom game? Let us know in the comments!</p><p style="">[Information via <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/17/5913883/doom-4-quakecon-reveal" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Polygon</a> and GameTrailers host Geoff Keighley's <a href="https://twitter.com/geoffkeighley" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter account</a>]</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-doom-announced-and-detailed-by-id-software-and/1100-6421188/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600649" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600649"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/wii-u/" data-ref-id="false">While the </a><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/" data-ref-id="1100-6421187">PS4 topped US hardware sales charts again</a>, the software winner in June was Nintendo. In a statement to GameSpot, Nintendo wrote, "[Mario Kart 8] was the top-selling physical software SKU in the U.S. in June, and sold more than 470,000 physical and digital units. This brings its lifetime total to more than 885,000 units in the U.S. alone."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">June was light on new releases, and the NPD sales report notes that, "In terms of software titles, many of the top games in June 2014 mirrored those of May 2014, with six of the same games ranking in the top ten."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In terms of combined sales across all platforms, Watch Dogs came out on top. From the order of platforms provided by the NPD, Watch Dogs sold best on PS4, followed by Xbox 360, then Xbox One and PS3. Ubisoft noted earlier this month that the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-made-up-largest-part-of-ubisoft-game-sales-dur/1100-6421105/" data-ref-id="1100-6421105">PS4 accounted for up the largest part of its game sales</a>. Sony wrote in a statement, "The biggest next generation software titles, including Watch Dogs, UFC and FIFA 14, were #1 on PlayStation 4, further demonstrating that PS4 is the platform of choice for blockbuster games."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Note that the full top ten list below only encompasses physical retail sales for the US:</p><ol><li dir="ltr"><a href="/watch-dogs/" data-ref-id="false">Watch Dogs</a> (PS4, 360, XBO, PS3, PC) -- Ubisoft</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/mario-kart-8/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Kart 8</a> (NWU) -- Nintendo</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft</a> (360, PS3) -- Microsoft | Sony</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/ufc-ultimate-fighting-championship/" data-ref-id="false">UFC</a> (PS4, XBO) -- Electronic Arts</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/fifa-14/" data-ref-id="false">FIFA 14</a> (PS4, 360, XBO, PS3, PSV) -- Electronic Arts</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/nba-2k14/" data-ref-id="false">NBA 2K14</a> (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, PC) -- Take 2 Interactive</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wolfenstein-the-new-order/" data-ref-id="false">Wolfenstein: The New Order </a>(PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC) -- Bethesda Softworks</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call Of Duty: Ghosts</a> (360, PS4, PS3, XBO, NWU, PC) -- Activision Blizzard</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/tomodachi-life/" data-ref-id="false">Tomodachi Life</a> (3DS) -- Nintendo</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/grand-theft-auto-v/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto V</a> (360, PS3) -- Take 2 Interactive</li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="">Following the strong performance of Mario Kart and the surprising strength of the new release Tomodachi Life, Nintendo responded with renewed optimism for its Wii U. "These results reinforce the power of the Mario Kart franchise and speak to a bright future for the Wii U platform," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "History has shown that Mario Kart games tend to have an extremely long tail. We fully expect Mario Kart 8 to continue to drive momentum for our hardware and software business through the holidays and into the foreseeable future."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">How many of June's top-selling games did you end up buying?</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2600511" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600511"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The NPD Group today released its monthly report for physical sales in the United States during June. Along with it, the respective console manufacturers have made their own announcements based on the report, and according to Sony, the PlayStation 4 was the top-selling system in the U.S. during June.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">That's an especially noteworthy accomplishment given the momentum the Xbox One gained last month. Just yesterday, Microsoft announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-sales-more-than-double-during-june-in-us-/1100-6421168/" data-ref-id="1100-6421168">Xbox One sales had more than doubled in June</a> (compared with May) after its Kinect-less, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-399-xbox-one-out-now-xbox-360-sales-rise-to-84-million/1100-6420231/" data-ref-id="1100-6420231">$400 model went on sale</a>. No specific figures were offered, and as a result, it was difficult to tell just how many systems the price drop helped to sell. The company announced earlier today it would <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/" data-ref-id="1100-6421171">lay off up to 18,000 people</a> and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/" data-ref-id="1100-6421179">shut down Xbox Entertainment Studios</a>, but the majority of the layoffs have nothing to do with Xbox.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We now know, courtesy of a statement from Sony's Guy Longworth, that the PS4 came out on top in the U.S. during June. Sony offered up a handful of other notes regarding the success of the PS4, including the fact that this marks the sixth month in a row that the PS4 was the top seller in the U.S. Additionally, PS4 was the top platform for physical software sales among the new generation of platforms.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Wii U <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-drives-massive-wii-u-sales-3ds-is-number-two-console-on-npd/1100-6420520/" data-ref-id="1100-6420520">saw a sales bump in late May</a> thanks to the launch of <a href="/reviews/mario-kart-8/1900-6415760/" data-ref-id="1900-6415760">Mario Kart 8</a>, and that continued into June. Wii U sales were up a whopping 233 percent over June 2013, and sales for it during the first six months of the year are up 48 percent as compared with the same period in 2013, according to Nintendo. As with Microsoft's boast about the Xbox One sales increase, though, these increases unfortunately doesn't provide us with a full picture without knowing specific sales figures.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">3DS sales were up 55 percent over May, Nintendo reports, but the NPD Group's Liam Callahan notes there was a year-over-year decline in portable hardware. (Sony made no mention of the PlayStation Vita in its statement today.) Despite that, the strength of the new consoles resulted in a 106 percent increase in hardware sales to $292.7 million, compared with $142 million last June. Looking at sales of consoles alone, sales were up by more than 200 percent versus last year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's been some time since any of the three console manufacturers provided us with an update on sales for their respective systems. According to the most recent official announcements for worldwide sales figures, the PS4 has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-reports-7-million-playstation-4-consoles-sold-worldwide/1100-6419044/" data-ref-id="1100-6419044">7 million units</a> (as of April 6); the Xbox One has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-sold-3-million-units-in-2013-microsoft-says/1100-6416955/" data-ref-id="1100-6416955">3 million units</a> (as of December 31), with <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-ships-1-2-million-to-retailers-during-2014-s-first-quarter/1100-6419194/" data-ref-id="1100-6419194">5 million shipped</a> to retailers; and the Wii U has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">6.17 million units</a> (as of March 31).</p><p style="">The NPD Group's report also included the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/" data-ref-id="1100-6421189">ten best-selling games in June at retail in the US</a>. <a href="/watch-dogs/" data-ref-id="false">Watch Dogs</a> was the top seller once again when combining all five of its platforms, while Mario Kart 8 was number one when looking at individual platforms.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-dev-working-on-motion-controllers-whic/1100-6421186/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2600476" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600476"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg"></a><figcaption>Sony's PlayStation Move, which is used with its Project Morpheus VR headset</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Oculus VR has been developing motion controllers for use with its Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, according to a report by GameSpot sister site <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/oculus-to-ge-hands-on-with-new-virtual-reality-gear" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">CNET</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">These controllers would allow users to interact with Rift content by moving their hands and body, not unlike what's possible with the Wii remote or PlayStation Move. The goal would be to increase the level of immersion--the ultimate goal of doing anything in virtual reality, after all--in Rift-supported games and applications. Oculus has, to date, given no indication it would release its own controllers for Rift, though it's traditionally the case that hardware manufacturers offer their own controllers.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2600475" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600475"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg"></a><figcaption>The soon-to-be-released Oculus Rift Dev Kit 2</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">As such, this looks like a natural move--don't forget, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-vr-dev-buys-team-that-designed-xbox-360-controller/1100-6420708/" data-ref-id="1100-6420708">Oculus acquired the company</a> responsible for the design of the Xbox 360 controller and Kinect in June. However, CNET raises the point that this could be bad news for third-party companies that have begun developing their own controller solutions for use with the Rift. This is because an official motion controller from Oculus could be viewed by many consumers as the only viable option, thereby greatly reducing the market available to third-party accessory makers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Regardless, motion controls are regarded as a key aspect of the VR experience. "Everyone knows that hand tracking is a component that needs to be there," Denny Unger, president of VR game maker CloudHead Games, told CNET. "It just has to be there."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear how or when Oculus will unveil its motion controllers, but we've contacted it to learn more. The lack of a date shouldn't come as a surprise given the Rift itself is still without a release date. Oculus has already been selling a development kit of the Rift (the second iteration of which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dont-resell-your-new-oculus-rift-on-ebay-or-your-p/1100-6421133/" data-ref-id="1100-6421133">begins shipping this month</a>) since 2012, but that's a device intended for use by developers, rather than consumers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Oculus is not the only company pursuing virtual reality. <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-announces-ps4-virtual-reality-initiative-project-morpheus/1100-6418391/" data-ref-id="1100-6418391">Sony revealed its own VR platform</a>, Project Morpheus, earlier this year, and we've seen it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-s-jimmy-fallon-trying-ps4-s-project-morpheus-on-the-tonight-show/1100-6420185/" data-ref-id="1100-6420185">demonstrated using a pair of PlayStation Moves</a> as a manner of simulating your hands in the VR world.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/facebook-buys-oculus-rift-company-in-a-massive-deal-worth-an-estimated-2-billion/1100-6418540/" data-ref-id="1100-6418540">Facebook acquired Oculus VR for $2 billion</a> back in March. Since then, Oculus employees have attempted to reassure gamers that this doesn't mean the Rift is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/after-selling-to-facebook-oculus-reassures-supporters-that-headset-is-focused-on-gaming/1100-6420719/" data-ref-id="1100-6420719">losing its focus on games</a>. The company has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-steam-boss-jason-holtman-joins-oculus-vr/1100-6420110/" data-ref-id="1100-6420110">continued to amass talent</a> from throughout the games industry in recent months, and is in the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-parent-company-officially-sues-oculus-vr-and-palmer-luckey-update/1100-6419792/" data-ref-id="1100-6419792">midst of a lawsuit</a> with Bethesda and id Software parent company ZeniMax Media. Oculus and its CTO, John Carmack (a former id Software employee), are accused of using ZeniMax technology in the Rift, a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-vr-zenimax-lawsuit-an-attempt-to-fix-a-massive-missed-opportunity/1100-6420722/" data-ref-id="1100-6420722">claim which Oculus denies</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Would you like to see Oculus release its own motion controller, or would it be best to leave that up to third parties? Let us know your thoughts--as well as what you'd like to see from motion controllers designed for VR--in the comments.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:03:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-dev-working-on-motion-controllers-whic/1100-6421186/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-retrobooster/2300-6420269/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Retrobooster featuring the Giant Bomb crew. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-retrobooster/2300-6420269/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-breakdown-rainbow-six-siege-impressions/2300-6420282/ Aaron and Ryan discuss some of the tactics and details that were revealed during several rounds of Rainbow Six Siege. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-breakdown-rainbow-six-siege-impressions/2300-6420282/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/espn-partnering-with-valve-to-stream-dota-2-esport/1100-6421184/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600417" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600417"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">This weekend, you can watch the championships for The International, the tournament for <a href="/dota-2/" data-ref-id="false">Dota 2</a>, through sports network ESPN. Dota 2 developer Valve, which is hosting the tournament, is bringing the tournament to ESPN 3, the online branch of the network.</p><p style="">If you have an internet subscription, you can access the Dota 2 streams on ESPN 3 via the <a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index?" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">WatchESPN</a> platform on an internet browser; the Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles; or the Apple TV, Amazon Kindle Fire TV, Chromecast, or Roku streaming boxes.</p><p style="">In addition, a preview of the tournament's final round will be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 8:30 PM PST this Sunday. You can watch this on TV, or through WatchESPN if you have a cable TV subscription. This preview will feature "highlights from the games, expert analysis, plus interviews with the players and Valve's Gabe Newell," according to a press release.</p><p style="">This is one of the first instances of ESPN collaborating to bring esports to its platforms. In June, Major League Gaming players <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/" data-ref-id="1100-6419258">competed at ESPN's XGames event in Austin</a>. Today's announcement shows a growing push for an esports presence on mainstream media networks.</p><p style="">Qualifiers for this year's International tournament have been going on for over a week. The tournament starts on Friday and features a prize pool of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/10-million-dota-2-international-exceeds-super-bowl-masters-and-tour-de-france-prizes/1100-6420785/" data-ref-id="1100-6420785">well over $10 million</a>. Given that ESPN's audience could be unfamiliar with the game--which has over 7 million players monthly--it seems likely that the stream would be geared toward newcomers, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-will-explain-dota-2-to-newcomers-in-a-dedica/1100-6420927/" data-ref-id="1100-6420927">Valve is also running a stream for beginners on Twitch</a>.</p><p style="">What do you think about esports being featured on ESPN? Let us know in the comments!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:16:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/espn-partnering-with-valve-to-stream-dota-2-esport/1100-6421184/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardlines-single-player-aims-to-do-som/1100-6421183/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6419919" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419919/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">Between videos and betas, we've seen a lot of what <a href="/battlefield-hardline/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield Hardline</a> has to offer, but it's always the multiplayer mode that Visceral Games and Electronic Arts have shown off. For many, the single-player modes in the Battlefield series (perhaps with the exception of <a href="/battlefield-bad-company/" data-ref-id="false">Bad Company</a>'s) have always been an afterthought. But with Visceral's pedigree as a single-player-game maker--it developed <a href="/dead-space/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Space</a>--the developer is aspiring to "do something completely different than what's been done in the past, not only in the series but in the genre."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a post on the <a href="http://blogs.battlefield.com/2014/07/this-season-on-hardline/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield blog</a>, Hardline creative director Ian Milham offered some insight into Visceral's approach to the game's single-player mode. "Taking Battlefield into the world of cops and criminals gives us an opportunity to do something completely different than what's been done in the past, not only in the series but in the genre," he says. "When we look around the landscape of gaming these days, there are a lot of gravel-voiced super soldiers saving the world from domination. But that's not the world of cops and criminals, and that's not something we're interested in doing with Hardline."</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2600410" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600410"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Visceral had previously indicated that Hardline's single-player would <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/" data-ref-id="1100-6420797">take inspiration from television shows</a>, a point Milham reiterated today. "Our world is more personal and relatable," he continues. "There won't be any five-minute cut scenes where the evil general explains his super weapon in our game. Instead, we want to create the look, tone, and pace of our favorite TV crime dramas."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He didn't offer up any specifics about how it would do so, but Milham said Visceral is "delivering a different type of storytelling and a new tone that feels different from the from most of the first person shooters we've all played a lot of lately."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The game's story is being shaped by director Bill Johnson and narrative consultant Wendy Calhoun, both of whom have worked on FX series <em>Justified</em>. The cast includes actors with credits on TV shows like <em>True Detective</em>, <em>Law and Order</em>, <em>The Shield</em>, and <em>CSI Miami</em> (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznsEcZlM2I" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">YEAH</a>), among others. Unfortunately, no specific names were revealed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"This is a story that takes place in the grey area between cops and criminals, with police who aren't all good and thieves with a cause to fight for," Milham says. "As players, you'll get to see things from both sides."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Tone aside, one thing the game will do is offer you choices about how to tackle situations. Some examples of this include deciding whether to try intimidating someone into surrendering or using a Taser on them; ziplining past enemies or taking them out more directly; and prioritizing the takedown of someone with a warrant (granting you cash) or dealing with their henchmen first.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Although last month's Hardline beta <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-multiplayer-to-become-deeper-/1100-6421156/" data-ref-id="1100-6421156">concluded several weeks ago</a>, another beta--this one for all of the game's platforms--is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/" data-ref-id="1100-6420797">coming this fall</a>. The full version of Hardline is scheduled for release on <a href="/pc/" data-ref-id="false">PC</a>, <a href="/xbox-one/" data-ref-id="false">Xbox One</a>, <a href="/ps4/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation 4</a>, <a href="/xbox-360/" data-ref-id="false">Xbox 360</a>, and <a href="/ps3/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation 3</a> on October 21.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:07:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardlines-single-player-aims-to-do-som/1100-6421183/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-shadowgates-approach-to-adventure-game-design-s/1100-6421182/ <p style="">The return of Shadowgate is almost here. Originally released on the Macintosh in 1987, Shadowgate, like many point-and-click adventures of the time, was brutally difficult. There was no way around the fact that you were going to die and die and die again, as you ventured through the perilous Castle Shadowgate on your quest to defeat the evil warlock lord. The game didn't just kill you. It delighted in killing you. Picking up an innocent-looking candle, for instance, could result in a trap door opening beneath your feet. "As you fall into darkness," the game's text read, "you tell yourself that there must be a bottom to this pit. Your suspicions are confirmed as your head smashes into stone!"</p><p style="">You could almost hear the game itself laughing at you. At the time, this only made me grit my teeth, pick myself up, and come at the game again, more determined than ever to succeed. There were so many ways for the game to kill you, most accompanied by their own humorous and insulting bit of text, that finding them became an accomplishment in itself, a morbid reward for my explorations and experimentations, all just part of the game.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6420287" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6420287/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">But point-and-click adventure game design has shifted so much in the decades since Shadowgate first debuted. Interfaces have been streamlined. You often can only try to use things in ways that make sense, but Shadowgate is a game in which you can spend plenty of time attempting to use any item in your inventory in any way that is available to you. Want to see what the game says if you click the "eat" command and then click that key in your inventory? Go ahead! Nobody's watching your noble hero as he sticks that big metal key into his mouth.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png" data-ref-id="1300-2600385" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png" data-ref-id="1300-2600385"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png"></a><figcaption>My first experience with Shadowgate looked like this.</figcaption></figure><p style="">More significant to the genre than the evolution of interfaces is that adventure game design has moved away from the kill-the-player-constantly approach that typified games of the Shadowgate era. But it was clear from the look I got at the updated Shadowgate recently that it is staying true to this aspect of the original. The game even encourages you, through achievements, to poke and prod everything and find all the hidden ways to die in the game. There are difficulty levels that change the puzzle structure to make the game more accommodating to new players, but death and failure appear to still be a core part of the Shadowgate experience.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600401" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600401"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg"></a><figcaption>But the screen I spent the most time looking at looked like this.</figcaption></figure><p style="">I grew up with adventure games like this, and I can see the appeal in them, but I wonder if this design philosophy can still be relevant today, when audiences are so used to more streamlined adventure games in which fail states are rare or nonexistent. On the other hand, we do see players flocking to games in other genres that don't shy away from killing players constantly, including <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dark-souls/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/spelunky/" data-ref-id="false">Spelunky</a>, and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/super-meat-boy/" data-ref-id="false">Super Meat Boy</a>. So perhaps there is a place in today's world for this kind of point-and-click adventure game.</p><p style="">Do you think there's a place for a game like Shadowgate today? Will it make for a refreshingly difficult departure from the current norm, or will it seem frustrating and outdated? I'll find out how I feel about it when Shadowgate is released in August, but in the meantime, let me know what you think in the comments below.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-shadowgates-approach-to-adventure-game-design-s/1100-6421182/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-newest-assassins-creed-will-be-a-card-battling/1100-6421180/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599829" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599829"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">There's a new Assassin's Creed game coming, and it'll launch this summer. Publisher Ubisoft <a href="http://blog.ubi.com/assassins-creed-memories-announced/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced</a> Assassin's Creed: Memories today, an iOS card-battling game which is being developed by mobile studios GREE and PlayNext.</p><p style="">The game focuses on customization, time-traveling, and alliances, encouraging you to create your own Assassin and team up with people who complement your play style. There's a strong focus on making your own character and strategy, according to GREE vice president Eiji Araki: "The card battle genre is all about being able to evolve and grow great heroes and this franchise has created some of the most epic characters in gaming today." You will visit time periods from past Assassin's Creed games, like the American Revolution and Renaissance Italy, but Ubisoft promises that there will be new areas and times as well.</p><p style="">Perhaps the most interesting part of the announcement is that Memories will feature a full multiplayer mode with up to 20 players on each side. Right now, Ubisoft hasn't said anything more about the mode. There will also be a "rich single-player experience," the publisher promises.</p><p style="">The game launches for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad later this summer. The next console version, <a href="/assassins-creed-unity/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed Unity</a>, is coming on October 28 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Is Memories enough to hold you over until Unity launches? Let us know in the comments!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-newest-assassins-creed-will-be-a-card-battling/1100-6421180/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-abyss-odyssey/2300-6420268/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Abyss Odyssey featuring the Giant Bomb crew. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-abyss-odyssey/2300-6420268/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6420286" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6420286/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">Following this morning's announcement that Microsoft will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/" data-ref-id="1100-6421171">lay off up to 18,000 of its employees</a>, the company has revealed it will shut down Xbox Entertainment Studios, the division responsible for original Xbox programming.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a statement issued to GameSpot, Microsoft outlined its plans to "streamline a handful of portfolio and engineering development efforts across Xbox" This includes the shutdown of XES "in the coming month." Prior to this, it was unclear how the Xbox business would be affected by the layoffs; a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-microsoft-planning-massive-layoffs-xbox-mar/1100-6421121/" data-ref-id="1100-6421121">report</a> earlier this week suggested Xbox marketing employees would be let go, but that remains unconfirmed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png" data-ref-id="1300-2599811" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png" data-ref-id="1300-2599811"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Some of XES' employees--including president Nancy Tellem and executive vice president Jordan Levin--will "stay on and remain committed to original programming already in production." This includes <em>Signal to Noise--</em>the documentary series that will cover, among other subjects, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-man-who-buried-e-t-for-atari-in-1983-recalls-what-happened/1100-6419438/" data-ref-id="1100-6419438">the Atari E.T. dig</a>--as well as <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-halo-5-s-mysterious-spartan-named-agent-locke-backstory-coming-in-nightfall/1100-6420433/" data-ref-id="1100-6420433"><em>Halo: Nightfall</em></a> and Steven Spielberg's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-show-won-t-be-filler-microsoft-says/1100-6416982/" data-ref-id="1100-6416982">Halo TV series</a>. The Halo projects will both "continue as planned with 343 Industries," and things like entertainment apps and the ability to watch TV through the Xbox One will not be impacted by this move.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A week ago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-remains-a-focus-at-microsoft-as-company-drops/1100-6421024/" data-ref-id="1100-6421024">offered a show of support for the Xbox division</a>, which the company has reportedly <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/will-microsoft-sell-off-its-xbox-business-it-doesn-t-look-likely/1100-6418557/" data-ref-id="1100-6418557">considered selling off</a>. But his statement made no mention of Microsoft's attempts to develop original video programming in recent years. This programming was to include <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">interactive content</a>, but would not affect the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-tv-push-won-t-impact-xbox-one-s-gamer-first-approach/1100-6419271/" data-ref-id="1100-6419271">"gamer-first" approach</a> Microsoft was taking with the Xbox One.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Plans for a wide variety of content in addition to the shows mentioned above <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">had already been announced</a>. This includes a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/seth-green-michael-cera-and-sarah-silverman-making-xbox-tv-shows/1100-6418812/" data-ref-id="1100-6418812">program from JASH</a> (the comedy group comprised of Tim and Eric, Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, and Reggie Watts) and a soccer reality series called <em>Every Street United</em> that already debuted on Xbox Live to coincide with the World Cup.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">XES has reportedly had difficulties in the past securing deals for new content. It was always unclear how, exactly, the original programming XES was pursuing would be released, like whether it would only be available through Xbox platforms and, if so, if it would be for Xbox Live Gold members. We also never got any hard details on how the programming would be interactive, which is what Microsoft said would make this "a unique experience."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Tellem, a former CBS executive, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-hires-former-cbs-tv-exec/1100-6396737/" data-ref-id="1100-6396737">joined Microsoft in 2012</a> to lead its efforts into the original programming business. XES was founded shortly thereafter and has been pursuing content ever since. In April, Tellem said the studio's work was still "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">in the early stages</a>."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This strikes me as an unsurprising move, as the expansion into original programming never felt like a natural move for Xbox. And, as noted above, there was so much uncertainty about how it would all work, even after more than a year and a half, that it might be for the best that Microsoft moves on from this venture. If nothing else, combined with the company's showing at E3, it's hard to question that Xbox's focus has indeed been the games since Phil Spencer was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-boss-phil-spencer-gets-a-promotion-to-head-of-xbox-promises-incredible-new-chapter-for-gaming/1100-6418670/" data-ref-id="1100-6418670">promoted in March</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">What do you make of the closure of XES? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-naxxramas-update-goes-li/1100-6421178/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599787" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599787"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Blizzard has been slowly parceling out info on the single-player expansion for its successful card-battling game <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone</a>, and today we finally learned when Curse of Naxxramas is coming out: July 22.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">On the official <a href="http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/14832730/curse-of-naxxramas%E2%84%A2-creeps-out-on-july-22-7-17-2014?cid=social_20140717_28006156" rel="nofollow">Blizzard blog</a>, the company wrote, "Curse of Naxxramas goes live globally for Windows, Mac, and iPad on Tuesday, July 22, starting with the Arachnid Quarter, the first of five creepy wings that will be released weekly after the gates are opened." It's worth noting that the EU Blizzard site cites the <a href="http://eu.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/14832730/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">release date as Wednesday, July 23</a> -- so the release will likely happen globally at the same time, thus that specific day will not be the same in every country. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">As a reminder, this initial expansion will be free for "roughly a month," but you'll have to lay down cold, hard gold (or cash) to open up the four remaining parts of the expansion. Curse of Naxxramas, like it's namesake dungeon, has five wings with a separate "boss" to battle at the end. We explained the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-naxxramas-expansions-cost-7-or-700-gol/1100-6420985/" data-ref-id="1100-6420985">exact pricing and release schedule for the game in detail earlier this week,</a> but in short, a new wing will open up each week after the first. Subsequent wings will cost either 700 in-game gold, $7 individually, or you can buy multiple wings at a slight real-money discount. There are no discounts for buying multiple wings with in-game gold.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you work your way through the dungeon, you'll unlock new cards to add to your deck. And if you make it through the entire expansion, you'll unlock an exclusive card back.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">At the very least, the first expansion is free for a month, so be sure to log in to your account after July 22 if you want to try it out.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-naxxramas-update-goes-li/1100-6421178/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 18 Jul 2014 07:39:42 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-beta-now-playing-part-2/2300-6420291/ Chris, Shaun and Mary gave some live impressions of the Destiny Beta. Check out Part 2 of this 2 part series from our Live stream! Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/destiny-beta-now-playing-part-2/2300-6420291/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-gist-3-reasons-why-pc-is-still-my-platform-of-/2300-6420265/ Jess explains why PC will always be the very best gaming platform in her mind. Find out why! Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-gist-3-reasons-why-pc-is-still-my-platform-of-/2300-6420265/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-doom-announced-and-detailed-by-id-software-and/1100-6421188/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600675" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600675"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2600675-6232476698-doom_.jpg"></a><figcaption>Via Polygon</figcaption></figure><p style="">After years of waiting, the fourth iteration of <a href="/doom/" data-ref-id="false">Doom</a> has been officially unveiled, detailed, and named. Called simply Doom, this game brings the story back to the beginning. It's an origin story.</p><p style="">At this year's QuakeCon conference, id Software showed off the new game, finally detailing what exactly we can expect. It focuses on fast-paced combat and it takes place on Mars, outside of a Union Aerospace Corporation building. You'll be using melee combat a lot, and combat is brutal. Id is designing crazy enemies and weapons, and you'll be able to carry around a large arsenal "all at the same time," executive producer Marty Stratton said.</p><p style="">Doom looks to be especially violent. During one section of the demo id presented, the player ripped an arm off of a guard to get through a biometric scanner. The player proceeded to then wield a chainsaw, wreaking havoc.</p><p style="">In 2008, id announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/id-faces-fourth-doom/1100-6190526/" data-ref-id="1100-6190526">it was working on Doom 4</a>, the next installment in the long-running first-person shooter franchise. Publisher Bethesda then revealed in 2011 that the project had been <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-4-still-exists-bethesda-unveils-doom-beta/1100-6417840/" data-ref-id="1100-6417840">completely scrapped and restarted. </a>Original Doom creator and longtime id Software programmer John Carmack also <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-co-creator-john-carmack-officially-leaves-id-software/1100-6416346/" data-ref-id="1100-6416346">left the studio last November</a>, joining Rift VR developer Oculus as its Chief Technical Officer.</p><p style="">Finally, when Wolfenstein released in May 2014, we got word of the game again. We learned that there would be a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-4-still-exists-bethesda-unveils-doom-beta/1100-6417840/" data-ref-id="1100-6417840">beta for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC</a>. Now, we know what it's called and how it looks.</p><p style="">No release details have been announced yet, but the game will launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It runs on id Tech 6 at 1080p and 60 frames per second. Are you excited by a new Doom game? Let us know in the comments!</p><p style="">[Information via <a href="http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/17/5913883/doom-4-quakecon-reveal" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Polygon</a> and GameTrailers host Geoff Keighley's <a href="https://twitter.com/geoffkeighley" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter account</a>]</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-doom-announced-and-detailed-by-id-software-and/1100-6421188/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600649" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600649"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2600649-4300035659-25277.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/wii-u/" data-ref-id="false">While the </a><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/" data-ref-id="1100-6421187">PS4 topped US hardware sales charts again</a>, the software winner in June was Nintendo. In a statement to GameSpot, Nintendo wrote, "[Mario Kart 8] was the top-selling physical software SKU in the U.S. in June, and sold more than 470,000 physical and digital units. This brings its lifetime total to more than 885,000 units in the U.S. alone."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">June was light on new releases, and the NPD sales report notes that, "In terms of software titles, many of the top games in June 2014 mirrored those of May 2014, with six of the same games ranking in the top ten."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In terms of combined sales across all platforms, Watch Dogs came out on top. From the order of platforms provided by the NPD, Watch Dogs sold best on PS4, followed by Xbox 360, then Xbox One and PS3. Ubisoft noted earlier this month that the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-made-up-largest-part-of-ubisoft-game-sales-dur/1100-6421105/" data-ref-id="1100-6421105">PS4 accounted for up the largest part of its game sales</a>. Sony wrote in a statement, "The biggest next generation software titles, including Watch Dogs, UFC and FIFA 14, were #1 on PlayStation 4, further demonstrating that PS4 is the platform of choice for blockbuster games."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Note that the full top ten list below only encompasses physical retail sales for the US:</p><ol><li dir="ltr"><a href="/watch-dogs/" data-ref-id="false">Watch Dogs</a> (PS4, 360, XBO, PS3, PC) -- Ubisoft</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/mario-kart-8/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Kart 8</a> (NWU) -- Nintendo</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft</a> (360, PS3) -- Microsoft | Sony</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/ufc-ultimate-fighting-championship/" data-ref-id="false">UFC</a> (PS4, XBO) -- Electronic Arts</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/fifa-14/" data-ref-id="false">FIFA 14</a> (PS4, 360, XBO, PS3, PSV) -- Electronic Arts</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/nba-2k14/" data-ref-id="false">NBA 2K14</a> (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, PC) -- Take 2 Interactive</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wolfenstein-the-new-order/" data-ref-id="false">Wolfenstein: The New Order </a>(PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC) -- Bethesda Softworks</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call Of Duty: Ghosts</a> (360, PS4, PS3, XBO, NWU, PC) -- Activision Blizzard</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/tomodachi-life/" data-ref-id="false">Tomodachi Life</a> (3DS) -- Nintendo</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/grand-theft-auto-v/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto V</a> (360, PS3) -- Take 2 Interactive</li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="">Following the strong performance of Mario Kart and the surprising strength of the new release Tomodachi Life, Nintendo responded with renewed optimism for its Wii U. "These results reinforce the power of the Mario Kart franchise and speak to a bright future for the Wii U platform," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "History has shown that Mario Kart games tend to have an extremely long tail. We fully expect Mario Kart 8 to continue to drive momentum for our hardware and software business through the holidays and into the foreseeable future."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">How many of June's top-selling games did you end up buying?</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2600511" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600511"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2600511-ps4.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The NPD Group today released its monthly report for physical sales in the United States during June. Along with it, the respective console manufacturers have made their own announcements based on the report, and according to Sony, the PlayStation 4 was the top-selling system in the U.S. during June.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">That's an especially noteworthy accomplishment given the momentum the Xbox One gained last month. Just yesterday, Microsoft announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-sales-more-than-double-during-june-in-us-/1100-6421168/" data-ref-id="1100-6421168">Xbox One sales had more than doubled in June</a> (compared with May) after its Kinect-less, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-399-xbox-one-out-now-xbox-360-sales-rise-to-84-million/1100-6420231/" data-ref-id="1100-6420231">$400 model went on sale</a>. No specific figures were offered, and as a result, it was difficult to tell just how many systems the price drop helped to sell. The company announced earlier today it would <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/" data-ref-id="1100-6421171">lay off up to 18,000 people</a> and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/" data-ref-id="1100-6421179">shut down Xbox Entertainment Studios</a>, but the majority of the layoffs have nothing to do with Xbox.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We now know, courtesy of a statement from Sony's Guy Longworth, that the PS4 came out on top in the U.S. during June. Sony offered up a handful of other notes regarding the success of the PS4, including the fact that this marks the sixth month in a row that the PS4 was the top seller in the U.S. Additionally, PS4 was the top platform for physical software sales among the new generation of platforms.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Wii U <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-drives-massive-wii-u-sales-3ds-is-number-two-console-on-npd/1100-6420520/" data-ref-id="1100-6420520">saw a sales bump in late May</a> thanks to the launch of <a href="/reviews/mario-kart-8/1900-6415760/" data-ref-id="1900-6415760">Mario Kart 8</a>, and that continued into June. Wii U sales were up a whopping 233 percent over June 2013, and sales for it during the first six months of the year are up 48 percent as compared with the same period in 2013, according to Nintendo. As with Microsoft's boast about the Xbox One sales increase, though, these increases unfortunately doesn't provide us with a full picture without knowing specific sales figures.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">3DS sales were up 55 percent over May, Nintendo reports, but the NPD Group's Liam Callahan notes there was a year-over-year decline in portable hardware. (Sony made no mention of the PlayStation Vita in its statement today.) Despite that, the strength of the new consoles resulted in a 106 percent increase in hardware sales to $292.7 million, compared with $142 million last June. Looking at sales of consoles alone, sales were up by more than 200 percent versus last year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's been some time since any of the three console manufacturers provided us with an update on sales for their respective systems. According to the most recent official announcements for worldwide sales figures, the PS4 has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-reports-7-million-playstation-4-consoles-sold-worldwide/1100-6419044/" data-ref-id="1100-6419044">7 million units</a> (as of April 6); the Xbox One has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-sold-3-million-units-in-2013-microsoft-says/1100-6416955/" data-ref-id="1100-6416955">3 million units</a> (as of December 31), with <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-ships-1-2-million-to-retailers-during-2014-s-first-quarter/1100-6419194/" data-ref-id="1100-6419194">5 million shipped</a> to retailers; and the Wii U has sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">6.17 million units</a> (as of March 31).</p><p style="">The NPD Group's report also included the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-was-best-selling-sku-in-us-for-june-w/1100-6421189/" data-ref-id="1100-6421189">ten best-selling games in June at retail in the US</a>. <a href="/watch-dogs/" data-ref-id="false">Watch Dogs</a> was the top seller once again when combining all five of its platforms, while Mario Kart 8 was number one when looking at individual platforms.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-tops-june-2014-npd-sales-chart-despite-xbox-on/1100-6421187/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-dev-working-on-motion-controllers-whic/1100-6421186/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2600476" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600476"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2600476-move.jpg"></a><figcaption>Sony's PlayStation Move, which is used with its Project Morpheus VR headset</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Oculus VR has been developing motion controllers for use with its Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, according to a report by GameSpot sister site <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/oculus-to-ge-hands-on-with-new-virtual-reality-gear" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">CNET</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">These controllers would allow users to interact with Rift content by moving their hands and body, not unlike what's possible with the Wii remote or PlayStation Move. The goal would be to increase the level of immersion--the ultimate goal of doing anything in virtual reality, after all--in Rift-supported games and applications. Oculus has, to date, given no indication it would release its own controllers for Rift, though it's traditionally the case that hardware manufacturers offer their own controllers.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2600475" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600475"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2600475-oculus-.jpg"></a><figcaption>The soon-to-be-released Oculus Rift Dev Kit 2</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">As such, this looks like a natural move--don't forget, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-vr-dev-buys-team-that-designed-xbox-360-controller/1100-6420708/" data-ref-id="1100-6420708">Oculus acquired the company</a> responsible for the design of the Xbox 360 controller and Kinect in June. However, CNET raises the point that this could be bad news for third-party companies that have begun developing their own controller solutions for use with the Rift. This is because an official motion controller from Oculus could be viewed by many consumers as the only viable option, thereby greatly reducing the market available to third-party accessory makers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Regardless, motion controls are regarded as a key aspect of the VR experience. "Everyone knows that hand tracking is a component that needs to be there," Denny Unger, president of VR game maker CloudHead Games, told CNET. "It just has to be there."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear how or when Oculus will unveil its motion controllers, but we've contacted it to learn more. The lack of a date shouldn't come as a surprise given the Rift itself is still without a release date. Oculus has already been selling a development kit of the Rift (the second iteration of which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dont-resell-your-new-oculus-rift-on-ebay-or-your-p/1100-6421133/" data-ref-id="1100-6421133">begins shipping this month</a>) since 2012, but that's a device intended for use by developers, rather than consumers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Oculus is not the only company pursuing virtual reality. <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-announces-ps4-virtual-reality-initiative-project-morpheus/1100-6418391/" data-ref-id="1100-6418391">Sony revealed its own VR platform</a>, Project Morpheus, earlier this year, and we've seen it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-s-jimmy-fallon-trying-ps4-s-project-morpheus-on-the-tonight-show/1100-6420185/" data-ref-id="1100-6420185">demonstrated using a pair of PlayStation Moves</a> as a manner of simulating your hands in the VR world.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/facebook-buys-oculus-rift-company-in-a-massive-deal-worth-an-estimated-2-billion/1100-6418540/" data-ref-id="1100-6418540">Facebook acquired Oculus VR for $2 billion</a> back in March. Since then, Oculus employees have attempted to reassure gamers that this doesn't mean the Rift is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/after-selling-to-facebook-oculus-reassures-supporters-that-headset-is-focused-on-gaming/1100-6420719/" data-ref-id="1100-6420719">losing its focus on games</a>. The company has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-steam-boss-jason-holtman-joins-oculus-vr/1100-6420110/" data-ref-id="1100-6420110">continued to amass talent</a> from throughout the games industry in recent months, and is in the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-parent-company-officially-sues-oculus-vr-and-palmer-luckey-update/1100-6419792/" data-ref-id="1100-6419792">midst of a lawsuit</a> with Bethesda and id Software parent company ZeniMax Media. Oculus and its CTO, John Carmack (a former id Software employee), are accused of using ZeniMax technology in the Rift, a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-vr-zenimax-lawsuit-an-attempt-to-fix-a-massive-missed-opportunity/1100-6420722/" data-ref-id="1100-6420722">claim which Oculus denies</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Would you like to see Oculus release its own motion controller, or would it be best to leave that up to third parties? Let us know your thoughts--as well as what you'd like to see from motion controllers designed for VR--in the comments.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:03:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-rift-dev-working-on-motion-controllers-whic/1100-6421186/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-retrobooster/2300-6420269/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Retrobooster featuring the Giant Bomb crew. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-retrobooster/2300-6420269/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-breakdown-rainbow-six-siege-impressions/2300-6420282/ Aaron and Ryan discuss some of the tactics and details that were revealed during several rounds of Rainbow Six Siege. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-breakdown-rainbow-six-siege-impressions/2300-6420282/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/espn-partnering-with-valve-to-stream-dota-2-esport/1100-6421184/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600417" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600417"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2600417-9691154760-25868.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">This weekend, you can watch the championships for The International, the tournament for <a href="/dota-2/" data-ref-id="false">Dota 2</a>, through sports network ESPN. Dota 2 developer Valve, which is hosting the tournament, is bringing the tournament to ESPN 3, the online branch of the network.</p><p style="">If you have an internet subscription, you can access the Dota 2 streams on ESPN 3 via the <a href="http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index?" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">WatchESPN</a> platform on an internet browser; the Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles; or the Apple TV, Amazon Kindle Fire TV, Chromecast, or Roku streaming boxes.</p><p style="">In addition, a preview of the tournament's final round will be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 8:30 PM PST this Sunday. You can watch this on TV, or through WatchESPN if you have a cable TV subscription. This preview will feature "highlights from the games, expert analysis, plus interviews with the players and Valve's Gabe Newell," according to a press release.</p><p style="">This is one of the first instances of ESPN collaborating to bring esports to its platforms. In June, Major League Gaming players <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/" data-ref-id="1100-6419258">competed at ESPN's XGames event in Austin</a>. Today's announcement shows a growing push for an esports presence on mainstream media networks.</p><p style="">Qualifiers for this year's International tournament have been going on for over a week. The tournament starts on Friday and features a prize pool of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/10-million-dota-2-international-exceeds-super-bowl-masters-and-tour-de-france-prizes/1100-6420785/" data-ref-id="1100-6420785">well over $10 million</a>. Given that ESPN's audience could be unfamiliar with the game--which has over 7 million players monthly--it seems likely that the stream would be geared toward newcomers, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-will-explain-dota-2-to-newcomers-in-a-dedica/1100-6420927/" data-ref-id="1100-6420927">Valve is also running a stream for beginners on Twitch</a>.</p><p style="">What do you think about esports being featured on ESPN? Let us know in the comments!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:16:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/espn-partnering-with-valve-to-stream-dota-2-esport/1100-6421184/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardlines-single-player-aims-to-do-som/1100-6421183/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6419919" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419919/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">Between videos and betas, we've seen a lot of what <a href="/battlefield-hardline/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield Hardline</a> has to offer, but it's always the multiplayer mode that Visceral Games and Electronic Arts have shown off. For many, the single-player modes in the Battlefield series (perhaps with the exception of <a href="/battlefield-bad-company/" data-ref-id="false">Bad Company</a>'s) have always been an afterthought. But with Visceral's pedigree as a single-player-game maker--it developed <a href="/dead-space/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Space</a>--the developer is aspiring to "do something completely different than what's been done in the past, not only in the series but in the genre."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a post on the <a href="http://blogs.battlefield.com/2014/07/this-season-on-hardline/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield blog</a>, Hardline creative director Ian Milham offered some insight into Visceral's approach to the game's single-player mode. "Taking Battlefield into the world of cops and criminals gives us an opportunity to do something completely different than what's been done in the past, not only in the series but in the genre," he says. "When we look around the landscape of gaming these days, there are a lot of gravel-voiced super soldiers saving the world from domination. But that's not the world of cops and criminals, and that's not something we're interested in doing with Hardline."</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2600410" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600410"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2600410-hardline.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Visceral had previously indicated that Hardline's single-player would <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/" data-ref-id="1100-6420797">take inspiration from television shows</a>, a point Milham reiterated today. "Our world is more personal and relatable," he continues. "There won't be any five-minute cut scenes where the evil general explains his super weapon in our game. Instead, we want to create the look, tone, and pace of our favorite TV crime dramas."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He didn't offer up any specifics about how it would do so, but Milham said Visceral is "delivering a different type of storytelling and a new tone that feels different from the from most of the first person shooters we've all played a lot of lately."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The game's story is being shaped by director Bill Johnson and narrative consultant Wendy Calhoun, both of whom have worked on FX series <em>Justified</em>. The cast includes actors with credits on TV shows like <em>True Detective</em>, <em>Law and Order</em>, <em>The Shield</em>, and <em>CSI Miami</em> (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznsEcZlM2I" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">YEAH</a>), among others. Unfortunately, no specific names were revealed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"This is a story that takes place in the grey area between cops and criminals, with police who aren't all good and thieves with a cause to fight for," Milham says. "As players, you'll get to see things from both sides."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Tone aside, one thing the game will do is offer you choices about how to tackle situations. Some examples of this include deciding whether to try intimidating someone into surrendering or using a Taser on them; ziplining past enemies or taking them out more directly; and prioritizing the takedown of someone with a warrant (granting you cash) or dealing with their henchmen first.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Although last month's Hardline beta <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-multiplayer-to-become-deeper-/1100-6421156/" data-ref-id="1100-6421156">concluded several weeks ago</a>, another beta--this one for all of the game's platforms--is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/" data-ref-id="1100-6420797">coming this fall</a>. The full version of Hardline is scheduled for release on <a href="/pc/" data-ref-id="false">PC</a>, <a href="/xbox-one/" data-ref-id="false">Xbox One</a>, <a href="/ps4/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation 4</a>, <a href="/xbox-360/" data-ref-id="false">Xbox 360</a>, and <a href="/ps3/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation 3</a> on October 21.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:07:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardlines-single-player-aims-to-do-som/1100-6421183/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-shadowgates-approach-to-adventure-game-design-s/1100-6421182/ <p style="">The return of Shadowgate is almost here. Originally released on the Macintosh in 1987, Shadowgate, like many point-and-click adventures of the time, was brutally difficult. There was no way around the fact that you were going to die and die and die again, as you ventured through the perilous Castle Shadowgate on your quest to defeat the evil warlock lord. The game didn't just kill you. It delighted in killing you. Picking up an innocent-looking candle, for instance, could result in a trap door opening beneath your feet. "As you fall into darkness," the game's text read, "you tell yourself that there must be a bottom to this pit. Your suspicions are confirmed as your head smashes into stone!"</p><p style="">You could almost hear the game itself laughing at you. At the time, this only made me grit my teeth, pick myself up, and come at the game again, more determined than ever to succeed. There were so many ways for the game to kill you, most accompanied by their own humorous and insulting bit of text, that finding them became an accomplishment in itself, a morbid reward for my explorations and experimentations, all just part of the game.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6420287" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6420287/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">But point-and-click adventure game design has shifted so much in the decades since Shadowgate first debuted. Interfaces have been streamlined. You often can only try to use things in ways that make sense, but Shadowgate is a game in which you can spend plenty of time attempting to use any item in your inventory in any way that is available to you. Want to see what the game says if you click the "eat" command and then click that key in your inventory? Go ahead! Nobody's watching your noble hero as he sticks that big metal key into his mouth.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png" data-ref-id="1300-2600385" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png" data-ref-id="1300-2600385"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/78/787590/2600385-shadowgate-mac.png"></a><figcaption>My first experience with Shadowgate looked like this.</figcaption></figure><p style="">More significant to the genre than the evolution of interfaces is that adventure game design has moved away from the kill-the-player-constantly approach that typified games of the Shadowgate era. But it was clear from the look I got at the updated Shadowgate recently that it is staying true to this aspect of the original. The game even encourages you, through achievements, to poke and prod everything and find all the hidden ways to die in the game. There are difficulty levels that change the puzzle structure to make the game more accommodating to new players, but death and failure appear to still be a core part of the Shadowgate experience.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600401" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2600401"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/78/787590/2600401-shadowgate+grim+reaper.jpg"></a><figcaption>But the screen I spent the most time looking at looked like this.</figcaption></figure><p style="">I grew up with adventure games like this, and I can see the appeal in them, but I wonder if this design philosophy can still be relevant today, when audiences are so used to more streamlined adventure games in which fail states are rare or nonexistent. On the other hand, we do see players flocking to games in other genres that don't shy away from killing players constantly, including <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dark-souls/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/spelunky/" data-ref-id="false">Spelunky</a>, and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/super-meat-boy/" data-ref-id="false">Super Meat Boy</a>. So perhaps there is a place in today's world for this kind of point-and-click adventure game.</p><p style="">Do you think there's a place for a game like Shadowgate today? Will it make for a refreshingly difficult departure from the current norm, or will it seem frustrating and outdated? I'll find out how I feel about it when Shadowgate is released in August, but in the meantime, let me know what you think in the comments below.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-shadowgates-approach-to-adventure-game-design-s/1100-6421182/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-newest-assassins-creed-will-be-a-card-battling/1100-6421180/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599829" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599829"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2599829-7243699073-ACM_K.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">There's a new Assassin's Creed game coming, and it'll launch this summer. Publisher Ubisoft <a href="http://blog.ubi.com/assassins-creed-memories-announced/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced</a> Assassin's Creed: Memories today, an iOS card-battling game which is being developed by mobile studios GREE and PlayNext.</p><p style="">The game focuses on customization, time-traveling, and alliances, encouraging you to create your own Assassin and team up with people who complement your play style. There's a strong focus on making your own character and strategy, according to GREE vice president Eiji Araki: "The card battle genre is all about being able to evolve and grow great heroes and this franchise has created some of the most epic characters in gaming today." You will visit time periods from past Assassin's Creed games, like the American Revolution and Renaissance Italy, but Ubisoft promises that there will be new areas and times as well.</p><p style="">Perhaps the most interesting part of the announcement is that Memories will feature a full multiplayer mode with up to 20 players on each side. Right now, Ubisoft hasn't said anything more about the mode. There will also be a "rich single-player experience," the publisher promises.</p><p style="">The game launches for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad later this summer. The next console version, <a href="/assassins-creed-unity/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed Unity</a>, is coming on October 28 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Is Memories enough to hold you over until Unity launches? Let us know in the comments!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-newest-assassins-creed-will-be-a-card-battling/1100-6421180/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-abyss-odyssey/2300-6420268/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Abyss Odyssey featuring the Giant Bomb crew. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-abyss-odyssey/2300-6420268/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6420286" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6420286/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">Following this morning's announcement that Microsoft will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/" data-ref-id="1100-6421171">lay off up to 18,000 of its employees</a>, the company has revealed it will shut down Xbox Entertainment Studios, the division responsible for original Xbox programming.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a statement issued to GameSpot, Microsoft outlined its plans to "streamline a handful of portfolio and engineering development efforts across Xbox" This includes the shutdown of XES "in the coming month." Prior to this, it was unclear how the Xbox business would be affected by the layoffs; a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-microsoft-planning-massive-layoffs-xbox-mar/1100-6421121/" data-ref-id="1100-6421121">report</a> earlier this week suggested Xbox marketing employees would be let go, but that remains unconfirmed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png" data-ref-id="1300-2599811" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png" data-ref-id="1300-2599811"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2599811-2518775-xboxoriginals.png"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Some of XES' employees--including president Nancy Tellem and executive vice president Jordan Levin--will "stay on and remain committed to original programming already in production." This includes <em>Signal to Noise--</em>the documentary series that will cover, among other subjects, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-man-who-buried-e-t-for-atari-in-1983-recalls-what-happened/1100-6419438/" data-ref-id="1100-6419438">the Atari E.T. dig</a>--as well as <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-halo-5-s-mysterious-spartan-named-agent-locke-backstory-coming-in-nightfall/1100-6420433/" data-ref-id="1100-6420433"><em>Halo: Nightfall</em></a> and Steven Spielberg's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-show-won-t-be-filler-microsoft-says/1100-6416982/" data-ref-id="1100-6416982">Halo TV series</a>. The Halo projects will both "continue as planned with 343 Industries," and things like entertainment apps and the ability to watch TV through the Xbox One will not be impacted by this move.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A week ago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-remains-a-focus-at-microsoft-as-company-drops/1100-6421024/" data-ref-id="1100-6421024">offered a show of support for the Xbox division</a>, which the company has reportedly <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/will-microsoft-sell-off-its-xbox-business-it-doesn-t-look-likely/1100-6418557/" data-ref-id="1100-6418557">considered selling off</a>. But his statement made no mention of Microsoft's attempts to develop original video programming in recent years. This programming was to include <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">interactive content</a>, but would not affect the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-tv-push-won-t-impact-xbox-one-s-gamer-first-approach/1100-6419271/" data-ref-id="1100-6419271">"gamer-first" approach</a> Microsoft was taking with the Xbox One.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Plans for a wide variety of content in addition to the shows mentioned above <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">had already been announced</a>. This includes a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/seth-green-michael-cera-and-sarah-silverman-making-xbox-tv-shows/1100-6418812/" data-ref-id="1100-6418812">program from JASH</a> (the comedy group comprised of Tim and Eric, Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, and Reggie Watts) and a soccer reality series called <em>Every Street United</em> that already debuted on Xbox Live to coincide with the World Cup.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">XES has reportedly had difficulties in the past securing deals for new content. It was always unclear how, exactly, the original programming XES was pursuing would be released, like whether it would only be available through Xbox platforms and, if so, if it would be for Xbox Live Gold members. We also never got any hard details on how the programming would be interactive, which is what Microsoft said would make this "a unique experience."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Tellem, a former CBS executive, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-hires-former-cbs-tv-exec/1100-6396737/" data-ref-id="1100-6396737">joined Microsoft in 2012</a> to lead its efforts into the original programming business. XES was founded shortly thereafter and has been pursuing content ever since. In April, Tellem said the studio's work was still "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/" data-ref-id="1100-6419255">in the early stages</a>."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This strikes me as an unsurprising move, as the expansion into original programming never felt like a natural move for Xbox. And, as noted above, there was so much uncertainty about how it would all work, even after more than a year and a half, that it might be for the best that Microsoft moves on from this venture. If nothing else, combined with the company's showing at E3, it's hard to question that Xbox's focus has indeed been the games since Phil Spencer was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-boss-phil-spencer-gets-a-promotion-to-head-of-xbox-promises-incredible-new-chapter-for-gaming/1100-6418670/" data-ref-id="1100-6418670">promoted in March</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">What do you make of the closure of XES? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shutting-down-xbox-entertainment-studios/1100-6421179/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-naxxramas-update-goes-li/1100-6421178/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599787" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2599787"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2599787-9427817448-VFSHS.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Blizzard has been slowly parceling out info on the single-player expansion for its successful card-battling game <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone</a>, and today we finally learned when Curse of Naxxramas is coming out: July 22.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">On the official <a href="http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/14832730/curse-of-naxxramas%E2%84%A2-creeps-out-on-july-22-7-17-2014?cid=social_20140717_28006156" rel="nofollow">Blizzard blog</a>, the company wrote, "Curse of Naxxramas goes live globally for Windows, Mac, and iPad on Tuesday, July 22, starting with the Arachnid Quarter, the first of five creepy wings that will be released weekly after the gates are opened." It's worth noting that the EU Blizzard site cites the <a href="http://eu.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/14832730/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">release date as Wednesday, July 23</a> -- so the release will likely happen globally at the same time, thus that specific day will not be the same in every country. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">As a reminder, this initial expansion will be free for "roughly a month," but you'll have to lay down cold, hard gold (or cash) to open up the four remaining parts of the expansion. Curse of Naxxramas, like it's namesake dungeon, has five wings with a separate "boss" to battle at the end. We explained the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-naxxramas-expansions-cost-7-or-700-gol/1100-6420985/" data-ref-id="1100-6420985">exact pricing and release schedule for the game in detail earlier this week,</a> but in short, a new wing will open up each week after the first. Subsequent wings will cost either 700 in-game gold, $7 individually, or you can buy multiple wings at a slight real-money discount. There are no discounts for buying multiple wings with in-game gold.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you work your way through the dungeon, you'll unlock new cards to add to your deck. And if you make it through the entire expansion, you'll unlock an exclusive card back.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">At the very least, the first expansion is free for a month, so be sure to log in to your account after July 22 if you want to try it out.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-naxxramas-update-goes-li/1100-6421178/
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