Oculus VR So Good It's Like "Getting Religion On Contact," Carmack Says

In a wide-ranging new interview with Fortune, Oculus VR CTO John Carmack says trying the Oculus Rift virtual reality experience "like getting religion on contact." Asked what separates the VR tech of today from VR tech of the past, Carmack says his company's innovations are pushing VR forward in a significant way.

"In the past there were smaller niche companies, research companies, or military projects, and none of them got it right," Carmack said. "Everybody was doing small incremental improvements on the previous formfactor and design, which just wasn't right. And they didn't notice that you can make it something that the mass market could enjoy."

"Oculus really started popularizing a new approach using cellphone screen technology, a wide field of view, and super-low-latency sensor tracking," he went on to say. "It's not crappy stuff that doesn't work and makes everybody sick. When you experience Oculus technology, it's like getting religion on contact. People that try it walk out a believer."

Oculus VR was acquired by social networking giant Facebook earlier this year in a blockbuster deal worth $2 billion. In addition to Oculus Rift for PC, Oculus has teamed with Samsung for a mobile version called Gear VR, which is available now for $200.

You can read the full Fortune interview here.

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Don't Like Internet Explorer? Windows 10 Will Reportedly Feature Brand-New Browser

Microsoft is developing a brand-new browser for Windows 10, one described as similar in look and feel to Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox. That's according to a new report from Microsoft insider Mary J. Foley at GameSpot sister site Zdnet. Citing sources, she says the new browser is codenamed "Spartan," and it's not the next version of Internet Explorer, though that browser isn't going away altogether.

Spartan, which reportedly will use Microsoft's Chakra JavaScript engine and Trident rendering engine, is described overall as a "new, light-weight browser."

The new browser won't replace Internet Explorer entirely, however, when it's released as part of Windows 10 next year. Foley's sources went on to say that Windows 10 (the desktop version at least) will come with Spartan and Internet Explorer, presumably for backward-compatibility functionality.

The report goes on to say that Spartan will support Windows 10 on desktop and mobile. One element that's unclear right now, however, is whether or not Spartan will be ported to Android or iOS.

When might we get to hear about Spartan? One possible venue is Microsoft's Windows 10 event in January, which is called "The Next Chapter." This event also promises some gaming news from Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who is one of the featured speakers.

What would you like to see from a new, non-Internet Explorer Microsoft browser? Let us know in the comments below!

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Planetside 2 PS4 Beta Misses Target Launch Window, Now Coming Next Month

The long-awaited PlayStation 4 beta for Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play MMOFPS Planetside 2 will finally begin next month, the developer has confirmed. SOE president John Smedley says on Twitter that the beta is scheduled to start sometime in the middle of January.

Unfortunately, that's all we have to go on for now. It remains unclear how you'll be able to get in, though you can sign up for a chance today through the game's website.

The Planetside 2 PS4 beta was originally expected to launch in 2014, though of course that is no longer the case. The PC version launched nearly two years ago, so why is the PS4 edition taking so long?

"As much as it sounds like we're blowing smoke, we're working hard to release a game that feels like a full-on console experience and not just like a port," creative director Matt Higby said in November. "So it's taken us quite a long time to re-jigger our user interface and our controls. There's a lot that needs to get done."

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Xbox One December Update Improves ESRAM Performance, Dev Says

A new Xbox One update released this month for developers allows them to "really improve performance" overall, including offering greater control of eSRAM. That's according to Dying Light developer Techland lead game designer Maciej Binkowski, who explained the benefits of December's Xbox One SDK to GamingBolt in a new interview.

"In terms of advantages, the main thing is just how much the eSRAM control has improved," Binkowski said. "The new API allows you to do a lot more with the ESRAM, things devs have always wanted to do but were not easily accessible. This together with better tools allowed us to really improve performance and tweak ESRAM usage."

Poland-based Techland recently confirmed that Dying Light will run in (at least) 1080/30fps on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Dying Light's release date is January 27, 2015 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The game was originally expected to also come to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but those versions were recently canceled.

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Halo 5 Multiplayer Beta Available Today

Did you buy November's Halo: The Master Chief Collection? If so, beginning today, you can start playing the multiplayer beta for 2015 Xbox One game Halo 5: Guardians. The beta will be available to download starting at 9 AM Pacific / 12 Noon Eastern, according to a tweet from the official Halo Twitter account.

Though the Halo 5 beta doesn't officially become available until later today, some fans on Reddit have discovered a workaround that they say lets you get in right now. Just access the Halo Channel, watch all the Halo: Nightfall episodes (you can fast-forward), and then select a Nightfall armor reward for Halo 5, which will then reportedly take you to a download store where Halo 5's beta is available.

The Halo 5 beta was previously available only for Xbox One Preview Program members. Being a member of that program (which is invite-only) or owning a copy of The Master Chief Collection are the only two ways to get into the Halo 5 beta as of right now.

The three-week trial runs through January 18. For more, check out GameSpot's video preview above.

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Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain Humiliates Players With Chicken Hat

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will include a special chicken hat item that will make the game easier, the game's designer Hideo Kojima has announced.

Kojima revealed the new item during a special Christmas stream. Metal Gear fans watched the three hours-long video, probably hoping for some more exciting news or maybe even a release date, but it wasn't until the 2:45:00 mark that Kojima made his big reveal, which in the end was nothing more than the chicken hat.

According to Kotaku, the game will offer players the item if they keep dying and retrying the same section. If they choose to wear it, enemies will be slower to spot and react to players. The only price is the humiliation of looking like a chicken.

The Phantom Pain launches in 2015 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. A PC version of the open-world game is also in the works, but Konami has not announced a release date for it.

For more on the game, check out our previous coverage.

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Today's Xbox One/360 "Countdown to 2015" Deals Revealed

Microsoft has launched a "Countdown to 2015" sales promotion for Xbox, offering a series of daily deals on Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles.

As the promotion's name suggests, Microsoft will unleash a new deal every day until January 1, 2015. Starting things off today are some discounts on various Lord of the Rings games.

Microsoft's Countdown to 2015 sale also applies to various Xbox TV and movie programming. You can see all of the video content on sale through the Xbox Video website.

Below are today's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals. Notably, you don't need an Xbox Live Gold membership to enjoy the savings.

Xbox One Deals Available Today (December 29) Only:

Xbox 360 Deals Available Today (December 29) Only:

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$250 Halo 5 Collector's Edition Revealed

It's a big day for Halo 5: Guardians. Not only does the game's multiplayer beta start today on Xbox One, but Microsoft has also revealed three versions of the game you can preorder starting today.

The bundles range in price from $60 to $250, and include an assortment of bonuses such as posters, steelbooks, and even a statue for the limited collector's edition. Unfortunately, Microsoft did not share much in the way of specifics regarding the digital content, nor did it supply any images of the statue.

The three Halo 5 preorder bundles are below:

• Standard Edition ($59.99) -- Halo 5: Guardians plus an exclusive poster, only available to those who pre-order.
• Limited Edition ($99.99) -- Everything in the Standard Edition plus new digital content to enhance Spartan combat and exclusive items wrapped in a uniquely designed steel book.
• Limited Collector's Edition ($250) -- Everything in the Limited Edition as well as additional content such as a commemorative numbered statue designed by 343 Industries. More details on the design to be shared at a later date.

For more on Halo 5, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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Today's Xbox One/360 "Countdown to 2015" Deals Revealed

Microsoft has launched a "Countdown to 2015" sales promotion for Xbox, offering a series of daily deals on Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles.

As the promotion's name suggests, Microsoft will unleash a new deal every day until January 1, 2015. Starting things off today are some discounts on various Lord of the Rings games.

Microsoft's Countdown to 2015 sale also applies to various Xbox TV and movie programming. You can see all of the video content on sale through the Xbox Video website.

Below are today's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals. Notably, you don't need an Xbox Live Gold membership to enjoy the savings.

Xbox One Deals Available Today (December 25) Only:

Xbox 360 Deals Available Today (December 25) Only:

Previous deals have included:

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

• Dragon Age Inquisition (Xbox One) -- $39
• Dragon Age Inquisition Deluxe Edition (Xbox One) - $45
• The Raven Episode 1 (Xbox 360) --$2.50
• The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief Episode 2 (Xbox 360) -- $2.50
• The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief Episode 3 (Xbox 360) -- $2.50

December 24

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PS4, PS3, PS Vita Games Discounted In Latest PSN Flash Sale

@garyhove Well, in these cases, digital download IS cheaper than physical.  At least, cheaper than full retail.  

No, this isn't a great sale, though.  There are a few gems--FIFA, Madden and NHL are good deals for $35--but others like Shadow of Mordor have already been cheaper just in the last few weeks.  

Personally I prefer digital.  No disc swapping to mess with, no worries about damaged or lost discs, can install on multiple consoles with same owner.  The fact that it may take a few hours to download is no biggie.  I'm not that impatient.  

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The Interview Coming to Theaters, Available Now Online

[UPDATE] Sony has now released The Interview online for rental or purchase. You can watch in on YouTube, Xbox Video, or Google Play.

The original story is below.

Just days after US President Barack Obama criticized Sony Pictures' decision to cancel the theatrical release of controversial movie The Interview, the film company has reversed its decision. The movie, a James Franco/Seth Rogen satire that depicts an assassination attempt of North Korea's leader, will indeed come to theaters through a limited release, Sony announced on Tuesday.

"We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we're excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day," Sony executive Michael Lynton said in a statement. "At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience."

"The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up!" -- Seth Rogen

Sony originally scuttled plans for a theatrical release after major movie theater chains said they would not show the film in the wake of threats of violence. The FBI has since linked North Korea to the widepsread hacking against Sony Pictures, though the country has officially denied involvement in the case.

Two theaters so far have announced plans to show The Interview: The Plaza Theater in Atlanta and The Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas.

You may not need to visit a theater to watch The Interview, however, as The Hollywood Reporter has heard from a source that Sony is also planning to release the movie on Christmas Day digitally. It's unclear what platform Sony would use to do this, though those details are expected to come soon.

Following Sony's announcement today, key creative people behind The Interview spoke out on social media to praise the decision.

The Sony Pictures hack has seriously tarnished the entire Sony brand in terms of consumer perception, according to a recent survey. For more on the hacking fallout, head over to GameSpot sister sites CNET and CBS News.

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PlayStation Network Currently Down [UPDATE]

UPDATE -- 22:30 PST It looks like most of the PlayStation network issues have been cleared up. The PlayStation twitter account does note, "Update: We are seeing reduced reports of network issues. We'll continue to monitor - thanks for your patience and happy holidays!"

Hopefully things are back up for you and you'll be able to enjoy any new games you may have opened early for Christmas!

UPDATE -- 19:19PST When should you expect the service back up? PlayStation on Twitter says that technicians are currently working on the problem, but there is no ETA for when it will return.

The original story appears below.

The PlayStation Network is currently offline, according to the PlayStation support website.

A notice on the site reads, "We are aware that some users are experiencing difficulty logging into the PSN. We will update this article with any changes that occur in regards to this issue. Thank you for your patience."

Similarly, the AskPlayStation twitter account has a message that reads, "We are aware that there have been issues reported with PSN. Thanks for your patience as we investigate."

While not quite as severe, Xbox Live is also currently facing issues with the video and music store. A message on the Xbox Live status site reads, "Unable to view certain content from within Xbox Music and Xbox Video, such as the Explore and Radio features? Don't worry, we're doing everything we can to get this back to normal. Thanks for staying patient in the meantime. Check back in a half hour for an update on our progress."

We'll continue monitoring the gaming services, and like you, we hope they'll be back up in time for all the new consoles that'll likely be coming online after Christmas tomorrow morning.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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PlayStation Now Coming to Non-Sony Devices In 2015

Right now, Sony's game-streaming service PlayStation Now is available only for Sony devices such as PlayStation consoles and Bravia TVs. But that's going to change in 2015, when Sony makes PlayStation Now available on third-party devices, beginning with Samsung Smart TVs.

Sony and Samsung have announced a partnership to bring PlayStation Now to "select" Samsung Smart TVs in the first half of 2015 in the United States and Canada. PS Now will be available as an app that can be downloaded through the Samsung Smart Hub.

Samsung says PS Now on Samsung TVs will offer "all functionality of the service," including the ability to earn trophies, play games online, and save progress to the cloud. You'll need a DualShock 4 controller, sold separately, to use PS Now on your Samsung TV.

"Since we first introduced PlayStation Now at CES 2014, our vision has been to open the world of PlayStation to the masses by offering the service on the devices they use every day," Sony executive Masayasu Ito said. "Partnering with Samsung is a key step toward realizing this vision, as we can reach a broader audience of consumers who may not own a PlayStation console to show them why gaming with PlayStation is such a unique and amazing experience."

If you're heading to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month, you can visit the Samsung booth to try out PS Now on Samsung TVs.

PS Now, currently in beta, allows users to stream a variety of PlayStation 3 titles to devices such as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Bravia TVs. Games are available for a variety of rental periods, while Sony also plans to offer a Netflix-style subscription offer some day.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Today's Xbox One/360 "Countdown to 2015" Deals Revealed

Microsoft has launched a "Countdown to 2015" sales promotion for Xbox, offering a series of daily deals on Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles.

As the promotion's name suggests, Microsoft will unleash a new deal every day until January 1, 2015. Starting things off today are some discounts on various Lord of the Rings games.

Microsoft's Countdown to 2015 sale also applies to various Xbox TV and movie programming. You can see all of the video content on sale through the Xbox Video website.

Below are today's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals. Notably, you don't need an Xbox Live Gold membership to enjoy the savings.

Xbox One Deals Available Today (December 24) Only:

Xbox 360 Deals Available Today (December 24) Only:

Previous deals have included:

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

• Dragon Age Inquisition (Xbox One) -- $39
• Dragon Age Inquisition Deluxe Edition (Xbox One) - $45
• The Raven Episode 1 (Xbox 360) --$2.50
• The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief Episode 2 (Xbox 360) -- $2.50
• The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief Episode 3 (Xbox 360) -- $2.50

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Resident Evil HD PS3, PS4 Supports Cross-Buy, But Only If You Preorder

Capcom and Sony have announced that upcoming Resident Evil HD remake will support cross-buy on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, meaning if you buy one version of the $20 game, you'll get the other free.

There is something of a catch to the deal, however, as it only works if you preorder the games from PlayStation Network and live in North America. If you do preorder, you'll not only receive both versions, but also an exclusive theme, Capcom explains on its blog.

The Resident Evil HD remake also supports pre-loading on PS3 and PS4, meaning people who preorder can play the game the second it unlocks next month.

The game, a high-definition version of 2002's Resident Evil REmake for GameCube (which itself is a remake of the 1996 original), was announced in August. It will output in 1080p on Xbox One and PS4.

The new Resident Evil remake looks a lot better than the original. You can see for yourself through this set of comparison images, released last month.

The Resident Evil HD release date is January 20, 2015. The game is also coming to Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

In addition to the Resident Evil remake, Capcom will release Resident Evil: Revelations 2 in 2015 for consoles and PC. The publisher may also be working on Resident Evil 7, according to a report.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Today's Xbox One/360 "Countdown to 2015" Deals Revealed

Microsoft has launched a "Countdown to 2015" sales promotion for Xbox, offering a series of daily deals on Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles.

As the promotion's name suggests, Microsoft will unleash a new deal every day until January 1, 2015. Starting things off today are some discounts on various Lord of the Rings games.

Microsoft's Countdown to 2015 sale also applies to various Xbox TV and movie programming. You can see all of the video content on sale through the Xbox Video website.

Below are today's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals. Notably, you don't need an Xbox Live Gold membership to enjoy the savings.

Xbox One Deals Available Today (December 22) Only:

Xbox 360 Deals Available Today (December 22) Only:

Previous deals have included:

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Sounds Like Titanfall 2 Will Come to Steam

The PC version of this year's multiplayer shooter Titanfall is currently available only through EA's Origin digital distribution hub, not Valve's 100-million user platform Steam. Now, developer Respawn Entertainment co-founder Vince Zampella has spoken out to say that while the first Titanfall is unlikely to ever come to Steam, the game's follow-up could.

"At some point you look at it and you say is it even worth now this much later the effort to put it on Steam, when it would be a lot of work and kind of bifurcate the community?" Zampella told Game Informer when asked if the first Titanfall might come to PC.

"We would have loved for it to be on Steam from day one, but at some point it just doesn't make sense anymore and you start looking to the future and I think we should not make that same decision again [emphasis added]," he explained.

Titanfall was published by EA, which is likely the reason the PC version was exclusive to Origin. Going forward, however, it appears Respawn's exclusivity arrangement with EA has been loosened. In addition to the possibility that Titanfall 2 could come to Steam, Zampella has also suggested that the sequel may come to PlayStation systems for its console release.

The original Titanfall was exclusive to PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It is unclear how well Titanfall has sold, but Zampella says the game has seen 8 million unique players to date. We also know that Titanfall is the best-selling new IP for Xbox One to date.

In addition to a Titanfall sequel, it was recently revealed that Respawn has formed a second team internally to work on a non-Titanfall project, possibly led by former God of War veteran Stig Asmussen. He joined Respawn over the summer as a game director for an unannounced project.

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Final Fantasy PS4 Announced for Japan

Sony and Square Enix have teamed up for a new PlayStation 4 design to mark the release of upcoming role-playing game Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. The console, which has been announced only for Japan, comes in a red and black design, which also goes for the DualShock 4 controller.

The PS4 bundle also packs in a copy of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (of course), a Type-0 theme, and a download code for the super-limited Final Fantasy XV demo. Siliconera reports that the console will go on sale march 19, 2015 for ¥46,980, which is about $392.

Buying Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is the only way to get access to the Final Fantasy XV demo, which should offer 3-4 hours of gameplay, according to Square Enix.

In other Type-0 HD news, Square Enix recently revealed a rather-impressive collector's edition. For more on the Type-0 HD PS4 bundle, check out the image gallery below.

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Gaming Industry Undergoing "Technology-Led Transformation," EA Exec Says

The game industry is undergoing a "technology-led transformation," according to major player Electronic Arts, whose CEO Ken Moss says he sees a massive opportunity for growth and change as a result.

"The gaming industry is going through a technology-led transformation right now and I think we have a huge opportunity in front of us and a number of exciting challenges to solve," Moss, who joined EA only five months ago, said in a post on the company's blog.

Some of the areas Moss said he's keeping an eye on as EA CTO are: games as a service, mobile gaming, big data, security, streaming, social connectivity, and unified game engines. "Each of these is transformational--and EA is right in the mix, Moss said.

Moss went on to say that he plans to write future blog posts covering the topics the community would like to hear most about.

"As you can imagine, a lot of my time is of course spent plotting out the technical strategy for the company," he added. "What you may not have guessed is that I also spend a lot of my time guiding and building the teams and talent that thrive in such a fast-paced environment and who are as excited as I am for exploring these new frontiers."

Moss joined EA in July. Prior to coming aboard at the publisher, he held high-level technology positions at Microsoft and eBay. At EA, Moss is officially in charge of "leading the strategy and vision for EA's digital platform and information technology organizations."

What kinds of new experiences are you looking for from EA going forward from a technical perspective? Let us know in the comments below!

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Today's Xbox One/360 "Countdown to 2015" Deals Revealed

Microsoft has launched a "Countdown to 2015" sales promotion for Xbox, offering a series of daily deals on Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles.

As the promotion's name suggests, Microsoft will unleash a new deal every day until January 1, 2015. Starting things off today are some discounts on various Lord of the Rings games.

Microsoft's Countdown to 2015 sale also applies to various Xbox TV and movie programming. You can see all of the video content on sale through the Xbox Video website.

Below are today's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals. Notably, you don't need an Xbox Live Gold membership to enjoy the savings.

Xbox One Deals Available Today (December 21) Only:

Xbox 360 Deals Available Today (December 21) Only:

• Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition -- $7.50
• RBI Baseball 14 -- $5

Previous deals have included:

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Hotline Miami 2 Hits in Q1 2015, Collector's Edition Comes With Vinyl Soundtrack

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is now set to release in the first quarter of 2015, publisher Devolver Digital has announced.

Devolver Digital also announced a special Collector's Edition which comes with three vinyl records of the game's soundtrack. The $60 Collector's Edition comes with the records holding the game's 28 songs and a collectible phone card containing a download code for Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number and the full digital soundtrack download on Steam.

The soundtrack includes artists from the first game like M|O|O|N, El Huervo and Perturbator, as well as new artists such as Megadrive, Mitch Murder, and Magic Sword.

You can preorder the Collector's Edition from iam8bit.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is the sequel to 2012's stylish, ultra violent top-down shooter from independent developer Dennaton Games, which so far has sold more than a million copies. The game was originally set to release on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita this year.

Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on Twitter @emanuelmaiberg.

For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Christmas Comes to Battlefield 4

If you've been playing Battlefield 4 on the Community Test Environment (CTE), you probably noticed that the serious military shooter got a little holiday cheer lately.

As you can see in the video above posted to YouTube by user DANNYonPC, a bunch of items and aesthetic modifications were added to the game. All players now have access to new snowman, Santa Claus, and reindeer masks. Other items have also been modified to match the with Christmas-theme, like ammon boxes and C4, which now appear as wrapped presents.

DICE usually uses the CTE servers exclusive to Battlefield Premium members on PC to test changes to Battlefield 4 before rolling them out to the regular game, but at the moment it's not clear if we'll see the Christmas-themed items on consoles and normal servers.

DICE recently released the Final Stand DLC, though despite what its name suggests, it may not be the last piece of content for the game.

"With Battlefield 4 Final Stand released, we hope and believe that you will enjoy it together with the rest of the game for a long time," DICE said. "However, there is one thing we want to assure you: there is more content coming for Battlefield 4."

Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on Twitter @emanuelmaiberg.

For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Star Citizen Releases Arena Commander 1.0, Imagine Trailer

Star Citizen has released version 1.0 of its Arena Commander module, Wing Commander creator and Cloud Imperium Games founder Chris Roberts has announced.

The 1.0 update adds the long-awaited lobby system and friends system, more than triples the number of flyable ships, and introduces a number of graphical and gameplay improvements.

"I would like to stress that today's release of Arena Commander 1.0 is a beginning, not an ending," Roberts said. "This milestone does not denote the completion of Arena Commander, it kicks off an even more significant phase of its development."

The Arena Commander module is a multiplayer-focused piece of Star Citizen where players can battle each other in a variety of modes. It gives them a feel for how it looks and controls, but in no way represents the full scope of Star Citizen's grand ambitions. So far, it's only available to backers.

Star Citizen also recently released the Imagine trailer you can see above, and one of its fake ads for a new ship, the Consolidated Outlands Mustang.

Star Citizen's crowdfunding campaign, which is the biggest for a project of any kind in history, continues to soar. It currently stands at more than $67.5 million from more than 690,511 backers.

For more on Star Citizen and Roberts himself, check out part one and part two of GameSpot's interview with the legendary designer.

Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on Twitter @emanuelmaiberg.

For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Future GTA 5 Updates May Not Be Possible On Xbox 360/PS3, Rockstar Says

Although Rockstar Games is currently committed to supporting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Grand Theft Auto V, released in September 2013, there may come a point in the future when updates to the game are only technically possible for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC editions of the game.

As part of Rockstar's latest Asked & Answered feature, a fan asked if the fact that GTA V is now available for new consoles means old-generation players will be left out in the cold. Rockstar said "certainly not," pointing to major features such as Heists and the new Christmas-themed update as examples of cross-generation support. However, like first-person mode, some future GTA V features may only be possible on the latest versions of the game, Rockstar said.

"We are incredibly thankful to our original generation of GTA V and GTA Online players on those systems and wish to continue providing content to them for as long as we can," the developer explained. "Of course, at some point in the future, there may be a point where we reach the limits for the previous generation of consoles as there may be some updates that are only technically possible on the new hardware--but we do hope to continue delivering as many updates as we can for all four consoles for as long as possible."

Rockstar tackled a number of other hot-item issues and topics in the Asked & Answered feature, including when we might see Red Dead Redemption 2, the status of GTA V's PC version, and why GTA Online does not support cross-platform play. You can see a roundup of responses here.

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PS4 Sales Challenged In Wake of Xbox One Pricing Action, Sony Admits

After last week's news that the Xbox One outsold the PlayStation 4 in the US and UK during November, Sony has now spoken out to offer its side of the story. Sony Computer Entertainment president and CEO Andrew House told Reuters on Friday that sales conditions in November were "tougher" due to Microsoft's aggressive pricing actions, including a price drop to $350 and various value-oriented bundles.

The Xbox One is currently available starting at $350, while the PS4 begins at $400. The $350 Xbox One pricing, a markdown of $50 that went into effect in November, is good through January 3, 2015.

Xbox One shoppers can also pick up the Assassin's Creed Unity bundle, which comes with a system, the newest Assassin's Creed, and last year's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Meanwhile, Sony recently launched a new $400 PS4 bundle that includes a system and your choice of four games.

House went on to say that US PS4 sales for December have been "in line" with previous estimates, though no specific numbers were provided. We'll have a better idea of who came out on top--Xbox One or PS4--for December when official sales data is announced in early January.

Also in the interview, House said strong demand for the PS4 this holiday may make it tough to find a console Europe. "If I look at Europe I think it is potentially, for the second year running, going to be quite inventory challenged," he said, noting that you still should be able to find a console.

He also touched on the Japanese market for PS4, saying it was "challenged" in part because gamers there are more and more playing games on smartphones rather than dedicated game consoles.

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Assassin's Creed Creator Reveals AAA "Historical-Action-Survival" Game

The first game from Panache Digital Games, the new Canadian studio founded by Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Desilets, will be a third-person AAA "historical-action-survival" game. Desilets opened his new studio in November, but this is the first time we're hearing anything official about what it's working on.

"Indeed AAA games, I believe in them," Desilets said in a press release obtained by Game Informer. "I believe wholeheartedly that this medium we call 'video games' can be a positive force for change in our society and that AAA quality gaming experiences have unmatched strength to achieve this."

That's not a lot to go on, but it does gives us an overview of what Desilets has in mind.

Desilets did not share a name for Panache's first game, nor did he confirm if he was successful in his attempts to buy back the rights to his Amsterdam-set 1666 game from Ubisoft. This game, according to Desilets, was aiming to be "the new Assassin's Creed," featuring a similar tone and scope that series.

For more, check out Panache's website.

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Street Fighter 5 PS4/PC Graphics Will Only Get Better, Producer Says

Unimpressed by the graphics for PlayStation 4 and PC fighting game Street Fighter V? Not to worry, as Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono says the game's visual performance is only going to get better with time.

In this week's issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, Ono says, via a translation by Siliconera, that the version of the game you've seen so far still "needs a lot of work." The graphics will keep getting better, he said, adding that he hopes fans think of Street Fighter V as if development has only just begun.

You can get a better look at Street Fighter V's graphics through the video above from last weekend's Capcom Cup tournament, where we got to see a live match for the first time. It's Ryu vs. Chun Li.

Ono also revealed new Street Fighter V gameplay details. While the new game will include most of the basic moves from past installments, there will also be new ones, he said. You'll also be able to bust through the walls of a stage to proceed to the next round.

Street Fighter V was officially announced during Sony's PlayStation Experience community event in Las Vegas earlier this month. The game is coming exclusively to PS4 and PC, and cross-platform play between the two systems will be supported.

Capcom has not yet set a release date for Street Fighter V.

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Zynga And Twisted Metal Dev Release Looney Tunes Game

Have you ever wanted to play an endless runner game developed in part by Twisted Metal developer Eat Sleep Play? Now you're in luck, as Eat Sleep Play and social gaming giant Zynga on Thursday released Looney Tunes Dash!, a free mobile game for iOS and Android devices that promises something different than the standard runner game.

Developed in partnership with Zynga and Warner Bros., Looney Tunes Dash! is of course set within the zany, over-the-top world of Looney Tunes. You'll play as well-known characters such as Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Tweety Bird, and more as you run and jump through colorful worlds.

What sets Looney Tunes Dash! apart from other endless runners, and there are many, is that you don't run until you die, but rather you run until you win, Zynga says. As you move through the game's levels, (there are 90 at launch) you'll escape foes such as Elmer Fudd and Wil E. Coyote, just like the original cartoons.

Some of the game's levels, as well as music and moments, are inspired by classic Looney Tunes episodes, Zynga says. The developer has even enlisted Jeff Bergman, the current voice actor for Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Elmer, Yosemite Sam, and others, to do the voice work for the game.

"While the setting will instantly evoke memories for Looney Tunes fans, we're also delivering a unique experience based on the requests we heard most often from players--a Runner game that rewards completion and puts new challenges around every twist and turn," Zynga general manager John vanSuchtelen said.

Similar to other runner games, Looney Tunes Dash! lets player collect coins to unlock new skills and amass power-ups. The game also features Looney Tunes Collector's Cards scattered throughout each level. These include facts about classic episodes, challenging Looney Tunes fans to put their knowledge of the series to the test.

You can play Looney Tunes Dash! today by downloading the game from iTunes or Google Play. For more on the game, check out the image gallery below. Be sure to click each image to see a full-size version.

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Some Games Can Help Psychopaths Empathize, Study Suggests

A study has observed that a group of clinically diagnosed psychopaths exhibited improved behavior after playing a video game that attempted to teach them empathy.

According to Yale University's press team, which has summarized the findings from one of its psychologists, games can help feed helpful information to psychopaths that they tend to naturally overlook.

"Psychopaths generally do not feel fear and fail to consider the emotions of others, or reflect upon their behavior--traits that make them notoriously difficult to treat," the university's press team claims.

But a potential breakthrough in future treatment could lie in a computer game that is designed to train people to consider stimuli not related to their goals.

The study of this game and its effects, which was conducted by Yale psychologist Arielle Baskin-Sommers, shows that imprisoned psychopaths who played it showed an "improved ability to exhibit emotional responses."

Such results could form the basis of treatment for incarcerated psychopaths, of which a separate study found that about 70 percent reoffend once their imprisonment ends.

"Treatments for individuals with antisocial behavior, such as such psychopaths, are woefully inadequate," Baskin-Sommers wrote.

"Hopefully, findings such as ours will lead to more efficient interventions for our most recalcitrant prisoners."

Yet the report finds that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Baskin-Sommers claims that "when the same computer games were used with prisoners with other forms of antisocial behavior, these non-psychopathic inmates' behaviors worsened."

However, when these non-psychopathic inmates played different games that aimed to treat their own specific brain dysfunctions, their behavior also improved, indicating the importance of a targeted approach.

This study has not yet been scrutinized or supported by further research at other academic institutions.

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This Game Aims to Set New Bar for "Cinematic" Mobile Gaming

London-based developer Splash Damage, which created Brink and the multiplayer mode for Batman: Arkham Origins, on Thursday announced its latest project. "Tempo" is a brand-new mobile title for iOS devices that's described as a "cinematic action game" that aim to push the genre forward.

"London is on a short fuse; rigged to blow by a wealthy psychopath and his private army," reads a line from the game's description. "With only a handful of Special Forces Operatives on the ground, the fate of the city falls on you!"

Splash Damage and publisher War Chest boast that Tempo "sets a new bar for cinematic mobile gaming." It achieves this, they say, by combining "slick, reflex-driven gameplay" with top-of-the-line visuals and sound production. Tempo is due to launch exclusively for iOS devices in early 2015.

For more on Tempo, check out the game's debut trailer above.

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Brink

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Get Destiny PS4 Bundle for $400

Christmas is now just one week away, but it's not too late to score some savings on games. Best Buy has announced a series of last-minute holiday deals, including a really good deal on the PlayStation 4 Destiny bundle. This bundle comes with a glacier white PS4 and matching controller, and a copy of the game.

It normally sells for $450, but now through December 27, you can get it for $400. That deal is good in-store and online, where you can get it with free, two-day shipping.

If you're an Xbox fan, Best Buy has matched GameStop's recent holiday deals on Xbox One and Xbox 360 hardware. Starting tomorrow, December 19, Best Buy will throw in a $50 gift card with the purchase of an Xbox One, or a $30 gift card when you buy an Xbox 360. These deals end January 3 and are good online-only.

Looking for even more deals? Check out GameSpot's deals roundup for all the best savings.

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DayZ Video Celebrates Game's First Birthday

As an ARMA II mod, DayZ has been around for years. But one year ago this week, Bohemia Interactive released the DayZ standalone. It's gone on to top the Steam sales chart, selling millions of copies.

But the game's success wasn't always guaranteed, key creative people explain in a new video released to celebrate the game's first birthday.

Check out the video above to hear directly from DayZ creator Dean "Rocket" Hall (who is leaving Bohemia at the end of the month to start a new company), as well as producer Brian Hicks and others.

Hicks explains that the true appeal of DayZ rests in its open-endedness.

"What makes DayZ really unique is it is effectively not as much a game world as it is a toolset for dynamic experiences," Hicks says. "People shape what the game is for them based upon their actions and how they play it. Every time you spawn in a new character, every time you join a fresh server, your experience will be different."

Though Hall is leaving Bohemia, that doesn't mean DayZ development is slowing down. Bohemia has named David Durcak the game's new project lead, and the developer has big plans for the game in 2015.

Bohemia published a new content roadmap for DayZ, following the one we saw last month. Notably, Bohemia is still aiming to have the DayZ console prototype ready in Q3 2015, while the game's full PC release remains scheduled for 2016. Below is the updated DayZ 2015 content roadmap.

First Quarter

• Basic vehicles
• Advanced loot distribution
• New renderer
• New Infected AI
• Basic stealth system (infected and animals)
• Diseases
• Improved cooking and horticulture
• Advanced anti-hack system (Dynamic BattlEye)

Second Quarter

• Advanced vehicles (repair and modifications)
• Advanced animals (life cycle, group behaviour)
• Player statistics
• New UI
• Player stamina
• Dynamic events
• World containers
• New physics system

Third Quarter

• Traps
• Barricading
• Character life span + soft skills
• Animal predators + birds
• Aerial transport
• Console prototype
• Advanced communication

Fourth Quarter

• Animal companions
• Steam community integration
• Construction (base building)
• Beta version

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Life is Strange - Trailer

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5. GS News - Massacre Sim Pulled From Steam; GTA Online Heists Coming!
6. Shadow Heretic Kingdoms - Aphotic Queen Boss Fight
7. Quick Look: The Marvellous Miss Take
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Magicka 2 Feels at Home on PS4 and is Better With Friends

Magicka 2 includes everything you love about the first Magicka: spells, waves of snarling enemies, and hilarious hijinks brought on by missteps and unforeseen foes. Nearly four years after the release of Magicka, the four-player mayhem is back. Like its predecessor, Magicka 2 will send you through various fantasy environments populated by nasties you can beat down with spells. As a tiny robed wizard, eight spells are available to you, but some can be combined for more creative combinations--for example, mixing a fire spell and a water spell will make steam.

According to publisher Paradox Interactive associate producer Peter Cornelius, the team refers to Magicka 2 as a "competitive co-op game." Multiplayer is definitely where Magicka 2 shines. Friendly fire is present, adding one more thing for you to think about as you face off against waves of enemies. These enemies will become more numerous and a tad more difficult with more players out on the battlefield, so as not to punish those who play alone. But again, having someone there to play with you on the couch or via online matchmaking encourages you to press on. It is competitive in the sense that you want to stay alive and maintain a high score, but at the same time you all need each other to survive.

You have a direct line of sight on a giant cave crab, but your friend is in the way. What do you do: shoot through him and kill him in the process, or wait for a clear shot? Sometimes you've got to go with the former, and it's entirely up to your teammates whether or not they'll grief you for the remainder of the game, pushing you off cliffs and smacking you with explosives out of nowhere. Conversely, you can wait for your friend to get out of the way and work together to find a way to take the crab down. One of you can distract him with spells while another sprays a nearby water wheel, which as it turns lowers a gate that will allow you both to make a getaway.

Magicka 2 feels at home on PlayStation 4, as the way controls have been mapped to the DualShock 4 feels natural. Switching between sets of spells with a trigger press allows for fluid wielding, while using the d-pad to resurrect friends and blast enemies with air is just a quick press away. It all feels very familiar to longtime Magicka fans, and yet the updated look of the game--the shiny new graphics certainly help--makes this sequel feel fresh.

Alexa Ray Corriea on Google+

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