Halo Wars 2 delayed until February 21, 2017 on Xbox One

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 7:43 PM CDT

E3 2016 - The open beta for Halo Wars 2 might start on Monday, but the full game has reportedly been delayed until February 21, 2017 - a few months away from its scheduled Q4 2016 release window.

The news is coming from NeoGAF user Gwyn, who first leaked the Dead Rising 4 screenshots, and got a glimpse at the Halo Wars 2 trailer before Microsoft removed the assets from the website. As for Halo Wars 2, there will be a Season Pass on offer, with multiple editions of the game to be made available. We can expect the Deluxe version of Halo Wars 2 to cost around $80, and it should include the Season Pass.

If you missed out on the screenshots of Halo Wars 2, check them out here.

Continue reading: Halo Wars 2 delayed until February 21, 2017 on Xbox One (full post)

New Battlefield 1 64-player multiplayer livestream is all-out war

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 4:54 PM CDT

E3 2016 - It's all-out WW1 chaos in Battlefield 1's first-ever 64-player multiplayer sessions, showing what to expect when the game hits in October.

New Battlefield 1 64-player multiplayer livestream is all-out war

Watch live video from EA on www.twitch.tv

Like previous Battlefield games before it, DICE's new WW1-themed Battlefield 1 will sport absolutely crazy 64-player combat. In the 32-on-32 player match we'll see epic Great War battles re-created in real-time, with hulking tanks smashing over infantry and behemoth zeppelins getting blown to smithereens by rocket launchers. This time around DICE has added in even more immersion to the fray with dynamic weather sequences and even more destructible environments, plus we also have a huge arsenal of authentic weapons, gadgets, biological warfare, and much, more more.

Continue reading: New Battlefield 1 64-player multiplayer livestream is all-out war (full post)

Battlefield 1's new gameplay trailer shows epic WW1 chaos

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 4:37 PM CDT

E3 2016 - DICE showed off a brand new explosive gameplay trailer for Battlefield 1 at E3, delivering even more authentic Great War carnage with aerial combat, insane firefights, and dynamic weather that ensures no battle is ever the same.

Battlefield 1's new gameplay trailer shows epic WW1 chaos

The latest Battlefield 1 footage showcases the game's incredibly dynamic warscapes, with ultra-destructible environments and brutal explosions there's this distinct feeling of danger at every turn. What's more is the trailer shows everything without HUDs, giving an increasingly loose feel that mirrors the technics of the times--no auto-aim or aim-assist will be included in this game. Just your wits, luck, and skill as you take on some of the most epic battles in World War I history. Oh, you'll even be able to reign down explosive chaos in the skies atop a zeppelin.

"In Battlefield 1, we engage in some of the biggest battles you've ever seen, with multiplayer matches with up to 64 players. Through the power of Frostbite, intuitive destruction, dynamic weather, and a variety of weapons makes this the most immersive Battlefield game ever. In Battlefield 1, destruction is more intuitive than ever, this creates unlimited gameplay possibilities to impact the world around you," said DICE's Patrick Bach.

Continue reading: Battlefield 1's new gameplay trailer shows epic WW1 chaos (full post)

EA shows new Mass Effect Andromeda footage, no release date revealed

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 3:51 PM CDT

E3 2016 - BioWare took the stage to showcase one of the most anticipated games in EA's upcoming lineup, but instead of getting a massive gameplay trailer, we only got a small snippet of footage.

EA shows new Mass Effect Andromeda footage, no release date revealed

Honestly, I expected more from EA's Mass Effect: Andromeda footage. EA has talked more about its eSports focus than it has one of its most hyped future games, and we didn't even get an official release date for the sci-fi RPG. BioWare's Aaron Flynn did talk the game up, of course, promising that Mass Effect: Andromeda will leverage DICE's Frostbite engine to deliver unprecedented freedom and visuals. He also said something that gave me shivers: in this game, you're the alien.

"In Mass Effect; Andromeda, you are part of an ambitious expedition in the Milky Way Galaxy to help humanity find a new home. You travel millions of light years across the galaxy...to wake up. So what now? Everything is new. You encounter new species, new technologies. You have to be among the most courageous to make this journey; because in this galaxy, you're the alien. How far will we go? That question is also at the heart of Mass Effect: Andromeda," BioWare's Aaron Flynn said on stage.

Continue reading: EA shows new Mass Effect Andromeda footage, no release date revealed (full post)

Titanfall 2: new titans, campaign details, beta test confirmed

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 3:29 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Respawn just showed off the latest Titanfall 2 footage at their E3 press conference, revealing key details about the upcoming game like singleplayer and multiplayer, and an upcoming "stress test" beta.

Titanfall 2: new titans, campaign details, beta test confirmed

The first-ever Titanfall 2 campaign footage is now live, showing gamers a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming FPS. Repsawn's Vince Zampella affirms that the campaign will be a more intimate experience between pilot and Titan, focusing on the dynamic bond between man and machine. Zampella also confirmed six new titans with "dynamic new abilities", affirming that Titanfall 2 will have "everything you asked for" in the sequel.

We also got a small glimpse of the new grappling hook--honestly I expected Respawn to sell this much more than it did. A "multiplayer stress test" will be held on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, so jump over the official Titanfall website to sign up.

Continue reading: Titanfall 2: new titans, campaign details, beta test confirmed (full post)

Microsoft's new slim Xbox One S leaked, features 4K video playback

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 3:14 PM CDT

E3 2016 - Microsoft's new Xbox One Mini has leaked ahead of it's E3 showcase on the morrow, giving us an official look at the new slim Xbox console.

Microsoft's new slim Xbox One S leaked, features 4K video playback

Meet the Xbox One S, the 40% smaller Xbox One that supports 4K playback in a High Dynamic Range (HDR) of colors. Microsoft will have "multiple SKUs" of the Xbox One S, possible with a 2TB option, a 4K option, and a vanilla 1080p option. The Xbox One S sports an internal power brick and stands vertically unlike the original bulky Xbox One. Specs are unknown, but it's likely the new Xbox leverages some pretty nifty mobile hardware from AMD, possibly in the new Polaris lineup.

Check the leaked images below and tell us what you think.

Continue reading: Microsoft's new slim Xbox One S leaked, features 4K video playback (full post)

Ex Obsidian dev reveals what Star Wars: KotoR III would've been like

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 2:21 PM CDT

E3 2016 - The Knights of the Old Republic duology is largely seen as some of the best RPGs in existence, but the third chapter of the franchise ultimately fizzled out, leaving gamers to wonder what KotoR 3 would've been like. Now ex-Obsidian co-founder Chris Avellone sheds some light on that very question, teasing and illuminating us about the beloved sequel that never happened.

Ex Obsidian dev reveals what Star Wars: KotoR III would've been like

I love BioWare and Obsidian RPGS--they're some of the best games on the planet, and the KotoR series is no exception. In today's age of Call of Duty FPS clones and heavily-casualized "RPGs" I find myself yearning for an old Dragon Age: Origins or Kotor I throwback. And like millions of other gamers, I always think about KotoR III. In a June interview with RPG Codex, ex Obsidian co-founder Chris Avellone delivers some key insight on the now-cancelled game.

Possible Spoiler Warning: Tread carefully in this coverage if you haven't played Kotor I or II yet. So we don't spoil it for other gamers, full details of the interview are included after the break. And I have to warn you--they'll make you yearn for a game that never was and might never be!

Continue reading: Ex Obsidian dev reveals what Star Wars: KotoR III would've been like (full post)

Motorola's new Moto Z DROID smartphone is a new age of smartphones

For the last few years, smartphones haven't really changed - Samsung's Galaxy range of smartphones are sometimes improved successors, while others aren't as well received. Even the great Apple is beginning to hit the end of its dominance, with a bump in sales of the iPhone. Well, Motorola is here with something very different with its Moto Z family of smartphones.

Motorola's new Moto Z DROID smartphone is a new age of smartphones

LG tried the module world with the G5 smartphone, and it was one of the most interesting phones of recent years thanks to its upgradeable components - with the wider angle lens camera attachment was a massive surprise. Motorola now has its own MotoMods, which are future-proof, snap-on extensions that add, or improve the abilities of your Moto Z smartphone.

The most out-there MotoMod is the Insta-Share Projector, which blasts a huge 70-inch screen to your wall from its projector. The resolution is lackluster, but this is a first-gen product - so we have 854x480, or 480p - and while its not the best, it will continue to get better in the future with more R&D put into the product.

Continue reading: Motorola's new Moto Z DROID smartphone is a new age of smartphones (full post)

The Division's player count has dropped by a gigantic 93% since launch

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 6:55 AM CDT

E3 2016 - Ubisoft launched The Division with a huge marketing campaign, and after a few delays and issues with the launch, it was a mostly positive deal for the company with the game making $330 million in its first 5 days of release. Well, The Division's player count has dropped by a huge 93%, with all but 7% of its player base left - Ubisoft really is in the Dark Zone with The Division and its longevity.

According to Githyp, The Division's player count has dropped dramatically on Steam since it launched, with its peak of 2.1 million players. Right now, it's sitting at around 143,000 players, with that being a drop of 93%. It was only 48 hours ago that Ubisoft enabled The Division's "Clear Sky Challenge" mode, and then before that we had the release of Clear Sky.

There are various issues with hacking and exploits, but with only a few hundred thousand people playing - mixed with the reality of 93% of the player base all but abandoning The Division, is the game on life support, and what's Ubisoft's plan for E3 2016?

Continue reading: The Division's player count has dropped by a gigantic 93% since launch (full post)

Crackdown 3 teaser site launches, teases a purported beta coming soon

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Jun 12, 2016 6:37 AM CDT

E3 2016 - Crackdown 3 is becoming more of a reality with a new teaser site up and running, launching with some cryptic messaging. There are various messages that will be unlocked throughout the next month, with releases of 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 6/30 and finally, the mission will be 'completed' on 7/7.

E3 is next week, so we should expect some form of a reveal of Crackdown 3 at the show. We can also see that $2/$10 is applied toward the agency pension, but who the hell knows what that means. The teaser site was found by a Crackdown forum member, and with Microsoft's E3 2016 press conference taking place on Monday morning, we should expect to find out more about Crackdown 3 in the next couple of days.

Crackdown 3 will reach the Xbox One as an exclusive later this year.

Continue reading: Crackdown 3 teaser site launches, teases a purported beta coming soon (full post)