Gaming News - Page 118

All the latest gaming news, with everything related to PlayStation releases (PS4 & PS5), Xbox, PC Games, Nintendo Switch & plenty more - Page 118.

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Some Diablo 4 players are convinced there's a secret Cow Level and are trying to find it

Kosta Andreadis | Jun 30, 2023 3:02 AM CDT

The official word from Blizzard and Diablo franchise general manager Rod Fergusson is that there's no secret Cow Level in Diablo IV. But then again, he would say that, wouldn't he? Ever since players got their hands-on the latest installment in the long-running action RPG, a dedicated part of the community has been actively going through every inch of the game to try and find the secret level.

Some Diablo 4 players are convinced there's a secret Cow Level and are trying to find it

So far, it hasn't been found. Still, the general idea is that if both Diablo 2 and Diablo 3 had secret Cow Levels (where you fight a horde of armed cows that moo and drop gold and loot), then odds are there is one in Diablo 4, too, primarily when the game draws most of its inspiration from these two entries. There's an entire Wikipedia page on the history of the secret Cow Level, too, if you need to brush up on your bovine lore.

You can also join in on the hunt over at the D4 - Not Finding A Cow Level Discord, though based on Diablo 4's recent sizable patch, the search looks to have hit a roadblock because many were convinced that the Cow Level is tied to the town of Ked Bardu in the Dry Steppes.

Continue reading: Some Diablo 4 players are convinced there's a secret Cow Level and are trying to find it (full post)

Revenge is Iran's take on Call of Duty so of course it's about fighting the US and NATO

Kosta Andreadis | Jun 30, 2023 2:32 AM CDT

Iranian animation studio Kosar3D is pivoting to video games, specifically a militaristic first-person shooter that news outlet RT (Russia Today) calls "Iran's Call of Duty." A bold statement, and the teaser video for Revenge, which is what the game is called, showcases some decent animation and visual fidelity.

Revenge is Iran's take on Call of Duty so of course it's about fighting the US and NATO

The setting of Revenge deals with an alliance between Iran and Russia against NATO and, by that same token, the US. Kosard3D notes that the game is self-funded and not tied to the Iranian government or military, with the announcement stating that, "In this game, an international UAV force led by Iran has been formed that is responsible for the containment of the US army in World War III."

The RT report adds that Revenge is not about all-out war but "pre-emptive strikes launched on the enemy's soil to thwart the enemy's attacks." With Call of Duty's Modern Warfare entries focusing on the US government and military in conflict with Russia and the Middle East, the narratives often dip their toes into what you'd call pro-US military propaganda - so the comparison makes sense.

Continue reading: Revenge is Iran's take on Call of Duty so of course it's about fighting the US and NATO (full post)

Microsoft tried, and failed, to persuade Activision to put games on Game Pass

Derek Strickland | Jun 29, 2023 6:29 PM CDT

Microsoft has tried, and failed, to persuade Activision to bring its billion-dollar franchises over to Game Pass.

Microsoft tried, and failed, to persuade Activision to put games on Game Pass

Yesterday, we learned that Activision doesn't have a zero tolerance policy on video game subscriptions. Actvision CEO Bobby Kotick testified under oath that publisher could be convinced to bring its games to services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium...provided a high enough "commercial incentive" were offered.

In his testimony, Kotick essentially said that companies like Microsoft and Sony would have to pay an exorbitant fee in order to secure Activision games on these services, especially given the often-cited "cannibalistic effects" of Game Pass (users can choose to subscribe for $10 a month instead of buying a game for $70, potentially leaving lots of money on the table).

Continue reading: Microsoft tried, and failed, to persuade Activision to put games on Game Pass (full post)

Minecraft makes 4x more revenue on Switch than Xbox

Derek Strickland | Jun 29, 2023 3:50 PM CDT

Minecraft is much, much more popular on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation than it is on Xbox...and rightly so given the sales differences between these platforms.

Minecraft makes 4x more revenue on Switch than Xbox

Microsoft has already confirmed that Minecraft is Xbox's largest game in terms of revenues, and that it delivers significant profits. What's interesting is how much revenue the game actually makes, and where it actually makes those earnings. While we don't know exact dollar values to Minecraft's mega-hit success, we do know that the game earns a lot more money on practically every platform other than Xbox.

In his testimony in the FTC v Microsoft federal case, Xbox gaming Chief Financial Officer Tim Stuart sheds light on Minecraft's success. In Fiscal Year 2021, Minecraft made 4x more revenue on the Nintendo Switch than it does Xbox. The game also made 2x as much revenue on PlayStation than it did on Xbox.

Continue reading: Minecraft makes 4x more revenue on Switch than Xbox (full post)

ZeniMax buyout used a sliding scale Neutrino Model to determine effects of platform exclusivity

Derek Strickland | Jun 29, 2023 3:15 PM CDT

The ZeniMax acquisition, aka Project Atom, used a specific sliding-scale model to assess the possible risks and downsides of making ZeniMax titles exclusive to the Xbox platform.

ZeniMax buyout used a sliding scale Neutrino Model to determine effects of platform exclusivity

Exclusivity is a hot topic in the games industry. On one hand, Sony has used exclusivity as a means to pay developers to skip Xbox, which makes Sony, in the words of Phil Spencer, a "hostile and aggressive competitor". On the other hand, exclusives are advantageous to developers and also offer a way for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo stand apart. Because they're such powerful tools for platforms and developers, exclusives are a big part of the industry and aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

In regards to ZeniMax and Bethesda game exclusivity, today's testimony in the FTC v Microsoft case highlights what that decision-making process was like inside of Xbox. Testimony revealed that all future ZeniMax games, including sequels and new IPs, appear to be exclusive to Xbox. But how did Microsoft come to that decision?

Continue reading: ZeniMax buyout used a sliding scale Neutrino Model to determine effects of platform exclusivity (full post)

All future ZeniMax and Bethesda games may be Xbox exclusive

Derek Strickland | Jun 29, 2023 12:35 PM CDT

New testimony in the FTC v Microsoft case reveals that all future ZeniMax games may be made exclusive to the Xbox platform.

All future ZeniMax and Bethesda games may be Xbox exclusive

Today is the last day in the FTC v Microsoft evidentiary hearing case, and we're already hearing some bombshell reveals. According to emails presented in the hearing between Xbox's GLT (Gaming Leadership Team), it appears that all future ZeniMax titles will be made exclusive to Xbox. This would include all new and future titles from operational units like Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online, and apply to games like Fallout 5, The Elder Scrolls VI, new Doom games, the upcoming Indiana Jones game, and much more.

During Stuart's witness examination by the FTC, Commission lawyer James Weingarten dissected key parts of the ZeniMax acquisition (codenamed Atom). Weingarten chronicled a series of email chains that included Jamie Lawver, who oversaw the $7.5 billion ZeniMax integration into Xbox's first-party studios division, Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios.

Continue reading: All future ZeniMax and Bethesda games may be Xbox exclusive (full post)

Starfield will get DLSS 3 on PC, modder declares - and very soon after launch

Darren Allan | Jun 29, 2023 10:50 AM CDT

When earlier this week, AMD announced that it was Bethesda's exclusive partner on PC for Starfield, millions of online voices suddenly cried out in terror, and most definitely weren't suddenly silenced. In fact, the continued noise around DLSS support has been pretty deafening.

Starfield will get DLSS 3 on PC, modder declares - and very soon after launch

But there's good news, of sorts, for those lamenting the possible lack of DLSS in Starfield - there's a mod on the horizon to fix the situation.

Mind you, before we look at the mod, we should underline the fact that it isn't confirmed that NVIDIA's frame rate boosting tech won't be supported in the space RPG. However, it has been very much presumed this is the case, and that only AMD's FSR will be on-board. In fairness, this seems a likely scenario, but it is not for definite yet.

Continue reading: Starfield will get DLSS 3 on PC, modder declares - and very soon after launch (full post)

Internal Microsoft doc hints advertisements could come to Xbox games or Game Pass

Derek Strickland | Jun 29, 2023 10:04 AM CDT

Advertisements may become a larger part of the Xbox gaming business in the long-term future.

Internal Microsoft doc hints advertisements could come to Xbox games or Game Pass

Over the past few months, we've talked a lot about how the Xbox business could evolve. At $16 billion dollar in annual revenue, Microsoft's video games unit is clearly able to make strong earnings...but what about profits? Recent testimony from Microsoft CFO Amy Hood discussed Xbox's profit margins but these values were predictably redacted.

How can Xbox continue to grow when it is 3rd place in the console market, spending big on Game Pass, and also invested in costly and unsuccessful attempts like Project xCloud? The games unit will need to find new ways to monetize its platform of 120 million monthly active users, and advertising revenue could be the next big step.

Continue reading: Internal Microsoft doc hints advertisements could come to Xbox games or Game Pass (full post)

Sony says it 'does not typically require subscription exclusivity' for games on PS Plus

Derek Strickland | Jun 28, 2023 10:05 PM CDT

Sony legal counsel and/or the FTC have accidentally uploaded a poorly-redacted document that reveals key insights on PlayStation's business practices.

Sony says it 'does not typically require subscription exclusivity' for games on PS Plus

Sony and Microsoft are known for their third-party exclusivity deals. Sony's agreements in particular have led to big-budget games like Final Fantasy XVI outright skipping Xbox. These deals offer commercial and operational incentives like upfront payments, direct access to console engineers, and the opportunity to release a game more quickly.

What about subscriptions like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus? Microsoft has already revealed the dynamics of its Game Pass deals, with developers receiving things like an initial payout and earnings based on engagement within the title. Sony, on the other hand, has mostly kept quiet on how it handles its PlayStation plus deals.

Continue reading: Sony says it 'does not typically require subscription exclusivity' for games on PS Plus (full post)

Microsoft may have significantly lowered Windows license prices for NVIDIA's GeForce Now

Derek Strickland | Jun 28, 2023 7:05 PM CDT

The FTC v Microsoft federal case gives more insight into how Microsoft eventually got NVIDIA to get on board with the $68.7 billion Activision merger proposal.

Microsoft may have significantly lowered Windows license prices for NVIDIA's GeForce Now

When Microsoft announced it was planning to buy Activision for nearly $70 billion, NVIDIA had originally opposed the deal. In today's evidentiary hearing of the FTC v Microsoft case, NVIDIA's SVP of gaming Jeff Fisher gave insight on how Microsoft allayed NVIDIA's concerns about the merger affecting cloud gaming.

In his testimony, Fisher said that a secondary attachment to the main Microsoft-NVIDIA agreement had solved NVIDIA's worries on the merger. The add-on is called the Windows Addendum, and it seems to have significantly lowered the licensing fees that NVIDIA has to pay Microsoft to secure Windows OS licenses (possibly among other things).

Continue reading: Microsoft may have significantly lowered Windows license prices for NVIDIA's GeForce Now (full post)