Gaming News - Page 296

All the latest gaming news, with everything related to PlayStation releases (PS4 & PS5), Xbox, PC Games, Nintendo Switch & plenty more - Page 296.

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Elden Ring now officially a franchise, game hits 12 million sales

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 9:48 PM CDT

Elden Ring has sold over 12 million copies as of March 14, becoming one of Bandai Namco's best-selling games of all time.

Elden Ring now officially a franchise, game hits 12 million sales

FromSoftware's new masterpiece RPG has hit an incredible sales milestone of 12 million+ physical and digital copies purchased worldwide. With figures like these, it's implied that Elden Ring has made over $500 million in game sales revenues across all platforms in just 17 days (nearly 3 weeks).

Elden Ring is so successful that Bandai Namco has declared it a full IP series that will expand with more content. The publisher mentions that Elden Ring could cross over to other mediums outside of video games.

Continue reading: Elden Ring now officially a franchise, game hits 12 million sales (full post)

GTA 6 release in 2024 is 'likely' says Jefferies analyst

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 4:42 PM CDT

Two leading video game market analysts predict GTA 6 could release in 2024, but they disagree on exactly when.

GTA 6 release in 2024 is 'likely' says Jefferies analyst

A bit ago I predicted GTA 6 could launch in Take-Two's FY24, which ends in March 2024. Since then that prediction has been carried by analysts based on a substantial spike in net bookings for the period. A new SEC filing shows that both FY24 and FY25 will be big years for Take-Two with an estimated $5.2 billion and $5.5 billion in respective net bookings.

This suggests that GTA 6 could launch in either FY24 or FY25. Both of these include the 2024 calendar year. Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz believes that a major Rockstar title should launch throughout 2024: "Despite a significant multi-year content unlock that likely includes a major content release from Rockstar in 2024, Take-Two will still grow in FY25," Uerkwitz wrote.

Continue reading: GTA 6 release in 2024 is 'likely' says Jefferies analyst (full post)

EA cancels its EA Play Live summer show: 'Things aren't lining up'

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 4:15 PM CDT

EA has officially cancelled its annual EA Play Live summer showcase because its projects simply aren't ready to show just yet.

EA cancels its EA Play Live summer show: 'Things aren't lining up'

EA Play Live will not premiere in 2022 after all. The publisher issued a statement that strongly hinted that COVID-19 and work-from-home measures have impacted game development, and certain games won't be ready to show off.

"This year things aren't lining up to show you everything on one date. We have exciting things happening at our world-class studios and this year we'll reveal much more about these projects when the time is right for each of them. We look forward to spending time with you throughout the year!" EA told IGN.

Continue reading: EA cancels its EA Play Live summer show: 'Things aren't lining up' (full post)

Tencent acquires majority stake in RiME developer Tequila Works

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 3:37 PM CDT

Tencent has acquired a majority stake in Tequila Works, the indie studio known for video games like RiME.

Tencent acquires majority stake in RiME developer Tequila Works

Chinese juggernaut Tencent has just increased its hold on the games industry with yet another indie developer. This time Tencent has bought the majority shares of Tequila Works, the Madrid-based studio behind RiME and Deadlight.

Tencent's acquisition will inject new funding into Tequila Works, arming them with new resources to expand and develop projects in all-original IPs. Tencent will remain hands-off and allow the studio to continue on as it always has.

Continue reading: Tencent acquires majority stake in RiME developer Tequila Works (full post)

The perfect Matrix game finally exists and here's what it looks like

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 12:30 PM CDT

Keanu Reeves said it best: "It's ridiculous that there isn't [a new Matrix game]." Well now WB Games knows what to do.

The perfect Matrix game finally exists and here's what it looks like

A batch of mods for the new fighting game Sifu shows exactly what fans want from a new Matrix game. Just let us play as Neo, give us some awesome survival brawling combat, and watch as we wipe the floor with dozens of Agent Smiths. Yes, it really is that simple. Maybe throw in some shoot-em-up chaos and crazy stunts in an analog, green-filtered world and boom, there's your perfect Matrix game.

Graphics aren't super important but a dev could use the crazy next-gen tech from the Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo. I'd say gameplay is what matters most in a game like this--especially with the fun of smashing tons of agents around.

Continue reading: The perfect Matrix game finally exists and here's what it looks like (full post)

This newly released DirectX 12 API could revolutionize PC games

Derek Strickland | Mar 15, 2022 11:22 AM CDT

Microsoft's breakthrough DirectStorage API tech, which promises to accelerate NVMe storage speeds, is now available to all PC game developers.

This newly released DirectX 12 API could revolutionize PC games

PC devs can now supercharge loading screens and rendering in their games with DirectStorage integration. The new API accelerates asset pipeline delivery by completely bypassing the CPU and blasting data directly to the GPU for on-screen rendering. The result will fully unlock the power of NVMe SSDs and deliver true PCIe Gen 4x4 (and beyond) levels of throughput. For an in-depth explanation on how DirectStorage works, click here.

DirectStorage is also compatible with Windows 10 games, however Microsoft notes that Windows 11 is the "recommended path for gaming" because it has certain optimizations built into the OS.

Continue reading: This newly released DirectX 12 API could revolutionize PC games (full post)

Sony devotes an entire State of Play to a single third-party game

Derek Strickland | Mar 14, 2022 5:42 PM CDT

For the first time ever, Sony is devoting an entire State of Play event to a single third-party multi-platform video game.

Sony devotes an entire State of Play to a single third-party game

Today Sony announced that Hogwart's Legacy, the new highly-anticipated Harry Potter RPG, will get its own State of Play stream. The stream goes live on Thursday, March 17 at 2PM PST/5PM EST on Twitch or YouTube, and will feature 14 minutes of gameplay captured on PlayStation 5 (an interesting choice considering PS5 stock is still very limited) alongside a 6-minute roundtable discussion with the devs at Avalanche Software who made the game.

Hogwart's Legacy has been mired in controversy for two main reasons: First is the transphobic comments made by J.K. Rowling, which has caused lots of fans to discourage pre-orders and purchases of all Harry Potter products, and the second is that one of the game developers, Troy Leavitt, ran a pro-GamerGate YouTube channel. Leavitt later resigned and left the game studio.

Continue reading: Sony devotes an entire State of Play to a single third-party game (full post)

Konami files new trademark for Silent Hill as sequel rumors ramp up

Derek Strickland | Mar 14, 2022 2:24 PM CDT

Konami has filed and published a new trademark for Silent Hill at the Japan Patent Office.

Konami files new trademark for Silent Hill as sequel rumors ramp up

A new Silent Hill trademark has re-ignited rumors of a possible Sony-produced sequel. Konami's latest Silent Hill trademark was published today on the JPO database and includes many use cases including video games, commercial game machines/machine equipment, game software, and virtual reality headsets.

Recent reports indicate that Sony has acquired the rights to a big video game franchise. Former reports from 2020-2021 indicated that Sony was producing a new Silent Hill game and Hideo Kojima was possibly involved.

Continue reading: Konami files new trademark for Silent Hill as sequel rumors ramp up (full post)

Report: GTA 6 coming in 2024, Rockstar making tons of progress

Derek Strickland | Mar 14, 2022 1:17 PM CDT

A new report from a well-known Rockstar Games leaker says Grand Theft Auto 6 could release in 2024 after all.

Report: GTA 6 coming in 2024, Rockstar making tons of progress

Sources have told Rockstar Games leaker and informant Chris Klippel that GTA 6 has broken an important development milestone and work on the game should accelerated in the coming months (and years).

"An important step in the development of GTA 6 has just been reached. Things should speed up (internally at Rockstar)," Klippel wrote on Twitter.

Continue reading: Report: GTA 6 coming in 2024, Rockstar making tons of progress (full post)

FromSoftware workers report low pay as parent company earns $1 billion

Derek Strickland | Mar 14, 2022 9:41 AM CDT

FromSoftware employees aren't happy working at the studio and are complaining of low wages and other issues. Meanwhile, FromSoft parent company Kadokawa Corp. has made over $1.4 billion in the last 9 months.

FromSoftware workers report low pay as parent company earns $1 billion

Like most big games, it looks like Elden Ring's expansive world came at a human cost. FromSoftware employees have complained about a number of issues on Japanese company feedback website Career Connection, stating low wages and crunch (one review says employees are "breaking their bodies" working so much) as problems with the work environment. FromSoft has earned a 2.6 out of 5 rating for employee satisfaction as a result.

According to the survey, FromSoftware employees earn roughly 4 million yen, or $29,000, a year. Those wages are a stark contrast to the $1.415 billion that FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa Corp. has made in the last 9 months.

Continue reading: FromSoftware workers report low pay as parent company earns $1 billion (full post)