Xbox One backwards compatibility gets Dark Souls OG and Tekken Tag 2

Jeff Williams | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 5:59 PM CDT

Microsoft is making great headway when it comes to adding more games to their list of those that are backwards compatible with the Xbox One. The newest two games to join the fun are Dark Souls and Tekken Tag Tournament 2, no surprise given that Bandai Namco did say that they were working diligently to bring their original creation to Microsoft's newest console.

Dark Souls comes just in time for the promotional offer that Bandai Namco is running, where if you purchase Dark Souls III, you'll receive a download code for the original for free. That original is now completely playable, and should be just as smooth and good looking as the original.

The new games join an already large list of Xbox 360 titles that are currently playable on the Xbox One. You can either use the physical disc, or the buy and download them directly from the new Xbox Store that's been pushed to everyone with the new update that released earlier today. Unfortunately, we still don't see any signs of having Red Dead Redemption officially a part of the growing list of games, despite it leaking accidentally earlier last month.

Continue reading: Xbox One backwards compatibility gets Dark Souls OG and Tekken Tag 2 (full post)

Quantum Break graphics options leaked

Sean Ridgeley | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 4:42 PM CDT

The graphics options for Remedy's Quantum Break have appeared in the wild and while not official, they appear legitimate.

The list is long, including many different lighting and shadow options, as well as the ability to disable the HUD. 4K is supported as promised: you can see the resolution is set at 3840x2160. Notably missing: FOV, V-Sync, and anti-aliasing. No V-Sync makes sense as the game will only support 30FPS; 4x MSAA is being utilized in the console version, so possibly this is automatically implemented in the PC version, or AA options simply aren't implemented yet (just yesterday Remedy stated there was a lot of work to be done on the PC version still). That leaves just FOV unaccounted for. A key option in recent years, FOV has become a staple gamers appreciate greatly, particularly the sensitive types who get headaches from low FOV. Hopefully, it's like AA and is simply yet to be added.

We've contacted Remedy for confirmation that these screenshots are legitimate as well as to the potential inclusion of AA and FOV options and will update this story if we hear back.

Continue reading: Quantum Break graphics options leaked (full post)

Red Hat now first multi-billion dollar open-source company

Sean Ridgeley | Business, Financial & Legal | Mar 23, 2016 2:25 PM CDT

There's a lot more money to be made from Linux and open-source software than you probably realized: Red Hat just became the first open-source company to make $2 billion. This isn't the first time it's set a record, either: four years ago it became the first Linux company to make $1 billion. All this without relying on venture capitalists, no less.

Red Hat president and CEO Jim Whitehurst says "enterprises increasingly adopting hybrid cloud infrastructures and open source technologies" are largely responsible for the big numbers. In hard terms, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and cloud operating system RHEL are doing better than ever subscription-wise.

The company expects to make between $2.38 and $2.42 billion in the 2016 fiscal year; if this keeps up, they'll set another record in short order.

Continue reading: Red Hat now first multi-billion dollar open-source company (full post)

Tekken 7 might come to PC

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 1:33 PM CDT

Tekken 7: Fated Retribution may be the first in the landmark fighting series to make the jump to PC, meeting an incredibly beleaguered genre on the platform.

Tekken 7 might come to PC

Bandai Namco is currently holding an in-depth survey on Tekken 7 that heavily hints the game could be coming to PC. Many of the questions indicated that the publisher is seriously considering or has already made up their mind to port Tekken 7 onto PC, so be sure to give it a whirl. Be forewarned, though, the survey is pretty lengthy and you might get locked out based on region--unfortunately I wasn't able to get in to see the questions.

All in all, Bandai Namco shouldn't have too much trouble porting Tekken 7 onto PC given that the game is built with Unreal Engine 4, so the port should go smoothly. I just can't believe that there hasn't been an official Tekken game on PC yet (unless you count the travesty that is SFxTekken), and it'd be great to see Namco break this tradition with the latest iteration.

Continue reading: Tekken 7 might come to PC (full post)

Dying Light patch lets you disable chromatic aberration

Sean Ridgeley | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 12:33 PM CDT

Chromatic Aberration is a visual effect that distorts the game image, the result of which is much like viewing a game or movie in 3D without the glasses. It's used subtly in some games, and more aggressively in others. In Dying Light, it's the latter, which has caused fans to ask for months to have the option to disable it. While mods have been available for this purpose, they prevent you from playing multiplayer due to file tinkering.

Dying Light patch lets you disable chromatic aberration

Finally, developer Techland has answered the call. Patch 1.11.1 released today, and with it comes the option to disable the effect, as well as a few small fixes. You can get a good feel for the difference Aberration makes with the screenshots here, though understand they're based on the use of a mod; the official toggle should produce even better results.

Continue reading: Dying Light patch lets you disable chromatic aberration (full post)

PC players can beta test Fallout 4's new survival mode next week

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 11:34 AM CDT

If you play Fallout 4 on PC then you'll be able to beta test the new survival mode overhaul as soon as next week.

PC players can beta test Fallout 4's new survival mode next week

Fallout 4's grueling new survival mode is almost here, and Bethesda has once again conscripted Steam gamers to work out all the bugs and issues. The studio hasn't delivered an exact date for the survival mode beta, so go ahead and check daily. To see if the beta is up, go to your Steam library, right click on Fallout 4 and go to Properties then select BETAS at the very top.

The survival mode overhaul is going to be pretty brutal, adding in new punishing features like weighted ammo, diseases that dramatically reduce SPECIAL stats, and the need to drink, eat, and sleep. Fast travel is also disabled and so is manual saving--to save you'll need to find a bed and sleep for at least an hour. The new update looks to be the challenge that hardened wastelanders were crying for, and I have a feeling most of us will be crying pretty hard once the mode goes live.

Continue reading: PC players can beta test Fallout 4's new survival mode next week (full post)

Battleborn open beta on PS4 next week is bigger and better than on PC

Jeff Williams | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 11:02 AM CDT

The open-beta for Battleborn is coming on April 8th for the PS4 and the 13th for the PC and Xbox One. Both will last all the way until the 28th, but only one of those platforms will be getting the full progression system and all 25 heroes available. And it isn't the PC.

Gearbox Software is leaning heavily towards those that wish to partake on the PS4, letting you enjoy more content than is going to be available on the Xbox One or the PC. If you're able to, you're allowed to progress to the top level and grab, and use, the full compliments of gear available in the game. And you can do that with every hero that's been announced for the MOBA so far.

All platforms will be able to enjoy two story-mode missions and have access to two of the three different competitive multiplayer modes across two maps; Overgrowth and Paradise. The two story missions can both be played completely solo, or taking advantage of co-op play. You'll get the chance to take on the Algorithm mission that was shown in the closed, technical test from last year. The second missions is called Voids Edge, and pits you (and maybe another) against a veritable invasion force while you race to blow up a portal.

Continue reading: Battleborn open beta on PS4 next week is bigger and better than on PC (full post)

Oculus Rift can do room-scale VR, but it's not a high priority

Room-scale VR is put on the back burner by Oculus so the company could prepare more important Rift features.

Oculus Rift can do room-scale VR, but it's not a high priority

One of the biggest advantages HTC Vive has over the Oculus Rift is the headset's room-scale VR capabilities. With its included Lighthouse sensors, the Vive can track players' entire body movements over a 15-by-15 foot space. Oculus affirms that the Rift can also do room-based tracking, but the company has yet to officially demo the feature.

"Some people will really want room scale. We have the tech ability to provide room scale. Our tech doesn't preclude that, and at some point we'll demo that," said Oculus exec Jason Rubin. When the Rift ships on March 28, it only ships with half of the tracking puzzle--a sensor that tracks head and upper body movement. The other half is the Rift's Touch controllers, which add another sensor to complete the equation. Once equipped with the Touch controllers, the Rift will have full-body tracking in smaller 5-by-11 feet scale.

Continue reading: Oculus Rift can do room-scale VR, but it's not a high priority (full post)

Nintendo NX reveal coming before E3, possibly in April, says insider

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 9:35 AM CDT

Nintendo may reveal its mysterious new NX console during its next investor's meeting on April 27, claims a renowned industry insider.

Nintendo NX reveal coming before E3, possibly in April, says insider

Despite tons of info from the rumor mill, Nintendo has been careful to keep official details of its new NX console quite vague, but the Japanese games maker will soon break the silence with a full reveal of the hardware. That's according to NeoGAF insider Orgen, who says that fans will "get more NX info before E3", and that a reveal during Nintendo's next April 27 shareholders meeting would "match the timeframes". Orgen rightly predicted Pokemon Black and White 2, so his claims may be accurate.

"You can bet that you're going to get more NX info before E3. I think it'll be more of a full reveal than a 'we're working on it, and we'll see more at E3'," Orgen said in the NeoGAF post. "I don't know if it's going to be the result briefing or some sort of direct but the 27th of April would match the timeframes."

Continue reading: Nintendo NX reveal coming before E3, possibly in April, says insider (full post)

Driveclub development to continue despite closure of Evolution Studios

Jeff Williams | Gaming | Mar 23, 2016 9:04 AM CDT

The fate of Driveclub is no longer a mystery, as it's been revealed by Jamie Brayshaw, the community manager for the game, that it'll live on under the auspicious care of a team (hopefully bolstered by members of Evolution Studios) at PlayStation itself.

In an open letter to fans on Twitter, the Sr. Community Manager thanked the community and told us all that while Evolution Studios is no longer, the best is yet to come, of Driveclub and likely of the people from the now defunct studio. It's still not clear whether we'll see more, regular, DLC in the future or if the new team will be maintaining the servers and looking to fix bugs and glitches that come along. Whether or not there's still plans for a sequel, we don't know. That certainly shouldn't be ruled out regardless of the circumstances of the studio. The game was a success and the consolidation of the personnel could lead to rethinking that new game. Or more DLC and expansions.

This is good news for those that still quite enjoy the racing simulator, which happens to feature some of the best rain effects in any racing game on console.

Continue reading: Driveclub development to continue despite closure of Evolution Studios (full post)