GTA 5's PC Delay Due to Needing More Time to Make it as "Amazing" As Possible, According to Rockstar

Given that PC players have already waited a year for a version of Grand Theft Auto V to arrive on computers, last week's delay had to come as particularly disappointing news. Following its announcement about the PC version being pushed back, Rockstar has offered a brief (but fairly vague) explanation for why PC fans will be waiting until next year to get their hands on its latest open-world game.

"We're glad to see so many of you are excited for the upcoming release of the new versions of GTA V and we look forward to sharing more details with you soon," reads a Rockstar statement in the comments section of its website. "We are also incredibly excited to be bringing GTA V to the PC, but the game requires a little more development time in order to ensure that it is as amazing and polished as possible. Please do stay tuned as we reveal new features and information about all the new versions in the weeks ahead."

Along with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions, the PC version of GTA V offers a variety of improvements over the last-gen versions from enhanced visuals to denser traffic, new weapons, and additional wildlife. This differs from Rockstar's approach to the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, which was released eight months after the the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, but contained few differences beyond better graphics.

GTA V for PC had been expected out sometime this fall alongside the current-gen console versions. Following rumors that the PC version had been either delayed or canceled, Rockstar insisted earlier this month that its release was still on track for this fall--something we learned was not the case late last week. The PC version will now arrive on January 27, while the new console versions, will launch on November 18.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
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

Filed under:

Grand Theft Auto V

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Microsoft Confirms $2.5bn Minecraft Acquisition

Mojang, the Sweden-based developer of Minecraft, has been acquired by Microsoft for a fee of around $2.5 billion.

In a blog post to fans, Mojang suggested the deal would not result in the deletion of Minecraft games and apps available on non-Microsoft devices.

"There's no reason for the development, sales, and support of the PC/Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, iOS, and Android versions of Minecraft to stop," the studio wrote.

"Of course, Microsoft can't make decisions for other companies or predict the choices that they might make in the future."

Microsoft said one key reason for the acquisition is "we believe in the power of content to unite people". It added that it expects the acquisition "to be break-even in FY15 on a GAAP basis." That means it expects to make the money back by April 2016.

Notably, Microsoft says that it expects the acquisition "to be break-even in FY15 on a GAAP basis." In other words, Microsoft believes it will make back what it has spent on Mojang and Minecraft by the end of this fiscal year (next June).

The software giant wrote: "Minecraft adds diversity to our game portfolio and helps us reach new gamers across multiple platforms. Gaming is the top activity across devices and we see great potential to continue to grow the Minecraft community and nurture the franchise. That is why we plan to continue to make Minecraft available across platforms--including iOS, Android and PlayStation, in addition to Xbox and PC."

Moving on

Minecraft creator Markus Persson, who owns 70 percent of the company, stands to make $1.75 billion from the deal (although how much of this is in cash, and how much is in shares, is unknown for now).

Markus Persson stands to make $1.75 billion from the deal

Persson, along with chief executive Carl Manneh and co-founder Jakob Porser, will be leaving the company.

Mojang's letter to fans explained that Persson never intended to have "the responsibility of owning a company of such global significance".

It added: "Over the past few years he's made attempts to work on smaller projects, but the pressure of owning Minecraft became too much for him to handle. The only option was to sell Mojang. He'll continue to do cool stuff though. Don't worry about that."

Mojang claimed that there "are only a handful of potential buyers with the resources to grow Minecraft on a scale that it deserves."

Minecraft has sold more than 50 million units across console, PC, smartphones and tablets. But it was Mojang's partnership with Microsoft for the Xbox 360 edition that forged ties between the two companies.

"We've worked closely with Microsoft since 2012, and have been impressed by their continued dedication to our game and its development," the studio wrote.

"We're confident that Minecraft will continue to grow in an awesome way."

Xbox head Phil Spencer added: "We respect the brand and independent spirit that has made Minecraft great, and we'll carry on the tradition of innovation to move the franchise forward. Our investments in cloud, Xbox Live and mobile technology will enable players to benefit from richer and faster worlds, more powerful development tools, and more opportunities to connect with the Minecraft community."

In other related developments;

• Mojang says it is not sure on the future of its Scrolls games project.
• The studio adds that it does not have insight into Microsoft's future for Minecraft
• The Minecon event has not been cancelled and will be organised by Microsoft
• Microsoft says Minecraft Xbox 360 edition has clocked up two billion hours played in the past two years

Rob Crossley is GameSpot's UK News Editor - you can follow him on Twitter here
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

Filed under:

Minecraft

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Notch: Minecraft Sale to Microsoft 'Not About the Money'

Minecraft creator Markus 'Notch' Persson has issued a statement to fans explaining the decision to sell his studio to Microsoft.

In a blog post, Persson claimed that the deal--which is expected to net him a personal fortune of $1.7 billion--is "not about the money. It's about my sanity.""

On Monday, Microsoft revealed that it has agreed to purchase Mojang for $2.5 billion. The company claims it can break even on the deal by April 2016.

Both Microsoft and Mojang say that neither are looking to delete Minecraft from non-Microsoft platforms such as PlayStations and iOS devices.

But Persson says he hoped to complete the deal with Microsoft specifically because the responsibility to be in charge of Minecraft had become to great, and it didn't match with his personal ambition to create smaller games and experiment with certain designs.

The full post reads:

"I don't see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it's fun, and because I love games and I love to program, but I don't make games with the intention of them becoming huge hits, and I don't try to change the world.

"Minecraft certainly became a huge hit, and people are telling me it's changed games. I never meant for it to do either. It's certainly flattering, and to gradually get thrust into some kind of public spotlight is interesting.

"A relatively long time ago, I decided to step down from Minecraft development. Jens was the perfect person to take over leading it, and I wanted to try to do new things.

"At first, I failed by trying to make something big again, but since I decided to just stick to small prototypes and interesting challenges, I've had so much fun with work. I wasn't exactly sure how I fit into Mojang where people did actual work, but since people said I was important for the culture, I stayed.

"I was at home with a bad cold a couple of weeks ago when the internet exploded with hate against me over some kind of EULA situation that I had nothing to do with. I was confused. I didn't understand. I tweeted this in frustration.

"Later on, I watched the This is Phil Fish video on YouTube and started to realize I didn't have the connection to my fans I thought I had. I've become a symbol. I don't want to be a symbol, responsible for something huge that I don't understand, that I don't want to work on, that keeps coming back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a CEO. I'm a nerdy computer programmer who likes to have opinions on Twitter.

"As soon as this deal is finalized, I will leave Mojang and go back to doing Ludum Dares and small web experiments. If I ever accidentally make something that seems to gain traction, I'll probably abandon it immediately.

"Considering the public image of me already is a bit skewed, I don't expect to get away from negative comments by doing this, but at least now I won't feel a responsibility to read them.

"I'm aware this goes against a lot of what I've said in public. I have no good response to that. I'm also aware a lot of you were using me as a symbol of some perceived struggle. I'm not. I'm a person, and I'm right there struggling with you.

"I love you. All of you. Thank you for turning Minecraft into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can't be responsible for something this big.

"In one sense, it belongs to Microsoft now. In a much bigger sense, it's belonged to all of you for a long time, and that will never change.

"It's not about the money. It's about my sanity."

Rob Crossley is GameSpot's UK News Editor - you can follow him on Twitter here
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

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

PewDiePie Premieres New Content Exclusively on MLG.tv

Swedish YouTube star Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, better known by his online handle PewDiePie, has partnered with Major League Gaming to release new content on its video streaming platform MLG.tv.

Starting today, PewDiePie's new, hour-long show with CinnamonToastKen, BroKen, will air exclusively on his own MLG.tv channel (mlg.tv/pewdiepie), before it's posted anywhere else. MLG.tv is a free to watch, ad-supported, video streaming platform, which usually focuses on eSports content.

"We're excited to introduce PewDiePie to the MLG.tv network as we continue to deliver exclusive content from the best producers in the world," MLG VP of Programing Ryan "Fwiz" Wyatt said. "Our vision for MLG.tv is to make it the home for premium content and producers like PewDiePie and his show 'BroKen.' This type of programming deal with PewDiePie, one of the biggest stars in digital media, is a great example of the premier talent we have joining the growing MLG.tv line-up."

Viewers can interact with PewDiePie during the show by using MLG.tv's chat feature. That might be especially appealing to fans after PewDiePie's announcement earlier this month that he permanently removed and disabled comments from all his videos on YouTube.

Back in March, The Walt Disney Company acquired YouTube network Maker Studios, which distributes video game-related programming like PewDiePie, TotalBiscuit, and Yogscast, for $500 million.

Filed under:

PC

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Destiny Is a Different Game After 20 Hours, Bungie Says

How many hours have you put into Destiny since it launched? If it's more than 20, you should be playing a very different game than the one you started, according to Bungie.

"Twenty hours in, I think that players will find that they've evolved to playing a whole different kind of game than the shooter that started them off," Bungie Executive Producer Patrick O'Kelley said in an interview posted to Xbox Wire. "They'll find that they're immersed in a different world, and are deep into the history of their characters. They'll have built a community of other players. And, without realizing it, they'll have learned some sophisticated mechanics that enable them to gear up and dive into a six-player cooperative raid, in pursuit of high-level exotic weapons and armor."

At our fairly quick pace, spending very little time on the extra Vanguard and Strike Quests, getting through Destiny's main story took just over 16 hours to complete, which left our Guardian at level 16. However, we didn't do any Bounties, which can accelerate the leveling progress.

And there's still plenty to do in the game, like finding hidden raids, competitive multiplayer, and leveling up other characters, so if you like the game, it's easy to reach 20 hours even if you rush through the story.

For more on Destiny, check our top Destiny stories, and our official review.

Have you hit the 20 hour mark in Destiny already? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed under:

Destiny

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Titanfall DLC Map Zone 18 Screenshots and Details Released

Respawn Entertainment has revealed screenshots and details about Zone 18, one of the maps included in it's upcoming Titanfall DLC, IMC Rising.

Zone 18, according to the game's fiction, is an old IMC base hidden in the wilderness of the Dakota system, where IMC Robotics continues its research after the destruction of the Hammond Robotics' corporate headquarters on the Frontier (the last campaign mission in the main game).

On the game's official site, Respawn's Geoff Smith says it's a fast-paced environment with two main section divided by a central supply path. Pilots can either navigate it under the cover of the facility's interior passages, or take advantage of the long sightlines provided by the limited rooftop cover outside.

"Thematically, I wanted to make something that would be less 'noisy' and let players spot other pilots quickly," Smith said. "With Hammond Robotics working on a new Spectre model in the high-tech underground sections of Zone 18, the base above is neglected and overgrown as camouflage against enemy aerial and satellite reconnaissance."

Respawn previously revealed another map included in the latest DLC, Backwater, which is set in a hidden bootlegging colony. Respawn has yet to reveal details about the third map included in IMC Rising, Sandtrap, but we should hear more about it before it releases this fall.

Respawn also recently revealed numerous other improvements, additions, and tweaks included in the game's sixth major update that you can find here. They include colorblind support, as well as the option to buy Burn Cards from the Black Market.

Filed under:

Titanfall

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Microsoft's $2.5B Acquisition of Minecraft Could Be Announced Monday -- Report

Reports that Microsoft will buy Minecraft developer Mojang might be confirmed very soon.

"A source briefed on the matter" told Reuters that Microsoft will officially reveal it will acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion tomorrow, Monday, September 15. Note that the figure is higher than the $2 billion first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund, the deal is meant to support Microsoft's mobile business. "We don't view this acquisition as a signal of Microsoft's intent to double down on Xbox but consider it an attempt to better address mobile on a cross-platform basis," He said. "This also appears to be consistent with (Microsoft) CEO Satya Nadella's mobile and cloud strategy."

Minecraft: Pocket Edition, the mobile version of the game available through the iTunes App Store and Google Play, is indeed tremendously popular. In April, Jens Bergensten of the Mojang's mobile team revealed that Pocket Edition sold over 21 million copies.

Minecraft is already available on PC, mobile, Xbox 360, and PS3, and it recently released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game continues to make it onto both digital and retail top 10 sales charts month after month. Purported inside sources speaking to Bloomberg claim that "Microsoft will keep Minecraft available for rival products" should the deal go ahead.

Would you be more likely to buy a Windows Phone or a Surface tablet if it was the best mobile device to play Minecraft? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed under:

Minecraft

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Horizon Bucket List in Forza Horizon 2

You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.

Play

1. Destiny Class Guide - Hunter
2. Titan Class Guide - Destiny
3. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS - Now Playing
4. Destiny Class Guide - Warlock
5. GS News Top 5 - ESPN Says Dota/LoL Are 'Not Sports'; Destiny Perfume?!
6. Xur Agent of Nine Seller of Exotic Items - Destiny
7. Final Smash Montage - Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS
8. Airship Q - Gameplay Trailer
9. Destiny Video Review
10. Reality Check - Can You Live on Destiny's Planets?
11. Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby - The Battle Over Land and Sea Trailer
12. Dawngate - State of the Gate Trailer

Embed this video:

Please use a flash video capable browser to watch videos.

Sorry, but you can't access this content!

Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Original Dead Island Developer Explains Why It's Making Dying Light Instead of Dead Island 2

Polish developer Techland, which created the first Dead Island, is making another open-world, first-person zombie game, but it isn't called Dead Island 2. Instead, it's making a similar game under a new IP, Dying Light, and a new publisher, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

According to Techland game designer Maciej Binkowski, the developer didn't stick with Dead Island because of its relationship with publisher Deep Silver. "They had a lot of ideas about how they wanted to run the franchise," he told Eurogamer in an interview. "Even with Dead Island there were a lot of moments where we would disagree on the creative vision of the project, so this might have been one of the factors."

Binkowski said that Dead Island was Techland's idea, but the Deep Silver has owned the rights to it since the beginning because it was the best deal the developer could get at the time.

As to the similarities between Dead Island 2 and Dying Light, Binkowski doesn't sound concerned. "They're out to create something different: it's Dead Island, it's a different experience," he said. "It's all very colourful and I guess kind of goofy. So I think we're pretty safe, because our game is much more mature and dark, and we're aiming at different unique features such as freedom of movement [and] the day-night cycle."

Dead Island 2 is being made by Spec Op: The Line developer Yager and is set to release spring 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Dying Light's release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC was recently moved up to January 27 in North America, January 28 in Australia, and January 30 in Europe and Asia.

Filed under:

Dying Light

Dead Island 2

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Destiny Review Roundup

One of the year's biggest releases, Destiny, arrived this week following a great deal of hype, and justifiably so--this is, after all, the first new franchise from Bungie since it created Halo. With servers not going online until the day before its launch, it's taken some time for reviews to be written, but a number of them have now made their way online, which we've gathered up for you below.

It's possible you may already have formed an opinion about the game prior to its release this week, thanks to a beta over the summer that saw more than 4.6 million players try out the game, which blends the MMO and FPS genres. Whatever people may think of it, Destiny has already managed to produce an impressive $500 million in its first day alone.

What content Destiny offers for players right now will soon be expanding, as Bungie has already announced a number of upcoming in-game events, including its first raid. Beyond that, there are plans for two DLC packs and continued support that (coupled with multiplayer) Bungie says will make it so you may never "finish" the game.

Whether or not that proves to be the case remains to be seen. For now, check out the first reviews below. For more, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

GameSpot -- 6/10

"You might summarize Destiny by the way in which it wraps up its story. Once the final, hackneyed closing scene finishes, fireteam members are awarded the same weapon, regardless of class, and a handful of currency. This reminder of how wholly unspecial you are is the big finale of a lavishly produced but troubled game that excels in the basics but lacks creativity and heart. It is role-playing grind in shooter form--an empty house built on a firm foundation." [Full review]

Polygon -- 6/10

"As just another game, Destiny is a confusing combination of often at-odds elements--it presents itself as ambitious, almost boastful, while seeming strangely safe and reserved. It wants to eat its cake as a shooter, and have the longevity of an MMO--but it lacks the combat sophistication of the former, and the deep well of content native to the latter." [Full review]

Giant Bomb -- 3/5

"But, yeah, its fantastic graphics often serve to make the game's mechanical underpinnings that much more disappointing. There are cool little flashes of brilliance in Destiny, but a lot of it feels like a game designed by people who weren't sure what sort of game they were designing." [Full review]

The Escapist -- 3/5

"Gameplay is a cocktail of ideas taken from other titles that specialized to create superior experiences. Borderlands is much better at providing loot and a sense of character progression, Halo is better at providing a sci-fi shooter adventure, and there are plenty of MMOs that do the 'shared world' thing with more gusto. Destiny exists in the shadow of multiple games, taking a little from each, and doing nothing truly remarkable with any of it. It's a prime example of how the nebulous concept of 'content' can be used to puff up a game without adding anything to it. There's a ton of 'stuff' in Destiny. You'll never want for things to do ... but it's terrible at providing motivation to do any of it." [Full review]

OXM -- 8/10

"Destiny is always compelling, a bewitching vista that's not so much populated as haunted by other players, but it doesn't always captivate. Strip away those online features, and you're left with an assured, grindy shooter that's lifted by its class abilities but deflated by the narrative's shortcomings and a general want of spice. It's a recommended purchase, without doubt, but given the scale of Bungie and Activision's investment, and the soaring otherworldliness of the presentation, I was hoping for something just a little grander." [Full review]

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
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

Filed under:

Destiny

23.25 | 0 komentar | Read More