Sony has laid out the details for a new hardware revision for its handheld gaming console, the PlayStation Vita. Weighing in at 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the 2011 original, the all-new model has been tailored to be more casual, more accessible and ultimately, more affordable. Available in six different shades, the revised device will launch exclusively in Japan on October 10th for ¥18,980 – or, roughly speaking, $190.
Early this morning, Sony addressed its eastern demographic during its pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference. During this showcase, the company announced a brand new PlayStation-related piece of hardware entitled PS Vita TV. Measuring 6 by 10 centimetres, the minute box will connect to the gamer's television and access their library of games across a wide spectrum of PlayStation platforms – including PS4, PS Vita, PSP and even PSone Classics.
Flying in the face of its tendency to rely on existing franchises, Electronic Arts has spoken of its desire to mould new intellectual property in the near future. In an interview with MCV, Patrick Soderlund – head honcho of EA Games – addressed the misconception that the stalwart publisher is prone to focus solely on established titles, even stating that the company currently has plans for “six to eight completely new IPs.”
Microsoft has published a bevy of prices for its Xbox One games and accessories over on its online store front, with the pricing spectrum for launch games ranging from £45 to £55. The company also attached a digital price tag to some of the next-gen console’s peripherals, including the wireless controller, which will retail at the expected £44.99.
It’s no secret that the PlayStation Vita has had its fair share of problems on the general market in the last eighteen months. From mobile competition – such as iOS and Android gaming – and a steep price tag, the handheld has struggled to gain a viable audience in the way Sony would’ve wanted. With that said, according to Fergal Gara, managing director of PlayStation UK, the company has reason to be optimistic about the hardware’s future.
Sony has took to the PlayStation.Blog this morning in order to bang the war drum for the first beta round for From Sotware’s unforgiving sequel, Dark Souls II. The much anticipated follow-up to the 2011 RPG is poised to launch in March, 2014 on Xbox 360, PC and PS3; but owners of the latter platform will have the opportunity to partake in the closed beta by downloading the registration ticket from the PlayStation Store under the ‘Latest Releases’ tab.
While we understand that Day One editions of Microsoft’s next-gen console will come bundled with a copy of FIFA 14 in Europe, news leaked yesterday via UK retailer GAME that an Xbox One bundle including a free download code for Forza Motorsport 5 will also be available this November, too. This newly announced SKU will be offered by popular outlets such as Amazon, and will retail at the standard £429/€500.
In tandem with confirming the release date for its next-gen hardware – which has been slated for November 22nd, 2013 – Microsoft also announced today that it has boosted the internal specs of the Xbox One before it entered mass production. Specifically, this technological tweak involves the console’s central processing unit, which has witnessed an increase of 150mhz from its original 1.6ghz to the new and finalised 1.75ghz.
With a staggering array of levels – each with their own commendable and challenging design – BreakQuest Extra Evolution is brimming with creative ideas. And though they may not have reinvented the primordial formula, Beatshapers' creation establishes an addictive environment where twitch gameplay reigns and reflexes are king.
Satoru Iwata will once again address the Nintendo nation tomorrow during the company’s Nintendo Direct video presentation, which is set to air 7 a.m. EDT (4 a.m. PDT and 12pm GMT). Centring on all things Pokémon, Iwata will focus on the forthcoming Pokémon X & Y that are slated for global release on October 12th – which, incidentally, is also the release date for the all-new 2DS.
