Gamer's Outpost Press (archived)

by Stefanie Fogel via Variety

Rocksteady Studios, the developer behind the popular “Batman Arkham” series, is apologizing to fans for skipping this week’s E3 event in Los Angeles.

“We know some of you were disappointed we were not at E3 this year,” Rocksteady co-founder and game director Sefton Hill tweeted on Wednesday. “The whole team has been reading your comments, and all of us here at Rocksteady really appreciate your passion for our next project. Knowing how much it means to you keeps us inspired and energized to deliver a game that you will be proud of. We’ll share it with you as soon as it’s ready.”

Rocksteady’s last-known project was a virtual reality adventure game called “Batman Arkham VR.” It launched on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2016. Later that same year, Hill revealed in a Reddit AMA the team is working on something new.

“We’re very hard at work on our next project but we won’t be releasing the details for a while,” he wrote. “When we do you guys will be first to hear as we want to get the community involved heavily in what we do next.”

Since then, fans have wildly speculated about whether or not Rocksteady is creating a new DC superhero-based game (it’s one of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s in-house studios) and which property it could be. Rumor is it’s working on a Superman titlein Unreal Engine 4 that will be three times larger than “Arkham Knight.”

Visit us at http://www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤

by Jacob Siegal via BGR News

At its E3 press briefing on Sunday, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, confirmed that the next generation of Xbox consoles is already being made, suggesting that it won’t be long before we see new hardware from Microsoft. He didn’t share a release date, an image, or offer any specific details, but nearly five years after introducing the Xbox One, Microsoft is finally ready to clear a path for the ninth generation of game consoles in the coming years.

But just because Microsoft wasn’t able to get into specifics doesn’t mean that we have to settle for vague teases. On Tuesday, Brad Sams of Thurrott.com reported that Microsoft is currently planning to release its next Xbox console in 2020. The future of Xbox is codenamed “Scarlett,” but that name actually refers to a family of devices.

Here’s what Spencer said about the next Xbox near the end of the E3 2018 press briefing on Sunday:

The same team that delivered unprecedented performance with Xbox One X is deep into architecting the next Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming.

Jargon aside, the fact that Spencer referred to “the next Xbox consoles” seems significant. Sams doesn’t know if the new hardware will consist of completely new devices or be more in line with the One X, but considering how recently the One X launched, it would be shocking to see Microsoft abandon the platform altogether in 2020. This might point to the Xbox Two (or whatever it’s called) being backwards compatible with the Xbox One. And we also have to take into consideration the “console-quality game streaming network” the company is building.

Be it consoles, phones, games, or anything else, leaks this far out are always worth taking with a grain of salt, even if they come from reliable sources. Microsoft’s plans could change over the course of the next year, and between Spencer’s proclamations and this new report, we know that the Xbox team is getting ready for the future of console gaming.

Visit us at http://www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤

by Cooper Hood via Screen Rant

Dave Bautista is pursuing the lead role of Marcus Fenix in the Gears of War movie. The so-called video game curse has resulted in some lacking entries into the genre, but it hasn’t stopped studios from trying to succeed. There’s plenty of future adaptations in the works, including one for The Coalition and Epic Games’ big screen take on Gears of War. The sci-fi war game has been a massive hit for the studio and Microsoft since the franchise launched in 2006, and there’s plenty more to come on the gaming side.

There’s also been plenty of interest in bringing Gears of War into theaters. Coalition announced a partnership with Universal at the end of 2016 to help get the film project moving. Since that point though, there hasn’t been a lot of news. The studios tapped Avatar 2 scribe Shane Salerno to write the script over a year ago, but nothing else has come to light.

If Gears of War is ever going to happen, it will need to secure a few more major pieces. The director will help shape the tone and style, but the cast will be a major factor in manufacturing further interest in the movie. It may be too early for casting at this stage of Gears of War‘s development, but Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista revealed during a Twitter Q&A with GameSpot that he’s eager to be involved and play the lead role of Marcus Ennix.

Bautista is best known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he’s expanded his filmography and range in recent years still. The former WWE star turned actor has appeared in major films like Spectre and Blade Runner 2049and can be seen in this week’s new release Hotel Artemis. Bautista could undoubtedly fill the action-heavy requirements that would come with this role, and he actually bares quite the resemblance to Fenix in the games.

While it is likely too early for Bautista to get cast, he would be a great fit for the role of Marcus Fenix. He was a soldier for the Coalition of Ordered Government prior to defecting, but later rejoined the COG as part of their last stand against the Locust Horde. Fenix goes on to have a huge arc centered around his family in the games’ sequels, which will continue in Gears of War 5. Bautista has shown he’s much more than the comedic character he plays in the MCU, so it’d be great to see him take on a major action role like this one. He’s yet to be a true lead, especially on this scale, but since Gears of War could assemble a great cast around him, Bautista is as compelling of a choice to play Marcus Fenix as anyone.

Visit us at http:\\www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤

by Mo Mozuch via Newsweek

by Jacob Siegal via BGR News

As we approach the five year anniversary of the PS4, it’s difficult not to think about the future of the brand. After all, the PS4 arrived nearly seven years to the day after the PS3, so it seems safe to assume that the PS5 is already deep in development at Sony HQ. This week, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO John Kodera seemed to say as much when he revealed the PS4 is entering the final phase of its life cycle.

The Wall Street Journal’s Takashi Mochizuki shared Kodera’s statement on Twitter this morning, which he provided at the Sony IR Day 2018 event in Japan. Kodera shared the news in relation to Sony’s revenue, which he claims will be negatively affected by the drop off in unit sales. But PS Plus subscriptions should blunt the impact.

In addition to confirming that the PS4 will be replaced by a successor in the near future, Kodera also told analysts and investors at Sony IR Day that March 2021 will be when PlayStation will begin looking toward the future. It’s unclear if we should expect to see signs of the PS5 by 2021, but that would mark eight years since the PS4’s launch.

Beyond the potential future hardware, Kodera also talked about software. According to Kodera, PlayStation will continue to introduce new IPs (Horizon Zero Dawn, Knack), refresh old IPs (God of War, Shadow of the Colossus), and build franchises around properties that develop a sizable audience.

We still don’t know anything concrete about the follow-up to the PS4 (nor do we expect to learn anything at E3 2018 this year), but it sounds like we won’t be waiting too much longer, as the PS4 life cycle winds down.

Visit us at http://www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤

by Sean Buckley via CNET

Boss Key Productions’ first game was a flop. Its second was too little, too late. Now, company founder Cliff Bleszinski says the game studio is closing its doors.

When the creator of the iconic Gears of War franchise said he was coming out of retirement to create video games that harkened back to chaos of classic arena-shooters like Unreal Tournament, Cliff Bleszinski had the gaming industry’s attention. “CliffyB,” as he was called by fans, had over two decades of experience making AAA games and a vision to revive a kind of fast-paced competitive first persons shooters that hadn’t existed in years.

Now, that dream is dead. Today on Twitter, the game designer announced that his new company, Boss Key Productions, “is effectively no more.”

View image on Twitter

Cliff Bleszinski

✔@therealcliffyb

A statement:

1:19 PM – May 14, 2018

• 13.8K

• 5,105 people are talking about this

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Despite early excitement, it’s an ending almost everyone saw coming.

Lawbreakers, the company’s first game, flopped almost immediately after launch, completely failing to build the dedicated player base necessary to survive – despite having a relatively strong showing at E3 2017. “Lawbreakers was a great game that unfortunately failed to gain traction,” Bleszinski explained on Twitter. Team-based shooters just weren’t in anymore: large scale Battle Royale games like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds were. The company tried to pivot.

by Dylan Claundy via We Got This Covered

A new rumor has dropped on 4Chan and it’s leaked a handful of alleged details as to what Rocksteady are working on at the moment: An open world Superman video game. I know, our brains nearly imploded, too.

Specifically, the rumor confirms that Rocksteady are indeed developing the project. The British company, who are best known for their work on the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, have been pretty quiet as of late, so take this news with a grain of salt for now. Still, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the game and what’s been revealed here is certainly intriguing.

From what we understand, it’ll be developed using the cutting edge Unreal Engine 4 and will feature a massive open world (about 3 times the size of Batman: Arkham Knight with a lot more buildings). Bizarrely, though, you won’t be able to play as Clark Kent. The post does mention, however, that your arch rival will be the extraterrestrial cyborg, Brainiac. 

Furthermore, the alleged game will feature semi-destructible environments, much like Batman: Arkham Knight. Also, the combat system will integrate flying into its core mechanics, a little like Dragon Ball Z, where you can zoom towards your enemies and repeatedly punch them. Not only that, but it’ll also be set in the Arkham universe and filled to the brim with a ton of easter eggs that’ll flesh out Superman’s backstory and lore.

Again, none of this has been confirmed by the studio, but what we do know is that Rocksteady have promised us already that their next game will “blow our minds.” Could they be working on a project that’ll feature Superman, though? Or do you think this rumor is just too good to be true?

As always, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Visit us at http://www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤

by Ben Gilbert via Business Insider

by Danny Salemme via Eurogamer

Atari has revealed some new details regarding its brand new console: Atari VCS (formerly called Ataribox). Aside from the sleek, vintage design and throwback joystick, there are some interesting bells and whistles integrated into the gaming company’s first official console since the failed Atari Jaguar in 1993.

Capitalizing on 1980s-era nostalgia a la Stranger Things and Ready Player One, Atari is re-embarking into console territory with the Atari VCS: a retro-style gaming console that takes direct inspiration from the generation it originated from, while also offering plenty of modern utilities to warrant a purchase. While the original Atari console was a staple in ’80s gaming with two-dimensional games like Pong and Space Invaders, the VCS will double as home assistant, home speaker, and computer all in one single device.

Eurogamer spoke with Atari Connected Devices COO Michael Arzt during the 2018 Game Developer Conference and managed to get a clearer picture of how the Atari VCS might attract a new generation of gamers. Unlike the NES Mini, which was literally just a miniature version of the original Nintendo console, the VCS is essentially a computer with TV screen compatibility. The VCS utilizes streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, music streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, social networking, and, of course, it allows users to play classic Atari games. It will also function like a computer (and is “less expensive than a PC,” ranging around an unspecified cost between $249 and $299), so users will “be able to hook a wireless or USB mouse and keyboard to it” if they so choose.

As far as the physical features go, the console’s design takes inspiration from the original Atari – all the way down to the faux-wood finish and retro matte black joystick – while running on an AMD x86 processor. And since Artz is aware that most people aren’t too keen on shelling out money for new accessories when they already own other competing consoles, like the Xbox One X or the Playstation 4, the company is allowing Atari VCS owners to seamlessly use any other Bluetooth or USB controller with the console. They also expect to reveal more details about the console, as well as information regarding preorders, by the end of April (including the potential of third-party publishers). That said, while Artz is well aware that people “people want a lot of answers,” he explained that there are some VCS elements that he’s “not in a position to talk about yet that this [console] will do.”

With the VCS, Atari has a solid shot at entering the modern console wars, but critics will no doubt be unforgiving. The company acknowledges that it has a few more hurdles in its way before launching the VCS (for example, Artz admits to abandoning some earlier designs and creative partnerships because they didn’t believe they were doing justice to Atari’s long-awaited return), but is confident that their aim for perfection will pay off. Also, given how prominent a role the original Atari plays in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ready Player One, this may well be the perfect time to release a new Atari console into the world – assuming the company can meet high demands and expectations.

Visit us at http://www.gamersoutpost.net/ ❤