Next-gen console sales will be the highest yet - Microsoft
One day ahead of its next Xbox reveal, Microsoft has shared some statistics that it says show console gaming has not yet peaked.
According to data from various research firms that has been aggregated by Microsoft, the number of next generation consoles sold (an estimated 385 million) will be 28 per cent higher than current gen figures.
Further, console gaming is the leading source of revenue in gaming, scooping up US$27 billion (AU$27.5 billion) of the US$65 billion (AU$66.2 billion) that is apparently spent on gaming worldwide (42 per cent).
PC comes in second at US$12 billion (AU$12.2 billion), and mobile third at US$10 billion (AU$10.2 billion).
The data also shows that gaming revenue is growing faster than that of all other forms of entertainment, with gains of seven per cent year-on-year.
Arkham Origins has its Batman and Joker
Warner Bros. has revealed which actors lend their voices to the leads in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins.
Roger Craig Smith is Batman, while Troy Baker will tackle the Joker.
Smith has previously voiced Assassin's Creed’s Ezio Auditore and Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield.
Dyack responds to mismanagement allegations in bid to save Eternals Kickstarter
Precursor Games chief creative officer Denis Dyack has taken to YouTube to defend his past actions in a bid to save Precursor’s Shadow of the Eternals Kickstarter campaign.
A week in, the game’s Kickstarter has raised just 16 per cent of its US$1,350,000 goal, with Dyack’s involvement commonly cited as the factor that is keeping pledges away.
Dyack was the target of a number of scathing allegations last year in a Kotaku piece that sought to document the troubled development of the critically panned X-Men: Destiny at Silicon Knights.
A Syndicate Wars reboot could be coming to Kickstarter
A YouTube video from a developer called 5Lives Studio appears to be teasing a Kickstarter campaign for a Syndicate Wars reboot.
Syndicate Wars is the acclaimed third game in the much-loved Syndicate series. It was released on PC in 1996, and on PlayStation the following year.
Text from the video reads: “In 1996 this man [face obscured] created a Bullfrog masterpiece. In 2013, with your help, we will redefine the genre.”
Kickstarter roundup – week of May 20
Below are a handful of games that in the past week have been added to Kickstarter, hit their funding goal, or failed miserably on the popular crowdfunding site.
As a rule, we generally don't report on games that seek or attract less than US$50,000, and a game's appearance here should not be taken as a recommendation. Remember to back projects wisely – you know, just like everyone did with the Ouya.
Recently FundedKingdoms of Amalur, Demon's Souls, Rayman Legends headline June PlayStation Plus
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Demon’s Souls, and Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD are all coming to PlayStation Plus, Sony has announced.
Reckoning is a quality RPG that developer 38 Studios attempted to make into an MMO before it rather conspicuously ran out of money.
Demon’s Souls is an excellent and tough action-RPG that serves as a spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls.
Ouya will be available to demo in a carpark during E3
Ouya has announced it will be demoing its upcoming console in a parking lot directly across from E3 for the duration of that conference.
According to a press release sent out to developers by Ouya head of developer relations Kellee Santiago, the company’s setup will include everything required for game makers to “put on a killer game demo" during the E3 conference, which runs from June 12-14.
“Ouya’s E3 location will be 100 per cent open to the public – no credentials required!” said Santiago.
Wii U "crap", Nintendo "Walking Dead" – EA engineer
An EA employee has tweeted some fairly pointed comments about the Wii U, only days after his company confirmed that it had no games planned for Nintendo's console.
In a series of since-deleted tweets, EA senior software engineer Bob Summerwill was fairly undiplomatic towards the young device.
"The Wii U is crap,” Summerwill began.
Ubisoft had a great financial year thanks to Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III
Sales of Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III sent Ubisoft profits soaring in the last financial year, the company has revealed.
Last week the French publisher and developer announced that it shipped 12 million copies of Assassin’s Creed III and six million of Far Cry 3 on its way to sales of €1.256 billion (AU$1.65 billion) and an operating income of €100.3 million (AU$131.73 million).
That meant overall revenue was up 18.3% from the 2012 financial year, and Ubisoft stock rose about 10 per cent as a result.
Three Sonic titles coming to Wii U
Nintendo announced two new games at last week’s Nintendo Direct broadcast: Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Sonic: Lost World.
The games are part of a three game partnership between Nintendo and Sega, said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.
Mario & Sonic is a Wii U exclusive, and will allow players to participate in events such as bobsledding, snowboarding, skiing, skating, and the biathlon, using both Wiimotes and the GamePad.
Tuesday 21 May
Dyack responds to mismanagement allegations in bid to save Eternals Kickstarter
Next-gen console sales will be the highest yet - Microsoft
Monday 20 May
Kingdoms of Amalur, Demon's Souls, Rayman Legends headline June PlayStation Plus
Ubisoft had a great financial year thanks to Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III
Friday 17 May
Metro dev "was never playing on a level field" – former THQ boss
Thursday 16 May
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