Most people will still use Xbox One online – Microsoft
Despite announcing this morning a massive U-turn regarding the Xbox One’s online requirements, Microsoft still believes that most people using the console will do so online.
Speaking with IGN, Xbox One chief product officer Marc Whitten said, “We believe that most people, frankly, are going to continue to take advantage of the connected state and all that comes with it.”
He also confirmed that the console’s Family Sharing function “won’t be there”.
Games will still need to be installed to the Xbox One’s hard drive, said Whitten, and as with the Xbox 360, the appropriate disc will need to be in the tray.
If a friend borrows a game it is installed on their drive, and once the disc is returned they may simply buy a key rather than download the game, he said.
Major League Gaming will no longer host the World StarCraft Championship
eSports organisation Major League Gaming has announced that it will no longer host Blizzard’s World StarCraft Championship.
Major League Gaming (MLG) operates the American division of the World StarCraft Championship (WSC), but is moving on to focus on its own tournaments.
“We have decided to transition away from operation of WCS America and refocus efforts on producing our own eSports competitions,” the company said.
GameStop: Xbox One online policy change is "great news"
Massive US gaming retailer GameStop is pretty happy with Microsoft's decision to revert to the second-hand market status quo on the upcoming Xbox One.
This morning, Microsoft announced that it was dropping the requirement for the Xbox One to check in online once every 24 hours, as well as the need to trade in used games through "participating retailers" only.
"GameStop welcomes today's announcement from Microsoft about changes in functionality for its next-generation console, the Xbox One," the company said in a statement.
Nintendo unfazed by PlayStation price point
Nintendo doesn’t appear particularly fazed by the price of the upcoming PlayStation 4.
Speaking with Kotaku at E3, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said that the PlayStation 4’s US$400 price did not bother him, even though a Premium Pack 32GB Wii U is US$350.
"It puts no pressure on us at all," Fils-Aime said.
"Sony and Microsoft are going to do what they're going to do. My bet is that there are going to be more announcements the closer we get to whatever their launch date is.
Sony pulls PS3 system update after it locks consoles
Sony has apologised for the faulty PS3 system update that has rendered a decent number of PlayStation 3's unusable for the time being.
Yesterday the company released firmware update 4.45 for the console, but its support forums were immediately flooded with reports that the update had caused consoles to freeze while booting up.
“We are aware of reports that the recent PlayStation 3 system software update (version 4.45) has caused the XMB to not display on a small number of PS3 systems," Sony told us this morning.
Code within Steam suggests sharing functionality being considered
A few lines of code within the latest Steam client appear to suggest Valve is considering letting users share games.
Uncovered by NeoGAF, the code in question reads:
"SteamUI_JoinDialog_SharedLicense_Title"
"Shared game library"
Hotline Miami 2 is darker, more emotional, out this year
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be out later this year, says Dennaton co-founder Denis Wedin.
Speaking with Joystiq at E3, Wedlin said the “late 2013” release will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux via Steam.
When questioned if like the original it would get a Vita release, Wedlin said, “We hope so”.
Xbox One sharing functions curbed
As a result of Microsoft dropping the Xbox One’s online requirements, the system’s sharing functions have been altered.
Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten went over the changes with Kotaku: "There’s a few things we won’t be able to deliver as a result of this change," he said.
When the Xbox One was unveiled, Microsoft stated that up to 10 people could be added to an account as “family”, and one at a time would then be able to play that account’s games from their own console – even if they didn’t own the game and the game’s owner was also playing. This function will no longer be available – when the console launches, at least.
Warning: The latest PS3 system update is causing problems
It's probably worth holding off updating your PlayStation 3 firmware to version 4.45, as reports are flooding in that it is causing issues with consoles.
Many PlayStation 3 owners have taken to the official US PlayStation forums to report that the update has bricked their consoles, causing it to freeze on the ribbon screen.
It's unclear whether the update is causing the above problem on all consoles, but it's probably worth holding off until we get the all-clear from Sony.
Game prices will not be higher for next-gen consoles
Both Sony and Microsoft have confirmed that first-party game prices on their upcoming consoles will be the same as they are right now.
A Microsoft representative told Polygon that it would sell its first-party Xbox One games for US$59.99 – the same price as most new releases on Xbox 360.
"I can confirm that Microsoft Studios games on Xbox One will be $59.99 (MSRP)," the representative said.
Thursday 20 June
Major League Gaming will no longer host the World StarCraft Championship
Code within Steam suggests sharing functionality being considered
Microsoft drops Xbox One online checks, sharing restrictions
Wednesday 19 June
A multiplayer Steel Diver will be Nintendo's first free-to-play game
We don't care what other companies are doing – Nintendo
Used market proof games are too short, lack replay value – Just Cause dev
Tuesday 18 June
Microsoft is "over-delivering value" with the Xbox One – Mattrick
State of Decay sequel likely as game crosses half million sold mark
Wicked Paradise is a virtual sex game for Oculus Rift
Monday 17 June
Civilization V: Brave New World - Featurette 4: World Congress & Diplomacy video
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