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.
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.
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.
A multiplayer Steel Diver will be Nintendo's first free-to-play game
Nintendo’s first free-to-play game will be a multiplayer-focussed Steel Diver title.
Speaking with IGN, Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto said that the game wouldn’t be a port of the existing Steel Diver title on 3DS, which suggests that it will be a Wii U release. Nintendo did not confirm platforms, however.
"There is something we’re doing with the Steel Diver idea that I think is going to open things up with that game... It’s going to be very fun,” said Miyamoto.
Shadowrun Returns delayed another month
The release of Shadowrun Returns has been delayed until July 25, developer Harebrained Schemes has announced.
The game was initially expected in January but was delayed until earlier this month.
“We know we’ve been saying June for some time, but now that we’ve reached this final stage of development, and although our Kickstarter funding was spent some time ago, we've decided to invest additional time in bugfixing and polishing the game,” said Harebrained in an update on the game’s Kickstarter page.
Sony not expecting third-parties to employ DRM on PS4
Although it’s possible for third-parties to implement DRM measures on the PlayStation 4, Sony is not expecting anything serious to surface.
Speaking with Polygon, PlayStation executive Scott Rohde said that the appearance of heavy DRM measures from outside companies would come as a shock.
"Quite frankly it would be pretty surprising to me to see a third party come up with some way to set a new set of DRM rules," he said.
We don't care what other companies are doing – Nintendo
Nintendo’s Wii U was overshadowed by its competitors at this year’s E3 and is rapidly losing third-party support, but the company doesn’t seem particularly worried.
Speaking with CNN, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that Nintendo wasn’t concerned about other next-gen consoles as the Wii U’s strategy was completely unique.
"We just don't care too much about what other companies are doing or are trying to do," said Iwata.
Used market proof games are too short, lack replay value – Just Cause dev
The size of the second-hand games market is proof that games are too short and not replayable enough, says Avalanche Studios’ Christofer Sundberg.
The studio CCO told Edge that Just Cause 2 still attracts “hundreds of thousands” of players every day because it offered a decent amount of replayability.
“If you’re offering little variation, then there’s no motivation for the player to keep that game, unless they want to have a nice bookshelf,” said Sundberg.
Remote Play, cross-game chat built-in on PS4
All PlayStation 4 games will support Remote Play on the Vita because the function is baked into the console, Sony has announced.
"On PlayStation 4 , it just happens. You just make a PS4 game, it supports Remote Play," Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida told Engadget.
"The single biggest issue, why there are not many PlayStation 3 games that support Remote Play, was that it was optional – the system didn't do much.
Microsoft is "over-delivering value" with the Xbox One – Mattrick
Microsoft has defended the Xbox One’s price, claiming that the console will be better value than any competing devices on the market.
The company's interactive entertainment business president Don Mattrick told Bloomberg TV that the console’s US$499 price tag was “a lower number than some of the analysts had forecast".
"We're over-delivering value against other choices I think consumers can get, said Mattrick.
Thursday 20 June
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
Shorter production cycles, Xbox Live brought Sunset Overdrive to XO
Sunday 16 June
Friday 14 June
E3: Xbox One online checks will require “kilobytes, not megabytes”
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