BioShock Infinite stunned game critics at E3 2011. And the first two hours of the game stun again. From our preview: "Irrational has crafted something truly extraordinary with Infinite. Even after two hours with the game, I know I'm barely scratching the surface, and I cannot wait to see more. It's going to take quite a lot to make all these disparate elements come together--but if Irrational succeeds, the payoff will be truly extraordinary."

Then, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance may be cut from a different cloth from the Solid series, but it is unquestionably a Metal Gear title, through and through. Beyond the heavy-handed story, over-the-top boss encounters, and surprising stealth sequences, you can see the Metal Gear DNA in nearly every aspect of the game, from Raiden's Codec to the cardboard boxes scattered in the environment. Eleven years after MGS2 introduced the world to Raiden, Rising finally makes him feel like a worthy successor to Snake's mantle.

Finally, this month's top 10 software sales are quite predictable, with Call of Duty, Halo, and Assassin's Creed rounding out the top three spots. However, how has the launch of Wii U changed this year's figures? Apparently, even Nintendo's new hardware couldn't stop the video game industry from contracting from last year.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: December 7, 2012 »

The first DLC for Dishonored is out next week. It will add leaderboards for those posting the best scores racing through the 10 different single-player challenge maps, is out December 11 and will cost $4.99 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Then, Journey has earned a Grammy nomination for its score in the category "Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media." This marks the first time a full score from a video game has been nominated for a Grammy. Finally, 343 industries is starting to reallocate its teams to work on the next big Halo project. Frank O'Connor, the franchise development director for Halo, said that "a lot of people at 343 are already prototyping ideas and software and art for future Halo products." Although it's unclear if the next big project is going to be Halo 5 or some type of offshoot, Microsoft has confirmed that 343 is working on a trilogy.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: December 6, 2012 »

Epic Games has lost another veteran presence in the studio with the announcement that Mike Capps is resigning as president after 10 years with the company. He will remain on the company's board of directors. Next, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 reached the $1 billion mark in sales after only 15 days, one day faster than Modern Warfare 3 did it last year, and two days faster than the blockbuster movie Avatar. Finally, Mass Effect 3's Omega DLC just arrived, but BioWare is already saying it is working on the next round of content for the popular sci-fi RPG. No details were released other than most of the writers are involved in this one.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: December 5, 2012 »

The first DLC for Assassin's Creed 3 will be made available today for Season Pass holders. "The Hidden Secrets" pack adds three missions, previously available as pre-order exclusives: The Lost Mayan Ruins, the Ghost of War, and a Dangerous Season. Combined, the three should offer an "additional hour of gameplay." Then, four add-ons for Sound Shapes will be available on the PlayStation Store later today, including one that will be completely free. Additional "albums" created by "entertainment industry luminaries" will continue to launch in 2013. Finally, Far Cry 3 is out today on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. If you want the game but haven't decided on which platform to go for, Sony is making a case for its console with an exclusive co-op downloadable content pack, due early next year.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: December 4, 2012 »

The first expansion pack for XCOM: Enemy Unknown lands on PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and PC December 4th. As previously announced, "Slingshot" adds three new missions to the campaign set in China, promising to add a bit more structure and narrative to the mostly randomly-generated game. Then, assuming we don't all die in fire due to Mayan prophecy, the next Thanksgiving will fall on November 28, 2013. If a new report is to be believed, that means we're less than a year from the launch of Microsoft's next console. Finally, Halo 3: ODST was one of Bungie's last games before separating from Microsoft to work on its next universe. Apparently, the company knew what it was planning for the future well in advance--so much so that it sneaked an easter egg into the now-three year old game.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 30, 2012 »

Splash Damage has revealed its new PC multiplayer FPS. The lovely chaps behind Brink and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory are returning to their home turf with Dirty Bomb. Then, GameFly has entered the realm of game publishing today, releasing its first game for the iOS entitled Writer Rumble. The game was a 2011 PAX 10 selection and was created by indie developer Feel Every Yummy. Finally, Warner Bros has unveiled another pugilist from fight 'em up Injustice: Gods Among Us's lineup, confirming the stabby-shooty Deathstroke for its DC Comics brawl-o-rama.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 29, 2012 »

First up, the new Wii U is still a big thing, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo from announcing the release of a revamped Wii Mini for the holiday season. It will be available December 7 for only $99.99, but there is no Internet connectivity, and it's exclusive to Canada.

Then, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is already out, and doing incredibly well in sales, but that hasn't stopped Activision from dropping a new behind-the-scenes video on us showing how the live-action-trailer-turned-TV-spot was created.

Finally, sales are going so well for Dishonored that publisher Bethesda Softworks has dubbed Arkane Studios' sneak 'em up as "a new franchise."

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 28, 2012 »

Old Spice has some great marketing folks. First it was the Terry Crews interactive human drum set, and now it is Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World. The retro style game requires the former NBA big man to do just what the title says. It's off the wall and interesting.

Then, the first DLC for Dishonored, Dunwall City Trials, will be coming on December 11. The DLC offers a race against the clock against waves of AI enemies to beat the times of other Dishonored players in friendly competition. More DLC will come this spring.

Finally, we take a look at how Far Cry 3 is doing with reviewers, even though the game is not out until December 4. Our own Jeff Mattas thought the single-player was really good, and he'll be checking out the multiplayer and co-op in a separate review closer to launch.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 27, 2012 »

The original Borderlands was lauded for its diverse and well-designed downloadable content packs. Campaign of Carnage for Borderlands 2 isn't great, but a subversive twist wrapped in some over-the-top boss fights should be enough to satisfy.

Then, The Walking Dead is easily one of the most focused and cohesive adventure game we've played to date. More importantly, it's a story that invites discussion and dissection, and a credit to the narrative power of video games. Those interested in these electronic diversions as a storytelling medium simply need to experience it. The final episode is out today.

Finally, we've said it before, and we'll say it again: PlayStation All-Stars is not Smash Bros. Battle Royale fills a niche in PlayStation's lineup, and it does a good enough job at offering a party-oriented fighting experience. There's a long list of things that should be improved for a sequel, but it's certainly fun enough for a first outing in the franchise.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 20, 2012 »

Wii U is out and it makes good on the promise of offering a very different experience than that of its competitors. The seamless integration of TV and second screen must be commended. Nintendo Network, specifically Miiverse, must be applauded. And Wii U's multitasking capabilities put other consoles to shame. However, many should be (rightfully) worried about the system's graphical prowess. If you already have the system, do note that a day one patch for the Wii U adds many elements of its online functionality. Be careful: interrupting it could turn your shiny new Wii U into a very expensive paperweight. Finally, we're almost through the roster of pre-holiday big-hitters, but this week will be another good'un for new releases.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 19, 2012 »

Activision has gone over the launch-day figures for the latest Call of Duty game and once again declared the latest instalment the biggest-selling yet. Then, we knew Mr. Torgue was coming as DLC for Borderlands 2, but now we know that his Campaign of Carnage will hit on November 20 and will cost $10. Finally, Hitman: Absolution is just around the corner, and Square Enix is drawing its promotional blitz to a close with the final launch trailer.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 16, 2012 »

Nintendo Land is being positioned as the company's flagship game for the Wii U console, much like Wii Sports was for the original Wii. Unfortunately, this mini-game compilation falls short of that ambitious goal. Thankfully, New Super Mario Bros U picks up the slack, thanks to excellent level designs, fantastic boss battles, and exhilarating multiplayer modes. Simply put, this is the best game in the New Super Mario franchise to date. Then, the fifth and final episode of Telltale's The Walking Dead will claw at your door next week, bringing the adventure game series to a most-probably-distressing conclusion. Finally, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is preparing its next bit of downloadable content, titled Dragonborn. Bethesda shed a little more light on the name and the content today, with a handful of screenshots and a few details on what exactly you'll be doing when you take up the mantle again.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 15, 2012 »

The eagerly awaited new trailer for Grand Theft Auto 5 was released today and Ryan Calavano breaks the video down into bite-size pieces for those that aren't familiar with what's going on. From Trevor jumping off a moving train or parachuting out of a Jeep plummeting from a plane, you can get his take on why he's so excited for the game. Also, if you aren't sure what's going on with the Wii U's networking capabilities, get a more detailed look at Miiverse, the Nintendo Network and the new Internet browser.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 14, 2012 »

If you want to get a good look at what's coming in Grand Theft Auto 5 when it comes out this spring, then you'll want to check out these 20 new screenshots. Then, Sony's premium subscription service PlayStation Plus will spread to Vita next Tuesday, with Wipeout 2048, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Jet Set Radio, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, and Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, Sony announced. Finally, there is fun to be had in Black Ops 2, but it can be hard to see it at times through the sea of shortcomings. The compelling narrative and Goyer's script is marred by lackluster tech that can't fully realize its vision. Read our full review.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 13, 2012 »

Grand Theft Auto 5 is massive, you know. But Rockstar creative VP Dan Houser has let slip another juicy tidbit: One of those characters is the game's main bad guy. Then, if you are a loyal Lara Croft fan, then the traditional disc-only copy of the upcoming Tomb Raider may not be enough for you. Fear not, as Square Enix has revealed a Collector's Edition that will get you plenty of extra goodies for you to fawn over. Finally, we look at this week's new releases, which include Call of Duty and Wii U.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 12, 2012 »

The latest Hitman: Absolution trailer asks if you have the instincts for his job. The "Ultimate Assassin" video shows off many of the skills 47 has at his disposal. Then, PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale wasn't always a fighting game. Before it turned into the four-player fighting game it is today, it was actually an eight player (4v4) capture-the-flag-inspired action game. Finally, Jay-Z is gonna be rollin' in dough as NBA 2K13 tops the charts, beating out formidable competitors from Resident Evil 6 and Pokemon.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 9, 2012 »

Hitman: Absolution will be out in less than three weeks, and Square Enix has released a new trailer showing off the "living, breathing world" of the game. Well, there are parts that aren't living and breathing so much after 47 has his way with them. Then, if you haven't heard, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 includes a remade version of the popular Nuketown map--only if you pre-order the game. Nuketown 2025 is a launch-day bonus for all that reserve the game, and here's what it looks like. Finally, have an American Express card and an Xbox 360 system? Listen up, as you'll be able to get a free $10 statement credit just for signing up, and get $75 more just for playing Halo 4.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 2, 2012 »

"In Motion" is a DLC expansion for Portal 2 designed for PlayStation Move. It will be available to download on the PlayStation Store next Tuesday, November 6th. Then, on November 8, the Angry Birds and Star Wars universes will collide and we get another look. Finally, Halo 4 picks up where the last numbered entry left off, but a few things have changed in the intervening years. 343 Industries hasn't quite made the franchise its own, but it has accomplished its first and most important goal--it didn't mess it all up.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: November 1, 2012 »

The Walt Disney Company has acquired Lucasfilm and its subsidiaries, including its LucasArts video gaming division, in a deal that's valued at $4.05 billion. LucasArts was working on Star Wars 1313 before the acquisition. Then, Borderlands 2 has been a success for publisher 2K Games, appearing high on last month's NPD chart. In Take 2's earnings report, the company revealed that it has shipped 5 million copies at retail. Then, EA admits that Medal of Honor Warfighter will not meet financial expectations, adding "while we're disappointed in the critical response, we believe this is a good game." But, FIFA Soccer 13 is now "the biggest sports launch of all-time," Electronic Arts has revealed, with 7.4 million copies sold through within its first four weeks of release. Finally, come celebrate Halloween with a peek at some of the things that'll terrify you next year, won't you?

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 31, 2012 »

Look, there's going to be another Call of Duty game next year. But what will it be? Given the trend, smart money would be on an Infinity Ward-developed Modern Warfare 4--and that's supposedly what we'll be getting. Then, Rockstar confirmed the Spring 2013 time frame for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 release of Grand Theft Auto 5, and also announced pre-orders for the game will begin at retailers beginning on November 5. Finally, bigger is not necessarily better, and Ubisoft proves that with Assassin's Creed 3. By juggling so much, AC3 is less successful at being as polished, cohesive, and satisfying as AC2.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 30, 2012 »

Let's watch the new live-action trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. You may recognize people in it from movies or YouTube. The trailer is, of course, continuing the 'famous people do video game stuff' thread started with the original Black Ops and used for Modern Warfare 3 too. Then, Angry Birds Star Wars unsurprisingly looks like Angry Birds. We see two of the birds' special abilities: Luke (the red bird) swinging a lightsaber at a structure and Leia (pink) shooting her blasters at an AT-AT walker. Finally, this week's groaning with new releases, including Assassin's Creed III.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 29, 2012 »

You probably could've guessed that 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City would come to iOS and Android doohickeys, after Grand Theft Auto III was ported last year, but you didn't know, man. Now you do. Then, it appears NBC Universal's attempt to rebrand G4 as "less geek, more chic" has left some casualties. The network's video game-related programming appears to have been killed as we've learned that both X-Play and Attack of the Show have been canceled today. Finally, what's that lurking on your computer as Halloween approaches, ready to jump out and gnaw on your nose? It's a whole load of dinosaurs. Man vs. dino multiplayer shooter Primal Carnage is stampeding onto PC just ahead of that spooky night on October 29.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 26, 2012 »

Bethesda has announced three DLC packs coming for Dishonored, the first called Dunwall City Trials expected sometime in December. Next, the original was an add-on for Train Simulator 2, but the new Trains vs. Zombies 2 is a stand-alone game out today on PC. Finally, Star Citizen has exceeded it Kickstarter goal, and as of this writing, has beaten its $2 million goal for the game with 25 days left.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 25, 2012 »

Microsoft has released the gameplay launch trailer for Halo 4, a nice reprieve from the live-action Forward Unto Dawn series and the David Fincher-produced "Scanned" commercial. Then, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus has confirmed yesterday's reports of massive layoffs across multiple studios. In a letter, Pincus said the company cut 5% of its total staff, and closed its Boston studio entirely. It has also proposed closures to the Japan and UK studios. Finally, Far Cry 3's drug-induced jaunt through a tropical island paradise continues to get more interesting with the introduction of a new bad guy to hate. A new trailer shows off Hoyt, a human trafficker that you will need to eliminate with the help of one of his key lieutenants.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 24, 2012 »

If you've got a PlayStation 3 and will be grabbing Assassin's Creed 3 when it comes out October 30, then be prepared for four extra missions featured American Revolution traitor Benedict Arnold. And for you Xbox 360 folks, you've get a new NBA Game Time app that will allow you to watch live NBA games straight off the console--for a fee of course. Finally, if you got Medal of Honor Warfighter on any platform, be prepared to snag a 1.7 GB release-day patch that fixes a laundry list of problems with the game that apparently wasn't ready for launch.

Watch: Shacknews Daily: October 23, 2012 »