UPDATE: The sleuthing soldiers over at Charlie Intel have found some new goodies hidden inside the source code in Black Ops 3‘s site.

A brand new description for the game was spotted, as what appears to be official box art for Treyarch’s new Blops sequel.

The description reveals that campaign, multiplayer and zombies will return in full force, and delivers a brief rundown of what we can expect from the game’s story arc

“Call of Duty®: Black Ops 3 is the first title for next-gen hardware in the critically acclaimed Black Ops series. Developed by Treyarch, the award-winning creator of the two most played games in Call of Duty® history.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 deploys players into a dark, twisted future where a new breed of Black Ops soldiers emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the technology we created to stay ahead, in a world where cutting-edge military robotics define warfare.

“With three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies, it providing fans with the deepest and most ambitious Call of Duty ever.”

Original story is as follows.

Black Ops 3 has been officially announced by Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI) in a brand new teaser trailer, pointing to a worldwide reveal later this month.

According to the teaser trailer, Activision will hold a global unveiling of Black Ops 3 on April 26, 2015 with the possibility of in-game footage, screenshots, and more details on the game.

A new post on the Call of Duty blog reveals that Blops 3 will release this year.

“After three years of working in the shadows, the team at Treyarch returns this year with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3,” said Scott Lowe, communications manager at Activision.

“There’s so much to talk about and I’m sure you all have plenty of questions, but the good news is you won’t have to wait long for answers—the world reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is set for Sunday, April 26, so stay tuned for details.”

.@Treyarch is #BackInBlack https://t.co/oxsNv8idvU

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) April 9, 2015

The existence of Black Ops 3 was first speculated by a Snapchat viral campaign spotted by Black Ops II players, lending credence to a possible continuation in the series.

The community’s intuition proved to be right on the mark, as the next Call of Duty game will indeed be a third Blops, and judging from the mysterious trailer we might see some familiar faces in the new sequel.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 officially confirmed.

— Nadeshot (@OpTic_NaDeSHoT) April 9, 2015

Call of Duty world champion Nadeshot was among many who broke the news to excited Blops fans, many of which have been clamoring for a return to the Black Ops line.

Since the news broke the #BackInBlack hashtag has been trending on Twitter, leading to thousands of posts from excited gamers.

It’ll be interesting to see what Activision and Treyarch have planned for the reveal, but all we know for now is that Black Ops 3 is indeed real, and it’ll be blown apart later this month.

The post Black Ops 3 Confirmed, Set For April 26 Reveal appeared first on VR World.

Rockstar Games offers a brief look at the impressive array of graphical options and settings included on Grand Theft Auto V‘s PC version.

Thanks to the platform’s raw power and functionality, GTA V on PC is largely seen as the definitive flavor, featuring a huge range of visual and performance upgrades that soar past consoles.

Today Rockstar delivered a brief Tweet that shows off some of the exclusive higher end options that PC users will get to play with to test the mettle of their rigs.

One of these settings lets you play a god of sorts, giving players direct control the visual fidelity of Los Santos’ environments and population. The graphics tab includes slider bars for population density in any given area–that is to say how many NPC’s are on-screen–as well population variety, ensuring seldom repeated characters.

Other visual options include your basic textures and shadow quality presets, along with tampering with the pristine sheen on reflective surfaces like water and glass, water quality (which is pretty important when you’re boating or jet-skiing across the waves on Vespucci Beach).

You’ll be able to adjust “high detail streaming” while doing barrel rolls and soaring the skies, which might have something to do with the streamers left by the planes in the air. Other advanced options include high-resolution shadows and extended shadow and distance scaling.

The advanced graphics tab even has a benchmark tester, just in case you need to gauge how good your hardware is while in-game.

Below is a full list of GTA V on PC’s graphical settings (thanks, PC Gamer):

Graphics Tab

• Video memory slider: shows you how much video memory is being used in MB
• DirectX Version Output monitor: 1-3
• Anti-aliasing: FXAA, MSAA and Nvidia TXAA supported
• Pause game on focus loss
• Texture quality: Normal – Very High
• Shader quality: Normal – Very High
• Shadow quality: Normal – Very High
• Reflection quality: Normal – Very High
• Reflection MSAA
• Water quality: Normal – Very High
• Particles quality: Normal – Very High
• Grass quality: Normal – Very High
• Soft shadows options: softer, softest, AMD CHS, Nvidia PCSS
• Post FX options: Normal – Ultra
• Motion blur strength
• In-game depth of field effects
• Anisotropic filtering: Up to x16
• Ambient occlusion Options
• Tesellation Options

Advanced Graphics Tab

• Long shadows: On/Off
• High resolution shadows: On/Off
• High detail streaming while flying: On/Off
• Extended distance scaling bar
• Extended shadow distance bar
• Benchmark testing

As far as controls, it looks like Rockstar might have ensured the game can be comfortably played with a keyboard and mouse as well as a gamepad.

Players can customize their keyboard and mouse combinations with specific key-bindings and map their own control schemes, and adjust various sensitivities and auto-centering features across vehicles and on-foot.

Basically Rockstar gives PC gamers expansive control over the entirety of their experience in Los Santos, letting them tweak a vast assortment of options to ensure optimum performance.

Grand Theft Auto V‘s highly anticipated PC version launches just next week on April 14, 2015.

The post GTA V on PC Advanced Graphics Settings Unveiled appeared first on VR World.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) will release Mass Effect 4 by March 2016 as part of its initiative for fiscal year growth, renown industry analyst Michael Pachter predicts.

In a new report focused on EA’s plans for growth across the company’s current fiscal year (lasting from April 2015 to March 2016), the Wedbush Securities analyst prognosticates key titles including the next Mass Effect game will be released before the fiscal year’s end.

“EA’s strong presence on the next-gen consoles positions the company to thrive in coming years,” Pachter wrote in the report.

“Fiscal Year 2016 (FY:16) is expected to feature incremental releases Mass Effect 4, Mirror’s Edge 2, a new Need For Speed game, and Star Wars: Battlefront, as well as meaningful re-orders for Battlefield Hardline, which launched in late Q4:15.”

Concept art for the new Mass Effect showcases that sci-fantasy universe that’s rife with adventure and possibility.

Pachter’s predictions have been known for being accurate, making him a trusted industry soothsayer who’s forecasts have come to fruition.

Pachter was one of the many sources that claimed Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) would release Kinect-less Xbox One model, and also contributed to other bold analyses and predictions.

Even still not much is known about the new Mass Effect game, and if EA is indeed planning a March 2016 release, it’d be wise to start launching teasers to build hype and speculation.

BioWare has yet to release any real concrete details about the game other than a few snippets and a formal announcement at E3 2014. As far as visuals, all we’ve seen so far are a few pieces of concept art back from November 2014.

What we do know is that the new Mass Effect title might not be a direct sequel, and that Commander Shepard won’t involved at all. The developers have confirmed that the “Shepard trilogy is over”.

BioWare wants to explore new tangents in the massive universe, and plans to create a brand new story arc for the game, which may or may not be the beginning of a new series.

Mass Effect 4 will run on BioWare’s new Frostbite 3 Engine that powered Dragon Age: Inquisition. Also the Mako will return, and Mass Effect 4 will have multiplayer.

The art beautifully melds the worlds of fantasy and technology, illustrating the very heart of sci-fi.

BioWare community manager Chris Priestly discusses the new game, giving a few clues here and there:

“To call the next game ‘Mass Effect 4′ or ‘ME4′ is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here.

“We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her. That is the only detail you have on the game. I see people saying ‘well, they’ll have to pick a canon ending.’

“No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda. Wherever, whenever, whoever, etc will all be revealed years down the road when we actually start talking about it.

“I do not call the game ME4 when I talk about it ever, [because] that makes people think of it more as ‘what happens after ‘Mass Effect 3′ rather than ‘what game happens next set in the ‘Mass Effect’ Universe.

“Obviously fans are going to speculate content, character and story until we actually reveal details in the years or months to come as you have almost no actual details, just don’t get bogged down in ‘well how are they going to continue ME3.”

If this lineup is authentic, then EA’s 2016 fiscal year looks pretty solid. Between the hotly anticipated Star Wars: Battlefront from DICE and a new Mirror’s Edge sequel the publisher will forge the path for its seminal big release of the year: Mass Effect 4.

We’ll likely hear more details over the year about BioWare’s next sci-fi adventure, possibly at E3 2015, and it’ll probably see a release on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The post Mass Effect 4 Predicted For Early 2016 Release appeared first on VR World.

There’s a lot of magic in a fantasy map.

Whether its a sprawling fantasy epic like The Wheel of Time or a multi-hundred hour RPG like Skyrim, world maps have a way of bringing an enchanting universe to life. The maps let us pinpoint our adventures and trace paths through sprawling continents, trekking through misty mountain highlands, tropical sunny coasts, and everything in between.

That same grand splendor is clearly evident in the atlas for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which depicts a vast fantasy world filled with kingdoms, magic, and faraway lands.

The Witcher 3’s world map is incredibly handsome, and reminds me of Morrowind’s beautifully crafted atlas.

To get the beautifully illustrated Witcher 3 map you’ll have to pre-order the game’s official collector’s edition strategy guide from GameStop, which is priced at a hefty $40. The guide also comes with a neat 90-page “grimoire” that has extra details about the monsters and peoples of the world.

CD Projekt RED has touted the massive scope of the The Witcher 3‘s open-world for quite some time.

According to the developers, the game will take over 200 hours to complete in its entirety, including all of the various quests, collectibles,  and side missions.

As far as size, the Witcher 3‘s in-game world is comparatively scaled to be 30 times bigger than the area in Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Put alongside other epic RPG’s we see that the game is 20% larger than the frosty continent of Skyrim.

Witcher 3 is full of beautiful scenic vistas with varying environments, from alpine mountainscapes to exotic islands and sprawling cities.

To traverse this incredible expanse, Geralt of Rivia will be able to ride on horseback across land and reach outlying island regions like Shelliar via sailboat. Players will also be able to explore full-scaled underwater regions by diving underwater and swimming in the wave-cresting seas.

The atlas maps out the Witcher 3‘s entire world, depicting every city, kingdom, river, and zone in the game.

From the Grassy Knoll and Gustfields in the north the Crow’s Perch and swampy Mire to the south, the map highlights every exotic location that players can visit in their journey.

Geralt can only reach certain areas by sailboat, and he’ll also be able to swim and dive to search for undersea treasures.

Three major continental zones include the wide expanse of the Northern Realm, the island chains of Shelliar that can only be reached by boat, and the faraway White Orchard that’s cut by a wide river.

All of these regions feature CD Projekt RED’s dynamic day-to-night transitions and real-time environmental effects including rain, storms, snow and more to deliver an authentic immersive feel.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is slated to release May 19, 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

The post The Witcher 3 Map Showcases Colossal Fantasy World appeared first on VR World.

It looks like Rockstar’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto V on PC will be a whopping seven discs, according to recent reports.

The news was originally found on a Reddit post that depicts what appears to be an early shipped physical copy of the game across seven DVD discs. For comparison’s sake the Xbox 360 flavor of the game weighs in at just two DVD discs, whereas the PS4 and Xbox One variants are a single Blu-ray disc.

But why go with DVD instead of Blu-Ray, when the latter can hold so much more space?

It looks like Rockstar went with the more accessible option. Not everyone has Blu-ray drives and the studio wanted to make GTA V as compatible as possible, even if if the game has high recommended specs.

Digital downloads of GTA V require at least 65 GB of free space, and doing a little bit of match, the physical version seems to be around ~63 GB (7 discs multiplied by the max 9GB capacity of dual-layer DVD’s).

Since GTA V on PC is markedly different than its console predecessors, it’s easy to see why the game needs so much space.

Harnessing the extensive power of the PC platform affords amenities like consistent 60fps frame-rates for fluid gameplay, not to mention dazzling 4K-ready resolution.

Adaptive Sync is yet another PC-only utility that improves performance. Using Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync PC gamers can ensure optimum graphical fidelity and refresh rates between monitors and GPUs.

It looks like GTA V might require a 58mb day one update, which is paltry compared to the mandatory 8-16GB day one updates required by some console games.

GTA V on PC also requires a 58mb day-one update, says Twitter user Funmw4, who actually was able to snag the update while pre-loading his copy.

Apart from the update, Funmw4 also confirmed that a Rockstar Club account is 100% required to play the game, which is a bit curious. In the console flavors signing up wasn’t mandatory, but offered extra features like sharing in-game pictures across social media streams and forums.

Digital pre-loading for GTA V has since gone live, allowing gamers to secure their copies before Rockstar officially launches it next Tuesday.

t’s also worth noting that the day-one update might be a an anti-piracy measure of some sort, perhaps even a safeguard against cracked versions.

It’ll be interesting to see if the game is in fact seven DVD discs or not, but judging how long the downloads are taking so far, this might be the best option.

The post Report: GTA V On PC Will Span Seven Discs appeared first on VR World.

A viral marketing campaign for this year’s new Call of Duty game has been unearthed, and it looks like the annual release might return to the Black Ops series.

The campaign was spotted shortly after Activision (NASDAQ: ATVI) released a stealthy update, which embedded a number of Snapchat QR codes across various Call of Duty: Black Ops II maps.

The Snapchat links are planted across random advertisements in the game’s multiplayer maps, and you can actually scan them in with your phone using the Snapchat app to get a glimpse at the viral campaign.

YouTuber Drift0r first spotted the additions, and uploaded video walkthroughs on where to find them. Additionally the Snapchat QR codes can only be found on console versions of Black Ops II as the update isn’t yet available on PC.

After scanning the QR codes you’re met with a message that you’ve added Call of Duty as a friend. But what about the campaign itself?

The viral scheme has published two very short videos that raise many more questions than they answer. The videos are extremely cryptic and point to an odd sort of induction footage, the kind of eerie content you’d use to brainwash someone.

As Charlie Intel notes, the account’s Snapchat name has been changed to Dr. Saim, who presumably is the speaker during the 10-second clips.

“Listen only to the sound of my voice…” the first video proclaims.

“Let your thoughts drift…let the bad memories fade…let peace be upon you.” Dr. Saim says in that calm voice while odd footage rolls past.

@TmarTn @OMGitsAliA @Drift0r On Callofduty's Snapchat! pic.twitter.com/P7cD3ozAa5

— Nick (@Nipple_Nicholas) April 7, 2015

@TmarTn @charlieINTEL new callofduty snapchat video pic.twitter.com/NBehwcqQUY

— Element (@Elemxnt) April 7, 2015

But how exactly does this suggest that Black Ops III is in the works?

The link here is tenuously based on the fact that the QR codes were found in Black Ops II, leading gamers to believe Activision might be going back to the franchise.

The bizarre videos align perfectly with the headgames that were featured throughout both Black Ops campaigns. Plus the publisher usually unveils is new annual Call of Duty entrant in May, so the timing is right to start building speculation and hype with mysterious teases.

It’ll be interesting to see what Activision has to say in the coming weeks, but for now we’re stuck with the enigmatic footage and curiosity. Fans have been calling for a return to the Black Ops line and this might be Activision’s answer to the demand.

Source: YouTube

Via: Charlie Intel, PC Gamer

The post Is Activision Teasing Black Ops III With New Hidden ARG? appeared first on VR World.

Warner Bros. has just acquired the rights to create a Five Nights at Freddy‘s movie from game creator Scott Cawthon, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee will produce the feature-length adaptation, along with Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg of KatzSmith Productions. Both producers at KatzSmith Productions are also working on a Beetlejuice sequel.

The producers will work closely along with the game’s developer Scott Cawthon to keep the distinct horror thrills intact, and make sure the movie is an authentic extension of the beloved creepy series.

“We’re looking forward to working with Scott to make an insane, terrifying and weirdly adorable movie,” produce Grahame-Smith shared.

“The story really lends itself to being a movie and it taps into a largely unexplored niche of horror that a lot of people will be able to relate to,” Scott Cawthon, the game’s renown creator, said.

The Five Nights at Freddy’s games have a distinct cult following, and have become some of the most acclaimed indies of all time.

Taking place in a haunted Chuck E. Cheese-type restaurant called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the games tell a truly eerie and chilling tale while utilizing some of the most original horror elements in the industry. There are currently three games in the Five Nights at Freddy‘s series, with a possible fourth chapter in the works.

It’ll be interesting to see how the movie will take shape over the coming months, but since Cawthon is involved, we think that the film will stay true to the mystique that’s enthralled millions of gamers.

No details on a release date have been revealed, and we should expect updates later this year.

The post Warner Bros. Making Five Nights At Freddy’s Movie appeared first on VR World.

UPDATE 3: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has just been updated with an official listing on Steam, featuring a batch of new screengrabs included below.

UPDATE 2: Square Enix has released a new announcement trailer for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided that’s incredibly explosive, symbolic, and just plain awesome.

The video clocks in at three minutes in length and delivers some of the most impressive visual fidelity I’ve seen all year. Plus we have a new bit of info from the trailer’s description, which can be found below.

“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided directly follows the aftermath of the Aug Incident, a day when mechanically augmented citizens all over the world were stripped of control over their minds and bodies, resulting in the deaths of millions of innocents.

“The year is now 2029, and the golden era of augmentations is over.

“Mechanically augmented humans have been deemed outcasts and segregated from the rest of society. Crime and acts of terror serve as a thin veil to cover up an overarching conspiracy aimed at controlling the future of mankind…

“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is coming soon on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. #CantKillProgress”

UPDATE: All Games Beta has just spotted a collage of new screenshots for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided which can be found below.

Original story is as follows.

Square Enix’s new Deus Ex game has been unearthed, revealing the return of Adam Jensen in a direct sequel to the cyborg shooter hit Human Revolution.

The new game is called Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and is currently in development for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

It’ll take place in 2029 right after the events of Human Revolution, and according to Game Informer, Eidos-Montreal will keep the game’s distinct level of choice-driven gameplay intact as well as update combat mechanics and boss fights.

The game itself focuses on the new pressures on society brought on by augmentations, causing humanity to splinter off into two groups: humans and “transhumans”, that is people with special biomechanic agumentations that make them extra-powerful.

As a comparison, think of how society hates and fears  mutants in the X-Men comics. People are afraid of the new transhumans because they’re basically superhuman, meaning augmented criminals and terrorists can do far more damage.

This time around Jensen, an augmented human himself, gets hired as a special operative in an Interpol-funded task force that hunts down these dangerous transhuman terrorists.

“Jensen has a new suite of augmentations that allow him to cleverly navigate stealth, combat, and social interactions, but how Jensen chooses to solve every problem is entirely up to you.” –Game Informer

Game Informer has also confirmed that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be their cover issue for May, which promises tons of new info and scoops.

Additionally the new screenshots (see below for a full gallery) show off some features of the game, including what looks to be a live-action upgrade system (above) as well as that sleek high-tech style we know and love.

Mankind Divided was presumably the new game that Square Enix was set to reveal in their 3-day “Cant Stop Progress” ARG stream. The publisher has issued a new Tweet that hints at a full reveal tomorrow.

Come see the future of Deus Ex, tomorrow at 09:00PT/12:00ET/18:00CEST on http://t.co/cyr5xIE3fm. #CantKillProgress pic.twitter.com/bJS5Gf2gUu

— Deus Ex (@DeusEx) April 7, 2015

The post New Deus Ex Game Leaked, Adam Jensen Returns appeared first on VR World.

Online retailer Amazon has opened up pre-orders for Razer’s new surprisingly beefy Android-powered micro-console, the Forge TV.

Since Razer has opted to sell controller-less retail versions for $99, Amazon’s $149.99 listing bundles the device alongside the new Android-optimized Serval controller. The controllers normally retail at $79 so you’re actually saving money going this route.

The Forge TV is scheduled to release May 1, 2015.

Here’s what the device has under the hood:

• CPU: 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 (quad-core)
• RAM: 2GB
• Storage: 16GB
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1, wireless 802.11ac, gigabit Ethernet
• Ports: HDMI 1.4 output, USB 3.0, DC Power
• OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop

Forging a New Path

Micro-consoles have started crowding the hardware market over the last year or so, and they ultimately aim to deliver a console gaming experience without the premium console price. We’ve seen devices like the MadCatz Mojo, the Gamestick

Tapping the versatility of Android has been the key, as the OS not only games via Google Play but a wealth of multimedia and entertainment apps like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go.

With just about every major player throwing their hat into the ring of Android set-top boxes, it’s not so surprising to see Razer jump in as well.

The Razer Forge TV has access to Google Play’s wide array of apps and features, making it a multimedia portal as well as a mini games console.

With so many options on the market, Razer plans to woo gamers with an attractive performance versus value ratio.

As far as performance and functionality goes the Forge TV beats out competitors like the Ouya, which retails for the same price, and delivers a fractured games marketplace compared to the huge open-ended Google Play store.

Beating Ouya is just the start. Razer’s Forge TV will take on key competitors like Valve’s new Steam Link and Nvidia’s 4K TV- ready Shield Console.

How well it’ll fair against the big contenders like Valve and Nvidia remains to be seen. That being said the Forge TV is $50 cheaper than the Shield Console, and since gamers already own PC’s, picking up a higher performance micro-console is a bit redundant.

Apart from price, Razer does have additional aces up its sleeve: the multiplatform-capable Serval controller, and the Cortex game streaming ecosystem.

The Serval controller is quite flexible and can transform into a MOGA-like controller for on-the-go mobile gaming.

The Serval controller is basically a refined Sabertooth controller that can duo as a Moga controller. It can be paired to four different devices including PCs, tablets, mobile phones and the Forge TV, making it a versatile and flexible solution.

You can also hook up four Serval controllers up to the micro-console, making for some epic couch co-op sessions.

Razer even has a stylish “Turret” keyboard and mouse combo that’s designed for use in your living room, which is a pretty great idea.

Cortex is Razer’s unified games streaming ecosystem that will bring PC gaming to your living room.

Cortex is Razer’s answer to Steam Link, and represents a major ecosystem that will unify Razer’s array of gaming hardware.

Using Cortex you’ll be able to stream games from your centralized PC to the Forge TV via LAN connectivity. It’s a lot like the PS4’s Remote Play function only with PC games.

No release date has been finalized for the PC-to-mobile games streaming service, but Razer has targeted a Q2 2015 release window.

If you’re thinking about picking one up be sure to check out some reviews. The major consensus seems to indicate that the Forge TV’s full potential won’t manifest until Cortex is made available.

Until then it’s just another middle-grade set-top box in a sea of Android micro-consoles.

Source: Amazon

Via: Talk Android

The post Pre-Orders Open For Razer’s Forge TV Micro-Console appeared first on VR World.

Right before April Fool’s day, Hyperkin, the famed accessory firm that created the Game Genie, unveiled a new peripheral that transforms smartphones into fully-functioning Game Boy handhelds.

Labeled the Smart Boy, the peripheral was previously dismissed as an April Fool’s Joke. But Hyperkin reveals that the company used the annual holiday as a disguise for a marketing ploy, and it was just testing the waters to gauge interest.

It looks like Hyperkin is satisfied with the Smart Boy’s reception because the device is currently in development.

“As this is only a conceptual design, features may be removed or added in its current development stage,” the company said on its Facebook page.

Only iPhone 6’s will be compatible will the device so far, but there are plans to include other smartphones in the future.

The Smart Boy will only be compatible for iPhone 6’s at the start, but it’ll support other mobiles in the future.

Essentially the Smart Boy is a hollowed out dock stylized like a Game Boy with two different slots. The front slot secures the smartphone in place, which acts as the handheld’s screen. In the back you’ll be able to slide in cartridges just like the original model.

Game cartridges will slide in the back of the dock, making a sort of strange hybrid controller fashioned after Nintendo’s namesake handheld.

Hyperkin promises that all official Game Boy and Game Boy Color game cartridges will be compatible with the device.

The Smart Boy looks, feels and functions just like Nintendo’s popular early 90’s handheld, featuring an 8-way D-Pad along with the A and B buttons. Plus it also features its own 5-hour battery that “can be charged through the phone itself”.

Hyperkin might have a hard time getting licensing rights from Nintendo regarding Game Boy tech and games playback.

While Hyperkin might be on board for this idea, Nintendo most assuredly is not.

The beleaguered Japanese gaming giant is infamous for their restrictive reign on their official products, and we might see Nintendo try to shut down the Smart Boy.

On the other hand Nintendo could learn something from the device. Since the company has confirmed it’ll be making smartphone games after all, a mobile-compatible peripheral like the Smart Boy could help make mobile gaming more accessible.

Touchpad screens are great for navigating websites and using apps, but they’re bad for trying to play platformers like Super Mario Bros. that take quick reflexes and coordination.

The post The Smart Boy Transforms an iPhone 6 Into a Game Boy appeared first on VR World.

It was a successful year for Mercedes-Benz (ETR: DAI) in every way: Increasing sales, new models coming out and now, a few awards to go along and spice things up.

Mercedes-Benz has won three categories in the prestigious World Car Awards 2015. These were received by Christoph Horn, Head of Global Communication Passenger Cars Mercedes-Benz and Rob Moran, Director Mercedes-Benz USA Communications. They received the awards on behalf of the brand with the three pointed star at a ceremony held on the occasion of the New York International Auto Show.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class established itself as a viable choice in the midsize luxury sedan market, further emphasized with the “World Car of the Year 2015 Award”. The S-Class Coupé was voted “World Luxury Car 2015″, while the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car picked up the award for “World Performance Car 2015″.

This year, Mercedes-Benz was the only manufacturer to make it into the final round of the awards with five vehicles. This commanding performance is unprecedented in the 11-year history of the “World Car of the Year” awards and serves to reflect the tremendous popularity of the Stuttgart-based brand among their customers. The international jury for these prestigious awards is made up of 75 renowned automotive journalists who were tasked with picking their favorites in several automotive categories for the awards shown there.

Mercedes-Benz has found success and praise with the jury in previous years too: in 2014 the S-Class won the category “World Luxury Car”. In 2012 the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY was the winner in the category “World Green Car”, while the same award was taken back in 2007 by the E 320 BlueTEC. The highly successful start for the Stuttgart based car maker by all means marks the period where Mercedes-Benz introduced several new models, changed its design philosophy to some extent, showcased great talent in plugging gaping holes in the particular model ranges, all resulting in increased sales numbers as well.

The post Mercedes-Benz Wins Three Categories in the Prestigious ‘World Car Awards 2015′ appeared first on VR World.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has announced that it has halted production of the second-generation PC-compatible Kinect sensors, with the Xbox One variants taking their place.

In a recent post on the Kinect for Windows blog the Redmond-based tech giant has cited “unprecedented demand from the developer community for Kinect sensors” as the main reason for the decision.

The Kinect for Windows v2 model has essentially been folded into the existing Xbox One variant.

The cutoff doesn’t affect developers who already own Windows-compatible v2 Kinects. Microsoft has made it clear that “support for the Kinect for Windows v2 sensor [will] remain unchanged, and [owners] can continue to use their sensors.”

Since it was unable to meet soaring demand, Microsoft utilized a brilliant business tactic by simply nixing a product it couldn’t keep supplying and producing an adapter that effectively makes the Xbox One Kinect equal to the second-gen Kinect for Windows model.

The new adapter allows an Xbox One Kinect to be hooked up to any Windows 8.0 PC or tablet.

The Kinect for Windows adapter retails at $49.99 and allows any Xbox One Kinect to be hooked up to a PC or tablet running Windows 8.0 or 8.1. The USB 3.0 adapter basically acts as an intermediary that bridges the compatibility gap between the Xbox One sensor and PC’s.

Both Kinects are “functionally identical” so the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 development suite will be exactly the same.

All that’s really changed is that you now have to shell out an extra $49.99 for the adapter, plus $150 for the sensor itself.

This is a smart move considering Microsoft now has a way to move its stock of unsold Xbox One Kinects. Most gamers have been buying the $349 Kinect-less console option, leading to a surge in supply of the peripheral, and this way the company will be able to funnel that supply over to the demand for PC sensors.

In tandem with the Oculus Rift, NASA used the Kinect v2 to control a robot arm, which could revolutionize off-planet exploration.

Although the Kinect sensor is largely seen as a gimmick in the video games industry, the peripheral has been used by researchers to study asteroids and glaciers, collect forensic crime-scene data, and NASA has even used it to control robots with body movement.

The Kinect can also guide your exercise routine by tracking your heart rate, track your burned calories, and so much more. It can even bring physical therapy to patient’s homes and make PT more rewarding and entertaining.

Since the sensor has a huge potential of practical and theoretical uses, scientists and researchers across the globe are interested in trying it out for themselves.

The Kinect v2 for PC isn’t gone, it’s just been consolidated, and developers will still be able to push the boundaries even further with new techniques.

The post Microsoft Will Stop Producing Kinect For Windows appeared first on VR World.

It’s not so surprising that the beleaguered online game-streaming service OnLive is officially shutting down later this month. What is a bit surprising is how Sony (NYSE: SNE) swooped in to pick its bones clean by purchasing OnLive’s patent rights, presumably to bolster its own game-streaming service PlayStation Now.

It is with great sadness that we must bring the OnLive Game Service to a close. Sony is acquiring… Read More: http://t.co/WGaO1IsrmY

— OnLive (@OnLive) April 2, 2015

Starting April 30 all of the databanks that powered OnLive subscriptions will be wiped.

That means all your PlayPass games, saved files, achievements and account information will be deleted and all game-streaming hardware (and the controllers) will be rendered useless.

“After April 30, 2015, our data centers will shut down and the service will be offline,” the company’s support page wrote in a recent FAQ.

“All accounts will be closed, and all data deleted including game save data, achievements, and credit card data will be deleted. If you purchased a Steam game from OnLive, that game will still be available on Steam.

“No refunds will be available for any game purchases, hardware purchases, or subscriptions.”

Although the service is being axed, there is one way you’ll be able to keep your save files and achievements. If you happened to use CloudLift, a feature that let you stream-play games from your Steam library, your data will still be intact.

While OnLive has been in trouble for a while, it bridged an accessibility gap by letting Mac users play PC games on their machines.

Essentially the service was used as a sort of intermediary between the two system types, and soon gamers will be left with a Steam library filled with games they might not be able to play.

Plus, as the FAQ notes, you won’t be getting any refunds from Steam games you purchased through OnLive. Plus those exclusive OnLive controllers are so exclusive that they aren’t compatible with any other devices or hardware.

OnLive’s patents were a big acquisition by Sony, and could be used to completely turn around their flagging PlayStation Now game steaming service.

While this is as big disappointment for many, Sony has won out big here. The Japanese gaming titan has acquired an extensive patent portfolio specifically targeting cloud-based game-streaming.

Thus armed with OnLive’s array of patents, Sony stands to enhance and fortify its currently underwhelming and unpopular PlayStation Now game-streaming service.

Harnessing the raw power of Gaikai, which Sony purchased and absorbed into its own cloud framework, these patents could very well swing a huge blow towards the Japanese console-maker’s competitors.

“These strategic purchases open up great opportunities for our gamers, and gives Sony a formidable patent portfolio in cloud gaming,” said Philip Rosenberg, a Sony Computer Entertainment exec.

It is yet another proof point that demonstrates our commitment to changing the way gamers experience the world of PlayStation.”

But are OnLive’s strategies enough? The company did fail, after all, and the service is being nixed, so there will indefinite hurdles ahead of Sony copies their path.

All in all the big problem with PlayStation Now is how it’s marketed. Sony has experimented with offering a rental-fee structure when PS Now launched, and now the company offers monthly subscription plans at $19.99/month or $44.99 for 3 months.

Even still gamers still aren’t buying and are reticent to adopt the new platform. Considering how much games cost these days, and the current exploitative trends of the industry, I’m not surprised.

Investing in cloud gaming hasn’t come cheap for Sony. Back in 2012 it shelled out $380 million for Gaikai, the framework that would power the present-day PS Now.

We still don’t know how much the company paid for OnLive’s filed patents, but so far the cloud-gaming business hasn’t been very profitable for the PlayStation creators.

The post Sony Buys Up OnLive’s Patents Amid Service Shutdown appeared first on VR World.

Considered by many to be one of the most important automotive events, the New York International Auto Show always brings us a bevy of new models, concepts and general information from world’s most popular car brands.

The 2015 New York International Auto Show kicked off earlier this week, where we had one of our friends, a highly talented automotive photographer Cristian Guamanzara, visiting the NYIAS and taking a couple of interesting shots from the event itself.

Plenty more from the 2015 New York International Auto Show is coming up later today, with detailed information about several new models and concepts being released, all covered on our site in detail.  Take a look at the media gallery below the jump and feast your eyes on some rather exciting vehicles from one of the important annual events from the automotive industry.

2015 New York International Auto Show gallery

The post 2015 New York International Auto Show Gallery appeared first on VR World.

Sony (NYSE: SNE) has announced that the long-awaited Spotify app will launch on PS3 and PS4 later today, and that the app will be exclusive to PlayStation systems “for the foreseeable future”.

The PlayStation Music app, which taps the power of the music-streaming service Spotify, is free on both PlayStation consoles.

An active PlayStation Plus isn’t required and it’s free to listen to music, however a premium subscription is offered for $9.99 a month that blocks out ads and improves stream quality. Sony is offering a free 30-day trial for the service.

The app will be available to download on the PlayStation Store, but most users will find it already on their console, replacing the Music Unlimited app on the main menu.

Using PlayStation’s new Spotify app, users can easily listen to customized playlists and music tracks without going through the hassle of switching between the pesky Music Unlimited and the game session.

Sony has locked down exclusivity rights for Spotify as well, signalling that app software has joined as a major contributor of the timed exclusivity console wars.

“PlayStation [consoles] have gaming exclusivity,” Sony Computer Entertainment Europe UK marketing director Murray Pannell told Eurogamer.

But how long with the timed exclusivity last? “That’s to be decided exactly, but certainly for the foreseeable [future].”

While Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Xbox One won’t get access to Spotify, it does have its own premium console-based music streaming service called Xbox Music Pass. The service is priced at $9.99 a month and features cross-platform streaming across various devices, and even supports offline streaming.

The Spotify PS4 and PS3 is a win for Sony because it replaces their awful Music Unlimited service and lets users actually listen to music while playing a game. But in terms of competition, it isn’t a big deal to Microsoft, considering it has its own unique multi-platform music service.

Along with the live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue, this move into a more consolidated music streaming service fits in with Sony’s major new rebranding focus.

It’ll be interesting to see how app software is leveraged in the future to bolster each console brand, and how it fits in with each company’s growing ecosystem.

Also before you hand over your credit card information to Sony, be aware that the company doesn’t have the best track record in regards to protecting your info, and is constantly hit by hackers. Buyer beware!

The post Spotify PS4 And PS3 App Launches Today, Is Timed Exclusive appeared first on VR World.

UPDATE: Microsoft has released the second live-action advertisement through the eyes of the Master Chief.

“You’ve completed your mission, Agent Locke. Mine is just beginning.”

If things weren’t any more cryptic or mysterious, it looks like both of the trailers are an endgame scenario that might hint at alternate endings for Halo 5.

Original story is as follows.

In an advertisement during tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has announced the Halo 5 release date for October 27, 2015 exclusively for the Xbox One.

Microsoft will be publishing two different live action trailers, one in the perspective of Agent Locke, and the other through the eyes of Master Chief. The footage is part of Halo 5‘s #HuntTheTruth Twitter campaign and showcases plot points from the game’s storyline.

You have only seen 1 of 2 @Halo 5 ads tonight, stay tuned….

— Aaron Greenberg (@aarongreenberg) March 30, 2015

The first trailer release was from the point of view of Agent Locke, the ONI Spartan operative charged with finding Master Chief. Spartan 117’s trailer will be released later tonight, and we’ll be sure to update the post when it goes live.

Locke’s ad is a rather tantalizing live-action trailer that features the ONI agent menacingly chiding a disheveled Master Chief, who sits broken among disastrous ruins. This isn’t a side of the Chief we’ve ever seen before, and it’s strange to see him sit and accept his fate like this.

Locke appears to be sentencing Spartan 117 as a traitor, repeatedly referring to him as a betrayer, revealing key tidbits about the plot to Halo 5: Guardians.

“All hail the conquering hero, the one who was supposed to save us all. But now I must save us, from you.”

The Halo 5 #HuntTheTruth ARG campaign has also received a new update, chronicling another chapter of UNSC war journalist Benjamin Giraud’s investigation into the truth behind the nebulous Master Chief.

It’ll be interesting to see what other details are unearthed in the ARG campaign, and what actually happened to Master Chief’s stalwart resolve.

On a more humorous note, industry veteran Wario64 noticed that 343i actually “revealed” Halo 5‘s launch date during the game’s beta test. The beta was 10.27GB, which matches up with newly revealed release date.

Halo 5 release date was revealed months ago in beta download size. pic.twitter.com/PfdSkpChF7

— Wario64 (@Wario64) March 30, 2015

Halo 5: Guardians is scheduled to release on October 27, 2015 exclusively for the Xbox One.

The post Halo 5 Release Date Is October 27, 2015 on Xbox One appeared first on VR World.

UPDATE: Nintendo has confirmed that the Legend of Zelda Wii U port won’t be showcased at E3 2015.

Original story is as follows.

The Legend of Zelda Wii U port has been delayed, and won’t be releasing in 2015 after all.

The news comes straight from game producer Eiji Aonuma who announced the push back in a recent video update.

Aonuma cites the reason for the delay is that the development team has “discovered new possibilities for the game”, and the timeframe constricts on the new content they could add to make Zelda on Wii U the “complete and ultimate Zelda game”.

“Since I declared at The Game Awards in December that the game would launch in 2015, the directors and the many members of the development team have been working hard developing the game to make it the best it can be.

“In the last three months, as the team has experienced firsthand the freedom of exploration that hasn’t existed in any Zelda game to date,we have discovered several new possibilities for this game.

“As we have worked to turn these possibilities into realities, new ideas have continued to spring forth, and it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds even my own expectations.

“As I have watched our development progress, I have come to think that rather than work with meeting a specific schedule as our main objective, and releasing a game that reflects only what we can create within that scheduled time…

“I feel strongly that our focus should be to bring all these ideas to life in a way that will best make The Legend of zelda on Wii U to be the best game it can possibly be.

“So, I must apologize to you all that were expecting the game by year’s end, but we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority.

“Instead, our priority is to make the most complete and ultimate Zelda game.

“I hope to use the added time to make The Legend of Zelda for Wii U into a game that will reward you for your patience, so thank you for your continued support.”

The news comes as a big disappointment to Wii U fans that were looking forward to the game this year, myself included. Some fans even rushed to buy the console after seeing the footage, and will undoubtedly be let down with the news.

The new open-world Legend of Zelda on Wii U represents a huge leap forward for the franchise, and Aonuma showcased an playthrough at The Game Awards 2014 that delved into the game’s expansive feel.

Seeing how huge the scope is for the game, it’s not surprising to see it get delayed. Creating and shaping such a substantial game world is no easy feat, and hopefully Aonuma can provided more

Many are speculating that the delay signifies that the new Zelda port will see a release on Nintendo’s mysterious new NX console, but the Japanese company hasn’t revealed anything yet and probably won’t until 2016.

At least Xenoblade Chronicles X is still on schedule for a 2015 release, and we’ll have Splatoon in May, but the new Zelda was one of this year’s premiere Wii U titles.

The post Zelda Wii U Delayed, Isn’t Coming in 2015 appeared first on VR World.

A new trailer for Halo Online gives us a brief look at the game’s built-in microtransactions, revealing an extensive pay-to-win style structure.

While the footage for 343 Industries’ brand new free-to-play PC shooter does indeed look pretty, it showcases something quite troubling that manifests as a cheap cash grab. Halo Online pay to win microtransactions are a thing, and its something I predicted in my recent editorial.

Halo Online is set up like Halo: Reach, where you earn credits from matches to spend on armor permutations and such.

But in the Russian PC shooter, players will get to customize every little thing about their Spartan: weapon loadouts, armor sets, and even equip a number of extra attachments to make your weapons stronger.

Check the upper right hand corner to see the Gold and Silver currency, and it looks like all the armor will be priced in different tiers in terms of its effectiveness in battle.

And you’ll have to pay for every little bit of it–every scope augmentation, every armor set, every little change to your Spartan will be monetized. The real balance is how much silver you can earn per match, and if that’s handled just right, the skewed ratio won’t be so bad.

But if you earn hardly any silver? You’ll be pushed and pushed to just snag the gear for cash. Plus the game has weapon rentals.

That’s right, you can rent your weapons for 30 minutes, 6 hours, or 24 hour periods.

Anyway, let’s take a look at the microtransactions and their rates.

It looks like Halo Online will have Silver, which can be earned by free players, and Gold, which is the game’s premium currency. Some of the ratios are pretty exorbitant, sometimes ranging to 50,000Silver to 50 Gold.

The trailer didn’t show us how much the premium currency will cost, but it’s a bit unsettling to know that the game embraces such an obvious pay-to-win structure.

The main Spartan hub screen showcases a variety of different sections that act as their own different marketplaces:

• Bundles
• Weapons
• Tactical Packages
• Armory
• Restock

In the footage we only ever get to see the Weapons and Armory section. The Bundles section is probably straight-forward, having a variety of pre-sorted bundles that come with weapons, tactical packages, and armor sets.

Strangely enough you can rent weapons, as well as attach a number of different upgrades to them–all of which can be bought with premium Gold currency.

The Weapons section is a tailored marketplace for all the destructive weaponry in Halo, and to the game’s benefit, there is an amazing array of guns. There’s Primary and Secondary slots that include just about every gun in the franchise, along with a slew of different grenades

But you have the opportunity to pay cash for all of them, as well as a number of different accessories. You can, of course, earn them the hard way, but you’ll be grinding for quite some time I’m sure.

The Tactical Packages is a bit worrying, considering Halo 4 had a considerable RPG structure that let gamers customize their Spartan with a number of passive abilities.

Considering the game uses the Halo 3 engine, and we see instances of Bubble Shields and the like used in-game, this might be a marketplace for Halo 3 equipment (Rengerators, Bubble Shield, Trip Mines, etc) rather than actual Halo 4-style passives, but we really don’t know.

The Armory is where you buy your stylized armor. It looks like the armor will have passive bonuses like increased melee damage or boosted shield recovery, further incentivizing the pay-to-win structure.

Restock might be where you can buy grenades, ammo and such, but again we weren’t shown this screen so there’s no telling.

Halo Online has primary, secondary and grenade slots–all of which will probably cost silver or the premium gold currency.

So far this is like Halo from hell, where combat is just abysmally skewed towards players who are willing to shell out cash for victory.

This isn’t the Halo I grew up with. Although there’s a substantial RPG presence going on here, the whole game looks like it was optimized to get you to spend as much money as possible in order to win–a concept that should be abolished in any competitive PVP space.

The Halo Online beta is scheduled to start this Spring exclusively in Russia, but 343 Industries hasn’t ruled out an expansion across the globe.

So we might see this pay-to-win shooter make its way to North America and Europe, but at this point I’m glad it’s an overseas exclusive.

The post Halo Online Pay To Win Microtransactions Revealed appeared first on VR World.

Japanese games publisher Konami has been at the center of a recent controversy leading to speculation that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has left the company.

The news was given further credence when Kojima’s name had mysteriously been scrubbed from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s box art and the official website for Kojima Productions, MGS V‘s development team, had been taken down.

It’s since been revealed that Kojima Productions is no more and has been absorbed by Konami.

Despite no longer spear-heading development at Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima will be contracted to work on future Metal Gear Solid games. He will not reprise his role as a Konami executive while working in this capacity.

Kotaku reports that Konami has finally delivered official word after being persistently taciturn on the subject, but their responses are quite vague and deflective.

今回ＫＯＮＡＭＩ全社での制作体制の変更に伴い、小島プロダクションも他社内プロダクションと同様に、制作本部体制へと移行した為、名称なども変更となりました。組織・名称は変更となりましたが、これまで通りMGSV:TPPは小島監督の元、従来のメンバーにより制作が進められています。

— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015

“In accordance with the recent change in production organization of all of Konami, Kojima Productions, as well as other internal production companies, has had its name, etc., changed to move into the corporate headquarters work structure,” Konami said in a recent Tweet.

The studio confirmed what we knew already, saying that Kojima is continuing to work on The Phantom Pain with the existing members of Kojima Productions.

“The name and organization has changed, but as before, MGSV: TPP is continuing as a work from director Kojima and the existing team members.”

小島監督も自らゲームをプレー、細部まで確認・スタッフへ指示を出し完成に向けて制作を進めています。小島監督の思いとアイデア、かつてないボリュームをオープンワールドでお届けするTPPの制作は本当に大変ですが、監督をはじめチーム一丸となり完成を目指していますので温かく応援をお願いします

— メタルギア公式 (@metalgear_jp) March 25, 2015

“Director Kojima is playing the game, checking all the small details and giving directions to the staff as the title continues to completion.

“Bringing the thoughts and ideas of director Kojima in an open world game of the size of TPP is incredibly difficult, the director and the team that’s been there from the start are coming together as one as they aim to finish the game, so please give them the support they need.”

Konami pretty much asserts what we already know, talking in so much PR-speak that it’s hard to actually get a straight answer.

It’s strange how they keep dancing around the points, but seeing as Kojima has such a huge impact on the company as a whole, it’s not surprising Konami wants to keep the surprise under wraps as long as possible.

And there’s still no official word on whether or not Silent Hills is still in the works or not. We probably won’t ever hear official clarification on that one.

Hideo Kojima represents one of Konami’s biggest all-stars, but the company’s recent restructuring has jeopardized everything–including the fate of the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

Essentially Konami is changing, and Kojima Productions was directly affected by the restructuring. Who knows what other games, studios and franchises this shuffle will affect moving forward.

Without Kojima the Japanese publisher will have a hard time keeping gamers interesting in the Metal Gear Solid series, and the company is already soiling its reputation by obfuscating the truth.

The restructuring has put even more stress on key team members, too. Konami’s new regime has created an environment that fosters the “undivided attention to development”. This pretty much lending credence to the reports of in-office e-mail, phone and internet being restricted for the employees.

With this in mind it’s no wonder Hideo Kojima called it quits.

Source: Kotaku

The post Konami Responds To Hideo Kojima Controversy appeared first on VR World.

UPDATE: A new trailer for the game has revealed a peek at the game’s microtransactions, confirming a shameless pay-to-win scheme.

In Halo Online Russian gamers will get the opportunity to pay for every little thing, including weapons, armor sets that give passive bonuses, Spartan passives, and even attachments that boost weapon damage.

Original story is as follows.

In a quite confusing move, 343 Industries has announced Halo Online, a brand new free-to-play game for PC.

Even more strange is the news that Halo Online free-to-play PC game will be tested exclusively in Russia via an upcoming closed beta test.

The game itself is built on Halo 3‘s engine and is a multiplayer-only PVP style game that plans to bring all the definitive FPS chaos to the PC world. The beta test is planned to start “this spring” in Russia, which means sometime soon.

Since it’s free-to-play it’s fair to assume microtransactions will be involved, and maybe a horrible pay-to-win style to boot.

Also there’s a chance Halo Online could come to other regions, although it won’t ever be released on Xbox One (of course not, you’ll have to shell out premium cash to play Halo in console form).

In the FAQ listed below, 343i doesn’t explicitly rule out a release in North America or Europe, but they’re more worried about learning what they can from Russian players before the game launches overseas.

Halo Online looks like it’ll have all of the PVP staples, but how many armor sets will be locked behind premium paywalls?

This is probably the worst time for 343i to take on a project like this.

Instead of focusing on fixing the Xbox One’s still-awkward Master Chief Collection or even wholly devoting the team to polishing up Halo 5 for its impending launch, they’ve decided to splinter precious resources to focus on a F2P Halo game.

I personally think this is an awful idea that could destroy the very soul of Halo itself.

Halo has always been a big win for the Xbox brand. Microsoft has made concessions by bringing the original Halo: Combat Evolved to PC, along with Halo 2 years later, but this kind of game isn’t Halo: it’s a bastardized attempt at a cheap cash grab.

Now if the microtransactions are entirely cosmetic, that won’t be so bad.

With a huge arsenal of armor permutations to choose from, we can see how this could work. But if the game starts charging premiums for skill sets straight out Reach, that’s when things get terrible.

343 Industries needs to be careful how they proceed here or they risk alienating themselves from the game’s fanbase–something they’ve accomplished with the abysmal Master Chief Collection launch.

No one likes microtransactions, especially the pay-to-win variety. Although it’s a lucrative structure for publishers it becomes a roadblock for gamers and locks off a portion of content behind paywalls.

And paywalls are eroding gaming.

Halo Online is tailor-made for Russian PC gamers, but we might see it cross over to other regions…which could be a good or bad thing.

That being said, 343i could take Halo Online in an interesting direction, maybe even making a distinct MMOFPS mashup. The Halo universe is so massive and full of wonder, splendor and depth, and it’s so much more than just competitive PVP multiplayer action.

Imagine a subscription-based MMO based in the Halo universe that has the depth of, say, Final Fantasy XIV? Imagine combining Halo Wars with the dynamism of the first-person shooter elements, along with a winding story arc.

There’s so much potential with a Halo Online game. But instead, it looks like 343 Industries want to go the cheap, easy way.

Below we have the Halo Online FAQ published on Halo Waypoint that might answer some questions you have.

Halo Online FAQ

Q: What type of game is Halo Online?

A: Halo Online is a free multiplayer-only PC experience that we’re launching as a closed beta test in Russia.

Q: Does Halo Online represent your future plans for the franchise on PC?

A: Halo Online is a learning opportunity for us as we explore ways to welcome new fans to the “Halo” universe. We’re excited to release a “Halo” multiplayer-only PC experience tailored for Russian gamers.

Q: When will Halo Online be available?

A: The closed beta period will begin in Russia later this spring. There is no definitive launch date at this time.

Q: Are you planning on bringing Halo Online to the Xbox One?

A: Halo Online was built from the ground up specifically for the PC. There are no plans to bring Halo Online to the Xbox One.

Q: Will gamers in other regions like North America and Europe be able to play Halo Online?

A: Right now our focus is on learning as much as we can from the closed beta period in Russia. Theoretically, any expansion outside of Russia would have to go through region-specific changes to address player expectations.

Q: Are you planning to officially launch this year?

A: There is no definitive launch date at this time as we proceed in our closed beta period in Russia.

The post The New Halo Online Free-To-Play PC Game Is A Bad Idea appeared first on VR World.