First-Person Shooters

By Wesley Yin-Poole @ Eurogamer

Last week EA unveiled Battlefield 1, DICE’s new first-person shooter, with an explosive new trailer. It takes the series to World War 1, a war that saw the old clash with the new. So, from the muddy, mustard gas filled trenches we’ll see sword fights and bayonet charges and horse combat alongside tank battles, swooping biplanes and warships.

Battlefield 1, for example, revamps the series’ melee system, with the addition of a variety of different weapons each with their own stats. There’s also a class-based soldier system in play that even extends to vehicles. And what of the campaign? How is it different?

In an interview with Eurogamer, DICE producer Aleks Grondal was willing to answer some of these questions, and explain DICE’s decision to use World War 1 as a setting in the first place. Oh yeah, and why is it called Battlefield 1? Let’s find out.

Read on…

Source: Blue’s News

The Battlefield website has the official announcement of Battlefield 1, a World War I first-person shooter coming to Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 21st, though the preorder page on Origin also lists a deluxe edition of the game that includes three days of early access among its perks. They offer an official reveal trailer showing the setting that some have argued would never be the subject of a AAA first-person shooter, and the following word:

You look into the distance and see planes torn apart by gunfire, their debris raining down over London. In war-torn France to the east, horrible armored tanks tear holes in walls as they roll through crumbling cities. To the south, past the burning Italian coast, men charge over the sand dunes of the Arabian Desert, armed to the teeth with the most powerful weaponry the world has ever seen. This is what the dawn of all-out war looks like, and it’s Only in Battlefield 1.

Battlefield 1 is releasing worldwide on October 21, 2016 for Xbox One, Origin on PC, and PlayStation 4 but you’ll be able to get your hands on it much sooner. More on that in a minute.

With Battlefield 1 we set out to create some of the largest, most dynamic battles in FPS history while continuing to tap into what fans love most about the franchise. One of the things that makes World War I such an amazing era is just how advanced it really was. Almost everything that you know about the conflicts of the next century, from the massive battles across land, air and sea, to the powerful and efficient weaponry, is there. Tanks, planes, machine guns, artillery – a lot of the tech you’ve used in other Battlefield games was perfected during this era, letting the classic Battlefield DNA shine through.

You’ll be able to join in massive 64-player battles and experience unexpected Only in Battlefield moments in a setting where the old world was destroyed, giving way to the new one. We’re turning destruction up a few notches too, so expect some surprises when you hit the battlefield.

If you’re eager to go hands-on with Battlefield 1 you won’t have to wait too long. During the EA Play events on June 12 in Los Angeles and London, we’ll reveal the first gameplay footage and let attendees try the game for themselves. Register and make your way to those events, and you’ll be able to play the game before pretty much anyone else.

EA Play won’t be your only opportunity to play before release, though. There will be more chances in the months that follow, including an Open Beta (which you can get into a little earlier if you sign up for Battlefield Insider). EA Access and Origin Access members will be able to play for a limited time before the release date, too. And if you pre-order the Early Enlister Deluxe Edition, you’ll be able to start playing on October 18, three days before the release date.

Source: UbiBlog

The Rainbow Six team has announced the official release date for Operation Dust Line. The desert-themed DLC will be available May 11 and will feature two new operators from the US Navy SEALs: Valkyrie and Blackbeard. Valkyrie takes the defensive role, and is equipped with sticky cameras that provide an extra level of surveillance. Blackbeard is the attacker, and will sport a shield-and-rifle combo, allowing him to take point in tough situations. You can catch a special live demo of the two new Operators in action on May 7 on the Rainbow Six Twitch channel before the start of the PC Pro League Grand Final. View the Rainbow Six: Siege – Dust Line Teaser Trailer here.

By Brian Crecente @ Polygon

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will likely bring to mind the unknowing silence and darkness of space for future players. But the people behind the game had another environment in mind when creating this science-future take on the war shooter.

“Space is like a deep black ocean,” Infinite Warfare narrative director Taylor Kurosaki said in an interview with Polygon. “So we are taking a lot of information from and drawing a lot of metaphors with the current naval technology.”

The game, officially announced this morning, has players taking on the role of the commander of what amounts to an aircraft carrier in space. In developing the title, Infinity Ward worked with a collection of former Naval officers and sailors including a two star admiral, Navy SEALs and a Naval bridge officer.

“We work with these guys daily,” said Jacob Minkoff, design director on the game. “The militarization of space is foremost on their mind as the next frontier.”

Read on…

By Wesley Yin-Poole @ Eurogamer

Fancy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered but not interested in buying Call of Duty: Infinity Warfare? You’re out of luck.

In a FAQ on Activision’s support website, the company confirmed Modern Warfare Remastered will not come as a separate disc. It is a full game download included in the Legacy, Legacy Pro and Digital Deluxe editions of Infinite Warfare.

Just to be clear, Modern Warfare Remastered is only available through the Legacy, Legacy Pro and Digital Deluxe Editions.

Read more…

All-New Call of Duty Arrives on Friday, November 4

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy and Digital Deluxe Editions Includes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered for the Ultimate Fan Package

Call of Duty is returning to its roots for a classic, epic battle of two armies unlike anything seen before in the record-setting series. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will launch worldwide Friday, November 4, immersing players in a war story that, for the first time in franchise history, extends beyond the reaches of Earth into the vast expanse of our solar system. Published by Activision and led by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will also be available as the Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition, which includes the return of the full campaign and 10 multiplayer maps from the famed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, released in high-definition brilliance as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

Infinite Warfare and the Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition, featuring Modern Warfare Remastered, will be available for PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC.

“This year, we’re both honouring the heritage of Call of Duty while taking players to incredible new heights,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is a bold, new vision from the studio that created the original Call of Duty and Modern Warfare, and an adventure on an insanely epic scale that only Call of Duty could deliver. And Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is one of the most beloved games of all-time, reborn for a new generation. We have lovingly remastered it with a whole new level of graphical fidelity and realism that wasn’t possible when the original was released. It’s going to be a great year for Call of Duty players.”

“With Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, we are taking Call of Duty to places fans have never experienced in the series,” said Dave Stohl, Studio Head of Infinity Ward. “On one hand, this game is the kind of gritty, boots on the ground, visceral war story that Call of Duty is known for. On the other, its future setting takes players on a journey of epic scale and proportions, providing incredible gameplay innovations and new experiences for our fans. This is a grand scale, old-school, all-out war in an epic new-school setting. And it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun.”

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare puts storytelling front and center in a rich, immersive narrative. Infinity Ward breaks new ground by exploring the weight of leadership and its responsibilities. In a desperate time of overwhelming adversity, the player, as Captain of their own warship, must take command against a relentless enemy. Experienced soldiers are thrust into extraordinary circumstances that will test their training and reveal their true character as they learn to lead and to make the hard decisions necessary to achieve victory. The game also introduces stunning, never before seen environments, new weaponry and inventive player abilities to Call of Duty. The entire campaign – from boots-on-ground combat to piloting high speed space-fighters – occurs as a near seamless experience with few visible loading times, and delivers the hallmark, blockbuster franchise moments that fans love.

View the official reveal trailer here.

Watch a Behind the Scenes 2016 video here.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered includes campaign, 10 multiplayer maps

By Michael McWhertor @ Polygon

Activision and Infinity Ward’s remastered version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will include the original game’s campaign and 10 multiplayer maps, according to an allegedly leaked advertisement for the game.

The ad, which appears to be for Canadian retailers, states that Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, the next game in the franchise, will be released Nov. 4, 2016. The standard edition of the game is priced at CA$79.99 (roughly $60 in USD) while the Legacy Edition, which includes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, is priced at CA$109.99 (about $88 in USD).

The image, which first appeared on Reddit, doesn’t specify which multiplayer maps will be included in the Modern Warfare remaster. The original Call of Duty 4 ultimately received 20 multiplayer maps, four of which were released as DLC.

Read on…

“First look at the future”

By Allegra Frank @ Polygon

Electronic Arts will premiere the next Battlefield game on May 6, the studio announced. The publisher teases that it will reveal “the future of Battlefield,” although EA’s keeping further details close to the vest.

The Battlefield premiere event will kick off at 4 p.m. ET, according to the series’ website. Creative director Lars Gustavsson and lead producer Aleksander Grondal will discuss not just what’s coming next for the franchise, but also talk about the past and present of Battlefield during the event. They’ll also field questions from fans during the stream.

Read on…

Source: UbiBlog

The Rainbow Six: Siege team has revealed early details on Operation Dust Line, the second major content update for the game, which is scheduled for release in early May. Much like Operation Black Ice before it, Operation Dust Line features two new operators from a counterterrorism unit. For this update, it will be Valkyrie (defense) and Blackbeard (attacker) from the US Navy SEALs. Valkyrie will have access to deployable sticky cameras while Blackbeard will come equipped with a rifle and shield. You can tune into the PC Rainbow Six Pro League Finals on May 7 to learn more about Valkyrie, Blackbeard, and the rest of the content coming in Dust Line. Rainbow Six: Siege Season Pass holders will get access to the new Operators the week of May 9.

Operation Dust Line is the second of four major content updates scheduled for the year. It comes after Operation Black Ice, which featured two new Operators from Canada’s Joint Task Force 2 – Frost and Buck – as well as the new Yacht map.

Rainbow Six: Siege is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. We’ll post more details on Operation Dust Line as they become available.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, please visit the games official website.

Official mod, Update 1.58, permanent price drop

In support of the Arma 3 Steam Workshop, Bohemia Interactive deployed an ‘official mod’ in the form of the free ADR-97 Weapon Pack. A new trailer, which accompanies the ADR’s release, demonstrates how easy it is to install user-created content from the Arma 3 Steam Workshop.

The ADR-97 Weapon Pack consists of a collection of variants of the ADR-97 submachine gun. Inspired by the iconic FN P90, the ADR is a lightweight, highly maneuverable firearm with a high rate of fire, which stands out due to the 50-round magazines positioned on top of the weapon. The ADR-97 comes with inbuilt collimator sights, but some variants can also be fitted with custom optics.

To add the ADR-97 Weapon Pack to their game, players simply need to visit the official mod’s page on the Steam Workshop (via their web browser or the Steam Client), and click on the green ‘Subscribe’ button, as is demonstrated in the video. Then, when they start Arma 3 from their Steam Library, they can enable the ADR-97 Weapon Pack (and other mods they have installed) via the ‘Mods’ tab in the Arma 3 Launcher, and run the game. The ADR-97 is now reasy for use; give it a go in the new 3D Scenario Editor!

In addition, while marching forward on the #RoadToApex, Arma 3 today also received a significant platform update. Highlights of Update 1.58 include the new Apex control preset, the ability to switch between weapons while in movement, an overhaul to Arma 3′s difficulty options, an improved system for assigning and managing in-game ‘tasks’, and continued support for the recently released Eden 3D Editor, as well as a range of other improvements and fixes. The complete changelog is available on the Arma 3 Dev Hub.

Last but not least, for the first time since its official release in September 2013, Bohemia Interactive has announced a permanent price drop for Arma 3 and all of its DLC released so far. The new price for the Arma 3 base game is 34,99 EUR / 29.99 GBP / 39.99 USD (before it was 44.99 EUR/35.99 GBP/59.99 USD). The Arma 3 Helicopters DLC and Arma 3 Marksmen DLC are now 9.99 EUR / 7.99 GBP / 11.99 USD (before it was 12.99 EUR/10.99 GBP/15.99 USD). The price of the Arma 3 DLC Bundle, which includes the Karts, Helicopters, and Marksmen DLC has been reduced to 16.99 EUR / 14.99 GBP / 19.99 USD (before it was 19.99 EUR/16.99 GBP/24.99 USD). Those who are new to Arma 3, but want the most complete experience for the best price, can still choose to pick up the Arma 3 Apex Edition for 59.99 EUR / 44.99 GBP / 69.99 USD, which includes the Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition, Karts, Helicopters, and Marksmen DLC, and the upcoming Apex expansion. All Arma 3 editions and DLC are available for purchase on the Bohemia Store and Steam.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit the games official website.