First-Person Shooters

Source: GamesRadar

You might question the need for news on the annual Call of Duty game – it’s confirmation that 2016 is definitely a year – but the circumstances that surround it do make the new shooter notable. Activision Blizzard has bellowed from atop Mt. Money to confirm that franchise creator Infinity Ward will deliver the “innovative” game, which should come three years after it completed Call of Duty: Ghosts – if we’re sticking to the usual holiday release window.

Ghosts was the last game released before Activision spread development of Call of Duty games across three different studios, and claimed that each would have about three years to put together something befitting the series (especially after the tepid reception to Ghosts). The first ‘three year’ game, then, was Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare from Sledgehammer Studios in 2014, followed the next year by Treyarch’s Black Ops 3. Activision says Black Ops 3 is the best-selling video game on current consoles, period, so that went well.

When it launches later in 2016, Infinity Ward’s new Call of Duty: No Subtitle Announced Yet will complete Activision’s first three-step run through the new development cycle – before it all repeats again. With over $15 billion earned from the series (including DLC) and 250 million copies sold so far, this cycle isn’t likely to break, even while other huge franchises are taking some time off.

Part of a free platform update available later this month

Bohemia Interactive today deployed a new Arma 3 developer diary video, featuring the upcoming new Arma 3 Scenario Editor: Eden 3D Editor. In the video, Senior Designer Karel Mořický, Programmer Filip Sadovský, and Creative Director Jay Crowe provide a more in-depth look at the Eden Editor’s key features and development process.

While content creation has always been at the heart of the Arma series, the brand new Eden Editor represents a massive leap forward. Users will now be able to design their scenario from within the 3D game environment, which makes building your own scenarios – using Arma 3′s vast library of weapons, characters, vehicles, buildings, and other objects – much more effective and fun. Plus, people can publish their creations to the Arma 3 Steam Workshop, or subscribe to 17,000+ scenarios made by other players.

The Eden 3D Editor will be made available to all Arma 3 players as part of a free platform update scheduled for release later in February 2016. If you would like to learn more about the Eden 3D Editor, also be sure to take a look at our latest blog post, which lists 10 of the Eden Editor’s standout features and improvements.

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

So, it’s all come down to this. You’ve assembled a crew, pulled off the perfect heist, and made a whirlwind escape from the police. Now, there are enemies lurking in the frozen shadows, dark figureshiding behind crumbling mausoleums, and confrontations brewing in back alleys and federal prisons. Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal is coming this March 2016, and brings new maps, weapons, vehicles,and more.

Here’s what’s in store for owners of Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal…

• Four intricate maps: Alcatraz, Cemetery, Chinatown, and Thin Ice
• 7 new weapons
• 2 new vehicles
• Customise primary weapons and uniforms with the Gun Bench Super Feature, and test them at the Gun Range
• New Assignments and Legendary weapon camos

In addition, all users will receive a base game update that includes 11 new weapons and new server presets. After the update, every Gold Battlepack you open may also contain a weapon license voucher – a Distinguished class item that unlocks an entire weapon license. Check the forums when the update is released for our official patch notes to learn all about the stability and usability improvements that will be included in this upcoming release.

Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal is bursting with new experiences, whether you’re customising your weapons and uniforms with the Gun Bench or getting into gunfights in Alcatraz. Get ready – it’s coming for Battlefield Hardline Premium members in March 2016. Visit the Battlefield Hardline blog here.

Recently announced World War 2 shooter ‘Battalion 1944’ has reached its initial funding goal within under 3 days of being announced. The Bulkhead Interactive team have released a new heart felt thank you trailer including clips of all the support they’ve received from content creators and press as well as new unseen footage from the work in progress pre-alpha.

The team have also announced that Battalion 1944 will be launching additional stretch goals very soon, promising to satisfy some of the biggest community requested features in line with their ethos of direct community driven development. Whilst large AAA developers are so focused on the monetization of extremely large scale shooters, it’s great to see that a tight, gritty and focused shooter like Battalion 1944 can still capture the hearts of gamers worldwide.

“Thank you for backing Battalion 1944. The team you’re investing in are ready to build the next big first person shooter. We couldn’t have done it without you, the community. We have an incredible opportunity over the next 26 days to give this game the best budget it can possibly have. All of the funds from the campaign go straight towards the making of Battalion. Please don’t hesitate to become a part of this amazing community of players and a part of Battalion’s history.” – Joe Brammer, Producer at Bulkhead Interactive

Battalion 1944 recaptures the core of classic multiplayer shooters and propels WW2 into the next generation. Battalion 1944 utilizes the most advanced industry technology to create a visceral and heart-thumping multiplayer experience that has been crafted by the designers who have grown up playing Medal of Honor and Call of Duty 2.

Bulkhead Interactive have promised to invest a minimum extra of £100,000 of their own money into Battalion 1944. All the funding received past the initial funding goal will be put towards their soon to be announced stretch goals and the overall budget of the game.

Watch the Battalion 1944 Thank You trailer here.

More game info available at the Battalion 1944 website.

Source: IGN

The latest Rainbow Six Siege patch may have introduced a series of new glitches to the game. On the Rainbow Six: Siege Reddit players are reporting issues with hit registration, rendering problems (operators become black shadows), and problems with knife melee attacks, such as those demonstrated in the video here.

“Nothing was as game breaking before as I’m seeing now,” said one player, while another added: “I don’t play that often, but yesterday I got a headshot bonus without getting a kill. Is that normal?”

Updating its forum post, Ubisoft has responded to a list of player issues and complaints but is as yet unable to confirm when we can expect some errors to be resolved.

We’ve reached out to Ubisoft for comment and will report back as/when they get back to us. The next Rainbow Six: Siege patch is expected mid-February.

Battalion 1944 recaptures the core of classic multiplayer shooters and propels WW2 into the next generation. Battalion 1944 utilizes the most advanced industry technology to create a visceral and heart-thumping multiplayer experience that has been crafted by the designers who have grown up playing Medal of Honor and Call of Duty 2.

Fight in real world locations such as the streets of Carentan, the forests of Bastogne and many more in our spiritual successor to the great multiplayer shooters of the past. Precise aim with your Kar98, covering fire with your M1 Garand and quick thinking with your Thompson are key to your success, all packaged into a competitive multiplayer environment. In short, Battalion 1944 is an infantry based first person shooter with an emphasis on raw skill. No grinding, no ‘exosuits’, just you and your skill as a player.

Join a Battalion and compete season to season with BattleRank, our global competition system. Contribute to your Battalion’s season objective to earn cosmetic rewards for your character, weapons and accessories within our realistic art style. Flaunt your success through your player profile to become a renowned player within the community. BattleRank’s highly tuned stat tracking system enables Battalion 1944 to go beyond the standard mould of shooters gone by and enables players to compete globally for rewards, glory and honour.

Fuelled by the power of Unreal Engine 4, Battalion 1944 resurges World War 2 back into the modern gaming spotlight in our spiritual successor to the great multiplayer shooters of the past such as Call of Duty 2 and Day of Defeat. On BattleRank, it’s down to skilled soldiers like you to fight for your battalion.

“At Bulkhead Interactive, we’ve all grown up playing classic shooters like COD2 and Medal of Honor. It’s been a decade since we last saw a great WW2 First Person Shooter and I think the genre’s resurgence is long overdue. We’re focusing on community driven development. We want to work with passionate community of players who have a strong connection to the genre like we do.” – Joe Brammer, Producer at Bulkhead Interactive

Bulkhead Interactive have released a reveal trailer for Battalion 1944 alongside launching a Kickstarter campaign to assist with the game’s development. Bulkhead have promised to invest a minimum extra of £100,000 if the project’s funding goal is reached.

More game info available at the Battalion 1944 website.

THE FIRST OF FOUR MAJOR CONTENT UPDATES INTRODUCES NEW OPERATORS, A NEW MAP AND MORE

Ubisoft announce that the Operation Black Ice free update for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege is now available on Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

As part of the ongoing commitment to provide new content on a regular basis for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, the Operation Black Ice content pack includes the new yacht map, two new operators, Frost and Buck, from the elite Canadian special operations JTF 2 force, and new weapon skins. Additionally, the Spectator Camera feature will be available online for all platforms in custom games.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege post launch philosophy is to avoid any split in the community, consequently all gameplay elements will be available with no additional costs. Maps and modes will be free and available immediately for everyone. New operators and most weapon skins can be unlocked with earned currency, called Renown, or with R6 Credits.

Season Pass holders will instantly receive the new JTF 2 operators and non-Season Pass owners will be able to unlock them using Renown in-game currency or R6 Credits starting on February 9th.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege is currently available worldwide for Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Watch the Operation Black Ice trailer here.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, visit: rainbow6.ubi.com.

Source: Blue’s News

Peter Stormare reprises his role as The Replacer in a new trailer promoting Call of Duty: Black Ops III and celebrating the coming of the Awakening expansion for the shooter sequel. Word is:

“Don’t let those pesky day-to-day distractions get in the way of your time with the Awakening DLC Pack. The Replacer is back, and business is booming.”

More game info available at the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 official website.

First of four DLC packs features four new multiplayer maps and the nightmare continues in a brand new zombies offering

Source: Gamer’s Hell

Awakening, the first DLC (downloadable content) for Call of Duty: Black Ops III, will be available first, exclusively on PS4 via PlayStation Network on February 2nd, 2016, with other next-gen platforms to follow. It includes four new multiplayer maps (Gauntlet, Splash, Rise, Skyjacked) as well as a Zombies experience set in a medieval Austrian castle during World War II.

Der Eisendrache, the first chapter of Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s Zombies DLC adventure will take players on a journey with the Origin characters Richtofen, Nicolai, Takeo and Dempsey. Set in an eerie medieval castle built upon an ancient site of unspeakable horror, massive deposits of Element 115 have recently been discovered, delivering inspired new gameplay and – in Zombies tradition – a variety of exciting plot twists and surprises that fans will have the opportunity to discover for themselves.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Awakening DLC Map Pack is available at a discounted rate via the Call of Duty: Black Ops III DLC Season Pass, which features all four DLC Map Packs planned for the year, as part of the discounted bundle.

Watch the Der Eisendrache trailer here.

Source: Eurogamer

The family of Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi have filed a €1m lawsuit against Activision over his portrayal in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

Three of Savimbi’s children claim Activision depicted their father as a “barbarian” during his appearance in the 2012 shooter, The Guardian reports.

“[He's portrayed as] a big halfwit who wants to kill everybody,” prosecution lawyer Carole Enfert explained. In reality, she continued, Savimbi had actually been a “political leader and strategist”.

Jonas Savimbi was the leader of an opposition movement against Angola’s communist-backed government (and thus had the support of the US) throughout the country’s bloody civil war that left 500,000 people dead.

He appears in Black Ops 2 during the level Pyrrhic Victory, where he encourages his troops to kill as many opponents as possible, while waving a grenade launcher.

Activision has, unsurprisingly, disagreed with the claims, and said its portrayal of Savimbi showed him to be a “good guy”.

It isn’t the first time Activision has been sued over someone’s appearance in Black Ops 2. In 2014, actual ex-Panama dictator Manuel Noriega complained he had been depicted as “the culprit of numerous fictional heinous crimes”, for which he wanted damages.

In that case, Activision sought to get the “absurd” lawsuit dismissed, and went to the lengths of hiring US Attorney and ex-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to help. A judge agreed with Activision, and the case was thrown out of court.