Dark Souls III To Be Darkest Game Of Series

The darkest, most dense game in the Dark Souls franchise teases improved combat and Easter eggs






From Software’s Dark Souls series has become one of the most prominent beasts in the entire gaming community. The entire game is dark, and the ambience allows the player to be immersed in the game and a captivating story waits to be uncovered. It is also one of the most difficult games that frustrates players from time to time while challenging them to make progress in the story.

Dark Souls III is no different and it will be equally dark and deadly as. During PAX Prime 2015, more information was teased regarding the game by From Software’s Global Brand Manager, Mike Chang.

In a video on YouTube, Mike Chang spoke about the upcoming sequel and said that the game will be no different than its predecessor but with an even darker story and the world will be more dense than ever. There is also a probability of older character items returning in the main campaign, along with a few Easter eggs.

Regarding the gameplay and graphics, Mr. Chang mentioned that Sony Corp.’s (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox One have added more horsepower to the game’s development by providing the opportunity to create greater effects in an interconnected world. This will provide a massive sense of immersion for the player as the world is not the largest, but being the densest, one can assume that it will contain a more interactive world.

What makes Dark Souls intriguing for fans is not only the enticing visuals, but also the new brutal combat system From has introduced. It has termed the combat to be the quickest and most brutal in the entire series. The way the combat is described and shown gives it a feel of Bloodborne, but the addition of armor makes the experience more like Dark Souls one.

At PAX Prime, the audience was allowed to experience a battle with Dancer of the Frigid Valley, which further increased the hype of the game due to the fluid combat system. More information will also be made available during the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2015, along with major announcements to be made in October as well.

Dark Souls III is slated for an early 2016 release.

Call Of Duty: Advanced Final DLC Released For PlayStation 4 and PC

Fourth DLC for Call of Duty marks end of exclusivity arrangement between Activision and Microsoft






Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) released the final expansion to Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, on September 3. The first-person shooter game set in a science fiction, military theme is available on all next generation consoles. The final downloadable content (DLC) for the game is titled; Reckoning. Its release marks the end of an exclusivity arrangement between Acivision and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) which had ensured that all such DLCs were released for Xbox consoles a month before their release for Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) PlayStation.

The fourth and last DLC pack includes four new multiplayer maps and the conclusion to the Exo Zombies mode. The Reckoning DLC costs $15, though it is also available with the Advanced Warfare Season Pack which costs $50. From the player’s perspective, it makes more sense to buy a season pass for Call of Duty instead of the individual DLCs because the season pass includes much more bonus content, and has a special armor pack. The season pass is available for $50 while the four DLC packs bought individually, costs an extra $10. Players who want to play the final DLC only, can purchase the content separately.

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare’s Reckoning DLC includes four maps; Overload, Quarantine, Fracture, Swarm. The 2014 shooter has received positive reviews from critics and gamers who praise the combat mechanics, coherent story, new mobility options as well as in-depth specialization. The futuristic gadgets in the game have also garnered good feedback and breathe new life into the franchise.

Call of Duty’s next title; Black Ops 3, will be made available in November 2015. This time, Activision has signed an exclusivity deal with Sony so most of the add-on content will be available for PlayStation users, first. This exclusivity arrangement was signed in June, this year.

Konami Corp Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Facing Server Issues

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has been facing server issues since launch






Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released on the first this month and received stellar reviews. Gamers embraced the highly anticipated game with positive reactions. Despite its positive reception, it has had its fair share of problems, mostly server related issues. The issues mainly affected the Forward Operating Base multiplayer base mode.

Konami Corp (OTCMKTS:KNMCY) apologized for the inconvenience and made some changes to the Forward Operating Base as a temporary fix. The number of missions listed in the multiplayer mode was decreased, information regarding “Win/Loss”, “Points”, “Supporting/Supporters” and “Heroism” were disabled in the mission list, and missions listed in the online Combat Deployment menu were decreased. But these changes had little to no effect on the user experience.

Konami has since then pulled down its servers for maintenance and it has been the fourth consecutive day with no access to the online elements of the game. At the time of writing this article, Konami Japan’s website lists all platforms’ server status as “Server is undergoing maintenance.” Such cases are not new and server issue reports are common with such big titles or with games that have strong multiplayer elements.

Electronic Arts’ (NASDAQ:EA) Battlefield 4 and Sony Corporation’s (NYSE:SNE) PlayStation 4 exclusive racer - Driveclub, are also examples, where players were unable to enjoy an optimal experience at launch. Metal Gear V: The Phantom Pain is the next installment in the long running and highly popular Metal Gear Solid series, so it comes as no surprise that a game this big has met post-launch issues. Konami has not announced when the issues will be resolved.

The bigger portion of the multiplayer – “Metal Gear Online”, will launch in October. That is going increase demand on the servers even more, and Konami must make sure that it sees a stable launch.

Sony Corp. (SNE) PlayStation Network Down As Long Labor Day Weekend Begins

Many users report that the PlayStation Network has been down for hours






Sony Corporation’s (NYSE:SNE) Play Station Network could be in the line of fire, with reports emerging that the PlayStation Network is down again. The PlayStation Network has been reported to be down in many parts of the US. The users have again been left frustrated as there have been several problems while logging in. Many users report that the service has been down for hours.

There have been a number of complaints on social media, with many people expressing their dissatisfaction. It is interesting to note that the official PlayStation Network status page shows that the network is online and running. At this point of time, it is pertinent to add that users might not be experiencing these problems as they affect different regions at different times. It is important to also note that the PlayStation Network has been down before in a similar manner, with many people complaining against the unavailability of service.

The main complaints have been for the online availability of multiplayer games, such as Bungie’s Destiny. Many people have also reported they cannot log in the game and enjoy their gaming hours. The problem started somewhere around yesterday afternoon, if initial reports are to be believed.

The network issues can severely hamper the image of the PlayStation 4, with users again left frustrated by the lack of online gameplay. This is similar to what occurred a few days ago with Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox Live; however, it was a major server failure with servers being down for an indefinite time. It is essential that the PlayStation Network does not emulate the mistakes that were made by Xbox Live.

The PlayStation Network needs to fix this problem as soon as possible; the longer this goes on the more, it will hurt Sony’s credibility and market dominance. The issue at hand is not only going to hurt the user’s confidence in PlayStation services, but it will also tarnish the company's image. The company should resolve this problem or risk losing the popularity of its services.

Sony (SNE) PS4 Sells 1 Million Units In Middle East

Sony’s latest console, PlayStation 4, has managed to move a million consoles in the Gulf states






Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) has revealed that its PlayStation 4 has managed to sell one million units since it was launched in December 2013 in the Middle East. The announcement came via the Twitter account of Shuhei Yoshida, President of Worldwide Studios at Sony Computer Entertainment America, who congratulated all the fans in the Middle East by re-tweeting an article from IGN Middle East.





The PlayStation 4 was launched at the end of 2013. As of yet, it has sold 25 million units worldwide. The PlayStation 4 is now the fastest selling console of all time and also holds the record for the highest number of units sold in the first 24 hours of launch. It has earned tremendous success and market share, due to which multiplatform games have a system as the lead platform for development.

Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox One is relatively slower in saless. The system saw a rough start, but Microsoft has done everything in its power to reverse what it did wrong with the console and has taken steps to revive sales. But even with steps like 50$ price-cut to the most first-party exclusives coming out in Holiday 2015, Xbox One is still lagging in sales. Last official numbers put Xbox One at 10 million units sold-to-retailers, and while Microsoft has not revealed how many systems it has sold, estimates put Xbox One at 12-13 million units sold-to-consumers.

This is almost half of what PlayStation 4 has managed to sell. The Xbox One was released in the Middle East months after the PlayStation 4, and hasn’t had the same kind of momentum in the region. Despite Microsoft’s efforts, the PlayStation 4 holds the lead in global sales.

Need For Speed Five Ways to Play

Play your way; Speed, Style, Build, Crew and Outlaw.


How will they remember you? In Need for Speed that all depends on how you drive.

In Ventura Bay money talks but reputation (REP) rules the streets and you’ll earn both as you carve your path through the immersive narrative in the game. Compete in events and you’ll earn the money needed to spend big on your dream garage of cars, but it’s REP which is the most important currency of all.

Increase your REP and the people who matter most will start to notice and more importantly, respect you. Want to attract the attention of one of the five real world icons; Magnus Walker, Ken Block, Nakai-San, Risky Devil or Morohoshi-San? Your REP is the key to opening that particular door and with it, a world of new events, cars and customization options await.

So how do you earn REP? That comes down to Need for Speed’s Five Ways to Play; Speed, Style, Build, Crew, or Outlaw.

SPEED, it’s what we all love, what we all live for and above all else it’s what we all need. Take part in Speed events such as Sprint Races and Time Attacks, cross the line first and be the fastest. Empty the nitrous tank and keep it clean to earn some major Speed REP. The fearless take the win, don’t lift off and get the SPEED REP you deserve.

STYLE is all about expressing yourself behind the wheel as Ventura Bay becomes the ultimate Gymkhana playground. Whether you’re putting the car sideways in drift contests or pulling off jumps and donuts, by showing your flair and precise car control you’ll soon find Style REP flowing your way. For some, STYLE is all that matters.

BUILD rewards you for creating your own one of a kind ride. Performance upgrades let you awaken the beast in each and every ride as you earn your REP and become a master of the mod scene in BUILD.

Visually customize your car with the hottest after-market body modifications. Let your inner artist run wild with an awesome paint job, decals and bespoke wrap. While personalized handling ensures your car drives and handles exactly how you want.

CREW is all about coming together and driving as one. Compete in events such as Drift Train and get REP for speeding through the urban jungle with your friends in tow. Keep it razor close to the car in front for as long as you can to crush the competition. Ride, represent and win with your CREW.

OUTLAW is all about high stakes, risk versus reward driving and of course, messing with the cops. Smash through the city, creating havoc and getting yourself noticed for all the wrong reasons. When you’ve had your fun, put your foot down, escape the heat and drive off into the night. OUTLAWS do things their own way and live life on the edge. Go out and become notorious.

You’ll earn REP in each of the Five Ways to Play, but combine all five to create that perfect Need for Speed moment; driving insanely fast, sliding through a corner in your customized ride alongside your friends, whilst being chased by the cops.

Pull this off and you’ll maximize your multiplier and send your REP soaring.

Your driving style, your REP. This is your Need for Speed.
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Sony PlayStation 4’s Upcoming 3.0 System Update Offers Massive Improvement

The PS4’s upcoming 3.0 system update will bring several new changes to the bestselling console, but one change makes a massive improvement

The next major update on the Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) PlayStation 4, 3.0, is coming soon and currently in beta testing. While it will have several useful features, perhaps the biggest one is related to cloud storage. One of the advantages of PlayStation Plus is uploading game saves to Cloud Storage, and it is currently limited to a gigabyte of memory. According to Cinema Blend, the latest update will bump it up to 10 GB.

This is huge because game saves files that grow larger in size. In the previous generation, they were quite small and in fact the PS2 had them saved on 8MB memory cards. The bump in memory for Cloud Saves is great because they can hold more game saves for the PS4 and can be accessed anytime. It is a handy complement to storing them on physical USB pen drives.

Down the line, even 10GB may not be enough as developers push consoles to their limits and games become more demanding. The need for physical and cloud space will continue to increase. Even the 500GB memory that is standard on consoles these days is not enough. New models sporting 1TB hard drives are being released but even that seems small considering how much space each game takes. If you download digitally, then your space requirements become even larger. The best thing about physical discs is that, even though the data is stored on the console, it can be deleted and reinstalled later making hard drive space easy to micromanage.

Other than the increase in Cloud Storage, YouTube streaming is an added bonus, especially with the launch of its gaming service. Social networking improvements have been added in the form of communities and favorite groups. Hopefully Sony uses the data from the beta test and tweaks the 3.0 update to make it more stable when it goes live to public. If you are excited about the changes in 3.0, please let us know in the comments below.