This week in rumors
All eyes are on Sony this week. Reports of a Sony VR headset reveal are persistent, with juicy new info on the mystery device emerging this week. Also, the firm could be about to reveal pricing for its revolutionary PlayStation Now cloud streaming service, if the latest leaks are anything to go by.
Plus, Xbox One players spy a Watch Dogs beta, BioWare teases a next-gen Mass Effect trilogy, first shots of what are claimed to be the controller for an unannounced Amazon games console emerge, and lots more--get up to speed with the latest hot rumors in gaming with this weeks rumor roundup.
Borderlands 2 Vita tipped for May 27 release
The Rumor: Borderlands 2 will be released on Vita alongside a hardware bundle in Spring, says Sony. But, according to a more specific Amazon UK listing, that date will actually be May 27--a stipulation which has sparked widespread online rumors.
Our Take: Its placeholder-or-not roulette! Place your bets. Although its worth noting that placeholder dates tend to be the last day of a given release window. The Amazon US listing adheres to this practice with May 31 listed. This makes the UK arms oddball May 27 date more of an eyebrow raiser. Either way, youll be playing Borderlands 2 on your Vita before the Summer months kick in.
Watch Dogs closed beta snuck onto Xbox One Live store
The Rumor: According to reports, a Watch Dogs Closed Beta briefly appeared on the Xbox Live Games Store for Xbox One, at which point someone took a picture and posted it online. Ubisoft has made no mention of hosting a beta for Watch Dogs.
Our Take: The picture could be fake but appears real, and it wouldnt be the first time a Microsoft techs finger slipped and pressed the live button for something prematurely. If a closed beta does exist, however, we suspect it to be an internal test, and not one that will ever be made available to the public.
PlayStation Now PS3 rentals priced at $6
The Rumor: PlayStation Now, Sonys newly announced game streaming service, will charge users around $5-6 to rent PS3 games. Thats according to a leak via the official website of Gaikai, the now Sony-owned cloud streaming firm whose tech will power PlayStation Now. The site listed Uncharted 3 for $4.99 and Far Cry 3 for $5.99. In addition, a PS Store slip-up seemingly revealed that PS Now will let users stream rented titles for one, seven or 30 days.
Our Take: Its entirely possible that pricing is still under consideration within Sony and this is just a placeholder, but the figure is in line with what we expected. Sony has declined to comment, and is yet to detail how it will approach pricing for the streaming service. So far, it has only said that games will be available for rent, or alternatively users will be able to subscribe to the service for open access to its games.
EDGE backs Sony VR GDC reveal reports, devs have prototypes
The Rumor: Edge Online has corroborated with reports that Sony will reveal its virtual reality headset at GDC next week, having "received confirmation" from multiple developer sources. The site also claims that prototype versions of the headset are already in the hands of numerous third-party developers, and that its far superior to the first incarnation of the Oculus Rift.
Our Take: Sony has confirmed it will host a presentation at GDC on Tuesday, March 18. Titled 'Driving the Future of Innovation at Sony Computer Entertainment, the specific topic is unconfirmed, but all signs point to this being when the VR headset will be revealed.
Mass Effect trilogy hinted for next-gen remake
The Rumor: A Mass Effect Trilogy could be on its way to Xbox One and PS4, complete with higher-res visuals, and a smoother frame-rate. Thats the word on the street after BioWare Edmonton and Montreal general manager Aaryn Flynn hinted via Twitter that such a project has been discussed internally.
Our Take: The Mass Effect series is easily one of the most iconic game franchises of the last generation of consoles. If there was one trilogy that deserves a new-gen revival and facelift, its that one. Heres hoping those internal discussions concluded with high-fives and a lot of busy coding.
Amazon game controller images leak amidst microconsole rumors
The Rumor: Photos of what appears to be a game controller from Amazon emerged online this week via Brazilian telecommunication authority Anatel. It has been long rumored that Amazon is planning to enter the console hardware market with an Android-based microconsole later this year at a price of under $300.
Our Take: Amazon refuses to acknowledge the rumors, but with multiple reports of the firm working on an Android console, the evidence supporting a 2014 launch is mounting up. If genuine, the image shows what appears to be a pretty final controller, with no evidence of the roughness of an early prototype. Buttons are labeled, the logo is in place--this could be happening soon.
Transformers dev working on Call of Duty 2014 for last-gen consoles
The Rumor: While Sledgehammer Games toils away on the next-gen PS4, Xbox One and PC versions on this years new Call of Duty game, reports claim that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions have been handed over to High Moon Studios. A job listing for a post at High Moon hints that the studio is developing a high-profile, first-person shooter for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Another post calls for an engineer with proficiency in the Radiant Engine, versions of which have long been used for Call of Duty games.
Our Take: High Moon is the studio behind Transformers titles War for Cybertron, Dark of the Moon, and Fall of Cyberton. Those were pretty good, so theres no concerns over talent. If true, this serves as a good sign that this years Call of Duty game will truly be focused on next-gen hardware and the possibilities it offers, and not the half-baked, last-gen touch-up that CoD fans got in 2013.
Nintendo and EA shunned Need For Speed: Most Wanted, claims dev
The Rumor: Nintendo and EA never gave a shit about Need for Speed: Most Wanted on Wii U, according to co-founder of Criterion, now boss and co-founder of indie studio Three Fields Entertainment, Alex Ward. We worked our arses off. Neither Nintendo or EA gave a shit about it. A group of us did try. Bitch and moan at the publishers, not the developers, he said when Twitter folk accused him of neglecting the Nintendo console.
Our Take: Big companies certainly allocate their marketing budgets selectively, and some games just get left out. Which is a shame, because Need for Speed: Most Wanted was a decent racer that deserved a respectable backing.
A Crash Team Racing sequel was canned in 2010
The Rumor: Crash Team Racing on the PSone was one of the few Mario Kart challengers that was actually worth a good look, and apparently a sequel was well into development in 2010. Then it was axed, according to reports. A gameplay video of whats claimed to be a playable version of the canned title was leaked online this week.
Our Take: Its always a shame to hear about a game so deep into development that was never given a chance to shine. Especially when its a follow-up to a much-loved classic. The again, judging by the leaked footage, we didnt miss out on anything special.
Whats your take?
Does the PlayStation Now rental pricing seem fair to you? Is the world ready for PlayStation games over the cloud? Is there room for another Android micro console? Should Bioware release a next-gen Mass Effect trilogy? Sound off in the comments below.
Want more? Lorenzo Veloria discusses 8 ways Dark Souls is like a hardcore Zelda game. While Justin Towell argues that the extensive DriveClub delay is great news.
