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Bioware's Anthem pushed back until 2019

31/1/2018

 
EA have confirmed that Bioware's Anthem will now be releasing in 2019

Following a report by Kotaku last week, EA's Blake Jorgensen confirmed that Anthem, a new IP being developed by Bioware, has been delayed. In a manner of speaking.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

EA have claimed that the delay is not due to development being behind schedule. The new launch window for the RPG is early 2019 but, despite the publisher's original goal of releasing in autumn of this year, Jorgensen told the Wall Street Journal, "It's not a delay. People are trying to tell a story."
The reason given for the amended date is that a new Battlefield title is coming in October and the company feel that Anthem would fare better if it "came out in a quieter quarter."

EA surprised many by releasing Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 within a month of each other. This could be a case of them learning from their mistakes.

​So there you have it.
Anthem isn't delayed, it's just launching at a later date than was initially planned.

Do you think Anthem will benefit from being released in a quieter period? Let us know below or over in the forums.
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Rumour: Microsoft could be looking to acquire EA, Valve, PUBG Corp.

30/1/2018

 
Microsoft could be looking to acquire a big name, rumours suggest that EA, Valve and PUBG Corp. are being considered.

According to Polygon, "a reliable source close to Microsoft" claims they could be hoping to strengthen the Xbox brand by purchasing some big names.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

EA (Battlefield, Star Wars Battlefront, EA Sports) was probably the most noteworthy of the bunch, though Valve (Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead) and PUBG Corp. (PlayerUnknowns BattleGrounds) were also mentioned. One of the analysts Polygon spoke to, SuperData Research CEO, Joost van Dreunen, believes an announcement could be just around the corner, stating:
"Because of where we are in the lifecycle of all these things, I’m expecting to hear Microsoft announce something very, very shortly."

Xbox exclusives are light on the ground at the minute; Sea of Thieves, Crackdown 3 and State of Decay 2 are the only ones confirmed for 2018. There were recent rumours of a new Fable title being developed, and we can no doubt expect more Forza, Halo and Gears of War, but the list of concrete titles pales in comparison to Sony and Nintendo’s offerings at this stage.

​Given their title's recent Xbox One launch, PUBG Corp. would seem like a sensible option and we know Microsoft aren't opposed to spending the big bucks after they acquired
Minecraft developer Mojang for $2.5 billion a few years back.

It's fair to say they would have to dig a little deeper for EA but that investment would come with a wealth of talent from in house studios like Bioware, DICE and Respawn Entertainment, not to mention a host of IPs.

As for that other company you may have heard of, Valve are not only known for making some of the most well received games of all time but also their digital distribution platform, Steam, is hugely popular with over 150 million registered accounts to date. Plus, announcing the illusive Half-Life 3 as an Xbox exclusive would certainly help shift units.

There are, of course, plenty of other options if Microsoft really are looking to spend.

We'll be sure to let you know if this rumour turns into anything more substantial.
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ENDED: Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China giveaway

29/1/2018

 
Pass the Controller Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China giveaway header

The winners of our FTSOC giveaway are Jordan Thomas, George Ruiz (@_GeorgeNYC) and Daniel Aguiar (@DanielNequee)!

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by Sam Sant

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@SlamShotSam


Three Xbox One keys for Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China, the console exclusive air-combat action game from Ace Maddox, are up for grabs in our giveaway this week!

​
Set during the Second World War and based upon real events, Flying Tigers boasts several modes of play and dogfights that’ll appeal to fans of classic arcade flight sims like Blazing Angels and Rogue Squadron. Liam took the game for a test flight, so do check that out if you want to know more.

If you aren’t drawn as one of our three lucky winners and want to break out the flight goggles, FTSOC is £15.19 on Xbox One and £12.39 on Steam.

Enter below Monday through Friday for your chance to win.

Good luck!
Pass the Controller Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China giveaway banner
Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China giveaway
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Ghost Recon Wildlands Extended Ops adds new PvP game mode and loot boxes

25/1/2018

 
Ubisoft have added a new PvP mode and loot boxes in the latest update for Ghost Recon Wildlands

The latest update for Ghost Recon Wildlands went live today. Highlights include a new PvP mode, Extraction, and over 200 new items, which can be found in Battle Crates.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

Extraction mode sees a team of attackers attempt to escort a high value target to safety, whilst the defenders try to stop them. There are two hostages on the map but only one needs to be extracted. When the attackers have grabbed a hostage, they must race back to their safe zone without being killed.

​Extraction can be played on two maps for now, Institute and Garage, with more being added in the next update. Those maps are available in both Quickplay and Ranked

The update also brings in colour blind options, makes the Fallen Ghost weapons available in the campaign (provided you have the DLC installed), fixes various bugs and adds the aforementioned Battle Crates.

The Battle Crates come in two flavours; the Spec Ops Crates are designed specifically for the campaign, and Ghost War Crates for PvP.

The Spec Ops variety contain vehicles, Epic and Exotic weapons, along with customisation items. Ghost War Crates consist of Exotic weapons (although these are simply re-skinned versions of weapons with no impact on stats), customisation items and exclusive character skins called Icons, which are based on characters from the campaign and Operators from Rainbow Six Siege.

Items come in three levels of rarity - Rare, Epic and Legendary - and there's no duplicates, you'll only receive loot that you don't already own.


All of the cosmetics can be used in both the campaign and Ghost War, and every item can be purchased in the store through various pack offers, except the Battle Crate exclusive Icon skins.

Players will receive one gifted Spec Ops Crate and one gifted Ghost War Crate, redeemable via Ubisoft Club, for free. Further crates can be bought from the store for 400 credits each.

You can read the patch notes in full on the official site.

What do you think of Extended Ops? Does
Wildlands really need loot boxes? Share your thoughts below or over in the forums.

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Learn how to fight, steal and barter in the latest Kingdom Come: Deliverance gameplay video

24/1/2018

 
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Knights Fighting

Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver have released another video looking at the core gameplay mechanics players will be getting to grips with in their medieval RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

by Liam Andrews
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@pass_controller

The video showcases a day in the life of the game’s young protagonist, Henry, highlighting his combat, bartering and lockpicking skills as he makes his way through 15th Century Bohemia, and also looks at how first impressions are key to interacting with NPCs and the game’s clever use of schnapps as a quick save mechanic. Be sure to check out our thoughts on Kingdom Come: Deliverance after we recently spent an afternoon with the game in an actual castle.
Dressing the part is important in KCD not just for the protection increased layers and armour offer, but also for the influence you’ll be able to exert over the local inhabitants. For example, if you were to approach a villager while wearing expensive armour, they may mistake you for a Knight and treat Henry with more respect.

As well as auto saving during key moments, KCD allows players to save the game manually by drinking Saviour Schnapps. This drink will also give Henry extra courage, greater strength and endurance for a short period of time, though use it too often and he’ll start to feel the negative effects of alcohol.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is out 13 February on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Let us know what you think of the latest video in the comments below or over in the forums.
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The Banner Saga 3 vignette trailer series debuted, release window revealed

24/1/2018

 
Stoic Studio have released the first trailer of a series which takes a look at the cast of The Banner Saga 3

Stoic Studio are releasing a series of trailers centred on the influential characters you'll be responsible for in the third instalment of the epic strategy RPG.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

The first warrior up is Fasolt, the Varl loyalist. What are his true motives? Can he be trusted, or will he turn his back on civilisation in revenge for wrongs past?

(The following video contains spoilers)
Your previous saves will carry over. If you're new to the series check our reviews of part 1 and part 2 to get up to speed.

​Stoic have also shared with us the release window. There's no concrete date as of yet, but you can expect
The Banner Saga 3 to launch this summer.

Looking forward to the final chapter? Let us know below or over in the forums.
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Naughty Dog and Visceral veterans will lead Crystal Dynamics’ Avengers

24/1/2018

 
Thor's Hammer from The Avengers Project teaser trailer

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has announced fifteen new team members, including veterans from Naughty Dog and EA’s now defunkt Visceral Games, to work on their upcoming Marvel’s The Avengers project. 

by James Michael Parry
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​@james_parry

The studio is recruiting former Naughty Dog Creative Director, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy writer and The Last of Us animations king Shaun Escayg, who will take on Creative Director duties for the project.

Joining him is Stephen Barry, whose 27 years at EA/Visceral brought us the Dead Space series as Director of Product Development, filling the spot of Director of Production. The new hires list also features alumni from Monolith and Sledgehammer Games, amongst others.

“We’re committed to delivering an incredible, completely original Avengers experience to our gamers,” says Scot Amos, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “That means we are always looking to add amazing developers to our existing studio talent.”
Their AAA experience adds to an already deep roster, making us well-positioned to deliver on the ambitious goals we’ve set for ourselves with The Avengers project
“Their AAA experience adds to an already deep roster, making us well-positioned to deliver on the ambitious goals we’ve set for ourselves with The Avengers project.” adds Ron Rosenberg, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “It’s a stellar addition of people who fit incredibly well into our wheelhouse of building game experiences we love.”

The project, the first from a video game tie up between the studio and Marvel, is expected to be an online third-person action adventure title, but no doubt there’ll be more meat on the bones on that by E3 time in the summer.

Does this influx of talent get you more excited for the game? What other titles would you like to see them come up with as part of the “multi-year, multi-game partnership”? Let us know in the comments.
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Robocraft Infinity launching soon on Xbox One and Windows 10

23/1/2018

 
Robocraft Infinity Enhanced Edition will soon be releasing on Xbox One and Windows 10 with a host of new features

Robocraft Infinity Enhanced Edition allows you to build killer robots block by block and take them online to fight for glory in 5v5 battles.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

Like a blend of Minecraft and Crossout, the block-based building system enables players to create any kind of contraption they desire - from helicopters, to tanks, to animals - and outfit them with a variety of deadly weapons.

​You can also download other players' schematics from the factory and customise them as you see fit, before testing your creations against the AI or diving straight in to an online battle.
The fully remastered Robocraft Infinity sets itself apart with new controls, new physics, achievements, an all new progression system and more features that are yet to be revealed.

Read these tips from Community Manager, Daniel Riley, for a head start when the game releases.

Like the look of
Robocraft Infinity? Are you new to the game or an old hand? Share your thoughts with us below or over in the forums.

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Xbox Game Pass to include all new releases from Microsoft Studios on launch day

23/1/2018

 
From 20 March all of Microsoft's first-party titles will available to Xbox Games Pass subscribers at no extra cost

Microsoft today announced that every new first-party title will be available as part of their Xbox Game Pass subscription service upon release.

by Chris Brand
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@pass_controller

First up is Rare's Sea of Thieves, launching 20 March. Other titles set to release later this year include State of Decay 2 and Crackdown 3.

Microsoft's other heavy hitters, like Halo, Forza and Gears of War, will be getting the same treatment when future instalments inevitably release. Subscribers will be able to play them from day one at no additional cost to the £7.99 monthly Game Pass fee.
Microsoft's Head of Gaming, Phil Spencer, also announced that 20 March marks the arrival of a six month subscription card, available from select retailers at a price of $59.99. They only mentioned Gamestop by name and there's no pricing info on other regions as of yet, but we're sure more information will be shared soon.

With the Play Anywhere initiative, a range of titles can be played across Xbox One and PC but Xbox Game Pass is currently limited to console. When asked if the service could make its way to PC, Spencer told The Verge:

"I have been on public record saying I want people to play the games they play on the devices they want to play them on. So stay tuned. We're not announcing anything today other than our biggest games will launch on retail date into Game Pass, but I like your thinking."

Does this make Xbox Game Pass a must buy? Let us know your thoughts below or over in the forums.
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Call of Duty: WW2’s free Resistance community event goes live tomorrow

22/1/2018

 
Call-Of-Duty-Resistance-Update

Sledgehammer Games have announced the next timed event coming to Call of Duty: WW2’s multiplayer.

by Liam Andrews
Picture
@pass_controller

The Resistance event goes live tomorrow on 23 January and runs for five weeks, coming to a close on 27 February. Those who take part can look forward to 2XP playlists, new game modes, new customisation options and special limited-time resistance themed collectible items, such as emblems, callsigns, outfits and weapons in the form of the Orso sub machine gun and Volkssturmgewehr assault rifle.
Also being added is the Resistance Division, which will be free to all players starting tomorrow. This new Division adds the ability to carry a tactical knife while wielding a pistol, as well as allowing an extra attachment slot for handguns, and scrambles the mini maps of nearby enemy players.
 
The featured game modes available during the five-week event include Demolition, where one team attempts to plant and then protect a bomb while the opposition try to stop them, and Prop Hunt, in which players must disguise themselves as everyday objects around the battlefield while other players try and track them down.
 
As well as the arrival of the latest community event, next week also sees the launch of Call of Duty: WW2’s first paid DLC pack, which too features a resistance theme. The new expansion, which will be available on PS4 from 30 January and Xbox One and PC a month later, adds three new multiplayer maps, a new Nazi Zombies chapter and a new War Mode map.
 
Are you looking forward to the Resistance event? Let us know below or in the forums.
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