Half of Steam’s Biggest-Selling 2015 Games Are in Early Access
Only six games have sold more than 1 million units on Steam during 2015 - and three of them are still in Early Access.
According to a tweet by Steam Spy, those six games were Grand Theft Auto V, Cities: Skylines, Rocket League, ARK: Survival Evolved, H1Z1, and Besiege - and as GamesIndustry.biz points out, the latter three titles have yet to leave Early Access.
This suggests that gamers are happy to support promising titles in Early Access - despite the fact that last year, a research firm revealed that only 25% of Early Access games had released a full, final version since the program started in 2013. The criticism has led to Steam taking action to stop selling Early Access games in limbo; dinosaur game The Stomping Land was removed from the Early Access program after developers failed to update players for months on end.
Our Big, Awesome Autumn Movie Preview
It seems like only yesterday we were anticipating films like Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Jurassic World, but now kids are back at school, leaves are falling from the trees, bulk Halloween candy is in the supermarket, and the air is getting colder. That’s right: Fall is upon us (or autumn as our brethren across the pond say).
As we usher in Labor Day weekend stateside, now's the time to look ahead at the many exciting movies that await us through to the end of November.
It should be noted that this preview only covers US and UK release dates as it's not autumn in Australia. Sorry, mates!
Release Date: September 11 (US), November 27 (UK)
Daily Deals: Xbox One Labor Day Sale, Star Wars Toys, Game of Thrones Blu-rays
From now through Labor Day weekend, all currently available (non-preorder) Xbox One consoles come with Assassin's Creed Unity and another game of your choice. That means most Xbox Ones come with three games, since each bundle already comes with one game.
Cliff Bleszinski Nearly Quit Games For Good
Cliff Bleszinski has revealed that after leaving Epic Games in 2012, he thought that he had quit game development for good.
"I honestly thought I was done," the Boss Key Productions head says in an interview with Destructoid.
"It was a combination of gamers feeling jaded, as well as working with some very talented people who were also very jaded. I could pitch the most amazing idea to anybody back when I was at Epic toward the end, and they'd be like 'I don't buy it.' I don't mean to slag anyone, but people get jaded in this business."
Check Out the Trailer for the Grand Theft Auto TV Drama
BBC has released its first trailer for the TV movie about the making of Grand Theft Auto called The Gamechangers.
Daniel Radcliffe (best known for his role as Harry Potter) stars as Sam Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, who produced Grand Theft Auto 3 and made GTA one of the best-selling video game franchises of all-time.
Grand Theft Auto 3 and its sequels gave players the freedom to participate in various missions or tasks. Some of GTA’s content pushed boundaries to the point US lawyer and outspoken critic of violent video games Jack Thompson, played by Bill Paxton (Edge of Tomorrow, Big Love), led a crusade against GTA and Rockstar Games.
BBC revealed it was creating a drama based on Grand Theft Auto earlier this year. The TV movie was part of an effort to get the UK more interested in coding and technology.
Marvel’s ‘Totally Awesome Hulk’ Is Revealed
After a series of partially obscured teaser images and red herrings, Marvel has revealed the true identity of the new Hulk that will be starring in the upcoming Totally Awesome Hulk comic. It's a character that should be immediately familiar to fans of Greg Pak's previous Marvel work - Amadeus Cho.
The reveal was made via Entertainment Weekly this morning. The new series will see Cho replace Bruce Banner as the strongest hero in the Marvel Universe. The difference is that Cho actually enjoys being Hulk, hence the title of the series. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso told EW, "For Banner, the weight was like a boulder. For Cho, it’s like a feather. And I think that’s the distinction here. He loves being the Hulk."
IGN Free Game of the Month: Radiation Island
IGN has partnered with Atypical Games to give gamers Radiation Island for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad free-of-charge! All copies of this excellent open world survival game are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to visit grab your free copy ASAP:
- iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch: http://www.ign.com/prime/promo/radiation-island-free
Radiation Island is a massive and polished open-world exploration game. Players can hunt zombies, solve puzzles, and harvest raw resources to build your own house. Best of all? The entire experience is 100% In-App-Purchase free. Simply download the game and go. Can you solve Radiation Island's mysteries, survive the wildlife, and escape alive?
GTA Online Bonuses and Discounts This Weekend
There are a whole range of discounts and bonuses on offer in GTA Online this Labor Day weekend.
From today, September 4 until September 7, players will get a 2x RP and GTA$ bonus across various jobs and modes, and a 25 percent discount across some in-game stores.
Today, you can get the bonus on Air Races and Parachuting Jobs, as well as a discount on all aircraft from Elitas Travel. On Saturday you'll get the bonus in Land Races, and a discount from the Legendary Motorsport high performance vehicle store.
On Sunday the bonus is for Sea Races, and you can get boats cheaper from Docktease. Finally, on Monday, Deathmatches will get the double bonus and you'll get 25 percent off at Warstock Cache & Carry.
Here’s Total War: Warhammer’s New Underground Battlefield
Sega has released a cinematic trailer revealing the all-new underground battlefields coming to Total War: Warhammer.
"Deep beneath the World’s Edge Mountains, in the throne-room of the Dwarfen capital Karaz-A-Karak, High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer broods," states the press release from Sega. "Poring endlessly over the Dammaz Kron, the Great Book of Grudges, he dreams of vengeance for the countless betrayals and treacheries against his people. And sometimes, just sometimes, an opportunity to settle an old score presents itself…"
Developers Come Together for HELP Game Jam
Top developers are banding together to help fund War Child’s ongoing charity undertakings in conflict-torn countries.
The HELP Game Jam will see different studios from across the world all working separately to create their own game. Each title will then be sold as part of a compilation early next year, with the proceeds going to War Child.
Studios signed up so far include 343 Industries, A Brave Plan, Bossa Studios, Carbon Games, Creative Assembly, Curve Digital, Hardlight, Hinterland, Spilt Milk Studios, Sports Interactive, Team 17, and Torn Banner. More are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.