Brandish: The Dark Revenant comes to North America in January

XSEED games announced last week that Brandish: The Dark Revenant will be available via PlayStation®Store in North America in January 2015.

Brandish: The Dark Revenant is an action role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. It was originally released in Japan in 1991. The upcoming English version that will be published by XSEED games will be released on the PlayStation Portable.

Brandish: The Dark Revenant is a top-down dungeon crawler that puts the player in the role of swordsman Ares Toraernos as he climbs his way through over 40 sprawling floors of monsters, traps and puzzles in an attempt to escape a long-forgotten underground labyrinth.

Crunchyroll now accessible on Wii U

Nintendo has announced that Wii U owners with a broadband Internet connection can access the Crunchyroll application, a platform for anime and Asian dramas.

Wii U owners can download the free Crunchyroll application in the Nintendo eShop.

Premium Crunchyroll members will be able to begin watching shows immediately.

Wii U owners who are not yet Crunchyroll members can sign up for a 14-day free trial of premium membership via the application or at the Crunchyroll website.

Square Enix and Bandai Namco at Jump Festa

Jump Festa is an annual exposition in Japan featuring anime and manga.

Square Enix and Bandai Namco both had new game trailers at the latest Jump Festa event that ended recently.

Square Enix released trailers for Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and Final Fantasy XV.

Bandai Namco released trailers for Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, J-Stars Victory VS+, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 and Dragon Ball XENOVERSE.

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

NIS America announced last week that Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance will be released in the west for the PlayStation 4 in the fall of 2015. It had been scheduled to be released in Japan on 26 March.

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is a tactical role-playing game developed by Nippon Ichi Software. It will be the fifth in the Disgaea series.

The game tells of the evil demon emperor Void Dark devastating numerous Netherworlds after coming to power. The player will have to lead the young demon Killia as he travels across the Netherworlds to gather an army to rebel against Void Dark.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD

Final Fantasy Type-0 is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in October 2011 for the PlayStation Portable. A high-definition port, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, is scheduled for release for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in March 2015.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is set in Orience, a land divided between four nations: the Dominion of Rubrum, the Militesi Empire, the Kingdom of Concordia and the Lorican Alliance. Gameplay focuses on Class Zero, a group of students from the Vermillion Peristylium, a magical academy in the Dominion of Rubrum. When Rubrum is invaded by the Militesi Empire, the students of Class Zero are called to fight the forces of Militesi.

Over the past month, Square Enix has released several videos for Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, including a cinematic trailer and a video introducing some of the characters styled as a news report from the game.

Steins;Gate

PQube has announced that Steins;Gate will be coming to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2015 for both Europe and North America.

Steins;Gate is a Japanese science-fiction interactive visual novel developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus that was released for the Xbox 360 on 15 October 2009 and subsequently to other platforms. It follows a band of young students who discover the means of changing the past through text messages using a modified microwave. However, in the process, the students become entangled with SERN, an organisation that threatened the world through its research into time travel.

Steins;Gate has been well-received by critics. Mike Geib at Twinfinite calls it "one of the best examples of the medium" while Kevin Mai at Rockmandash Reviews calls it "one of the BEST experiences I've ever had in any medium ever".

Crusader Kings II: Way of Life released

Paradox Interactive released Crusader Kings II: Way of Life, the latest expansion for the Crusader Kings II franchise, on 16 December. It is available on the Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.

Way of Life bolsters the role-playing aspects of Crusader Kings II. It gives the player the ability to fine-tune his methods of intrigue by allowing him to set a focus for his character that will influence the types of events that the character will experience.

Together with the launch of Way of Life, Paradox Interactive released three limited collector’s editions of Crusader Kings II, each with unique offerings.

Elite: Dangerous launched

Elite: Dangerous, a space game developed by Frontier Developments, was released for the Windows PC on 16 December.

Elite: Dangerous is the fourth installment in the Elite series and the first in the series to feature massively multiplayer gameplay.

In the game, the player controls a spaceship to explore, fight, trade and hunt through an open world galaxy based on the real Milky Way. It is a world dominated by three superpowers: the Empire, Federation and Independents. The conflicts between these superpowers provide the player with a plentiful supply of different missions across the galaxy to choose from.

Suikoden II available on PlayStation Network

Suikoden II, a role-playing game released by Konami for the original PlayStation console, became officially available digitally on the PlayStation Network on 9 December.

Suikoden II is the second installment in the Suikoden series and features a rich plotline with a large cast of characters. In the game, the player takes on the role of an orphan hero who, with his friend Jowy and his orphan sister, Nanami, become involved in a war between the Highland Kingdom and the City States.

Combat consists of up to six in a single party and several team members or enemies can attack simultaneously. The game's magic rune and skills system encourages players to use strategy in combat.

While the original release of the game in the late 1990s was not a great commercial success, it was well-liked by many critics and gamers who have played it. Indeed, Jason Schreier at Kotaku calls it "one of the greatest RPGs ever made".

Metal Gear Online to be released with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Konami Digital Entertainment has released a video of Metal Gear Online, which will be released as the multiplayer mode for the upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

The upcoming Metal Gear Online is the third iteration of the multiplayer game and focusses on tactical team operations. It features a class system that more uniquely defines the strengths and abilities of player characters on the battlefield.

As for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, it is claimed to be the largest and most ambitious addition to the series to date. It focuses on the hero of the series, Snake, and follows the events of the recently-released prologue, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (see my post on the latter). It is set in a series of huge open-world environments that incorporate changing weather conditions and gradual day-to-night transitions during missions which is supposed to impact stealth-based gameplay.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain will be released in 2015 to Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Godzilla the Game

Bandai Namco Games announced last week that Godzilla the Game will be coming to the Americas in the summer of 2015 on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

In the game, the player controls Godzilla and has to destroy cities and environments to take out each area's Energy Generator while collecting as much G-Energy as possible. The G-Energy can then be used to power up Godzilla, increasing both his physical size and his offensive and defensive skills.

New video for futuristic real-time strategy game, Etherium

Focus Home Interactive released a new video last week for its upcoming real-time strategy game, Etherium.

Developed for the Windows PC by Tindalos Interactive, Etherium has a futuristic setting with three playable factions, each with its individual characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, technologies and special skills.

In the solo campaign, the player controls one of the factions and is free to progress in a non-linear fashion in his fight for control of etherium, the main resource in the game. The player has to manage his resources, expand his colonies and extend his control of the map to assemble an army to defeat his opponents.

The game also has a multiplayer mode where up to four players can compete simultaneously.

Etherium is scheduled to be released early next year.

The Game Awards 2014

The Game Awards 2014 was held in Las Vegas on 5 December, with the Game of the Year award going to Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Among the other awards given, the Developer of the Year award went to Nintendo, the Best Shooter award went to Far Cry 4, the Best Action/Adventure award went to Shadow of Mordor, the Best Role Playing Game award went to Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Best Fighting Game award went to Super Smash Bros. Wii-U, the Best Family Game award went to Mario Kart 8 and the Best Sports/Racing Game award went to Mario Kart 8.

The Crew released

The Crew, an action-driving game developed by Ivory Tower and Ubisoft Reflections and published by Ubisoft, was released on 2 December for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

Below is the launch trailer.

See also my earlier post on the game.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

Bandai Namco Games has announced that Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be launching in the Americas on 7 April 2015 on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC/Steam.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will include the three previously released DLC packs - Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King and Crown of the ivory King - along with the following features:

● Additional NPCs added for an enhanced story experience.
● Parameter adjustments for improved game balance.
● Augmented item descriptions.
● Improved online matchmaking functionality.

Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC versions of the game will also get additional upgrades to graphics, sound and performance as well as an increase in the maximum number of online players in a single session.

Teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The official teaser for the latest Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, is out.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be the seventh episode in the Star Wars saga. It is scheduled to open in theaters on 18 December 2015.

Bladestorm: Nightmare

Last week, Koei Tecmo announced that it will be releasing Bladestorm: Nightmare in Europe for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PlayStation 3 on 6 March 2015.

Developed by Omega Force, Bladestorm: Nightmare is a strategy game based on the Hundred Years' War. The player takes the role of a mercenary and fights for either England or France.

In addition to the historical mode, the game also includes a mode called 'Nightmare' which features a fictional scenario that includes fantasy creatures. This mode allows the player to take control of an additional 32 playable characters based on both fictional and historical figures of the time.

Nintendo releases Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U

Nintendo released Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan, North America and Australia on 21 November. The games will be released in Europe on 28 November.

In both games, players collect, battle and trade Pokémon while trying to stop a shadowy group with plans to alter the Hoenn region forever.

Nintendo Life has a review of the games.

Also on 21 November, Nintendo released the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. in North America. The game will be released in Europe on 28 November, Australia on 29 November and Japan on 6 December.

The 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. had been released in Japan on 13 September and in North America and Europe on 3 October (see my earlier post).

Dragon Age: Inquisition launched

Dragon Age: Inquisition, the third major game in the Dragon Age series developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, was launched on 18 November. It is available on the Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3.

To help players get into Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare has published an article providing tips and tricks for the game.

Pillars of Eternity available for pre-order

Pillars of Eternity, the fan-funded role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive, is now available for pre-order from digital distributors.

Pillars of Eternity can be played on Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux.

Assassin’s Creed Unity ready for launch

Assassin’s Creed Unity will be launched on 11 November in North America and 13 November in Europe for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.

In preparation for the launch, Ubisoft has released a video providing information on the game as well as, of course, a launch video.

Launch of Power Rangers Super Megaforce and Lords of the Fallen

Bandai Namco Games launched two games last week: Power Rangers Super Megaforce for the Nintendo 3DS and Lords of the Fallen for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

Watch the launch trailers below.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, an upcoming action role-playing game being developed by CD Projekt RED, is the third game in The Witcher series. Some of the features announced for it include the following:

• An open world much larger than in previous Witcher games
• A novel-like story that allows over 100 hours of gameplay
• Tactical, responsive, multi-layered combat
• Next generation audio-visual fidelity

The opening cinematic for the game was recently released.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is scheduled to be released for the Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 24 February 2015.

Civilization: Beyond Earth released

On 24 October, 2K and Firaxis Games announced the release of Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth worldwide for the Windows PC.

In Civilization: Beyond Earth, players lead an expedition from Earth to a new world, which they have to explore and colonise.

The reviews for the game are already out. The following is from GameSpot.

Civilization: Beyond Earth will also be available for players on Mac and Linux by Aspyr Media this holiday season.

See also my earlier post on Civilization: Beyond Earth.

Swordsman: Gilded Wasteland goes live

Gilded Wasteland, the first expansion for Perfect World Entertainment's massively multiplayer online role-playing game Swordsman, went live on 23 October.

Swordsman is based on a popular Chinese martial arts novel by author Louis Cha.

In the game, ten martial arts schools compete to become the most powerful in China. The player takes on the role of a survivor of a tiny village torn apart by war and must avenge his people while discovering the mysterious connection between him and the martial arts world.

The Gilded Wasteland expansion brings the following features:

• Increased level cap to 94
• New weapon crafting
• Exotic desert wasteland zones
• New instances and gear
• Leveling improvements
• Updated companion system
• Increased player vs. player options

Warlock 2 gets Wrath of the Nagas expansion

Warlock 2, a turn-based fantasy strategy game from Ino-Co Plus and published by Paradox Interactive, has an expansion: Wrath of the Nagas.

Wrath of the Nagas was released for the Windows PC on 21 October and, for the first time, will also be available for the Mac and Linux.

The expansion includes a new campaign, the new Naga race, new great mages and two new lords.

Samurai Warriors 4

Samurai Warriors 4, a hack and slash game by Koei Tecmo, was released in North America on 21 October for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It will be released in Europe on 24 October. It had been released in Japan on 20 March.

In conjunction with the launch of Samurai Warriors 4 in North America and Europe, Koei Tecmo released a launch trailer for the game.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare gameplay launch trailer

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launches on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC on 4 November.

In preparation for the launch, Activision has released the official gameplay launch trailer.

Big patch and first expansion for Final Fantasy XIV

Square Enix has released some videos recently on an upcoming patch as well as an expansion for its massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Final Fantasy XIV.

The first video is for Patch 2.4: Dreams of Ice and is eight minutes long, a lengthy trailer for a large patch. The patch introduces the Rogue class, the new Ninja job, the ice queen Shiva, new dungeons, recipes, as well as other content.

Patch 2.4 will be released later this month.

The second video is a teaser trailer for the first expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, Heavensward. The expansion will increase the game’s level cap to 60, introduce a new playable race, new jobs, new dungeons, high-end raids, and will enable players to build airships and go to Ishgard and beyond.

Heavensward will be released in the spring of 2015.

World of Warcraft Patch 6.0.2: The Iron Tide

The Warlords of Draenor expansion will be coming to World of Warcraft on 13 November (see post).

In preparation for this expansion, Blizzard Entertainment released Patch 6.0.2: The Iron Tide last week. This patch introduced the following:

• New Character Models
• World Event: Iron Horde Incursion
• Revamped Group Finder/Premade Groups
• Quest Log
• Inventory Improvements
• New Raid Structure
• Boosted Characters

For detail of the patch, read the patch notes or watch the following video.

Assassin's Creed Unity cast of characters

Ubisoft has released a video showing the cast of characters in Assassin's Creed Unity and the actors who play these characters.

Assassin’s Creed Unity will be available on 11 November on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

Dragon Age: Inquisition – The Hero of Thedas

The latest Dragon Age: Inquisition trailer focuses on the protagonist, the Hero of Thedas.

Dragon Age: Inquisition will be available from 18 November on the Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3.

The Crew

The Crew is an action-driving game developed by Ivory Tower and Ubisoft Reflections and published by Ubisoft and will be released on 2 December for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

The Crew takes the player on a ride inside a massive, open world depicting the United States. The player has to infiltrate a gang grown around Detroit’s illegal street racing scene and sabotage their activities city-by-city all across the United States.

Missions can be played alone, with friends, or with online co-op matchmaking. The multiplayer mode lets players create teams to compete online in races and other game-types.

The following video shows the types of cars available in The Crew.

The Evil Within launched

The Evil Within, a survival horror game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks, was released on 14 October on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation4, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Watch the launch trailer below.

Also see my earlier post on the game.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel launched

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was launched on 14 October in North America for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux/Steam OS, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It will be released in the rest of the world on 17 October.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a video game that fuses the first-person shooter and role-playing genres. It was developed by 2K Australia with assistance from Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. It is the third game in the Borderlands series and is set in the period between the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2.

The Pre-Sequel features four playable characters, each belonging to a different class and having different abilities. The characters begin as henchmen of Handsome Jack but have to take him on as he turns villainous.

The game expands upon the engine of Borderlands 2 and introduces new gameplay mechanics, including low-gravity environments, freeze weapons, and oxygen tanks which are used to navigate environments and perform special attacks.

Assassin's Creed Rogue story trailer

Assassin's Creed Rogue is an upcoming historical action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Sofia and published by Ubisoft. It is set to be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in North America on 11 November and in Europe and Australasia on 13 November, and for Microsoft Windows in early 2015.

Assassin's Creed Rogue is set in 18th century North America amidst the chaos and violence of the French and Indian War. You play as Shay Cormac, an Assassin who turns his back on the Brotherhood after a mission goes tragically wrong. The latter, in response, attempt to end his life, forcing Shay to set out to wipe out all who turned against him.

Watch the story trailer about Shay below.

Bandai Namco Games announces Battleline: Steel Warfare

Bandai Namco Games has announced a brand new project, Battleline: Steel Warfare.

Battleline: Steel Warfare is an upcoming free-to-play online game that combines real time strategy with tank shooter.

Watch the announcement trailer below.

For details of the game, visit the official website

Art of War expansion for Europa Universalis IV

Paradox Interactive has announced that Art of War, the latest expansion for its grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV, will be available worldwide on 30 October.

Art of War is the fourth expansion to be released for Europa Universalis IV and is claimed to be the largest one to date.

In the following video, Martin Anward, Project Lead for Europa Universalis IV, explains some of the new features available to players in the expansion.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

Square Enix has released a new Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris video which shows four-player co-operative play.

Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is the latest game in the action-adventure Tomb Raider series and is the sequel to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

This new game takes place in the Temple of Osiris, hidden deep in the deserts of Egypt, where Lara must overcome deadly traps and forsaken gods to uncover the missing pieces of Osiris and change her fate.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is scheduled for release on the Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on 9 December.

Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation, the survival horror game developed by The Creative Assembly, was launched by Sega on 7 October.

The game is based on the movie franchise, Aliens, and sees the player following the story of Amanda Ripley as she seeks to unlock the truth about her mother’s disappearance while being stalked by a deadly xenomorph.

The reviews for Alien: Isolation have generally been positive, although there are still flaws in the game, at least in the opinion of Jeff Marchiafava at Game Informer.

Unlike its titular organism, Alien: Isolation is decidedly imperfect. The story falls flat, your objectives lack a sense of accomplishment, and the campaign drags on longer than it should. When the gameplay is at its best, however, Isolation delivers the thrill of being in the Alien universe, something fans like me have waited a long time to properly experience.

Dragon Age: Origins available for free

Apparently in an effort to entice people to buy their upcoming game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Electronic Arts is making Dragon Age: Origins available for free until 14 October through their online store, Origin.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes to be released for PC

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced that it will release the Windows PC version of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes via Steam on 18 December 2014.

The game is already available on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, part of the Metal Gear series, is an open-world action-adventure stealth game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Konami. It is set in 1975 and follows the hero Big Boss as he infiltrates a sprawling secret prison base called Camp Omega in Cuba on a rescue mission.

The Evil Within

The Evil Within is a survival horror game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks.

The game features Detective Sebastian Castellanos, who encounters a mysterious and powerful force while investigating the scene of a gruesome mass murder. With limited resources, the player has to guide the protagonist in his fight for survival as he tries to unravel what is behind this evil force.

Bethesda Softworks has released a new trailer for The Evil Within that shows the enemies that the protagonist has to face in the game.

The Evil Within will be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation4, Xbox One and Windows PC on 14 October.

Assassin's Creed Unity story trailer

Ubisoft has released a story trailer for Assassin's Creed Unity.

See also my earlier post on the Assassin's Creed Unity Season Pass and another post on the game's co-operative multiplayer mode.

Assassin’s Creed Unity will be available on 11 November on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

Styx: Master of Shadows launches

Styx: Master of Shadows, the new infiltration game from Cyanide Studio published by Focus Home Interactive, will be launched today. It will be available for download today on the PlayStation 4 in the US and on Windows PC, and on the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Xbox One on 8 October.

Styx: Master of Shadows features stealth gameplay designed to reward player skill and strategy. Playing the very short and very green goblin, Styx, the player has to battle his way to the top of the lofty Tower of Akenash to complete numerous missions and gradually reconstruct the puzzle that provides the key to the mystery of his origins.

The launch trailer above focuses on the story behind the game. For some gameplay, see my earlier post on the game.

Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne

Paradox Interactive announced on 3 October that the newest expansion to Crusader Kings II, Charlemagne, will be released worldwide on 14 October.

Crusader Kings II is a strategy game set in Medieval Europe. The player has to take on the role of a Christian noble and carry him through the ages from Count to Emperor via the line of succession.

Charlemagne adds new story events, the ability to create new kingdoms, an additional century to play, and a new in-game “Chronicle” that allows players to follow their progress in history.

Charlemagne will be available for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs and will come with four new pieces of downloadable content.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was launched in North America and Europe on 3 October. It had been released in Japan on 13 September.

Super Smash Bros. is a fighting game in which up to four players use various attacks, techniques, and items to damage their opponents.

For more details of the game, visit the official website.

Dragon Age: Inquisition crafting and customisation

BioWare has released new videos on Dragon Age: Inquisition providing details on crafting and customisation.

The following video specifically focuses on character creation.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is scheduled to be released on November 18 for the Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3.

Might & Magic Heroes Online officially launched

On 30 September, Ubisoft announced that Might & Magic Heroes Online is now available as a browser-based free-to-play game.

Developed by Blue Byte, Might & Magic Heroes Online combines the original Heroes gameplay formula with new massively multiplayer online features. Players control powerful, customisable Heroes, explore a multitude of fantasy environments, build towns, and compose armies out of creatures from different factions to dominate the battlefield.

Cities: Skylines

Colossal Order is developing a city-building game called Cities: Skylines.

Cities: Skylines will offer sprawling landscapes and maps with sandbox gameplay and numerous ways for the player to expand his city. Key to progression is the ability to influence your city’s policy by incorporating taxation into districts. Players will also have the ability to mod the game to suit their play styles.

Cities: Skylines will be published by Paradox Interactive and is scheduled for release on the Windows PC in the first quarter of 2015.

Far Cry 4 trailer – The King of Kyrat

Ubisoft has released information on Pagan Min, tyrannical dictator of Kyrat and the main antagonist in Far Cry 4.

Far Cry 4 is an action-adventure first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows PC. It is the sequel to the 2012 game, Far Cry 3.

The single-player story follows Ajay Ghale, who returns home to Kyrat in the Himalayas where he is confronted by the self-appointed king, Pagan Min. Players will have to use the vast array of weapons, vehicles and animals in the game as they take the protagonist across an exotic open-world landscape.

Far Cry 4 is scheduled for release on 18 November.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an action role-playing game set in The Lord of the Rings universe. It is developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment. It is scheduled to be released on 30 September on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the player plays a ranger by the name of Talion. Banished from death and embodied by a mysterious spirit, Talion is compelled to seek vengeance on those who killed his family and left him to die.

With the launch coming soon, Monolith and Warner Bros have released a video for players to “learn everything you need to know to walk into Mordor”.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments launch trailer

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, the investigation game developed by Frogwares and published by Focus Home Interactive, will be released on 30 September for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

In preparation for the launch, Focus Home Interactive has released a trailer of the game.

Total War: ATTILA

On 25 September, Sega announced that Total War: ATTILA will be the next installment in the Total War series of strategy games.

Total War: ATTILA casts players back to 395 AD, a time of apocalyptic turmoil at the very dawn of the Dark Ages. An ailing and divided Roman Empire finds itself threatened by a new power rising in the great steppes of the East, one that is led by a warrior king whose thirst for conquest is utterly unequaled: Attila the Hun.

Total War: ATTILA is scheduled for release in 2015 on Windows PC and Mac.

Considering its setting and the fact that Total War: ROME II Emperor Edition was just released on 16 September, Total War: ATTILA looks to me more like a standalone expansion to Total War: ROME II than an entirely new game.

Having said that, the new game will apparently incorporate new features, such as family trees, skill trees, advanced street-fighting, civilians, complete settlement destruction and dynamic fire.

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell

On 24 September, Volition released a video that shows viewers the game-play in its upcoming game, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell.

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell is a 2015 open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver. The game is a standalone expansion to Saints Row IV. It will be released on 27 January 2015 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

In Gat Out of Hell, players take on the role of Johnny Gat as he is sent into hell via a nefarious spirit board incident and left to combat demons, the horrors of the underworld (including prominent historical figures) as well as the Devil himself.

Neverwinter: Rise of Tiamat announced

Perfect World Entertainment has announced the next update for its free-to-play action MMORPG, Neverwinter: Rise of Tiamat.

The storyline for the update will follow the events of Tyranny of Dragons and the Siege of Neverwinter, and sees the Cult of the Dragon attempting to resurrect the iconic five-headed draconic goddess Tiamat from the Nine Hells. Adventurers must band together to protect Neverwinter, culminating in a battle with one of Neverwinter’s most powerful dragons.

FIFA 15 launches with bugs for PC

Electronic Arts has announced that FIFA 15 has been released in North America for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC on 23 September. It will be released in Europe on 25 September and the United Kingdom on 26 September.

Unfortunately, the PC version was marred by bugs that have not been fixed at the time of writing.

Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass brings two new adventures

Ubisoft has announced that two brand new adventures will be released in early 2015 for players who buy the Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass: the Dead Kings campaign and Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, an entirely new game.

Dead Kings takes you from the bloody streets of revolutionary Paris to the troubled city of Saint Denis while Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is a 2.5D game that introduces a new standalone story set in 16th century China.

The Season Pass also provides players access to three new missions as well as new weapons, gear and skills that can be carried between Assassin’s Creed Unity and the Dead Kings DLC missions.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse coming to PC

Bandai Namco Games has announced that Dragon Ball Xenoverse, the latest addition to the fighting game series based on the Dragon Ball media franchise, is coming to the Windows PC/Steam.

The following trailer from the Tokyo Game Show 2014 provides some game details.

Kingdom Under Fire II videos at Tokyo Game Show

Kingdom Under Fire II is a massively multiplayer online game developed by Blueside that combines two genres: action RPG and real-time strategy. The player controls a character who can command troops to fight against enemies in a medieval fantasy setting.

During the Tokyo Game Show 2014, Blueside released two videos, one being a trailer of in-game scenes and the other showing scenes from actual gameplay using the PlayStation 4.

Kingdom Under Fire II is available for the Windows PC in South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore and is under development for the PlayStation 4, which is expected to have additional exclusive content.

Bloodborne

Bloodborne is an action role-playing game being developed by From Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

In the game, the player explores the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness, to discover its darkest secrets in order to survive using a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers.

Bloodborne will be released for the PlayStation 4 on 5 February 2015 in Japan and 6 February for North America and Europe.

In the meantime, Sony has released a number of videos of the game this month, including a 30-minute gameplay walkthrough at the Tokyo Game Show.

Assassin's Creed Unity co-operative multiplayer

Assassin's Creed Unity is an upcoming historical action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is set to be released in November and December 2014 for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Assassin's Creed Unity is the latest in the Assassin's Creed series. The single-player story is set within Paris during the French Revolution, and follows Arno in his efforts to expose the true powers behind the Revolution.

Assassin's Creed Unity introduces a co-operative multiplayer mode to the series, letting up to four players engage in narrative-driven missions and explore the open-world map.

Ubisoft recently released a trailer on co-op gameplay.

An earlier video showed a demo of a co-op heist mission.

CastleStorm: Definitive Edition

Zen Studios announced on 16 September that CastleStorm: Definitive Edition will be available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 next week.

CastleStorm is a physics-based tower-destruction game, combining elements of real time strategy, resource management, and a blend of challenging gameplay scenarios.

CastleStorm: Definitive Edition will include the entire original campaign and expansions, plus new content including new battles, modes, and spells, and features including 1080p resolution, improved textures and character models, and voice support.

CastleStorm: Definitive Edition launches on PlayStation 4 in North America on 23 September and in Europe on 24 September, and on Xbox One on 24 September.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution launched in North America

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution was launched in North America on 16 September. It can be played on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC.

The game was released in Japan and Europe last week.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution is a fighting game and the latest in the Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution offers players tons of new techniques, enhanced mechanics, more than 100 characters and a brand new exclusive character, Mecha-Naruto.

ArcheAge launches

ArcheAge, the MMORPG developed by XL Games and published in the west by Trion Worlds, was officially launched in North America and Europe on 16 September.

ArcheAge is an open-world sandbox MMORPG. In the game, players can raise their own mounts, fight through dungeons, craft their own armour, build farms and houses, sail on the high seas, fly on airships, fight other players for plunder and claim land for their guilds.

ArcheAge is free to play, with optional Patron subscriptions and non-recurring passes available that grant additional benefits to players.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare coming to consoles

Torn Banner Studios has announced that Chivalry: Medieval Warfare will be coming to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 this fall.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is a multiplayer online action game where the player uses swords, shields and longbows to fight battles. Players have real-time control over their swings, allowing them to aim strikes and blocks with precision.

Battles involve besieging castles, raiding medieval villages and fighting for glory in the arena with up to 32 players.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare was released on the Windows PC in October 2012.

Dying Light launching in January

Gamespot reports that Techland will release its open-world action survival horror game, Dying Light, on 27 January 2015 in North America, 28 January in Australia and New Zealand, and 30 January in Europe and Asia.

The game launch has been brought forward from its previous schedule of February 2015.

Dying Light will be available for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC.

Styx: Master of Shadows

Styx: Master of Shadows is an infiltration game with RPG elements from Cyanide Studio. In the game, the player has to guide Styx through the winding Tower of Akenash while avoiding hordes of powerful enemies.

Styx: Master of Shadows will be released in October for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.

In the meantime, publisher Focus Home Interactive has released a new video of the game.

Special-edition Nintendo 3DS XL systems

During the GameStop EXPO in Anaheim, California on 10 September, Nintendo announced that it will be selling three special-edition Nintendo 3DS XL systems.

Super Smash Bros. Edition Nintendo 3DS XL: Red and blue systems go on sale on 19 September in honour of the 3 October launch of the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS game. The cover of the new hardware features a dozen of the game's characters, including Mario, Link, Samus and Little Mac.

NES Edition Nintendo 3DS XL: This GameStop exclusive goes on sale on 10 October. It is modelled after Nintendo's NES controller and the box looks like an NES system.

Persona Q Edition Nintendo 3DS XL: In honour of the 25 November launch of the ATLUS role-playing game Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, GameStop will be the exclusive retailer for the Persona Q Edition of the Nintendo 3DS hardware. The design evokes the essence of Persona Q with the iconic Grimoire styling on the front and the new style of character art represented on the back.

Champions Online: Steel Crusade

On 10 September, Perfect World Entertainment released Part 1 of the Steel Crusade update for its free-to-play action MMORPG, Champions Online.

In this update, players have to help protect Millennium City from Mechanon and save citizens from spontaneously bursting into flames. The Steel Crusade update features new missions, a new archetype, the new Mechanon Lockbox and more.

The following video provides some information on the Steel Crusade update.

Resident Evil Revelations 2

Capcom has provided some screens, art and details for its upcoming game, Resident Evil Revelations 2.

Like its predecessors in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil Revelations 2 will have a horror and suspense theme. It will contain four main chapters, each of which will be released weekly as individual downloadable episodes. A full disc version with additional game content will be released subsequently.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 is scheduled to be released in early 2015 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows PC.

A concept teaser video for the game had been released at the beginning of this month.

Destiny: Day one sales and early impressions

Activision has announced that it has sold more than US$500 million of its science fiction first person shooter, Destiny, into retail stores and first parties worldwide as of day one, making the game the biggest new video game franchise launch in history.

It also says that the game is the highest-selling day one digital console release in history and is on track to become Activision's next billion dollar franchise.

GameSpot has posted a video providing some early impressions of Destiny.

Battlefield 4 Final Stand

DICE has released a video providing a glimpse of the Battlefield 4 Final Stand expansion.

Final Stand is the latest expansion for Battlefield 4, a first-person shooter developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts.

It will include four new maps, with military installations set against a wintry landscape.

Players will discover secret prototype weapons and vehicles that further tie into the fiction around Final Stand, and to some extent, the Battlefield series.

Battlefield 4 Final Stand is set to be released in the Fall of 2014.

Play Destiny before official launch

Destiny, the online science fiction first person shooter developed by Bungie and published by Activision, is set to be officially launched on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 on 9 September 2014.

However, according to VG247, Bungie's Destiny servers will go live on 8 September at 12 noon GMT / 7am EDT / 4am PDT. Anyone who gets hold of the game early will be able to play.

In Destiny, the player plays a Guardian of the last city on Earth. He will be able to explore the ancient ruins of our solar system and wield incredible power to defeat Earth’s enemies.

For more information on the game, visit the game's website.

Mortal Kombat X launches in April 2015

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced that Mortal Kombat X will be launched worldwide on 14 April 2015 on the Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Goro, a four-armed Shokan warrior, will be playable in the game for people who pre-order the game.

Developed by NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat X is the latest entry in the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games. For the first time in the series, Mortal Kombat X will give players the ability to choose from multiple variations of each character, which will affect both strategy and fighting style.

Ryse: Son of Rome to be available on PC

Deep Silver has announced that Ryse: Son of Rome becomes available on the Windows PC on 10 October.

Ryse: Son of Rome is a third-person action-adventure game that tells the story of Marius Titus, a young Roman soldier who witnesses the murder of his family at the hands of barbarian bandits, then travels with the Roman army to Britannia to seek revenge.

Developed by Crytek, Ryse: Son of Rome had originally been launched on the Xbox One on 22 November 2013. The introduction of the game to the Windows PC brings with it better graphics, including support for 4K resolution.

In conjunction with the announcement of the game's launch on the Windows PC, Crytek has released a cinematic trailer.

Total War: ROME II Emperor Edition to be released with Imperator Augustus Campaign Pack

Sega confirmed on 4 September the release of Total War: ROME II Emperor Edition on 16 September for both Windows PC and Mac.

This edition includes the Imperator Augustus campaign pack. This campaign covers the events of the Second Triumvirate War, which ultimately led to the end of the Republic and the rise of the first emperor.

All current owners of Total War: ROME II will be upgraded for free on 16 September to the Emperor Edition. Improvements to the base game include overhauled building chains, a redeveloped and more impactful politics system, improved campaign and battle lighting, and all free content updates since ROME II’s launch in September 2013.

For a taste of what the new campaign will bring, the game's developer, The Creative Assembly, has released a cinematic trailer.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer

Activision has released a new Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare video.

The new video provides some information on the game's multiplayer features. These features including exoskeleton movement, customisation, maps, and modes.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launches on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC on 4 November.

New DLC for Wargame Red Dragon

A new, free DLC became available for Wargame Red Dragon on 2 September.

Developed by Eugen Systems and published by Focus Home Interactive, Wargame Red Dragon is the third title in the Wargame series of real-time strategy games and brings the action to Asia.

The new DLC adds 12 new units and an additional full-length story campaign that takes the Korean War to 1992 with an alternate-history scenario that sees China, North Korea, and a restored Soviet Union take on the United Nations coalition in the Korean peninsula.

The Sims 4 launched

Electronic Arts officially launched The Sims 4 on the Windows PC on 2 September in North America, Central Asia, and Russia. It will be released in other territories on 4 and 5 September.

The Sims 4 is a life simulation game where the player creates his own characters with their own personalities, emotions and appearances to create their own life stories.

Wii U: Games of Past, Present and Future

Nintendo has put together a video of some past, present and future games for the Wii U. I have embedded it below.

Enjoy!

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is the next entry in the acclaimed Civilization series. This turn-based strategy game is being developed by Firaxis Games and will be published by 2K Games.

Set in the future, the player takes part in an expedition to find a home beyond Earth. In doing so, the player has to explore and colonise an alien planet, research new technologies, amass armies, build Wonders and shape the face of the new world.

The game will be released for the Windows PC on 24 October 2014. In the meantime, the development team has released the following gameplay video.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is a game developed by Frogwares and published by Focus Home Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Crimes & Punishments is an investigation game that lets you become the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. You have to solve six cases involving murders, disappearances, thefts etc.

Ahead of the game's launch on 30 September, publisher Focus Home Interactive has released a video on the art of interrogation in the game.

New trailer for Lords of the Fallen

Bandai Namco Games has released a new trailer for their upcoming action RPG, Lords of the Fallen.

In Lords of the Fallen, you will follow Harkyn, a man with a history of evil deeds but who has to save the world from being plunged into eternal darkness when a Fallen God sends his demonic army led by the mighty ‘Lords of the Fallen’ to destroy humanity.

The game will be released on 28 October 2014 in the Americas and 31 October 2014 in Europe and other territories on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Buyers who pre-order the game will be given a limited edition version that will include the official game soundtrack, Monk's Decipher DLC which enables players to uncover hidden secrets, and the Demonic Weapons Pack DLC that gives players three additional special weapons to wield in battle.

PAX Prime, BioWare and Dragon Age: Inquisition multiplayer

PAX Prime, a gaming exhibition held annually in Seattle, kicked off this year on 29 August.

IGN has compiled a list of all the games that will be showcased at the event.

One of the games that will be there is Dragon Age: Inquisition. Indeed, on 28 August, the game's developer BioWare published its schedule of planned activities at PAX Prime.

Perhaps even more excitingly for fans of the game, a day earlier, BioWare had released an FAQ of the multiplayer mode for Dragon Age: Inquisition. This is the first time in the series that a multiplayer mode will be available in the game.

The multiplayer mode will be cooperative and will see players collect loot, salvage items, craft new weapons and armour, and unlock new characters.

Mario Kart 8 DLCs

Three Mario Kart 8 DLCs were released on 27 August.

The first introduced three Mercedes-Benz vehicles for free as part of a software update for the game.

The other two DLCs became available for advance purchase on 27 August. The DLC packs deliver new content as well as crossover characters like Link from The Legend of Zelda series (Pack 1) and both Isabelle and the Villager from the Animal Crossing series (Pack 2).

Players who advance purchase both packs, whether separately or as a bundle, will get eight new colours for Yoshi and Shy Guy for use immediately.

Pack 1 will be available in November 2014 and Pack 2 will be available in May 2015.

Star Trek Online: Delta Rising

In early August, Cryptic Studios had announced that it would be launching Delta Rising, its second full expansion for its free-to-play massively multiplayer online game, Star Trek Online, in October.

The official announcement trailer for the expansion has now been released.

In Delta Rising, captains are sent to explore the Delta Quadrant, joining forces with and opposing the efforts of well-known species seen on Star Trek: Voyager, such as the Talaxians, the Ocampa, the Kazon, as well as lesser known species.

The expansion raises the level cap to 60. As captains progress past level 50, they are allowed to train in specialisations, picking up additional skills to broaden their capabilities.

Dark Souls II: The Crown of the Old Iron King

This week, Bandai Namco Games launched the Dark Souls II DLC, The Crown of the Old Iron King.

Developed by From Software, Dark Souls II is the sequel to the 2011 hit, Dark Souls, while The Crown of the Old Iron King is the second chapter of the Dark Souls II Lost Crowns DLC Trilogy.

For a review of The Crown of the Old Iron King DLC, see the following video.

Hyrule Warriors

On 26 August, Nintendo announced that Hyrule Warriors, a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, will be released in the West for the Wii U on 26 September.

In this game, you play as Link, Midna and other Legend of Zelda characters to defeat the sorceress Cia and her minions of evil. The game mixes the hack-and-slash gameplay of Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series of video games with the settings and characters from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series.

If you pre-order now, you get a bonus DLC in the form of a costume set from The Legend of Zelda series: Ocarina of Time at GameStop, Skyward Sword at Best Buy, or Twilight Princess at Amazon.com.

Plus, if you register the game with Club Nintendo between 26 September and 23 October, you can download two costumes for Ganondorf that you can use in-game.

Doctor Who series 8

The new Doctor Who series from the BBC kicked off in the UK on 23 August with a feature-length episode called Deep Breath.

This is the eighth series featuring the time-travelling Doctor Who, who made his first appearance back in 1963. In the latest series, the Doctor is played by Peter Capaldi.

The next episode in the series, Into the Dalek, will be broadcast in the UK on 30 August.

Paradox announces story-driven RTS game, Ancient Space

On 21 August, Paradox Interactive announced that Ancient Space, a new story-driven real-time strategy game from developer Creative Forge, will be coming to Windows and Mac PCs in Fall 2014.

Ancient Space is a single-player, real-time strategy title that puts the player in command of a fleet conducting a scientific mission on the edge of the known universe, charting what lies beyond in ‘The Black Zone’. The story will guide the player as you build and upgrade your fleets, and then survive the deadly strategic missions.

Perfect World releases Chill Of Luneska

Perfect World Entertainment released Chill of Luneska on 19 August, its latest update for its MMORPG, Perfect World International.

With this update, players can explore the frozen reaches of the eastern Primal World, which was first introduced in the New Horizons expansion, and ultimately unlock Luneska City itself.

In addition to the new quests associated with the new area, the update adds Territory Resource Wars, a quicker way to complete dailies, and new fashion and flyers.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition released

On 19 August, Blizzard Entertainment released Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition to consoles.

The Ultimate Evil Edition includes both the action role-playing game Diablo III as well as the Reaper of Souls expansion.

In addition, this edition adds more ways for players to share their adventures:

• Apprentice Mode makes it easier to group up with friends.

• The Nemesis System sends hero-slaying monsters into friends' games.

• Player Mail and Player Gift give players new options for sharing their treasures with allies.

Blizzard announces Warlords of Draenor expansion, and a price increase for UK players

On 14 August, Blizzard announced that it was launching the Warlords of Draenor expansion for its MMORPG, World of Warcraft, on 13 November.

In this expansion, players will get to:

• Explore the savage world of Draenor, home of the orc and draenei races.

• Build your own garrison on Draenor.

• Instantly upgrade to level 90 to be ready to adventure on Draenor.

• Use new player character art.

• Adventure to Level 100.

• Take on a wide array of dungeons, raids, scenarios, battlegrounds, challenge modes, and more.

Players in the United Kingdom, though, may have to pay more to play this expansion.

Two days ago, Blizzard announced that it was raising the pound sterling subscription price of World of Warcraft to £9.99 for 30 days from £8.99, £28.17 for 90 days from £25.17, and £52.14 for 180 days from £46.14. The suggested retail price of the 60-day prepaid time card will be £20.99.

Players with uninterrupted auto-renewing subscriptions at the time of the price change will retain their current price for two years though.

Best of Gamescom 2014: Evolve

On 15 August, the winners of the Gamescom awards for the best games and products premiered at the fair were announced.

The winner of the "Best of Gamescom" award was Evolve, a multiplayer shooter from Turtle Rock Studios. The game also won in the "Best Console Game Microsoft Xbox", "Best PC Game", "Best Action Game" and "Best Online Multiplayer Game" categories.

For the list of the rest of the winners, see here.

Neverwinter: Tyranny of Dragons

Perfect World Entertainment announced on 14 August that Tyranny of Dragons, the fourth content update for its free-to-play Neverwinter action MMO, is now live.

Billed as one of the largest expansions to date, it introduces the Scourge Warlock class, new heroic encounters, a new dungeon and skirmish, and the new Dragonborn race.

Gamescom 2014

Gamescom is an annual trade fair for games in Cologne, Germany, that was opened this year on 13 August.

The Gamescom blog has a look at some of the more eagerly anticipated games that are about to enter the market. These include “Uncharted 4 – A Thief’s End”, “Battlefield – Hardline“, “The Legend of Zelda” and “Dragon Age – Inquisition”.

Meanwhile, BGR has selected its top 10 Xbox One trailers and its top 10 Playstation 4 trailers from the Microsoft and Sony Gamescom press conferences respectively