A lot of folks were expecting Sega and Platinum Games’ upcoming beat ‘em up Anarchy Reigns to land on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this year. It looks like that may not be happening after all, though, unless you live in Japan.

According to developer Platinum Games, Anarchy Reigns is “finished, localized, and ready to go.” Unfortunately, as publisher, Sega is the one that says when the game can launch, and apparently, the company has decided to give the brawler a TBC (to be confirmed) estimated release date.

Anarchy Reigns is still scheduled to launch in Japan on July 5, but North America and Europe will have to wait for further details from Sega. This could very well be a calculated move on the publisher’s part, as it could be trying to avoid releasing Anarchy Reigns alongside other AAA titles that may possibly launch around the same time and spell nothing but bad sales for the game.

While Lollipop Chainsaw may very well be industry genius Suda51′s most mainstream game, that doesn’t mean it won’t be rife with weird themes and crazy situations. The bosses, for example, all appear to have some pretty “out there” designs, and the battles themselves look like they could be some of the strangest of any game this year.

A trailer for Lollipop Chainsaw has popped up on the internet, and it showcases the game’s many bosses. If you’ve got four minutes to spare, check out the video. Just be warned: Its awesomeness may be too much for you to handle if you’re tired or haven’t eaten anything.

Seriously, some of these bosses are pretty messed up — in a sick, satisfying way, of course. I mean, come on, a Viking Metal Zombie that plays the drums and keeps attacking protagonist Juliet Starling after she cuts him in half using her trusty chainsaw? That sounds pretty damn sweet to me! Of course, this is just one of a few exciting and unorthodox bosses the game will feature.

Lollipop Chainsaw is going to be insane levels of awesome.

PC gaming has an inconsistent history. There was a time when PC gamers were the ones getting the optimal interactive experiences, while console gamers still got great content that sadly didn’t look as good. More recently, however, it seems that PC versions of countless games just don’t deliver when compared to their console counterparts. Sure, they may look better, but oftentimes you’ll hear about how bugs and technical issues plague PC games, and that’s after these games launch a considerably long period of time after the console versions.

In an interview with PC World, Rockstar Games went into detail regarding the specs of Max Payne 3 for the PC. Judging from what the company had to say, it looks like gamers who have been waiting patiently for the PC version of Max Payne 3 won’t be disappointed.

“In terms of the original list of specs we distributed, they were the extremes of the entire range that we had tested, from the lowest players could reasonably run, through to the most powerful rigs we could put together.,” said Kevin Hoare, lead PC designer for Max Payne 3. “We know that variety and customization is one of the strengths of the PC platform, so if you’re a hardcore PC player with an incredibly customized rig, our game is going to shine on your system. If you’re coming in at the bottom end, you’re still going to be able to have a great time playing Max Payne 3.”

Additionally, Hoare stated that Rockstar managed to “close the gap” between the console and PC versions of Max Payne 3. Considering the PC version is releasing just under three weeks after its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 brethren, it’s easy to see the truth in that statement.

It’s great to see a developer taking great strides to ensure that its game is equally impressive across all platforms. Check out Rockstar’s official site for a full list of PC specs and graphical customization options. Scalable water quality, anyone?

A job listing posted over on parent company ZeniMax’s site calls for a talented 3D environmental artist, specifically with experience “with the full range of Next-Gen asset creation, from high resolution and low polygon modeling, to UV and multi-pass texture creation.” Candidates should also have “familiarity with the id Software family of engines, tools and material creation.”

Doom 4 is apparently still headed to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2013 — though we still haven’t seen or heard a peep about it in quite awhile. It’ll be a no-show at this year’s E3, too, unless a surprise announcement is in store. Makes us wonder if the project is switching over to next-gen. Only time will tell, we suppose.

Considering Atlus is a smaller publisher, we’re sure a decision like this isn’t as easy for them to make economically, especially when gaming giants like EA shut down game servers a few years after the fact in some cases. It’s always nice to see a company go above and beyond for their fans. Full statement is after the break.

We’re incredibly excited to be able to announce that the Demon’s Souls online experience will persist for a while longer,” stated Tim Pivnicny, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “While it originally seemed as though it would be unfeasible for us to continue to sustain the servers, a number of developments have made it possible for us to continue to invest in and support our fans as they have continued to invest in and support us and Demon’s Souls. For all the gamers who have yet to discover the game’s amazing online experience, we’re happy to say you can still log on and find out why Demon’s Souls is still regarded by many as one of the finest games of all time.

A patent filed by Sony in 2011 has been discovered and made public on NeoGAF. The patent is for in-game advertising. Now, I’m not talking about shameless ads on posters or billboards within a game’s world. No, this patent idea is much sleazier.

Titled Advertisement Scheme for Use with Interactive Content (that’s funny because it would be a damn scheme), the patent indicates that a message would appear onscreen during a gamer’s play session warning that person that an ad would pop up shortly. Gameplay would then be “suspended” and a commercial would run. After the ad, “at least a portion” of the gameplay would be rewound, and the game would continue.

Now, it should be noted that this patent probably won’t lead to anything, and it seems like this was just an idea that was brainstormed and entertained (possibly by drunk people). If it did, though, it would be really disgusting for a couple of reasons. For starters, it would interrupt gamers’ experiences and even ruin gameplay for individuals who are really invested in a game. Also, it would be horrible because we already pay $60 for games, so in-game advertising would mean that publishers are just getting more money and ruining our time with a game in the process.

Again, this probably won’t happen, and it’s a good thing, too. That said, it’s pretty foul to think that the people who make our consoles and games actually think of the possibilities that schemes — yes, schemes — like these could entail for their benefit.

If you’re looking to put that PlayStation Move controller to good use, you might be glad to know that Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection will be landing on the PlayStation Network on June 26. The collection includes Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, which were previously only available on the Wii.

You’ll be able to gun down hordes of undead humans (among other creatures) while aiming with your Move controller. Both games received fairly positive reviews on the Wii, so if you’re a fan of light gun shooters or Resident Evil (or you just really want to bust out that Move controller), you may want to check out Chronicles HD Collection.

The set will be priced at $26.99 when it launches next month. Starting July 17, gamers will be able to buy each title individually for $14.99 each. That means you would have to pay 30 bucks if you planned on buying both at separate times, so it’s obvious that if you want to play both Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles, you’re better off just buying the two of them at the same time.

“As we mentioned in our original announcement, our goal has always been to ensure everyone has the smoothest experience possible when the real-money auction house launches, and we need a bit more time to iron out the existing general stability and gameplay issues before that feature goes live,” read an announcement on the official Diablo 3 forums.

Additionally, the company has issued a response to reports of rampant account hacking, stating that all cases of unauthorized access occurred before a Battle.net Authenticator or Battle.net Mobile Authenticator app was attached to the player’s account. Blizzard has yet to identify any case where an account was compromised outside the usual phishing or social engineering attempts.

It’s a sad day for the folks who worked on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. According to a source close to Joystiq, both 38 Studios and Big Huge Games have laid off their entire respective staffs. Ouch!

All of this is a result of a recent financial fiasco where 38 Studios was unable to pay the Rhode Island state government a large sum of money. It’s a long and complicated story, but here’s the short version: If 38 Studios doesn’t pay up, the Amalur IP will become the property of Rhode Island, and taxpayers living in the state may owe up to $112.6 million from 2013 through 2020.

“Big Huge Games was home for my wife and me for our adult lives so far,” tweeted former lead world designer at Big Huge Games Colin Campbell. “I’ll miss it terribly, but so proud. Good night and good luck.”

Already different studios have been showing their support for the unfortunate individuals who lost their jobs via Twitter, with kind words and even job offerings. Here’s hoping these talented game makers aren’t without jobs for too long. Best of luck to the former 38 Studios and Big Huge Games staffs.

Are you still playing Skyrim? Yeah, same here. It looks like those of us who have been taking our time with the game (as well as those who plan to revisit it) are getting something super sweet: mounted combat!

According to Bethesda, the new 1.6 update also fixes a number of bugs including situational crash issues, randomly immobile enemies, and button input problems. The beta update is available to Steam users, so be sure to check out Bethesda’s blog for details on how to download the patch.

It’s good to see continued fixes making their rounds for Skyrim. I doubt the game will ever be completely glitch-free, but at least little things (and in some cases big things) are still getting patched up. Seriously, though, mounted combat! That’s so awesome!

Stay tuned for details on when the 1.6 update will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Skyrim.

I was originally going to use GIMP to add a PlayStation 3 logo to the image above, but I got lazy. Plus, that’s so cliche! So yeah, here are some pretty clouds for you to look at! You’re welcome!

Now that we’ve gotten through that awkward introductory paragraph, let’s talk Sony! Rumors have surfaced indicating that the PlayStation 3 and Vita manufacturer will announce cloud gaming for its consoles at this year’s E3 in less than two weeks.

According to VG24/7, Sony is in talks with either OnLive or Gaikai to incorporate the service to its platforms. It would certainly be an intriguing idea. We’ll know for sure whether there’s any substance to these rumors come Sony’s E3 press conference on June 4.

Senior associate producer on the project, Tomm Hulett, has revealed to 1UP that Konami’s porting crew had to work off a beta build of the original source code. Apparently, Konami couldn’t find the source code belonging to the original gold master. Whoops.

“We got all the source code that Konami had on file — which it turns out wasn’t the final release version of the games,” noted Hulett.

He added, “So during debug we didn’t just have to deal with the expected ‘porting’ bugs, but also had to squash some bugs that the original team obviously removed prior to release, but we’d never seen before.”

On top of fixing bugs and other oddities in the pre-release code, the beta build wasn’t complete asset-wise, either. Hulett says Konami had to rip textures and sound straight from the original discs and import them in. While it’s an unfortunate situation, it’s still no excuse for the crippled state the HD Collection was released in, we think. Konami should have bit the bullet and issued a delay, or canned the project altogether.

It’s worth noting that the count does not include copies that given out as part of the World of Warcraft Annual Pass promotion, which 1.2 million players took advantage of, bringing the day one tally to an impressive 4.7 million. Post-launch sales haven’t showed any signs of slowing down either, with Blizzard reporting a total of 6.3 million copies sold with first week sales added in.

In a statement, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime acknowledged the raft of issues that Diablo 3 players experienced during the launch hours, which seem to have settled down since.

“We also regret that our preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so,” said Morhaime. He added, “I want to reaffirm our commitment to make sure the millions of Diablo III players out there have a great experience with the game moving forward, and I also want to thank them for their ongoing support.”

As any Blizzard fan knows, the company has a strong commitment to polish. We’d expect more refinements to be made as the company takes in feedback from the community. Later this month, Blizzard will launch the in-game Diablo 3 Auction House – allowing players to buy and sell items with real money or Battle.net credits.

Yesterday we reported that Max Payne 3 had sold approximately three million units since its launch last Tuesday. We also learned that the PC version of the game is set to drop next week. Today we have some more news straight from Take-Two Interactive, this time regarding Max Payne 3‘s upcoming DLC.

Rockstar Games’ current DLC plans for its hit shooter are as follows:

• Local Justice Map Pack – June 2012
• Disorganized Crime Map Pack – Summer 2012
• Deathmatch Made In Heaven Mode Pack – Summer 2012
• Hostage Negotiation Map Pack – Summer 2012
• New York Minute Co-Op Pack – Summer 2012
• Painful Memories Map Pack – Fall 2012
• Trickle Down Economics Map Pack – Fall 2012

It looks like Rockstar’s got the next few months covered as far as Max Payne 3 is concerned. The DLC listed above includes new characters, maps, items, modes, and more, all designed to further enhance the game’s stellar online multiplayer component. Worth noting is the New York Minute Co-Op Pack. While Rockstar didn’t release details on that DLC, the fact that there’s a cooperative mode planned for the game is pretty interesting to think about.

During the days of the original PlayStation, a little 2D platformer by the name of Tomba! managed to receive critical acclaim and wowed the gamers who played it. For a long time now, folks all over the internet have stated that they want to see the classic PlayStation title on the PlayStation Network. For those individuals, it’s time to celebrate, because Tomba! is officially headed to Sony’s download platform this summer as part of its PSone Classics line.

Because the original developer, Whoopee Camp, disbanded following the launch of Tomba! 2, Sony will have MonkeyPaw Games bringing the title to the PlayStation Network. “Sony and MonkeyPaw have a good working relationship,” said studio head John Greiner in a statement to Joystiq. “I think they appreciate the titles we’ve brought to the Store. And they value the support we give the games. Hence, Sony is willing to work with us on titles that may not have otherwise been licensed out. Support is key.”

MonkeyPaw has been trying to develop Tomba! for the PlayStation Network for quite some time now, and while the developer would love to eventually port Tomba! 2 to PSone Classics, it needs to take things one step at a time. “Tomba! 2 is a possibility but we need to really sell Tomba! 1 well before we can extend our relationship,” said Greiner. “It’s the first time to work with [Tokuro] Fujiwara-san [the founder of Whoopee Camp] so we’re trying to make a good impression. Good sales have a way of opening doors a bit wider.”

Here’s hoping Tomba! does sell well. As someone who never played the original game on account of my lack of a PlayStation, I look forward to getting acquainted with this charming old school classic.

During this timeframe, services such as the PlayStation Store will be inaccessible. Related services, such as Account Management and Registration will also be yanked offline.

If you’ve set aside a Thursday gaming night, your plans aren’t entirely foiled. According to PlayStation Digital manager Matthew Harper, you’ll still be able to play online if you connect to PSN within 5 days prior to the start of this maintenance window. Better sign on quick – as there’s less than 24 hours left.

Capcom has announced a limited edition Street Fighter compilation, due out on September 18 in North America for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Titled Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Set, the collection of games and other goodies will celebrate the long-running fighting franchise’s impressive 25-year run. According to Capcom, the collection was created with the fans of the series in mind.

The set includes Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition, and Street Fighter X Tekken. Characters and costumes that were featured as DLC in the last two titles will also be included. Gamers who pick up this limited edition compilation will also get a documentary, Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV anime movies, the entire Street Fighter animated series, and Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.

Included in the set are a few collectibles, as well. Buyers will get a Ryu statue, soundtrack CD, 64-page hardcover art book, replica Ryu belt, and an individually numbered certificate of authenticity.

Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Set will be priced at $149.99. I’d say you should wait for Super Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector’s Set HD Remix, which will launch five months later with more stuff and tweaked gameplay for $29.99.

Beyond that, Take-Two revealed that Max Payne 3 has been quite the success, selling approximately 3 million units during its initial launch on consoles. The PC version is scheduled to release next week on June 1. A steady stream of downloadable content is also planned throughout summer and early fall.

Some more DLC is now available for Saints Row: The Third players. The Penthouse Pack download lets you add a few new homies to your gang, specifically a bunch of buxom ladies famous for their work with Penthouse.

You’ll be able to enlist the services of Penthouse’s Nikki Benz, Justine Joli, Ryan Keely, and Heather Vandeven. Oh, and I don’t mean those types of services. Geez! That means you’ll be able to gang bang (urban warfare, not the other thing) your way through the city of Steelport alongside these respectable adult models and performers.

Despite the fact that the original announcement for the Penthouse Pack stated that the DLC would be free to Season Pass owners, it seems that’s not the case. The content is priced at 240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 gamers and $3.00 for folks gaming on the PlayStation 3 or PC.

Umm … Strap it on?

Dead Island first landed on consoles and PC on September 6 in North America. The game, while not without a few flaws, managed to deliver a zombie experience that was just pure fun and worth the price of admission.

Publisher Deep Silver has just announced Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition. You’ll get the main game plus the Ryder White’s Campaign DLC, which offers a different perspective on the story of Dead Island. The game will also include the Bloodbath Arena DLC and the Ripper weapon mod.

Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition lands on June 26, just in time to provide a nice summer gaming experience for those of us who have yet to play the zombie fest. The game will be available for $29.99 across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

If you’re a huge fan of indie and retro games, then you’re likely to be super excited about Retro City Rampage. The game has the look of an old school NES game, and according to developer Brian Provinciano, it also has the feel of a 1980s classic.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Provinciano went into detail regarding the PlayStation Vita version of Retro City Rampage. The first thing worth noting is the visual design, which some gamers may worry will not translate well onto the smaller screen. It looks like that won’t be the case, because the game has been optimized to perform on the Vita, and Provinciano even designed a few filters to add a nostalgic touch. Dot-matrix simulation for a classic Game Boy vibe, anyone?

Additionally, the Vita’s touch screen will be put to use. Provinciano stated that certain mini-games would take advantage of the handheld’s unique features, and shop and customization menus will all support touch screen controls, so you can simply tap on the screen to make selections. If you’re a purist, though, you can just as easily use the face buttons, because that’s way more retro, yo!

Last but certainly not least, Retro City Rampage will feature cross-platform play, which means you can fire up a game session on your PlayStation 3 and then transfer it over to your Vita (and vice versa) to take with you to a boring wedding or family event! Now, transferring data like that may not exactly be retro (yo!), but it certainly is convenient!

No word on when Retro City Rampage will launch for the PlayStation 3 and Vita, but Provinciano did state that he’s working hard to get it out as soon as humanly possible. Watch out for this one!

Alongside the announcement, Capcom confirmed that a PC version of the title is coming after the  console equivalents. Beyond that, the company wasn’t specific on a release window, though did say development is “well underway.” This should please those that were upset over the decision to target 30 FPS on consoles, as the PC edition will no doubt run 60 FPS or above if you have a rig capable of handling it.

In terms of aesthetics, DmC represents a complete makeover from previous entries in the franchise, starring a new — younger — Dante. Retained is the fast-paced gameplay, which sees players hack n’ slash their way through legions of demonic foes, while performing stylish combos.

Look for plenty of hands-on impressions to surface soon, as Capcom says the title will be playable at E3 2012 next month. Also, we’ve uploaded a few new screens over at VGIMG, showcasing character Kat.

It was previously revealed that the XBLA version of Minecraft would not support split-screen multiplayer. Even though plenty of people knew about this thanks to the good ol’ internet, it would be impossible for everyone to be aware because Microsoft never made it clear on the game’s Xbox Live Arcade page.

That’s all been fixed, though, and the Minecraft listing now sports a nice little disclaimer that reads, “To experience split-screen functionality a high-definition television is required.”

Obviously, there are a few gamers out there with SDTVs that weren’t exactly aware of the HD barrier that stood in front of them and Minecraft‘s wonderful multiplayer gameplay. These folks feel kind of gypped, so Microsoft has promised to refund gamers who were unaware of the requirements to play Minecraft through its support page.

Now, we can make jokes about how it’s weird that people are playing an HD system on an SDTV, but the fact of the matter is that Microsoft should have included the prerequisite on the Minecraft page right from the get-go. Also, in today’s world where paying the bills and eating are more important than a fancy TV, I don’t think anyone is any position to expect the entire population to own an HDTV, even if they do have an Xbox 360.

Payday: The Heist and Left 4 Dead often draw comparisons to each other due to their group-based shooter gameplay. It looks like the two universes will collide, because developer Overkill Entertainment has revealed that there will be a crossover of sorts between the two franchises down the road.

“We are excited to be able to confirm that an in-depth collaboration between Overkill and Valve is currently in production,” said Overkill’s Ulf Anderson. “We are working on a very cool blend of Payday and Left 4 Dead. I am sure it is so exciting that it will have some players check into the hospital before we are done.”

According to VG24/7, Overkill is also planning a sequel to Payday, so that should be exciting for fans of the game. It looks like there are some long-term plans for the series, and this collaboration is certainly a promising starting point for the future of the IP. Here’s hoping the two developers can create one compelling world where both franchises fit seamlessly and provide gamers with some intense action.

Also, the prospect of bank-robbing thugs and flesh-eating zombies all in the same game just seems really cool.

It’s not clear how the hackers gained access at this time, though signs are pointing to a possible breach on Blizzard’s own servers – as even some users that use a authenticator for login claim to have been hit. So far, Blizzard has yet to issue an official statement over the rash of hacking reports. For affected users, Blizzard’s tech support is apparently suggesting to purchase an authenticator to increase account security.

For all we know, this could just be a result of poor security practices by end users, or social engineering tactics. However, the sheer number of people reporting issues suggests otherwise. Just take a gander in one forum thread to see for yourself. Obviously, if the hack was performed server-side, that’s much more concerning. Here’s hoping Blizzard addresses this soon. In the meantime, it may be wise to keep an eye on your account.

Xbox original Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath launched to positive reviews when it was re-released with snazzy HD graphics on the PlayStation Network. A Vita port has been in the works, and developer Just Add Water is shooting for a June launch.

During the PlayStation Blogcast, the studio’s CEO Stewart Gilray revealed that work on the project had just started just over a month ago, reports Push Square. Despite that fact, however, Stranger’s Wrath on the Vita is coming along nicely, and the game is expected to hit Sony’s portable late next month. That’s certainly surprising, and it’s great to see development going so smoothly.

“We started work on [the Vita version of Stranger’s Wrath] about five and a half weeks ago,” said Gilray. “The guy who’s doing it had actually never touched a Vita before — he just plugged it in and read the documentation. He probably spent half a week reading the documentation and then the next week he already had the code running. He was surprised how quickly he managed to get things going.”

In addition to Stranger’s Wrath for Vita, Gilray announced that Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee should see a release on the PlayStation Network soon. The game was originally released as an Xbox exclusive during the console’s launch despite the fact that it was first planned for the PlayStation 2. No exact word on when the game will launch, but it did earn a few favorable reviews and awards at the time of its original release, so the HD remake could be a real treat to watch out for.

The hacker, who wishes to remain anonymous, has also shared video proof above of the feat (via PSPKing.de). We couldn’t make out any performance issues, so games appear to be running smooth. However, there’s at least one show-stopping bug made obvious by the lack of sound. The hacker is attempting to fix this and if he succeeds, plans to release the source code.

It’s worth noting however that users of the publicly released Vita exploit (otherwise known as VHBL) will not be able to take advantage of this, as patching the emulator requires kernel-level access. Earlier this month, a complete dump of the PSP emulator flash0 memory surfaced, though the kernel exploit used to obtain those files remains under wraps. So far, Sony has been extremely diligent when it comes to patching up known exploits on the Vita, and with discoveries like this it’s not hard to understand why.

Yesterday, a demo for Rayman Origins landed on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. While the demo indicates that this may be the weakest version of Ubisoft’s adorable and charming 2D platformer, the game still seems to retain a lot of the elements that made it so great on home platforms and the PlayStation Vita. The gameplay, for example, is still stellar. As for the visuals, while the 3DS may not be able to pump out lush HD graphics, Rayman Origins still features some nice environments with bold color usage throughout.

According to GamesRadar, the latest version of Ubisoft’s awesome platformer will hit retailers on June 5. That’s less than three weeks away, so if you were looking forward to Rayman Origins on the 3DS, the wait will be over soon. The game will be priced at $29.99, which makes sense considering Rayman Origins costs that much on consoles, so it would be weird for anyone to be expected to pay any more.

The game was something of a sleeper hit in 2011. Rayman Origins certainly didn’t get off to a good start in terms of sales, but it slowly picked up, chugging along and eventually generating some profitable revenue for Ubisoft. After scouring Google and YouTube for info on the 3DS version of Rayman Origins, it would seem that gamers looking to play the game on a handheld will enjoy the Vita version more. That said, if you don’t own a Vita and you really want to take this game on the go, maybe you should look into the 3DS version.

Currently, Origin boasts a userbase of 12 million gamers worldwide.

“The public support for crowd-funding creative game ideas coming from small developers today is nothing short of phenomenal,” said Origin senior VP David DeMartini. He added, “It’s also incredibly healthy for the gaming industry. Gamers around the world deserve a chance to play every great new game, and by waiving distribution fees on Origin we can help make that a reality for successfully crowd-funded developers.”

Notably, inXile Entertainment has already jumped on board to take advantage of this distribution deal on a non-exclusive basis. Wasteland 2, a post-apocalyptic that raked in over 2.9 million from Kickstarter backers, is headed to Origin – joining the previously announced Steam and DRM free release. Whatever gripes you may have with Origin, you have to admit this is a nice initiative from EA – especially since it comes with no strings attached. Interested parties can fill out the application form over on EA’s site for more information.

One of the perks of buying games on Steam is that you can often buy them prior to their launch and pre-download them onto your PC. After that all you have to do is wait for launch day to come and — Bam! — you’ve got a brand new game ready to play, no annoying download times necessary at launch.

It appears that Sony will begin to adopt this practice, as well, reveals Gamasutra. Gamers will be able to pay for upcoming PlayStation Network titles, and they will have the opportunity to pre-download them to their PlayStation 3 consoles. The first game that will use this functionality is the upcoming PlayStation Move title Sorcery, which will hit the PlayStation Store next week.

Being able to pay for and download a game before it releases, and then having the file unlock at launch is definitely a great practice, and one that should be the norm for consoles. I’m certain plenty of gamers will agree that having access to a game right at launch is great, but the best part of it all is that you don’t have to get super anxious as you wait for the game to download that day.

Previously announced solely for the PlayStation 3, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will now be making its way to the PlayStation Vita, as well. It has also been revealed that the game will be released on both Sony platforms on the same day sometime during its planned fall release date.

Players will be able to save their game data via cloud storage and switch between the PlayStation 3 and Vita versions of Thieves in Time as they wish. This should make it a great deal of fun playing the heck out of the game at home and then transferring it over to the portable to get some out-of-the-house gaming done. It’s currently unknown whether the game needs to purchased for both platforms in order for this to work, but let’s hope that’s not the case, because really, it’s hard to imagine anyone buying a game twice just to switch between home console and handheld.

Sony has stated that the two versions of Thieves in Time will be identical. The dual analog layout of the Vita will allow players to have the same type of control that they would on the PlayStation 3. Additionally, the handheld version will utilize the Vita’s gyroscopic features. For example, some projectiles will be controlled by tilting the handheld.

It’s great to see a game like Thieves in Time landing on the Vita. Here’s hoping this paves the way for some more Sly Cooper titles on the handheld device down the road.

The title highlights Konami’s ‘Transfarring’ capability, which allows gamers to load their save data seamlessly across both platforms. That means you can switch between the PS3 and Vita at any time and resume your progress. It isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a feature demonstrated, but it’s still nifty.

While it’s mostly a carbon copy of the PS3 HD Collection, sans the omission of PSP title Peace Walker, Konami hasn’t passed up the opportunity to utilize the Vita’s touch-screen and rear touchpad. Through touch-based gestures, players can control the camera and cycle through weapons.

A job listing on Next-gen.biz indicates that developer Criterion Games is working on a new game for the PlayStation Vita. The opening is for a software engineer, and after different mentions of both Burnout and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, it’s more than likely that the game in question will be a racer.

According to self-proclaimed internet extraordinaire Superannuation, the listing originally stated that the game was to be released on the Vita specifically. Now, however, there’s no mention of Sony’s portable, and the job post instead mentions “new” and “other” platforms. Considering the Vita was the latest device to hit the market, it could be the new platform the listing is referring to.

Last year, Criterion released Burnout Crash! via digital download, and before that, the developer worked on Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Of course, that was back in 2010, so it makes sense that the studio is planning a new game. The likely candidate is the next Need for Speed title, which would definitely be a good racer to take to the Vita.

Famed adventure game developer Telltale Games has reported that The Walking Dead Episode 1: A New Day has officially hit the one million sales mark. That’s awesome news for both Telltale and The Walking Dead, as the game was received quite well by gamers. What that means is that most of those one million sales are made up of satisfied fans who got a great game.

According to Telltale, The Walking Dead is its fastest-selling series. Episode 1 topped sales charts across Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam, and because this is just the first of five episodes in the series, we can definitely expect The Walking Dead to continue to rake in revenue for the folks making the games.

Currently, Telltale is planning to release The Walking Dead for iOS platforms this summer. Additionally, Episode 2: Starved for Help is scheduled to land on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, PC, and Mac next month. Here’s hoping the next chapter in the series is as great as Episode 1, so the franchise can continue selling well, and so fans of The Walking Dead can keep getting content worth being stoked about.

Publisher 2K Games has revealed full details on two special edition bundles for the Gearbox-developed FPS/RPG Borderlands 2. The first is the Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition, which is priced at $99.99. You’ll get Borderlands 2, Marcus Kincaid bobblehead, Inside the Vault: The Art & Design of Borderlands 2 art book, set of stickers, map of Pandora, download code for a digital comic book, and extra in-game goodies.

The second bundle is the Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition, which sports a hefty $149.99 price tag. It’s hefty for a reason, though, because it includes everything from the first bundle, and it also comes packed with a steel book case, Creatures of Pandora ID chart, set of lithograph postcards, field notes by Sir Hammerlock, cloth map of Pandora, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. Also, this bundle is totally going to include a red loot box replica, which easily makes that $149.99 justifiable. I mean, it’s a freaking loot box, people! Just like in the game!

Borderlands 2 is currently scheduled to land on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on September 18. Both special edition bundles will be available across all three platforms, so you don’t need to worry about being snubbed if you prefer one console over the other. And because we have a few months until the game launches, that gives us plenty of time to save up our hard-earned coins for one of these two sets. Seriously, though, that red loot box is going to be awesome.

“Dozens of weapons with hundreds of upgrades and customizations will also be available. Gameplay includes teamplay-focused experiences with support points and weapons, as well as the ability for all classes to revive fallen teammates. Zip-lining, combat sliding, psyche gas and barrel bombs are just some of the gameplay elements that can be experienced when playing,” reads the announcement.

Ubisoft has partnered with GameStop to distribute beta codes to Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier purchasers. There’s one catch, though: the offer is open to GameStop PowerUp Rewards members only. Fortunately, there will be other ways to snag a key for beta access, either through Ubi’s Facebook page or community websites. We’ll reach out to Ubi to see if we can secure a few keys to giveaway.

It turns out there is a workaround however, one that Apple seems to currently approve of, but you’ll have to ask them first. The developers of Zombies, Run! came up with the solution of releasing a paid and free app, the latter containing some introductory content with an optional authentication mechanism to unlock the full version. Basically the same as a password gate, but since the free app contained some content and the unlock was entirely optional, Apple gave it the go ahead.

It’s not a clear-cut solution as the developers Zombies, Run! point out. The policy could certainly change in the future and anyone interested in going this route should contact Apple first. At any rate, it’s nice to hear that Apple is giving some leeway to these Kickstarter projects. Apple may lose out on the initial round of sales, but ultimately it benefits them once the app is officially released. It will be interesting to see how bigger projects, like the recently funded Republique approach this.

Ubisoft has been open about its support for the Wii U for the past few months. With games like Rayman Legends and Assassin’s Creed III being teased as possible candidates for Nintendo’s upcoming platform, it’s obvious that Ubisoft hopes to bring some of its bigger franchises to the system. Eurogamer reports that during its earnings call, Ubisoft further expressed support for the Wii U, revealing that it had seven games planned for the console, and even stating that the Wii U could have “great success.”

The console’s tablet controller is one of the things Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot is really stoked about, saying that the screen will help emphasise the social aspect of video games by allowing players to “play asynchronously with your friends, to receive challenges, and to really have a screen to communicate with your friends.” The publisher seems to be embracing the casual and group gaming aspects that Nintendo made its own with the Wii. “So all this tells us that the machine can have a great success, because it will bring to families a good machine,” continued the Ubisoft CEO.

Chief Financial Officer Alan Martinez then announced that Ubisoft had seven games planned for the Wii U, five of which will be casual titles, and two of which will be developed to appeal to the core crowd. Assassin’s Creed III will potentially be one of the core titles, and it joins games like Rayman Legends, Ghost Recon Online, and Avengers: Battle for Earth, just a few of the games that have been teased by Ubisoft.

It’s great to see a major company supporting the Wii U, mainly because variety in the industry is always welcome. Here’s hoping the publisher can deliver on its promise to bring both quality casual and core gaming experiences to the Big N’s upcoming console.

While the job listing on LinkedIn via Twitter doesn’t exactly spell out Deus Ex 4, the franchise has been particularly revered for its open-ended gameplay set within a structured world. Additionally, the project is based on an “existing IP” that combines “elements of choice and stealth within the gameplay.” Yeah, this sounds like Deus Ex. While Thief 4 could be a possible candidate as well, that’s already been announced for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

What’s more, is that project is being built from the ground-up to take advantage of next-generation platforms due out within the next few years. A wide range of vacancies are open, from senior gameplay programmer to cinematic director. Next-gen can’t come soon enough, eh?

Ubisoft is celebrating the warm month of May with some impressive deals on a bunch of games. If you managed to blaze through Max Payne 3 and/or are currently disliking Diablo III and you need something to play, you may want to check out Ubisoft’s discounts, which were announced on the PlayStation Blog.

PlayStation Plus members get 50 percent off, while all other PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to snag some titles for 30 percent off. The sale covers a wide variety of games, from smaller downloadable titles such as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game to digital versions of retail games like Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. DLC is also discounted, and HD remakes like Beyond Good & Evil HD are included in Ubisoft’s May sale, as well.

You’ll find the full list of discounted games below, with prices for PlayStation Plus users and standard PlayStation Network folks. Personally, I would recommend Outland to anyone who hasn’t already played it. The game is a beauty to behold, and its strong soundtrack and great platforming/bullet hell gameplay make it a truly special little download.

• From Dust – PlayStation Plus price $7.34; Sale price $10.49
• Outland – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes – PlayStation Plus price $7.34; Sale price $10.49
• Beyond Good & Evil HD – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Prince of Persia Classic – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – PlayStation Plus price $14.69; Sale price $20.99
• Assassin’s Creed 2 – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Assassin’s Creed – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Far Cry 2 – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Call of Juarez 2 – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Prince of Persia (2008) – PlayStation Plus price *$9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Prince of Persia Classic Trilogy HD – PlayStation Plus price $19.59; Sale price $27.99
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – PlayStation Plus price $7.34; Sale price $10.49
• Prince of Persia: Warrior Within – PlayStation Plus price $7.34; Sale price $10.49
• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones – PlayStation Plus price $7.34; Sale price $10.49
• Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – Da Vinci Disappearance DLC – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Assassin’s Creed 2 – Battle of Forli DLC – PlayStation Plus price $1.95; Sale price $2.79
• Assassin’s Creed 2 – Bonfire of Vanities DLC – PlayStation Plus price $3.42; Sale price $4.89
• Far Cry 2 – Fortunes Pack DLC – PlayStation Plus price $2.44; Sale price $3.49
• Call of Juarez 2 – Old West Map Pack DLC – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Prince of Persia (2008) – Epilogue DLC – PlayStation Plus price $4.89; Sale price $6.99
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Knives Chau Add-On Pack DLC – PlayStation Plus price $0.97; Sale price $1.39
• Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines (PSP) – PlayStation Plus price $9.79; Sale price $13.99
• Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Complete Edition (includes Da Vinci Disappearance, Animus Project Update 1, Animus Project Update 2 and Copernicus Conspiracy Missions) – PlayStation Plus price $14.99; Sale price $24.99
• Far Cry 2 Complete Edition (includes Fortune Pack) – PlayStation Plus price $11.99; Sale price $19.99
• Prince of Persia (2008) Complete Edition (includes Epilogue) – PlayStation Plus price $11.99; Sale price $19.99
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game Complete Edition (includes Knives Chau Add-On Pack) – PlayStation Plus price $4.79; Sale price $7.99
• Call of Juarez 2 Complete Edition (includes Old West Map Pack) – PlayStation Plus price $11.99; Sale price $19.99