Microsoft today announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Mojang, the Stockholm-based game developer, and the company’s “Minecraft” franchise. The Mojang team will join Microsoft Studios.
Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion. Subject to customary closing conditions and any regulatory review, the acquisition is expected to close in late 2014.
Microsoft plans to continue to make “Minecraft” available across all the platforms on which it is available today, including PC, Xbox and PlayStation.
Atlus has released the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax story trailer. The fighting game will be available on September 30th for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Activision today announced an all-new gameplay mode in Skylanders Trap Team in honor of the evil villain, Kaos. In Kaos Doom Challenge, Portal Masters battle through increasingly difficult waves of minions using their army of Skylanders.
Skylanders Trap Team will be available on October 5th.
2K and Gearbox have released the third video in the four part series, “The Making of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel”. In this episode, The Good, The Bad, The Terrible and The Claptrap, the teams at Gearbox and 2K Australia discuss the four playable characters and go in-depth about each of their action skills as well as who they are in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel will be available on October 14th.
Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto V will arrive on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 18th, with the PC version to follow on January 27th.
Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will feature a range of major visual and technical upgrades to make Los Santos and Blaine County more immersive than ever. In addition to increased draw distances and higher resolution, players can expect a range of additions and improvements including:
Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also feature enhanced radio selections, with over 100 additional new songs and new DJ mixes from returning DJs across the game’s 17 radio stations.
All players who pre-order the game will receive $1,000,000 in-game cash to spend across Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
A host of new, exclusive content also awaits for players returning from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions including rare versions of classic vehicles to collect from across the Grand Theft Auto series such as the Dukes, the Dodo Seaplane and a faster, more maneuverable Blimp; activities, including wildlife photography; and new shooting range challenges, new weapons and more.
Enhancements to Grand Theft Auto Online include an increased player count, with online play now for up to 30 players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. All existing gameplay upgrades and Rockstar-created content released since the launch of Grand Theft Auto Online will also be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC with much more to come.
Existing players on PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 will be able to transfer their current Grand Theft Auto Online characters and progression to their choice of PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC.
2K has released a new trailer for NBA 2K15 MyTEAM, narrated by Shaquille O’Neal, featuring “What If?” scenarios about top players around the NBA. In MyTEAM, users can build a fantasy dream team by collecting players from any era, with the goal of creating the greatest team of all-time. New this year is a real-time Auction House as well as an all new Challenges mode that takes team building skills to the limits as players compete in NBA “what if” fantasy games. Weekly and multiplayer challenges will also be added throughout the year with user submitted content to be featured in game.
NBA 2K15 hits the court on October 7th.
Aksys Games announced that Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, the newest fighting game for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, will have a North American exclusive limited edition for $69.99 (PS3 version) and $79.99 (PS4 version). The standard and limited editions are available for pre-order now from GameStop and Amazon.
Contents of Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- include:
Paradox Interactive has released a new trailer for Magicka 2, the spellcasting co-op action game. The trailer shows a new slice of Magicka 2’s gameplay, and also debuts the hidden singing talents of Magicka 2’s robe-clad musical, magical miscreants.
Paradox is holding a contest to allow fans to create their own karaoke music video. Magical music video directors can nab an instrumental version of the Magicka 2 song from the trailer, along with an .mp4 video file with the lyrics, so that they can sing along and create their own karaoke video. Winners will find themselves the owner of a super cool prize. To get all the details, head over to www.magicka2.com/singalong.
Magicka 2 is scheduled for launch in early 2015.
Iceberg Interactive and Arkavi Studios announced that their 4X space-strategy game Lords of the Black Sun is now available on Steam with a 15% discounted price of $29.99 at launch.
Nordic Games announced that the street release date of MX vs. ATV: Supercross has been moved from October 7th to October 28th.
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