Evolve delayed to February 2015

Take Two Entertainment just announced that Evolve, the new multiplayer shooter from Turtle Rock Studios(Left4Dead creator) will be pushed back to next year February. It was originally planned for an October release but hey, more time for development is never a bad thing. 

Why the sudden delay? A 2K representative gave a statement to Polygon on why the four versus one multiplayer releasing next year:

"As stated on the Take-Two Interactive earnings call, 2K and Turtle Rock Studios are extending the development of Evolve by a few months to allow enough time to fully realize the vision for Evolve and meet our collective standards of creative excellence. We are encouraged by the press reaction and fan excitement coming out of a very successful E3, and we are now certain we are headed in the right direction with the game and we are confident in delivering a genre-defining product when Evolve launches on February 10, 2015."

Evolve is an online multiplayer shooter that pins four players as hunters going against one monster controlled by another player. The game will be available on PS4. Xbox One, and PC.

It was looking to be a very heavy October in the last few weeks, but these amount of delays are turning out to be a good sign since highly anticipated titles are being spread out through the coming months. Evolve is a new franchise after all, so it releasing on a less crowded month is more beneficial for Turtle Rock Studios.

XCOM: Enemy Within ‘War Machines’ trailer shows each sides getting upgrades

2K games and Firaxis released a new trailer for XCOM: Enemy Unknown's upcoming expansion named XCOM: Enemy Within.  When it was revealed, we got a small tease, now we get to see what's in store for us in this major expansion.

XCOM: Enemy Within brings back the meaning of major expansion with all this new content added into the original game. The expansion will include 47 new maps, new weapons, new alien units to go against, a new resource to scavenge, and the ability to alter your soldiers genes to become more effective in combat.

XCOM: Enemy Within will be out on November 12, 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Gearbox Software finally releasing a Borderlands 2 Game of the Year Edition

Always wanted a copy of Borderlands 2? Don't buy it! wait for this, get your money's worth, because Gearbox Software has finally announced Borderlands 2's Game of the Year Edition which gives all the DLC released up to this point. Gearbox Software head Randy Pitchford regarding the Game of the Year Edition:

“For us and for fans, the love for Borderlands 2 has been nothing short of spectacular, so it's natural for us here at Gearbox Software to want everyone else to have a chance to experience the best-selling game and its most valuable expansion content," said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “The Borderlands 2 Game of the Year Edition offers more value than ever before in one package, giving everyone an opportunity to become a legendary Vault Hunter, and join in the award-winning mayhem and fun."

The Game of the Year Edition contains all DLC released so far, that means all the story content, skins, and character classes. Here's the official list of items in the bundle:

• Borderlands 2 Main Game
• Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty
• Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage
• Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt
• Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep
• Creature Slaughter Dome
• Premiere Club Content:
  • Gaige, the Mechromancer Character Class
  • Gearbox Gun Pack
  • Golden Key
  • Vault Hunter's Relic
• Krieg, the Psycho Character Class
• Collector’s Edition Heads and Skins
• Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1

Support for Borderlands 2 hasn't stop. Gearbox will be releasing the Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2 at the beginning of September which increases the level cap yet again by 11. More DLC is also in the works but has yet to be revealed.

Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition will be out in the US on October 8, with an international release on October 11 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

[Source: Gearbox Software]

XCOM: Enemy Within announced! Planned for a November 12 release

2K has revealed the major expansion for XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It's called XCOM: Enemy Within and will be released on November 12, 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.  The expansion will include 47 new maps, new weapons, new aliens to face, and new abilities. Excited? Makes me want to fire up my 360 copy now.

The expansion pretty much does what expansions are meant to do - expand on the original game.

To customize your soldier a bit deeper, you will be able to research gene mods to alter your soldiers capabilities. They will also include MECs, which are mechanical exoskeletons with weapons like grenade launchers and flamethrowers that your soldiers can pilot. The Aliens also get new units. Mechtoids, which is pretty much a sectoid piloting an exoskeleton, has been announced so far. Oh, and did I mention 47 new maps to play in? My biggest grip of the game is finally gone with this expansion.

Also included in the expansion is a new alien resource called MELD, challenge maps, additional content for multiplayer, and new soldier accents to really make it an international resistance against the invasion. No more all american voice cast.

You hardly get games that get actual releases "expansions" nowadays. XCOM: Enemy Unknown was an amazing strategy game that did justice to the original game. You can get my full thoughts on the game here.  Joystiq reports that the expansion will cost $30 for PC, while the expansion will be released as a standalone product (It will include all DLC plus the original game) for consoles at $40 .

[Source: Destructoid]

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Live-action trailers setting the tone

2K Games has released the latest live-action trailer for Bureau XCOM Declassified. A third person tactical shooter that aims to apply the same deep strategic elements known in the XCOM franchise. Lost star Dominic Monaghan (also Pippen in Lord of the Rings) takes on the role of Agent Ennis Cole reporting on the first event in Pima. The first video ended with two choices that viewers get to pick by voting via Twitter. The new trailer shows the same trailer again, but now with Agent Cole's fate decided.

First The Decision trailer, for those that haven't seen the previous video. So the latest trailer The Chase will make a bit of sense.

The Decision

The Chase

I appreciate these kinds of trailers that engage the viewers by giving them a choice. It's a very short mini-series to set the tone of The Bureau. Did Cole survive? We'll just have to see. 2K Games plans to release two more live-action trailers leading up to the release of the game.

Bureau XCOM Declassified releases on August 20 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Oh, and just in case you have no idea what it looks like gameplay-wise, here's a good look at Bureau XCOM Declassified in action. I'm interested, and might give this game a go on day one. I'm a sucker for XCOM games, so I'm crossing my fingers on this one.

Gameplay Demo