Category: News

Frontier Developments Layoffs At Halifax Studio


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Frontier Developments announced in an investor update today that 15 positions have been cut at the company’s studio in Halifax. While layoffs post game launch are not unexpected, this move seems to be another step in an ongoing consolidation out of Canada and into the primary office in Cambridge.

With its business emphasis now on two major self-published franchises, Elite: Dangerous and Coaster Park Tycoon, Frontier is re-focusing its development activities in Cambridge where the expertise in these franchises lies.

Job openings are still available on the Frontier Developments website as work continues on Coaster Park Tycoon.

(Source: Frontier Developments)

Guild Wars 2 Expansion Confirmed


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It looks like our friends at Daewoo Securities knew a lot more than we gave them credit for. Today at PAX South, ArenaNet has officially confirmed the first Guild Wars 2 expansion: Heart of Thorns.

Among the list of confirmed features includes:

  • New Profession: Revenant.
  • New Feature: Guild Halls.
  • Reimagined mastery system, including master abilities.
  • New zone: Maguuma Jungle
  • New group content.
  • New storylines, bosses, and events.
  • Profession specialization.
  • Stronghold game mode for PVP.
  • WvW: New borderland map.

More on Heart of Thorns is sure to come with today’s presentation. You can find more details at the link below.

(Source: Guild Wars 2)

ArcheAge Details 2015 Updates


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Merv Lee Kwai over at Trion Worlds today posted a producer’s letter detailing ArcheAge’s plans for 2015. Foremost, Kwai promises to be more transparent with the community in the months to come, providing more insight on what is to come.

The letter also discusses changes to certain aspects of the game, such as tweaking siege mechanics and altering drops to react to the economy.

A main focus for the future of the product is improving the daily quality of life for ArcheAge players. We are shifting priorities to deliver game mechanics that some of the veteran players will recognize like the PvP Arena and Fishing Tournaments. We have a challenge here to ensure that the rewards for these systems are congruent with the way the game has evolved, but that obstacle should be solved in the near term and we will deliver these events as soon as they’re finalized.

You can find the entire producer’s letter at the link below.

(Source: ArcheAge)

RuneScape Details New Membership Prices


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Last November, Jagex announced that the subscription prices for RuneScape would be increasing at some point in 2015, and that more information would be coming in the new year. Today, the developer posted the above chart on the RuneScape official website, noting that subscription prices will increase on March 1st.

As with any price increase, players are grandfathered in with their own rates as long as their subscription does not lapse longer than 14 days. While the price of bonds will also be increasing, they will also pay out more runecoins (195 from 160) or treasure hunter keys (15 from 12) once the update goes into effect.

(Source: RuneScape)

Guild Wars 2 Double Exp Weekend


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This weekend looks to be a big one for Guild Wars 2, and ArenaNet is kicking off with a double experience weekend and the biggest sale the game has seen yet. New players will be able to pick up Guild Wars 2 for $9.99, the cheapest the game has been in some time, while all players will be able to take advantage of double experience all weekend in-game.

On Saturday, ArenaNet will be broadcasting a special presentation titled “Beyond the Point of No Return,” featuring studio president Mike O’Brien and game director Colin Johanson. ArenaNet is expected to announce something large coming to Guild Wars 2.

(Source: NCSoft Press Release)

APB: Reloaded Coming To Consoles


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Console players should get ready to enforce (or break) the law, as Reloaded Entertainment has announced that APB: Reloaded will release on Xbox One and Playstation 4. The console port is currently under development by The Workshop Entertainment, APB is expected to launch on current gen consoles in Q2 2015. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Deep Silver Media, stated:

“APB Reloaded has become a phenomenon on the PC with a very passionate and faithful community. We are really thrilled to help Reloaded Games and The Workshop bring this fantastic world to life on the new generation consoles.”

The game will still be free to play on both consoles, however Xbox players will need Xbox Live Gold in order to play. Playstation Plus was not mentioned as a requirement for PS4.

(Source: Deep Silver Press Release)

Elder Scrolls Online Heading Buy To Play


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ZeniMax Online Studios has announced that not only will The Elder Scrolls Online be launching on consoles this June, but that the title will be available free of subscription. Tamriel Unlimited contains the entire Elder Scrolls Online game plus all of its updates and content additions including the justice and champion systems, all for a one time purchase.

The cash shop will provide convenience and customization items, as well as an optional subscription that will provide bonuses including cash shop currency. You can read the entire announcement at the link below.

(Source: Elder Scrolls Online)

Neverwinter Raises The Level Cap This Year


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Perfect World Entertainment has officially announced the next module for Neverwinter, Elemental Evil. Elemental Evil will introduce the new Paladin class as well as increasing the level cap from 60 to 70.

Over the past year, the citizens of Neverwinter have faced a menagerie of terrifying foes from Thayan Liches to the Dragon Goddess Tiamat. Now, however, the very forces of nature conspire to bring the city to its knees! Fear not, as a new hero blessed by the gods, the Oathbound Paladin, has emerged to fight the impending threat. These righteous fighters will be able embody both the healing and tanking paradigms that have made them so popular with Dungeons & Dragons players everywhere.

Read more at the link below.

(Source: Neverwinter)

Runelabs Officially Opens


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Jagex has officially opened Runelabs for suggestions. Runelabs was announced last year at Runefest and will act as an evolution of the game’s suggestion forums, allowing players to submit ideas which will be voted on by the community, with the best ideas used for updates in RuneScape.

Ideas have to follow a specific set of guidelines and not all popular ideas will be considered for implementation.

(Source: RuneScape)

Old School Community Approves Grand Exchange


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The Old School community has officially approved the implementation of a grand exchange auction house. The poll, which received over seventy two thousand votes, was approved with 76% and will be tweaked in another upcoming poll to decide just how the feature will function.

Players also approved dragon daggers, an increase in bank slots, and other small tweaks. The only two options to not get approved were a fee for items dropped at Zulrah and the option for filtered chat to remove text above players heads.

As always, Old School RuneScape polls require 75% approval to be added into the game.

(Source: Old School)