This week in Rumors
E3 is still months away but already the first rumors of big games we might see at the Los Angeles event have started to trickle out. Dishonored 2? Dino Crisis? Something called Rise Of Incarnates? It's all pretty out there.
Plus, release dates for delayed PS4 racer DriveClub and Rocksteadys newly announced Batman: Arkham Knight escape seemingly prematurely, Microsofts Xbox Live service eyes an expansion to non-Xbox platforms, and Titanfall gameplay details continue to keep the internet ablaze with excitement. All that and more in this weeks rumor roundup...
Xbox Live planned for iOS/Android expansion
The Rumor: Simple Xbox Live apps may already exist for mobiles, but Microsoft reportedly plans to fully expand Xbox Live gaming to iOS and Android. The information came via a Microsoft job listing which was swiftly taken offline.
Our Take: Xbox Live works pretty well on Windows Phone devices (as expected given the OS), on which it provides matchmaking, Achievements and friends list functionality. Expanding Xbox Live to other mobiles could only mean better gaming for the mobile community, but it would need to be integrated with games deeper than simple Smart Glass use.
DriveClub release date is April 9
The Rumor: UK-based DriveClub developer Evolution Studios may have let slip with a release date for the delayed Sony racer. According to a screenshot posted by a PSNation forum user, a swiftly-deleted post on the official DriveClub Twitter feed read, Mark your calendars 9.4.1.4 - which would be April 9 as per the UK dating format (DD/MM/YYYY). Evolution has yet to confirm an official release more specific than early 2014.
Our Take: The only evidence of the offending Twitter post is an unverified screenshot from an unknown forum user--something that could feasibly be faked. When we reached out to Sony, it simply replied We do not comment on rumor or speculation. But it certainly piqued our interest; could we be playing the open-world PS4 racer within a month? That'd be a pretty fast turnaround for something that was planned to be a PS4 launch release.
Dishonored 2 set for E3 reveal
The Rumor: Bethesda and Arkane Studios will announce Dishonored 2 at E3 this year. That was the short and sharp message from a picture of what would appear to be a presentation slide at some kind of behind-closed-doors event. The Darkness of Tyvia hashtag pictured doesnt bring up results via social media, but Tyvia is an island in Dishonored lore.
Our Take: The source of the image is unknown, details on its acquisition go entirely unexplained, and a projector slide could be easily faked for easy internet tomfoolery. We do not comment on rumor or speculation, was Bethesdas response to our queries, so again, we have no choice but to remain skeptical.
Titanfall leaks out Generations, zip lines and gun turrets
The Rumor: Reported leaked information and screenshots posted via Reddit this week newly revealed the presence of zip lines and gun turrets in Titanfalls maps. The post also detailed a Generations feature, which appeared to be Titanfalls iteration of Call of Dutys Prestige system.
Our Take: We cant vouch for the source, but the screenshots provided appear real, and there have been numerous gameplay-related Titanfall leaks of late which seem legit. The game is less than a week away, so were not surprised info like this is trickling out. Perhaps therell be even more out there before the launch...
Batman: Arkham Knight release date is October 14
The Rumor: Batman: Arkham Knight was officially announced this week. And while Rocksteady chose to hold off committing to a release date, GameStop seemed more readily candid. October 14 is the big day, according to not only the retailers product page, but also a poster it is offering as a pre-order bonus.
Our Take: Retailers routinely slap placeholder release dates on their websites, but the fact that the date is also in big font on the pre-order poster lends this particular date a lot more weight than usual. The official word on Batman: Arkham Knights release is 2014, and with the game this far out, delays are always possible.
Horror classic Dino Crisis set for a comeback
The Rumor: Capcom is reportedly working on a reboot of its classic PSone horror series, Dino Crisis. According to a rumor via OXM UK, the reboot is set to be revealed later this year. There was no indication of which platforms it would appear for, or whether it may be a remake or a new game entirely.
Our Take: This rumor has been rumbling around in the background for over a year and nothing has showed up. But the whispers are persistent. If theres any truth to this wed have our dino-radars out at E3.
A second CoD: Ghosts demo is incoming
The Rumor: This week Activision confirmed plans to release a limited-access Call of Duty multiplayer demo, as previously tipped via a leaked document. Said document, now seemingly validated by Activisions announcement, also claimed that a second demo, specifically a CoD: Ghosts Onslaught DLC trial, will release on March 31. It will apparently feature four multiplayer maps; Fog, Containment, Bayview and Ignition.
Our Take: As we said, the leaked document appears to have been validated by Activisions March 7 demo announcement, so we have every reason to be believe the rest of the leak is also spot-on.
Namco Bandai to reveal Rise Of Incarnates
The Rumor: Namco Bandai looks to be preparing a new game called Rise of the Incarnates. Thats according to recent trademark filings by the firm, as picked up by the Trademark Reporting and Monitoring System (TRAM), spotted via NeoGAF. The filing related to Computer game software. The Trademark was also filed in Europe.
Our Take: Absolutely nothing else is known at this point, other than the Japanese firm has some interest in reserving that phrase for use in... something. A new IP perhaps? A subtitle to a popular franchise like Tales or Soulcalibur? The filing came via Japan, so if nothing surfaces at E3, keep an eye on the Tokyo Game Show in September.
Whats your take?
Reach for the megaphone, or the traffic cone you stole on your last drunken night out, and shout your thoughts on this weeks rumors in the comments below. Do you want to see Dino Crisis make a return, and should it be a remake or a new game? Is DriveClub on your purchase list? And does the thought of a Dishonored 2 announcement make you all tingly in your naughty bits?
Want more thoughts from this? Check how Microsoft is being left behind by Sony and Steams cloud offerings, and there are 11 top-secret things we discovered in Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes.
