Sony to Axe PS Vita Game After First Year

Destiny of Spirits, the free-to-play RPG developed at Sony Japan Studios, will shut down little more than a year after its release.

The PS Vita game appeared to be popular, with claims from its developers suggesting it had been downloaded more than one million times. A notice on PlayStation Japan's website states that the global response to Destiny of Spirits "has been incredible." The reason for its deletion was not disclosed.

On June 30, the online service in which the game plays on will be terminated, effectively rendering the game useless. Customers who have acquired Destiny Orbs--in-game currency that can be acquired with real cash--have not been offered refunds or alternative games where the currency can be spent.

In the build-up to the game's closure, its development team will run a special Destiny Orb sale in late April.

The developer added: "To ensure everyone can make the most of the last few months of service, we will be launching a Fan Appreciation Campaign and bringing back past raid boss events with the final game update, version 1.12."

"We at the DoS team will be working to support the game all the way up until the end of the service, and we look forward to playing with all of you until the last day.

"Thanks again for playing."

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Square Enix's Latest Bundle is an Easter Surprise

Square Enix is celebrating the Easter holidays with a unique promotion; the publisher is offering five mystery PC games in a Steam bundle for £4. Though the corporation wouldn't specify which games are put together in each mystery box, it said their combined value is usually going to be more than £40.

The pool of games used for each bundle is mixture of well-known AAA titles along with acclaimed indie hits. The deal is open to customers across Europe only.

Exclusive discount offers will also be packaged into the bundle, Square Enix said.

The store page for Square Enix's bundle can be found here.

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Killer Instinct's Creepy New Character Hisako Shown Off in Gameplay Trailer

Developer Iron Galaxy Studios has released a new gameplay trailer for Xbox One fighting game Killer Instinct that shows off the creepy, slow-moving fighter Hisako and teases a new character, Cinder.

Killer Instinct's Cinder character

Hisako was announced during a PAX East panel earlier this month. She is one of the slowest characters in the game, but as the trailer shows, she doesn't necessarily need speed to be deadly.

A counter-attack-focused character, Hisako appears to be a ghost armed with a naginata. She's available in Killer Instinct now by way of the game's 2.5 update on Xbox One.

Be sure to watch through the end of the new Killer Instinct trailer, as it also offers a sneak peek at upcoming fighter Cinder, one of the series' original characters.

Killer Instinct, a free-to-play game, was released in November 2013 as an Xbox One launch title. The game's original developer, Double Helix, was later acquired by Amazon. Now, Iron Galaxy is working on continued support for the game alongside Microsoft.

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PS4, PS3 10% Off Code Good All Weekend

Sony has announced a new weekend promotion where gamers can save 10 percent on their entire PlayStation Store purchase. Just use the 10-digit code above to enjoy the savings.

There are some limitations to the deal, however. First, it's available this weekend only in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Second, it's good only for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 content, not PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV, PSP, or any in-game wares.

On top of that, the one-time use code does not work for PlayStation Plus memberships, any other subscriptions, pre-orders, PlayStation Now content, or video rentals. To use the code, you'll need to complete your transaction by March 30 at 12 Noon PDT.

The 10 percent off code can, however, be applied to existing discounts, including everything that's on sale this week through Spring Fever event. It can also be used on new releases such as Bloodborne and Battlefield: Hardline, among many others.

What are you planning to pick up using the code? Let us know in the comments below!

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PS Vita and PS4 System Updates Now Live

Sony has begun rolling out two global system updates for both its PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita handheld.

On Wednesday, the platform holder detailed the key new features included in the PS4's 2.5 Yukimura update, including the long-awaited Suspend/Resume function and hard drive back-up options. The full list of additions can be found here.

Now, with the updates going live across Europe, the US, and Asia, PS Vita owners have begun listing the featured improvements that come with the handheld's 3.5 firmware. Chief among them is enhanced accessibility options such as button remapping, enlarged text, inverted colours, contrast adjustment, and zoom functionality.

Though these features have been designed for customers with impaired vision and limited manual dexterity in mind, the button remapping could be particularly useful for players who use the PS Vita's function as a spare PS4 controller, and for those who use Remote Play to stream PS4 games to their handheld. Due to the Vita's two fewer shoulder buttons than the DualShock 4 controller, remapping could give players options to build a button scheme around this problem.

Digital Spy has noted other changes on the updated Vita, such as the removal of the Maps application, along with various tweaks across the platform.

In January, Sony revealed that it was stripping certain apps from the Vita, including the YouTube app.

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New Toejam and Earl Hits Funding Target

With under two days to go, the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for a new Toejam and Earl game, appropriately titled Back in the Groove, has reached its $400,000 target. At press time, funding stands at $430,832. More than 7,600 people have contributed to the campaign so far. Funding closes March 27.

"Thanks to all of you, we have made it," developer Humanature Studios said in a statement. "Prepare for the FUNK!!!!"

The game's $425,000 stretch goal--an "old school skins" pack based on the early games--has now been unlocked. Should funding reach $450,000, Humanture will add the Hyperfunk Zone from Toejam and Earl 2.

Meanwhile, the game will come to consoles if even more money pours in: $600,000 (PlayStation 4), $700,000 (Xbox One), and $800,000 (Wii U). Currently, the game is confirmed for PC only.

In addition, Humanature teased that it has a "few more announcements" to make regarding Back in the Groove, though these are being saved for later.

Back in the Groove, built in the Unity engine, is being worked on by original designer Greg Johnson. The game is scheduled to launch in November 2015, though of course this could change. For lots more on the game, see the bullet-points below or check out GameSpot's in-depth previous coverage.

• A "Travel-back-in-time" theme that will span new characters and old ones.
• More meta-game features, including the chance to collect hats with special abilities.
• New "flying-presents" items.
• New co-op features including the ability to shout and lure Earthlings away from a friend and the option to open a present that gives your buddy more life.
• A night-time filter.

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Batman: Arkham Knight Prequel DLC Stars Harley Quinn

More details on the Harley Quinn downloadable content pack for Rocksteady's upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight have surfaced. As shown on the Batman: Arkham Knight Amazon page (via Cinemablend) the exclusive DLC will allow players who pre-order the game to assume the role of Harley Quinn and "wreak havoc inside the Blüdhaven Police Department."

The DLC pack's story will take place prior to the events of Arkham Knight, and tasks Quinn with the goal of infiltrating Blüdhaven in order to rescue Poison Ivy. The Harley Quinn DLC was first announced in July last year, and will include four challenge maps that will allow you to play as the jester and "utilize her unique weapons, gadgets, and abilities."

Alongside the PlayStation-exclusive Scarecrow nightmare missions announced at E3, it looks like there is going to be a substantial amount of downloadable content for Arkham Knight. Check out what the game looks like on PS4 in this recently released gameplay video. Batman: Arkham Knight is scheduled to launch on June 23 for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

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Nintendo Airs Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Trailer Ahead of Release Date

Nintendo has published a new Xenoblade Chronicles 3D trailer ahead of its release in early April.

The trailer, which contains some spoilers, sets up the JRPG's story of revenge, while showcasing its diverse cast of characters and landscapes.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a handheld port of Monolith Soft's breakthrough Wii game, and is only playable on the New Nintendo 3DS, not the older models, due to the demands it places on the system's improved processor.

It also takes advantage of the New 3DS's C-Stick, with the analogue nub used for camera control. However, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D's file size is too large for the 4GB memory cards that are bundled with each New Nintendo 3DS, meaning that players who want to download the digital version from the eShop will need to purchase a larger memory card.

GameSpot's Xenoblade Chronicles 3D review praised the epic scale of the handheld title. Games critic John Robertson wrote: "While it's an inferior proposition to its initial Wii release in 2011, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D remains superior to the majority of RPGs. The move to 3DS has harmed the act of playing, but if you can look past the clunky signage and questionable 3D then you'll find a game that remains an amazing high point for the genre, one that'll absorb you right up to its glorious finale."

The Xenoblade Chronicles 3D release date falls on April 2 in Europe and April 10 in the US.

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New Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC Trailer Shows off New Maps, Story

Xbox 360 and Xbox One Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare players will be getting a new DLC pack on March 31. In the meantime, Activision released a trailer running through four new maps and the next chapter of the Exo Zombies story.

Each of the new maps has a unique theme and stage hazard to spruce things up. Perplex, for example, is a posh, modern apartment complex with modules that move about, changing the landscape as you play. Another map, Climate, has toxic water that can instantly kill unsuspecting players. Also making an appearance is the the OHM-Werewolf, a 2-1 light machinegun/shotgun combo.

Fans of the Exo Zombies game mode will also get their next set of missions with actors John Malkovich, Bill Paxton, Rose McGowan, and John Bernthal reprising their roles as they try to escape an encroaching zombie hoard.

The Ascendance DLC is the second in a set of four planned expansions. It will release for Xbox platforms first thanks to a timed exclusivity deal with Microsoft. Players that paid $50 for the Advanced Warfare season pass can download it on release for no additional charge, or it can be purchased separately for $14.99.

Advanced Warfare was the top-selling game last year in the US according to NPD sales figures. For more, check out our review.

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PS4 2.5 Update, Yukimura, Goes Live Thursday

Sony will commence a global roll-out of the next PlayStation 4 firmware on Thursday, introducing a suite of new features and improvements.

System software 2.5, codenamed Yukimura, will supply PlayStation 4 consoles with the long-awaited Suspend/Resume feature, along with hard-drive back-up functionality, a Facebook friend finder, and verified accounts for industry figures.

Other tweaks include grouping together real name requests with friend requests, as well as a streamlined Party Chat set-up, and a comprehensive suite of accessibility tools for players with impaired vision and limited manual dexterity.

A list of all the new features, written by Sony and edited by GameSpot, can be found below:

Suspend/Resume

Suspend/Resume, which will be supported by nearly all PS4 titles, will allow PS4 owners to spend less time waiting for games to load and more time playing. Gamers will be able to suspend their game by putting their PS4 into Rest Mode, and then quickly resume the game where they left off by pressing the PlayStation button on the DualShock 4 wireless controller, which wakes their system.

Back-Up and Restore Hard Drives to External USB Drive

Yukimura allows PS4 owners to back-up and restore the hard disc to and from an external USB drive. Hard disc drive data includes settings, saved data, screenshots, video clips, games, patches, and download data.

Find and Connect with Friends

PS4 owners will now be able to search for Facebook Friends with their linked account. Friend requests and Real Name requests can be sent together in one step when adding a friend on PS4. The update will allow users to easily view what their friends are playing by adding a "Friends Who Play This" section on each game detail page, while also highlighting which friends are currently online and playing it. The process to create a Party has also been streamlined, with a reduction in the number of steps required. Additionally, the What's New section will now feature a section where users can see what their friends are currently playing enabling them to join in the game if they own it or find out more on PlayStation Store.

Share Your Earned Trophies and Trophy List Enhancements

With "Yukimura," a screenshot will automatically be captured when a Trophy is earned, making it easy for users to share gaming moments with their friends. The update will also make it easy for players to share Trophy information to Facebook, Twitter or via Message by pressing the Share button. Additionally, users will now be able to sort their Trophy list by "Earned Date," "Not Earned," and "Grade," as well as the option to remove games from the Trophy list that have zero percent completion.

Improved and Expanded Accessibility Options

"Yukimura" introduces new options to customize the user experience with PS4, making it easier for gamers with impaired vision and limited manual dexterity to play. Customized button assignments for DualShock 4 and a zoom feature for displayed pictures and inverted colors will be available for all system functions, apps and games. Enlarged text will be available across the graphical user interface, including Message and Party, and enlarged text will also be enabled for use in the system's browser. Bolder fonts and higher contrast UI will be available for all system applications but will not apply to games or third-party applications.

60fps Remote Play and Share Play

For games that support 60fps, users will be able to automatically play those games with 60fps for both Remote Play and Share Play on supported devices.

Automatic Installation for System Software Updates

Users will be able to automatically install future system software updates.

Sub-Account Upgrade

Users 18 years of age or older with sub-accounts will be able to upgrade to a master account directly on PS4, removing restrictions on chat and enabling users add funds to their Wallet, purchase content and more.

Verified Accounts

Verified accounts for game industry professionals, including developers, producers, designers, and community managers will appear with a badge.

Dailymotion

Players will have the option to upload video clips directly to Dailymotion via the Share button.

Meanwhile, Sony announced that complementary system updates for PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation App are also set to go live.

Sony said the PS Vita update version 3.50 and PlayStation App update version 2.50 will add new accessibility options, including enlarged text and increased contrast. This update will be required for PS Vita to support 60fps Remote Play.

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