Category: Gaming

Apple Arcade – Apple’s Game Subscriptions for all Apple Devices

Today, Apple has announced its own subscription service called Apple Arcade.Unlike Google Stadia, it will not be a streaming service, but rather access to an exclusive amount of games from the App Store.

Photo from the Announcement

It will be accessible on Apple devices: Macs, Apple TV, iPhones, and iPads. The games on Apple Arcade will be exclusives and the company is helping with development as well. According to Apple, they are working with studios: Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman and ustwo as its first development partners.

A unique feature is the Family Sharing feature. Once you purchase Apple Arcade, you can share it with your family or who are connected to your phone plan. All the games are playable offline.

Price and how will it compete with Stadia?

There is no Price announced yet but it will be released later this fall. This comes out at around the same time as Stadia. Unlike streaming, the games will all be downloadable on Arcade so you won’t need an internet connection. Arcade will also have exclusive content that is already shown, unlike Stadia which showcased mostly technical capabilities. In a casual market, I believe Arcade will be more popular. The iPhone is still the most popular smartphone on the market and the promise of higher quality games with no ads or in-game purchases are great for parents who are worried that their children are spending too much. Arcade also has Parental Control settings.

However, Stadia looks like it is catering to a gamer-focused market. While mobile is the most popular platform for gaming on a user number, the perks of being able to play triple-A games on any device are appealing to the console/PC market. Stadia also allows you to use any controls from 3rd parties which is much easier to program rather than touch-based controls.

What do you think of Apple Arcade? Will you buy a plan?

Persona 5 R News release date announced

In December, Atlus stated they were working on a new title called Persona 5 R. News was expected to be announced in March and Atlus has confirmed it will be announced after Persona 5 the Animation: Stars and Ours which airs on 8:00pm JST on March 23rd. 

SEGA Fes (Event dedicated to Sega Games) will be occurring on March 30 – 31st. So more news is to be expected.

Sources:

Siliconera

 

Everything you need to know about the Stadia

Reported last week, Google was working on a streaming platform for gaming. Th former Sony and Xbox executive Phil Harrison detailed the platform today at an event in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference. It is not a console but rather a streaming service for video games.

While previous types such as OnLive have failed before, Google boasts it can support the service with their custom hardware network that can compete against already downloaded or disc games. They already prototyped it late last year with the free streaming for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey last year. 

Harrison stated you can start playing the game immediately after the trailer if the users are interested. You don’t have to download, install, or patch anything. It’s a unique addition that no console or PC can provide ATM. You can use Stadia on PC, tablet, and phones as reported last week. You can use any controller but the system will have its own controller.

What are its features?

You can play and stream your games as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. You can also capture and stream gameplay on YouTube through the controller’s dedicated button. It will also have a feature called Crowd Play. This will allow players to stream gameplay on YouTube Gaming and have people lined up to take over the game briefly allow people to play in a unique way.

What are its specs?

Google announced Stadia will be able to provide 4K gaming at 60 FPS. In regards to how fast your internet has to be, that wasn’t explained.

The first game announced for Stadia will be Doom Eternal. Google has released many development kits to more than 100 studios and announced the creation of Google’s own first-party development studio, Stadia Games & Entertainment. It will make exclusive content for Stadia and will be run by Jade Raymond, the longtime game producer whose credits include the creation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise at Ubisoft. (Kotaku)

More announcements will be revealed this summer as the release date comes closer.

 

 

 

Apex Legends Battle Pass Price

EA Respawn has revealed the price of the Battle Pass for Apex Legends. It will be called Wild Frontier and it will cost 950 Apex Coins ($9.50 USD). It will release on March 19th, 2019.

How does it work?

The more you play, the more you get. As you continue to level up your Battle Pass by playing games, you’ll unlock more content. XP gain will be included for your profile and Battle Pass.

What does the Battle Pass include?

It will include the new DLC character Octane and a variety of skins, banners, poses once they are released. You’ll also receive gun skins. If you max the pass, you earn a rare skin for the Havoc energy rifle, the game’s first post-launch weapon.

Even if you don’t buy the pass right away, you’ll still earn experience towards the pass. If you decided to buy it, it will count the XP you would have earned if you had purchased it Day 1. So don’t worry if you’re short on change or change your mind later. It will also include all the rewards.

If you want to jump ahead, you can purchase the Battle Pass Bundle which is 2800 Apex ($28) Coins and it will jump you 25 levels ahead.

Even if you decide not to purchase the pass you can still earn 1 Wild Frontier Legend Skin, 5 Apex Packs, and 18 Wild Frontier Stat Trackers.

Are you gonna purchase a battle pass?

http://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/battle-pass