Assassin’s Creed Pirates, a mobile Assassin’s Creed game, received its first major update Thursday. The free update has beefed up the difficulty across all maps, including the newest to join the game, Nassau. In addition to a new map, players will be able to tackle new missions and ships, earning new achievements as you go. Assassin’s Creed Pirates is available on iOS and Google Play for $4.99. Source: [Ubi Blog]

Development on the next Mass Effect game is shaping up. BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn tweeted today (along with the image pictured right), “Great time playing the next Mass Effect game in Montreal. Fresh but recognizable. That story came to a close with the controversial Mass Effect 3, which left fans less than happy. Great time playing the next Mass Effect game in Montreal.

A new GTA 5 glitch, discovered by CVG, allows players in GTA Online to return to North Yankton, the starting area in Grand Theft Auto 5’s Story Mode. GTA Online players will be free to explore it without being hunted by police. Below is a video guide to the glitch and below that are written instructions on how to access North Yankton. How to access North Yankton in GTA OnlineFirst, one player needs to start an invite-only game in GTA Online. North Yankton will then appear as a floating city on t

Just a few days after promising to “take care” of their customers, Microsoft has issued another statement regarding Xbox One consoles suffering from defective hardware. “The issue is affecting a very small number of Xbox One customers,” a Microsoft rep told IGN. “We’re working directly with those affected to get a replacement console to them as soon as possible through our advance exchange program. Since the Xbox One’s launch on Friday, a number of users have reported issues with their console.

At its very core, Rocksmith 2014 isn’t as much a music game as it is a teaching tool. Rocksmith 2014 can simulate a bass sound using your guitar, and all you’ll have to do is just play the first four strings. Pick up that guitar and learn some songsThe game is excellent at judging how skilled you are at playing guitar. Getting used to the note highwayIf you’ve played the previous Rocksmith, you’re already a step ahead of everyone. Audio set up can be a painIf you’re playing on consoles, chances

Developer Naughty Dog has “no plans” to port over The Last of Us onto PlayStation 4, according to Community Strategist Eric Monacelli. Monacelli took to the PlayStation Blog Tuesday to announce the release of four new multiplayer maps for the blockbuster. He also fielded questions from commenters, including one that asked about the possibility of a port. If you’re looking to get in on one of 2013’s most acclaimed titles, it looks like you’ll have to do so on a PlayStation 3. Source: [PlayStation

Since the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5 a few weeks ago, we’ve posted quite a few cheats, tips, strategies, and guides for all sorts of gameplay advantages. Whether it be cheats for unlimited health, tips for investing in the stock market, or guides to the real estate market, it’s safe to say we’ve posted quite a bit. In the meantime, though, I thought it be wise to make a clear and concise post of everything we’ve posted regarding GTA 5. We are working on a comprehensive list of tips and strateg

Since I’ve heard good things about the game, I jumped on the chance to play through it. People wouldn’t shut up about Shin Megami Tensei IV, and now that I’ve picked up the game I can understand why. There’s a hell of a lot of good games currently available to play, and we’ve just barely passed Labor Day. There are still dozens of games I picked up during the Steam Summer Sale that I haven’t touched. Oh crap, that reminds me: There are a lot of indie games I need to play still.

Motovo Real Estate calculated the price of Dr. Wily’s skull castle from Mega Man 2 “without any of the robots, traps, or the projection system … that Dr. Wiley had installed.” To figure out the total cost, the company determined the square footage of the castle (about 167,250), a probable location (a spot near Mt. Fuji, Japan), and the average property price of the area per square foot ($679). “You might want to consider buying a Roomba or 2,000 for the place, though,” reads the blog post, which

Trion Worlds is really getting into free-to-play MMO games. The Rift and Defiance developer has hired former Activision exec Robin Kaminsky, who will advise them as they develop more free-to-play MMO titles. Before joining Trion Worlds, Kaminsky was the executive vice president of publishing at Activision Blizzard. Speaking to Gamesbeat about Trion Worlds, Kaminsky said, “I love their approach to the market. I believe the future is in online free-to-play games, and so I am excited to be involved

Developer Jools Watsham is trying to make a boxed copy of his 3DS game Mutant Mudds available to fans. “The only way we will be able to make such a thing happen is to turn to Kickstarter,” he wrote in a blog post today. “There has already been a successful Kickstarter campaign for a DS game called Diamond Trust of London. They needed $78,000 to create 1,000 boxed copies for the Nintendo DS.” This kind of thing would definitely interest fans of Renegade Kids’ games, but I know collectors would lo

U.S.-based Xbox 360 owners can now download a new Disney app which aims to deliver “new and original digital video” content on Microsoft’s home console. The app features original web series, classic animated shorts, clips from Disney shows, and the latest Disney movie trailers. “The Disney app for Xbox 360 furthers Disney Interactive’s goal to bring quality Disney videos and experiences across all platforms and devices,” said Disney Interactive’s Scott Slesinger. The full app can be downloaded o

For our hands-on impressions of Killer Is Dead, check out our preview from the E3 show floor. Performing successive hits increases your combo level, and if you don’t take damage from bad guys, you’ll keep your combo level. At the highest combo level (level five), your attacks will be much faster and stronger (and harder and better). So potentially, if you’re good enough, you’ll be able to perform the highest level combo right at the start of your encounters. Despite stylistic similarities to Kil

More than 3.5 million users have signed up for Battlefield 3 Premium, EA’s subscription service for additional Battlefield 3 content, since its launch. The new figure represents a 600,000 subscriber increase since EA reported 2.9 million subscribers back in January, and earnings of $12 million in latest quarter. Battlefield 3 Premium launched alongside EA/DICE’s first-person shooter to help promote the planned downloadable content that would follow the game’s release. For a one time cost of $49.

After having its doors closed in 2011 by publisher Activision, Bizarre Games, the masterminds behind the popular racer Blur, went off and opened their own studio called Lucid Games. Today, the developer teased their first game since forming the studio on their Facebook page. “So yeah, Mid-May will be interesting for the studio. The update also included a teaser image (shown above) that clearly reveals that the game is a racing title, and that it may be set somewhere in England. We’ll update you

The Epsilon Program, the mock religious group in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, is back again. The group’s Twitter has ramped up its activity with a number of Tweets and Rockstar has released a new Epsilon Program screensaver. As explained when Rockstar first began viral marketing for GTA 5, The Epsilon Program is a satirical take on Scientology that was featured heavily in GTA: San Andreas while vaguely referenced in GTA 4. In the same post you can download and install the Epsilon Program

Blacklight: Retribution, a free-to-play first-person shooter available only on PC, will be coming to the PlayStation 4, Sony announced. Like the PC version, Blacklight: Retribution’s free-to-play business model will also carry over to the PS4, further emphasizing Sony’s commitment to free-to-play games. “One year and over two million players since its launch, Blacklight: Retribution has been available on PC, but from the start of development Zombie Studios has always wanted Blacklight: Retributi

There was some speculation earlier today that Battlefield 4 would only be released on PC and current generation consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360. The platforms for Battlefield 4 have still yet to be officially confirmed — though I expect it’ll release on current- and next-gen consoles. Battlefield 4 is set to be unveiled on March 26 at GDC where I expect we’ll find out the game’s platforms. I’m expected the typical “Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, PC, and future consoles” answer. For the record, future co

As previously hinted, Electronic Arts’ third fiscal quarter financial results were “below expectations and guidance.” Much of the blame was directed at Medal of Honor: Warfighter, a first-person shooter developed by Danger Close Games, which EA admitted “performed well below our expectations.” “Medal of Honor was an obvious miss,” added COO Peter Moore. Although EA’s Q3 2013 results were a disappointment, they were still a significant improvement over Q3 2012 in which the publisher lost $205 mil

As I’m sure fans are well aware, Ubisoft’s Call of Juarez franchise is returning to the series roots with its latest installment, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. Today’s reveal trailer is comprised entirely of gameplay footage, giving us a nice look at the game’s return to the gritty Wild West. And because its linked to the history of hte Wild West era, the story will be a nice mix of myths and history facts. Once again developed by Techland and published by Ubisoft, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger has a