Welcome to another instalment in our weekly news digest where the team at PSU Towers picks our favourite slices of gaming gossip from the past seven days, before proceeding to offer our two cents on each story for good measure.
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U.K. Charts: Modern Warfare 3 blasts to the top
So there we have it. Modern Warfare 3 has bulldozed its way to the top of the U.K. All Format Charts, taking the crown from Battlefield 3. In other news, the sky is blue, the grass is green and someone will be eliminated from the X Factor this weekend. However, what’s most surprising is that the military shooter’s day-one sales are lower than that of Black Ops; nonetheless, it sold around 1.9 million units, easily securing it as the U.K.’s biggest selling entertainment launch of all time. Pleasingly, Skyrim managed a respectable second place, managing to shove Battlefield 3 down to three, proving open-world games about cat people, dragons and giant spiders is just as popular with the British Public as kicking a ball around or shooting someone in the face. A good job too, as Skyrim’s a magnificent affair, and could very well supplant Uncharted 3 as Game of the Year here at PSU Towers. But that’s another story altogether.
Sorcery still in the works, confirms Sony
Sorcery is easily one of the most intriguing PlayStation Move projects on the horizon, and hopefully will be the game that proves Sony’s magic wand isn’t just a shameless Wii-mote knock-off. The game was originally announced at E3 2010, but we’ve seen virtually nothing on the game since then, and many fears had been voiced that the game had been canned. Fortunately this isn’t the case, with Sony confirming this week that the project is still very much alive – not only that, but press will have a butcher’s at it next month. Here’s hoping it’s shaping up mighty fine.
The Sly Collection to be released individually on PS Store
Sucker Punch’s stealthy Sly Cooper series was among the first PS2 games to receive a shiny new coat of HD paint, and it now looks as though you’ll be able pick it up on PSN. That’s according to a PEGI listing at least, which seems to indicate the toon racoon’s exploits will be appearing on the PS Store as a bundle and as separate releases. As mentioned in our news post, this isn’t exactly a new trend, as Sony previously made God of War and God of War II available separately having originally packaged them together as the God of War Collection. Ideal for punters who have already dabbled in the franchise last-gen and wish to upgrade to the HD versions, or perhaps for those who want to test the waters and can therefore give one of the games a spin to see if it tickles your fancy. Go on, you know you want to.
Skyrim sells 3.5 million in 48 hours
We already knew Skyrim had obviously put in a strong performance at retail in the U.K. after it managed to debut in second behind Modern Warfare 3 and shove Battlefield 3 down a place. However, Bethesda has now confirmed that it sold over 50 percent of all launch units shipped to stores. For reference, it shipped seven million units, so that’s over 3.5 million copies sold worldwide – not too shabby indeed. This month has been easily one of the most competitive to date, though it’s great to see such a hardcore offering like Skyrim pull some serious weight alongside commercial darlings such as Modern Warfare 3, FIFA 12 and Battlefield 3. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, then pop over to our review and find out why you must own this game.
Saints Row: The Third getting hefty PS3-exclusive content after all
Though it’s not quite the PS3-exclusive game mode THQ promised us back at E3, the publisher today confirmed that Saints Row: The Third will be pimping PS3 owners out with something a little special – a free download of Saints Row 2. Yep, providing you purchased The Third brand new, you’ll be given the chance to grab the game’s equally over-the-top predecessor by redeeming the online pass included with all copies of the game. Perfect for those of you who have only just jumped on the Saints Row bandwagon. However, I imagine gamers who already own SR2 must be lamenting the loss of the aforementioned PS3-exclusive content right about now. Quite why THQ apparently backtracked on its promise remains unknown.
Modern Warfare 3 makes $775 million in 5 days
Not content with becoming the biggest-selling entertainment launch of all time, Activision’s commercial behemoth Modern Warfare 3 has now smashed five-day sales records, generating an eye-watering $775 million in the process. No doubt by now you guys are used to the franchise rifle-butting its way through various sales records, but one can’t deny the sheer commercial clout this brand brandishes. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also set records across PlayStation Network and Xbox Live for the number of concurrent players, proving the brand is just a phenomenally popular with online gamers as it ever was. Will you be playing MW3 online again this week?
Confirmed: Kojima working on MGS5
How many times has esteemed designer Hideo Kojima said he’s done with the Metal Gear Solid franchise now? Two? Three? Either way, it’s obvious Kojima-san just can’t put his acclaimed stealth-action franchise to bed, confirming that he’s working – in some capacity – on Metal Gear Solid 5. Rejoice. Unsurprisingly, nothing has been revealed on the game yet, though at least we have a firm idea of what Kojima is working on after all this time. No doubt a few people would have preferred Zone of the Enders 3, but I have to say I’m stoked. Quite how the franchise will progress without Solid Snake remains to be seen – after all, we were led to believe he would be brown bread in just a few months after MGS4’s conclusion – but whatever Kojima comes up with, you can bet your bottom dollar it’ll be nothing short of amazing.
Rumor: Killzone follow-up in the works
Killzone 3 only released in February, but already it seems that develop Guerrilla Games is busy chiselling away on the next entry in its celebrated sci-fi shooter franchise. That’s at least according the chaps at EDGE, who claim that Killzone 3’s Steven Ter Heide is acting as game director. Not much else is known at this point, though some have speculated that the game could be a PlayStation 4 title, as EDGE also notes that one studio within SCE Worldwide Studios has begun developing for PS3’s successor. Could that be Guerrilla Games? Who knows, but a new Killzone title probably isn’t all that surprising considering how well the last two games have sold. However, I didn’t expect one to be under the hammer quite so quickly; if anything, I figured Guerrilla would be focusing on their new IP at this point, though EDGE notes that “the bulk” of the developer’s staff is working on the new Killzone project. Stay tuned.
And the rest….
Mass Effect 3 Collector’s Edition detailed
Metal Gear Solid: Rising producer steps down, replacement inbound