Rumor: Advanced Warfare On PS4 Will Be "Definitive Version"

If you had to guess the lead platform for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, what would you say?

Considering that all downloadable content will debut on the Xbox One and the majority of recent CoD titles sold have been Xbox versions, the answer should be obvious, right?
Wrong. Well, supposedly.

Industry insider Ahsan Rasheed, also known as "thuway" in the NeoGAF forums, Tweeted the following comment:

"Also I want to say one thing to all the Xbox One fans that keep telling me COD is X1 lead platform. It’s not. It’s a marketing deal."

Rasheed claims that new developer Sledgehammer Games will focus on the PlayStation 4 and in fact, "developers inside Infinity Ward prefer the PS4. "Majority will use it to play at home," added Rasheed. And given the current sales lead Sony's machine enjoys, perhaps that won't be untrue come the holiday season. As for how Infinity Ward relates to Sledgehammer, Rasheed simply replied:

"So cute. If you think the PS4 version won’t be the definitive console version technically, I have some bad news."

You can choose to buy or sell this, but I'm selling it. If Advanced Warfarehas really been in development for the past several years (and I believe that), than work began long before the PS4 jumped out to an early lead. Heading into this generation, few would've predicted that the PS4 would be ahead of the Xbox One, especially in this country, where CoD reigns supreme.

The decision to choose a lead platform was made some time ago. And I can't imagine why they'd pick the PS4 given the history the CoD franchise has with Xbox.

Sony Really Needs Uncharted 4 To Launch For The Holidays

The holiday lineup is far from being complete, but one thing bothers me:

The lack of confirmed PlayStation 4 exclusives for the fourth quarter.

Obviously, we'll be looking to E3 and hoping that Sony confirms a few. Driveclub - set for October 7 - isn't good enough to combat the likes of Halo 5, which is supposedly set to release later this year for the Xbox One. If Sony wants to keep the heat on Microsoft, they absolutely needto produce a high-profile PS4 exclusive for the holiday season.

Ideally, that's Uncharted 4 (or whatever they ultimately call it). There's a possibility that we'll also get The Order: 1886, but you never rely on an unproven new IP to see you through the immensely competitive holiday rush. In previous years, Sony usually had at least one or two top-tier exclusives for the October-December period, and never has it been more important than this year. They've just launched a new system, there's a chance Microsoft might issue a $400 Xbox One (sans Kinect) for the holiday shoppers, and MS keeps teasing a lot of new exclusive IPs, too.

Sony really needs to respond to this, and I'm hoping that happens at E3. They've been saying for a while that Gran Turismo 7 is closer than we might think, but I doubt that'll make it out this year. A new God of War, perhaps? Quantic Dream's Dark Sorcerer project is likely a ways off, so it kinda looks like Uncharted or bust. Third-party titles will only go so far early on in this new console generation.

Kill gods on the go in Vita's new God of War Collection

For those days when you're going to be out of the house but still feel an undying thirst for bloody vengeance comes the God of War Collection, a Vita re-release of the original God of War and its sequel.

Originally launched in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, the God of War Collectionmodernizes the first two God of War entries with improved, higher-definition graphics, a full complement of trophies and additional control options for the Vita's touchscreen quirks. Despite these additions, God of War Collectionshould still contain all of the key elements that made the original games such a hit: surly, bald dudes, copious arterial spray and a slanted take on Greek mythology that draws more inspiration from Heavy Metal magazine than Thomas Bulfinch.

Though pre-orders initially listed God of War Collection at $40, the actual, final version of the game is now widely available from retailers (Amazon andGameStop being prime examples) at only $30.

PS Vita slim hardware launches in North America today

A revised, slimmer version of Sony's PlayStation Vita portable console launches today in North America in a new hardware bundle that includes a free copy of Gearbox Software's Borderlands 2.

The redesigned PS Vita system is approximately 20 percent slimmer and 15 percent lighter than the launch Vita model, and boasts extended battery life compared to the previous hardware generation. The $199.99 package hitting retail today includes a PS Vita handheld, an 8GB memory card, and a copy ofBorderlands 2 with six DLC packs.

Sony released a PS Vita port of God of War Collection today to promote its newly launched portable hardware, and plans to support the platform in the coming months with games like Soul Sacrifice Delta, Sly Cooper Collection, Minecraft, and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.

Nyko unveils PS4 Intercooler, double-capacity DualShock 4 battery pack

In an effort to address gaps left by Sony when designing the PlayStation 4, accessories manufacturer Nyko has unveiled two new peripherals for the console which should keep it running cooler, longer.

One of the most salient gripes against the PS4 is that the DualShock 4 controller runs out of juice very rapidly, especially when compared to the Xbox One's controllers. To combat this, Nyko has revealed a new version of its PowerPak replacement battery that boasts a 1,000mAh cell. While independent tests of the as yet unreleased battery are still a ways off, that much stored charge should provide about twice as much power as the DualShock 4's native battery.

For those worried about their new machine overheating, Nyko also unveiled a new generation of its Intercooler accessory. Like earlier models, the Intercooler automatically senses temperature changes in the PlayStation 4 and ramps up the speed of its fans to compensate for the increased heat. Helpfully, Nyko has designed the Intercooler (pictured above) to be as sleek as possible, so while it will add a bit more bulk to the back end of your PS4, the system's stark aesthetic remains uncompromised.

Both the Intercooler and the PowerPak are slated for release later this year. The former will feature a $25 price tag, while the latter is priced at $20.

Meet Christine, Razer's modular gaming PC

Tucked away in a shrouded corner of Razer's booth at CES 2014 lies Project Christine, a stackable, customizable PC that looks unlike any gaming machine you've ever seen.

The idea behind Project Christine is simple: Remove the hassle and expense of constantly upgrading a computer by making each of its crucial parts modular and self-contained. Instead of opening a tower and slotting more memory or a new graphics card into your computer, Project Christine allows users to simply snap a new module containing any desired upgrades on to their current configuration. As a result, Project Christine should have a far longer lifespan than conventional computers, as modules containing your desired upgrades can simply be swapped in as necessary.

Helpfully, Razer's design negates most of the configuration issues you'd encounter when building your own traditional PC. Project Christine isn't just physically modular, it also divides the motherboard into components which are spread across the system's various modules. Instead of having to match your new components to the specifications of your old motherboard, each new module includes all of the technology it needs to function, save the power it will draw from the rest of the system.

Each Project Christine module features a mineral oil cooling system which should come in handy, as Razer promises configurations of the device featuring up to four graphics cards aligned in a quad-SLI array as well as factory-overclocked components. Every module also comes equipped with noise cancelling insulation, preventing your fancy new gaming machine from driving you mad with incessant noise.

While Razer will be the sole manufacturer of Project Christine modules, the company is still debating which business model to adopt for this new take on the PC. "We're really looking at other models," Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan told Engadget. "Perhaps to say a subscription model of sorts, that we could interchange modules when they come in. Users don't have to worry about a huge bump every time there's new architecture out there."

Though Project Christine is still in the early stages of development, Tan hopes support for the idea will be strong enough to convince Razer to begin manufacturing modules at some point during 2014.

Sony on controller requirements for PlayStation Now

It looks like you'll need a DualShock 3 controller to use PlayStation Now game streaming on most devices, excluding the Vita and PlayStation 4. The newly-unveiled service will stream previous-gen PS games onto the PS4, PS3, Vita, and Bravia TVs, and further down the line other "internet-connected devices" such as smartphones and tablets.

Whenever it does reach tablets and smartphones, users will need a DualShock 3 to play, according to SCEA VP of Marketing John Koller.

"It needs to go through the DualShock," Koller told CVG. "The DualShock remains the key ingredient. So that controller experience needs to go perfectly. We didn't want to utilise touch screen or anything like that because the games are best played with a DualShock."

That said, as the above vid shows you can control PS Now on Vita using the handheld. We've double-checked that with a Sony representative, who also confirmed you can use a DualShock 4 to use it on PS4, while a DualShock 3 is needed on PS3 and with Bravia TVs.

PS Now is due for a full rollout in the summer, and it's coming to PS3 and PS4 first - a PS3 closed beta begins in the US towards the end of this month. You can either rent games individually or purchase a PS Now subscription, and in case you're wondering, you won't be able to stick a PS3 disc in a PS4 and unlock a game that way.

"Sony is saying no to that right now," is the negatory from Koller.