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.

Sony challenges PS4 community, launches First to Greatness

Greatness awaits, or so those PlayStation 4 ads keep telling us. But apparently Greatness has had enough waiting, and it's time to see who can catch it first. Sony has posed 64 challenges to the PS4 community, asking them to capture and upload proof using the system's Share feature, the PlayStation Blog has revealed. Those who complete the challenges will have their name posted to the First to Greatness website, which Sony teases will offer a "cool new experience" once all 64 tasks have been completed. The PlayStation Blog also claims that a remake of the PS4's "Perfect Day" ad is on its way, and this one will feature "many" of the uploaded firsts. If you need any instructions on how to pursue Greatness - not that you would, we're putting it out there just in case - the PS Blog and First to Greatness site have additional details.

Final Fantasy 4: The After Years out now on iOS, Android

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song, because Final Fantasy 4: The After Years is available now on the App Store and Google Play for $16. Oh hang on, this isn't the one with Fred Savage that isn't The Wizard - your ears are safe for now, then. Instead, we'll note this is a complete 3D remake of the Final Fantasy 4 sequel that came to the Wii, PSP and Japanese mobiles a few years back. It's set 17 years after the original, and sees returning heroes get by with a little help from some new friends. Also, if you like your smartphone 3D remakes in widescreen, it has fullscreen display on iPhone 5 models.

Apple buys developer of original Kinect tech

Apple of iProduct fame has acquired PrimeSense, the Israeli firm behind the 3D sensing tech in the original Kinect for Xbox 360. No official price tag was put on the purchase, but rumors of the acquisition last week speculate a cost of $345 million.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," said Apple to the BBC.

PrimeSense noted the acquisition to Engadget in a brief statement, "We can confirm the deal with Apple. Further than that, we cannot comment at this stage."

The current Kinect bundled with Xbox One does not use PrimeSense's tech and was developed in-house at Microsoft.

Killzone Mercenary review: Hired gun

From a superficial perspective, Killzone: Mercenary is about as rote a shooter as you'll find. It stars former soldier Arran Danner who has opted for a more lucrative life as a mercenary, battling the Helghast invasion as part of the Phantom Talon Corporation. This sets the plot up for many cliché twists and overwrought scenes of dramatic betrayal that players will see coming miles away. And yet, despite its tired storytelling, Killzone: Mercenary largely succeeds by focusing on the sort of well-polished, frenetic first-person shooter gameplay rarely see on the PlayStation Vita (though not for lack of trying).

When you first step into the world of Killzone: Mercenary, you'll notice its gorgeous graphics. There's no hyperbole in saying these are some of the best the Vita has ever seen – Killzone: Mercenary could very easily pass as an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game. Fans of earlier Killzone games might find this worrying, as the series has earned a reputation for being overloaded with cutscenes that, while attractive, remove control from players for lengthy stretches of time. The developers behind Killzone: Mercenary seem to have learned their lesson on this front. Mercenary does feature periodic interludes, but they're primarily used to segue into and out of missions, and seldom last more than a few moments.

Of course, this added autonomy would mean nothing if the gameplay were not worthwhile. Thankfully, in a pure, gut-level way, Killzone: Mercenary stands alongside almost any recent shooter – for better or worse.

Killzone: Mercenary

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Metareview: Dead Island: Riptide

Dead Island: Riptide, the pseudo sequel to paradise-gone-wrong simulatorDead Island, shares one clear trait with its predecessor. No, not zombies (but, yeah, those are in there). It's that reviews are all over the place for the game's launch. The original Dead Island entered into a similarly hostile critical climate, but went on to sell 5 million units globally. Our Riptide review will be available later this week.

• Game Informer (80/100): "Riptide's flaws are many, but they couldn't hold me back from having a blast. Few games nail the visceral feel of melee combat and co-op fun like Dead Island. At its worst, an annoying hiccup breaks the immersion of the grizzly trek through a zombie-infested paradise. At its best, Riptide hits the same high notes as the original."
• IGN (72/100): "Technically, it's done nothing to build itself into a great game. Rather than fix the graphics and the performance problems that plagued the original two years ago, Techland slightly modified the setting and delivered a new character and more content. It's a fun time, but there are no surprises or killer new features to make it an impressive package."
• Eurogamer (60/100): "What makes that so sad is that this feels like a series only a few great decisions away from being really good. A better script with a sense of humor, a bit more imagination in quest design, more coherent inventory management and character development... These things shouldn't be unattainable goals for a developer that must be flush from the unexpected success of the first game."
• VideoGamer (50/100): "On the whole however Riptide is yet another missed opportunity, and just too painfully average, wonky and padded out with filler to truly recommend."
• Gamespot (40/100): "Riptide is dumb, and mind-numbingly slow, and somehow manages to make the art of zombie-slaying feel like utter tedium. And if slaying zombies isn't fun in a game that's all about slaying zombies, why bother? "

Fez coming to Steam May 1

A Windows version of Polytron's infinite puzzle dimension portal, Fez, will be released on May 1, as revealed by the game's new Steam page. Like the XBLA version, it's listed as developed by Polytron and published by Trapdoor.

The Steam page does not show any new features, but at the very least it'll be easier to take screenshots of all the beautiful things you'll see, and, for the sake of your own sanity, the occasional screenshot of a glyph you hope to translate later. Patches should be easier too.

If you'd like to start the fun before the release of the game, you can ask creator Phil Fish anything on Reddit right now.

Phil Fish: Fez 'should be out on pretty much everything,' eventually

Fez has found its way to Steam, hitting PCs on May 1 – but that's not all developer Phil Fish has up his tiny, red hat. Fish hosted a Reddit AMA today, where he revealed Mac, Linux, Vita, Ouya and iOS versions of Fez are all in various stages of planning and development.

Mac and Ouya ports are definitely on the way, while Linux is part of some "vague plans, but plans nonetheless. Fez should eventually be out on pretty much everything," Fish said. For Vita and PSN, Fish said he's working with Sony "to figure something out." An iOS launch is "highly probable."

Fish also says "thanks for all the spreadsheet jokes." And you all thought you were so original.

Check out all of the Fez information you never knew you wanted right here, and make sure to see the Fez Fish Gaijin Games created for Runner 2 (Warning: It's a fish in tightie whities, and we do mean tight).

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag debut trailer sets sail, screens too

Blackbeard's here to introduce you to the newest hero in the Assassin's Creed lineage, one Edward Kenway, as well as the latest, piracy-stuffed entry in the series. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag docks on the shores of North America on October 29, and Europe on October 31 (UK November 1). The game is coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and next-gen consoles (at some point) including the PS4.

Assassin's Creed 4 (Announcement)

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Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag 'pushing hard' for more assassinations, less hand-holding

It has become necessary to ask about the prevalence of assassination in a series called Assassin's Creed. Ubisoft's massive franchise has grown to encompass different developers, protagonists, historical contexts, and design ideals. The central thrust of the hidden blade has been obscured by an ever-growing stack of systems, plots and economies, some of which suit the business of killing – and some that allow you to manufacture and sell barrels.

"Yes, we are a pirate game, and we advertise ourselves as a pirate game. It's even in our title," says Ashraf Ismail, Game Director at Ubisoft Montreal forAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. "But it's an Assassin's Creed game, and this is very important, because this is how we're able to build a pirate game. We have this really solid foundation that is the core and the heart of the experience. The story is about a guy who is an assassin and the conflict he goes through to become this guy. We actually have more assassinations than AC1 had."

Following a presentation at Ubi's offices in San Francisco, Ismail explains the "older philosophy" of Assassin's Creed as an important consideration for Black Flag, even if its appearance suggests otherwise. "This is something we did learn, we do listen to our fans a lot," Ismail says. "We know that in AC3 there was a lot more handholding done, and we do want to go back to an older philosophy where we just present you with a simple objective and we let you choose the gameplay you want."

EA CFO suggests 'new Battlefield' running on PS4

During a recent investor conference call, Electronic Arts' chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen specifically referenced having seen "the new Battlefield" running on a PlayStation 4. EA has not announced Battlefield 4 as coming to Sony's new flagship box, though it's hardly a stretch to envision the military shooter on the new platform.

Jorgensen shut down the implication that EA's absence from Sony's PlayStation 4 press conference last week meant its support of the new system wouldn't surface until 2014 or 2015. "I'd say between now and E3, you're going to see a lot of stuff from us," he said.

"The technical power on the platform is going to allow us to do a substantial amount of things that we've never done before," Jorgensen continued. "I've seen the new Battlefield and it is stunning, I mean it is just amazing; what the imagination of the game developers are allowed to do with that much power."

We've reached out to EA for more information about Jorgensen's statement and will update with any new information we receive.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag hoists new hero onto PS3, 360, Wii U, PC

Ubisoft has announced Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, which introduces a new coarse heir to the century-spanning action series. As you can gather from the artwork, the sequel shifts to the Caribbean in an era of piracy and formidable pistol-to-hand ratios. The game is so far confirmed for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii U, with the PS3 version including "60 minutes of exclusive gameplay."

Joystiq will have more information and opinions about Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on Monday. We'd love it if you checked back then to learn about the game's protagonist, goals, and guiding principles.

Deus Ex: Human Defiance trademarked by Square Enix

Square Enix trademarked the name 'Deus Ex: Human Defiance' yesterday, suggesting a follow-up to 2011's Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Square Enix Europe filed the trademark, and the list of goods associated with it heavily indicates a game in development.

Square Enix hasn't announced a sequel, and Human Revolution developer Eidos Montreal is understood to be working on an unannounced third projectthat's "alongside" the Deus Ex and Thief franchises. Straight Right, the Mass Effect 3 developer for Wii U, is reportedly porting a major Square Enix game to the Nintendo console, and if that's accurate Human Revolution is a contender and Human Defiance may relate to that.

At this moment, however, Square Enix has kept any upcoming entries in the Deus Ex franchise as stealthily hidden as Adam Jensen in an air vent - perhaps until now, that is. We've reached out to the company for comment.

Update: A company representative tells us, "Square Enix does not comment on rumor and speculation."

Wii Mini listed for £79.99 at Amazon, Game

Nintendo hasn't declared an official UK price for the Wii Mini, but Amazon and GAME are going ahead with a price of £79.99. The console retails in Canada for $99.99 (around £64), so with import costs and taxes that price seems in-line.

The Wii Mini will launch in the region on March 22, playing only games on discs due to no internet connectivity. A regular Wii console currently retails full-price at £130.

Wii Mini comes to UK next month

The Canada-exclusive holiday season is officially over, because the Wii Mini is making a little big trip to the UK next month on March 22. There's no word on a price; when launched in Canada late last year, the wii console cost $99.99 (around £63.50).

The Wii Mini offers a reduced price and size, as well as top-loading disc tray, but doesn't have Internet connectivity and isn't compatible with GameCube discs. As per Canada's bundle, UK buyers get a red Nunchuk and red WiiMote Plus controller with the console.

Nintendo previously said the console would remain exclusive to Canada throughout the holiday season, with no information available about its arrival in other territories. We've reached out to Nintendo to find out if we can expect the console to reach the US.

GameStick pre-orders begin for console and accessories

PlayJam has initiated pre-orders for its ultra-portable GameStick Android console over on its official website. The main $79.00 bundle includes the dongle-like console itself, as well as the controller it's stored inside of when not plugged into a television's HDMI port. The GameStick's wireless charging dock/port hub and protective case are both up for pre-order as well, priced at $24.99 and $9.99, respectively.

Delivery is expected to begin once an initial run of devices have been shipped to Kickstarter supporters, which is scheduled to take place during April. Currently, the website lists April 30 as the "available on" date for all three items.