Valve Rumored to Develop VR Headset for Half-Life Prequel

According to a series of leaked image, Valve is developing new VR headset for what seems like a Half-Life prequel game.

Before getting into the business of running digital distribution platform for video games via Steam, Valve Corporation used to be the developer studio that Half-Life and Left 4 Dead series of games, none of which got a third installment in nearly a decade.

According to leaked images from online image sharing community site Imgur, Valve is currently working on and soon will unveil their very own VR headset that is completely separate from the HTC Vive gear they are supporting right now.

Valve Rumored to Develop VR Headset for Half-Life Prequel

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These leaked images found by UploadVR suggest that the Valve device is still in prototype stage but they are trying to make it equivalent to the HTC display of virtual reality technology that will offer a 135 degree field of view when finished.

They appear to have two cameras and integrated headphones included in it with possibility of adding new "Knuckles" motion controllers. The same source also hinted that this gadget could come out bundled with a brand-new Half-Life game from the company.

VR "Knuckles" Hand Controller

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Apparently, this one is not the long-awaited Half-Life 3 but a prequel game that would feature the return of Dr. Gordon Freeman into fighting aliens once again. The fictional immersive world Valve built around this game was loved by fans but they decided to continue with Portal series instead.

Although they came up with two more episodes for Half-Life 2, a third game is still stuck at planning stage as it seems. So, we suggest you take any mystery news of a prequel or a brand-new sequel with grain of salt.

Valve VR Headset Lenses

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Back in March, President Gabe Newell of Valve have announced that the studio is returning back to video game development and they simply are not indicating their upcoming digital collectible card game Artifact by that. The company decided to start shipping games again after developing them.

For years, there were also rumors flying on live-actions movies being pitched for Half-Life and Portal franchise too. With their newly developed VR compatible software and hardware, Valve may come back to dominate the video game market once again.

VR Headset With Valve Logo (Up Left)

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However, this is not the first time enthusiast fans of the acclaimed first-person shooter series are hearing of a potential Half-Life game whether it is on VR or not. In 2016, players found the phrase "HLVR" in Dota 2 by digging deep inside the code and then their Steam VR app also had a mention of it as well.

We even heard about multiple projects on the fan-favorite franchise being pitched or maybe development but never saw a single one coming after Half-Life 2: Episode 2 in 2007. Let's just hope that the rumors turn out to be true this time.

DayZ Beta Live Now

After spending half a decade, DayZ is about to leave Early Access on Steam and Beta goes live now as 1.0 version.

Developer/publisher Bohemia Interactive started their journey of open world multiplayer survival game DayZ that was built as a mod for Arma 2 in 2012. It was launched via Early Access on Steam for PC back in 2013 as they were running alpha testing.

After spending half a decade in that phase for slow development progress, the studio is finally launched an experimental "beta" version as 1.0 release after making an announcement earlier in their official blog and it is available for public.

DayZ Beta Live Now!

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Initially, the mod's creator, Dean Hall came to work for Bohemia to work on the Arma franchise when he took a leave from New Zealand army. He was inspired from a real-life experience of a training exercise that led him to create zombie survival game.

With permission from the company, Hall created the DayZ mod for Arma 2 and then released it as a free download. People simply loved it and within months, have amassed a staggering number of over half a million players.

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This made Bohemia Interactive to seriously consider the mod to turn it into a stand-alone game. When Valve's online distribution platform Steam unleashed the second wave of big Early Access titles, it came out selling a million copies in just four weeks.

Although they targeted to release a beta version of the game before the end of 2014, the team of development has struggled to deliver what they promised to their fans. They only managed to revamp the game engine and expanded Chernarus map.

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The problem was, without fixing the already existing issues and fixing bugs, the studio was busy adding additional features to it. Meanwhile, Hall moved on with founding his own studio and director Brian Hicks left the project on early 2018.

However, rest of the team finally pulled it off by releasing the experimental beta build and came to a decision of preparing a stable 1.0 version with all available content by January 2019 by putting a stop to their usual feature developing practice.

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Since their core technology development is done for, Bohemia Interactive can now center their focus on polishing and making balance tweaks. Some of you may or may not have noticed some of the fixed issues in the past week already if you are still playing.

Given the overall situation, they made the right call of prioritizing their primary promise to the already existing 1 million players from the early days who believed in them and bought an unfinished game and to many more to come in future.

Overwatch’s New Hero Ashe

BlizzCon 2018 has introduced the newest and 29th hero for Blizzard's acclaimed hero shooter Overwatch.

Last time developer/publisher Blizzard Entertainment introduced a super-intelligent hamster riding a death machine called Wrecking Ball as a new hero for their team-based multiplayer shooter Overwatch and now BlizzCon 2018 heralds for another one.

During the opening ceremony of the festival, Blizzard released a brand-new cinematic short "Reunion" set in the fictional universe of the popular hero shooter and featuring everyone's favorite gunslinger, Jesse McCree, this clip offers more than just one hero.

Overwatch’s New Hero Ashe

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We won't be wasting any more time to hop in for a ride to find out whom McCree would encounter in "Reunion" and what that would lead to.

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The short opens up showing a record labeled "Reunion" starts playing in an empty diner in Route 66, where a stranger is slowly enjoying his apple pie and coffee. Before he takes another bite, a train that was passing by is bombed and he leaves the cafe.

Picking his cowboy hat and holster after leaving a dime on the table, he goes outside and sees a group of military hardware traffickers robbing the train. One of them sees him and runs back to their leader, Ashe stating they got trouble.

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It is then revealed that he was running scared to see Jesse McCree, who seems to know Ashe and apparently have shared past together. After their initial sarcastic greeting, McCree says he only want a certain crate from their loot and is not interested in their business.

When her omnic companion B.O.B. opens it up, she asks him what it is but he tries to dodge the question. This irked Ashe and minions of her Deadlock Gang starts taking position on Jesse in a Wild West fashion until he made his move on them.

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He quickly incapacitated the gang by drawing his six-shooter Peacekeeper but they cornered him with concentrated fire. He throws out a couple of grenades at them and shoots the pins off mid-air to knock them all off at once before restraining the group.

Ashe wakes up to see her including the gang tied up while McCree opens the crate and pulls an omnic out that calls him her partner. Jokingly telling her to say hi to the monkey for him (Winston) he heads to attend to some unfinished business somewhere.

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Aside from being a rugged outlaw, Ashe and B.O.B. has a history of their own before forming the Deadlock Gang and hit the streets.

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Elizabeth Caledonia Ashe grew up in the middle of wealth but never had her family at her side when she felt their need. Having a rebellious nature, she always used to find troubles and get into fights but instead of her family, would always find B.O.B. beside her.

She came across McCree at some point and went on a crime spree before he moved to Blackwatch. Ashe eventually sets out for an adopted family of friends to form the Deadlock Gang, which becomes one of the biggest criminal syndicates in America.

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If you think that the cinematic has somehow failed to properly capture her true enigma or you have missed something, then here is a glimpse of her gameplay we have for you.

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Ashe wields a semi-automatic rifle called "The Viper" for firing quick and accurate shots but also carries a Coach Gun to blast off he opponents. Even though a sniper hero, she doesn't shy around from throwing a bundle of dynamite at her enemies.

She would often summon her robot companion B.O.B. to crushing down her rivals or shooting them down with his arm cannons. This powerful omnic sidekick can come in very handy and sometime can feel like a hero of his own.

Gunslinger of Route 66

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Voiced by actress Jennifer Hale, Ashe was a complete surprise addition to the Overwatch roster even though Route 66 was hinted earlier after the revelation of Hammond as well as the upcoming character would somehow be related to McCree.

Currently, all attendees at BlizzCon 2018 get to play as Ashe and very soon she will hit PTR for players on PC for them to master her skills. Her addition to the game as a damage hero would sure brig some great changes and we look forward to her arrival. Echo too, will return soon as the 30th hero when her development is finally complete.

Destiny 2 Free on Battle.net

Destiny 2 is free for a limited time on Blizzard's Battle.net online client. Plus, Gambit free trial is coming next week.

This festive season of BlizzCon 2018, Blizzard Entertainment is giving away a free digital copy of online-only multiplayer first-person shooter Destiny 2 (vanilla version) for celebrating the first year of the game on PC to anyone who doesn't own the game yet.

To enjoy this offer, you have to claim your own copy within November 2 and November 18 on Blizzard's Battle.net app. Once you claim the title on the online client, it will be yours forever to keep in your account and play with your friends.

Destiny 2 Free on Battle.net

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Known for complex storytelling, the game is mostly celebrated among players for its unique PvE and PvP features. Thanks to developer Bungie and publisher Activision, a legion of fans will be joining the expanded universe of the game.

D2 is set in a futuristic backdrop, where players assume the role of a Guardian of Light who constantly fight against invading alien forces and protect the Last City. Later, Curse of Osiris, Warmind and Forsaken expansion packs added more to the plot.

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Although you can download the title for free, you won't have access to the current expansion pack Forsaken, which has Curse of Osiris and Warmind bundled in together now and also available as Destiny 2: Forsaken Legendary Collection.

For those who already own the game, free trial for upcoming 4v4 hybrid activity mode Gambit is coming very soon with lots of multiplayer gameplay and monster slaying. Don't miss out the "Gambit Free Weekend" from November 9 to 11.

Destiny 2: Forsaken Legendary Collection

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Despite many controversies and setbacks faced in the past year, Destiny series has managed to thrive and improved many features from the previous game. Overall experience has only gotten better with their evolved technique in storytelling.

In December, players on PC will receive exclusive emblem as part of the year anniversary celebration while they keep competing with other rival teams. Now hurry up and head over to the gift section of Battle.net to reserve your copy before November 18.

Battlefield V Launch Maps Trailer

Battlefield V offers a better look at the World War II-era maps available on launch, in a brand-new trailer.

The road to Battlefield V is only a few weeks away from us which developer EA DICE and publisher Electronic Arts wants to dedicate this moment to promote the upcoming title from the first-person shooter Battlefield franchise in full swing.

Starting with detailing on the maps players will gain access to upon launch; EA released an official trailer showcasing the locations with additional details on them. Even though you may have already seen some of them already, it won't hurt to take a second look.

Battlefield V Launch Maps Trailer

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The trailer focuses on major locations of Battlefield 5 based on World War II events that completely changed the face of war.

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Battlefield V will be launched for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 20, 2018 and if you still haven't placed your pre-order then you still have time to do it. With an EA Access or Origin Access subscription, you can jump into it from November 9 though.

Multiplayer maps are just the icing on the cake and there are a lot more EA DICE has to offer to players in post-launch period. Tides of War live service will eventually bring in more content to keep us going in this journey of epic conflict.

Battlefield V Battle Royale "Firestorm" Coming in 2019

EA DICE has recently announced that Battlefield V will get its Battle Royale mode "Firestorm" in 2019.

November 20, 2018 is now less than a month away and upcoming first-person shooter game Battlefield V from developer EA DICE and publisher Electronic Arts is awaiting launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One worldwide.

Previously, the game was scheduled to release on October 19 but were pushed back saying the studio needs time polishing the game and work on Tides of War mode. If that has hurt your anticipation, here comes another one; the game's battle royale mode, Firestorm won't come until 2019.

Battlefield V Battle Royale "Firestorm" Coming in 2019

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DICE has recently laid out their plans for post-launch content of the new Battlefield title, which has the surprise reveal of its anticipated battle royale mode Firestorm not launching until March 2019 and no further details on the topic.

This mode will bring a 64-person action experience to players and will allow four-player squads. As a ring of fire closing in on engaged combatants, they will fight for their lives while scavenging for weapons and ride vehicles until the last man or squad remains standing.

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Firestorm mode will debut on the third chapter of the planned content roadmap after the first two chapters; Overture and Lightning Strikes. The former features Panzerstorm map for a tank-based battle and new War Story, The Last Tiger along with vehicle customization.

The latter is all about Combined Arms and Squad Conquest for all we know for now. Overture launches within two weeks after the debut of Battlefield 5 and Lightning Strikes will likely to drop from January to March before Chapter 3.

Battlefield V Post-Launch Roadmap

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The lead competitor for Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is already released and making buzz around the town with their very own battle royale mode Blackout. So, EA DICE and Electronic Arts probably do not want to risk anything and taking more time.

Because of Firestorm not being included in the recently closed Battlefield beta, we have less detail on the game mode. However, focused on World War II, the game hold much promises to shine and entertain all the eagerly waiting fans.

Destiny 3 Reportedly in Development

According to leaked source on Reddit, developer Bungie is rumored to be working on Destiny 3 already.

The immense success of online-only multiplayer first-person shooter game Destiny from 2014 has led developer Bungie and publisher Activision to release a full sequel, Destiny 2 in 2017 that become an even bigger score than they ever hoped for.

Although D2 managed to become one of the most successful title of the year over consoles, it came to face some controversy and mixed reception regarding their third major expansion, Forsaken. Nevertheless, Bungie has been reportedly working on Destiny 3 already.

Destiny 3 Reportedly in Development

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Even though it has been only a year that they came up with the latest sequel to the Destiny franchise, the developers are already on board with what to bring next on the table and looks like more than a few things are going to be changed for good.

Recently, Reddit user AnonTheNine, who has been a pretty reliable source for leaked news on the series, has shared some insights about the upcoming installment from the franchise. According to his claims, Bungie is making the game more hardcore and is going to be RPG-based.

The development is starting right now. Chris Barrett game director. Luke Smith still there in a big role.
Guardians using Darkness. Open World PvPvE areas and Europa as a patrol zone.
Just know that D3 will be even more "hardcore-y" than Forsaken. And finally they're going to push the rpg side of the game.

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Alongside other stuffs, AnontheNine has also mentioned about Europa to be featured as a playable location, which was first revealed back in 2013 through a concept artwork, even before the original Destiny was released.

He didn't detail about how or why the Guardians are using the force of Darkness but if it comes out as true then it will shift the series lore to a major change. Part of this has been noted in the ending of Destiny 2 and perhaps they are faced with a greater evil that forced the Guardians to ally with Darkness.

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Although Reddit user AnonTheNine has been proven to be a trusted source for leaked insights because of his track record, there is still no official confirmation on the development of Destiny 3 and it would be wise to take the news with a grain of salt.

Also, there may not be an official announcement anytime soon as there was no mention of an esteemed timeline of release. When Destiny went into development phase back in 2010, it didn't come out before 2014, which means D3 is not going to launch before 2020 to 2021 at the very least.

Classic Valve Titles are Backwards Compatible and Xbox One X Enhanced

Classic Valve Titles from Xbox 360 platform are now Xbox One X enhanced and backward compatible.

Fans of classic titles from developer/publisher Valve Corporation have been yearning for so long to get a sequel for their favorite games from old days for too long but at this moment they are busy with projects like Artifact and In the Valley of Gods.

However, some of those notable fan-favorite classics from Xbox 360 era are returning to modern day Xbox One console with astounding 4K enhancements for Xbox One X, courtesy of the backward compatibility feature of the Microsoft gaming platform.

Classic Valve Titles are Xbox One X Enhanced Backwards Compatible

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An anthology collection Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal: Still Alive have been added to a list of enhanced games for Xbox One X along with 17 other that has been updated for the platform to run at higher resolution.

Now you can revisit and enjoy these old games once again at 9X the original pixel from existing assets. Other remarkable Xbox 360 enhanced titles includes the likes of Red Dead Redemption and Skate 3, which makes the list a total of 21.

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Very recently, the backward catalog of games have added Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and the entire Crysis trilogy. Back in August, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 joined the race and early releases from the Assassin's Creed series before that.

If Microsoft is giving Sony a fight with anything in terms of releasing exclusive games, then it is their backward compatibility feature of Xbox One. Because of their unique program, players are now able to take a trip back to memory lane with many of their favorite game.