EA has announced that the sequel to their first UFC sports game will release on March 15 in North America and March 17 worldwide.
The new installment of the series focuses on upgrading the in-game mechanics, as well as adding new modes. The “Knockout Physics System,” “Dynamic Grappling,” and “Next-Level Submissions” are all enhancements and improvements on the engine from the 2014 game. The five game modes are KO Mode, UFC Ultimate team, an online mode that is inspired by the Madden and FIFA series, a Career Mode that adds the possibility to create female fighters, and the Grapple Assist training mode. Creative Director Brian Hayes said in a release, “Whether fans want to play upcoming cards, recreate the outcome of recent fights, or go back to fight with MMA legends, we’ll help them do that in the most authentic and exciting way ever in an MMA simulation.”
UFC 2 will be released on Xbox One and Playstation 4, and features both Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey on the cover. Fans can pre-order the game now, physically and digitally, and receive three bonus fighters: Kazushi Sakuraba, Bas Rutten, and a third fighter that has yet to be announced. EA has also announced a deluxe edition, which includes $60 of Ultimate Team Premium Packs.
Rocket League Extends “Snow Day” Game Mode
Critically acclaimed soccer-with-cars video game Rocket League has been a smash hit since its release in the summer of 2015. After initially being a “free” game with Playstation Plus, Rocket League has since made over $50 million and the community has reached over 10 million players.
For the winter, Rocket League added a mode that was a twist to the normal formula. Instead of players hitting a soccer ball, the “Snow Day” mode switches it out for a hockey puck, which changes the strategy of gameplay. After so many people have played this limited time event, developer Psyonix has extended the event for the community.
Rocket League is currently available for PS4 and PC, and will be coming to Xbox One early this year.
Activision Blizzard buys Major League Gaming, aims for “ESPN of Esports”
Activision Blizzard, a game publishing company known for games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, has made major moves in the gaming industry by purchasing one of the largest eSports companies in the world: Major League Gaming (MLG).
Contrary to what some might worry, Activision plans to have MLG continue to operate the way it has been, but to expand the brand. “Major League Gaming is an iconic brand in the eSports world,” Sepso says. “We’re going to absolutely continue operating the products and businesses, but continue to expand the brand. A key part of this thing is that under no circumstances is MLG going anywhere except to bigger and better places.”
What has gained a lot of attention in the acquisition is the fact that Activision Blizzard wants to expand it to become an “ESPN of eSports”. “[Our mission is] to build the biggest and best eSports media platform in the world,” Sepso says. “This acquisition instantly makes us a significant player in the space.”
This purchase of MLG comes off the heels of Activision Blizzard’s recent purchase of King, the publisher of Candy Crush, for $5.9 billion.
