Console Articles

Exclusive: Zelda 3DS 'feels totally different,' needs to be played in 3D

The Nintendo 3DS has already been through a lot. The first-ever glasses-less 3D portable console didn't have the most glamorous of launches when it hit the market more than two years ago. Tainted by an underwhelming batch of debut software, controversial 3D effect, and a disappointing battery life, the 3DS didn't have a whole lot going for it out of the gate.

If that wasn't enough of a burden, the 3DS was also forced to follow up the original DS, a predecessor that is approaching worldwide sales of 154 million units combined. It's the best-selling portable console of all time.

But in the 25 months since its release, the 3DS has made significant strides. A focus on the platform's online store and a hardware refresh with a much bigger screen and better battery have begun to right the ship. Most importantly, a bevy of compelling software has been made available -- though some have criticized the company's continual recycling of classic games. … Read more

Rockstar debuts new character trailers for Grand Theft Auto V

The latest trio of trailers in a series of previews of Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V has hit. These character videos take a deeper look at the tribunal stars of the game: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.

Be sure to check back later this week for a major update to our continuing coverage leading up to the September 17 release of Grand Theft Auto V.

See more Grand Theft Auto V coverage at our sister site, GameSpot.

Nintendo's 'major system update' for Wii U available now

A long-promised major software update to Nintendo's Wii U console is now available for download. Nintendo calls it a "major system update," and says the revamped software will offer better performance and faster load times. The sluggish menu system and generally slow system performance have been among the major knocks against Nintendo's latest game console.

The company's official list of features delivered via this software update is as follows (quoting directly from Nintendo's press release)Nintendo Wii U Deluxe Set:

The time required to start the Wii U console, launch built-in applications, exit software … Read more

XCOM shooter rebranded as The Bureau, arrives in August

We first got a taste of the XCOM shooter back in 2010 and even got to see it in action at E3 2011. Unfortunately, the game got delayed numerous times and eventually went dark. In fact, it got lapped by XCOM: Enemy Unknown -- its turn-based-strategy counterpart -- which turned out to be one of 2012's best titles of the year.

2K Games is ready to lift the curtain on XCOM once again, complete with a live-action trailer, a trio of screenshots, and best of all a release date. Newly titled and packaged, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is set … Read more

The new Xbox: Six things Microsoft needs to do

Microsoft has made it official: the next Xbox will be unveiled at a May 21 event in Redmond, Wash., just weeks before E3 opens its doors. This looks like the inevitable Xbox-PlayStation next-gen console war we've all been expecting.

What will it take for Microsoft to keep its strong foothold in the gaming industry? Here's what I'm looking for.

Be the ultimate TV-streaming (and movie-playing) box The Xbox 360 has already carved a great role for itself as a streaming-media hub, and rumors point to the next Xbox possibly being a true rival to a future Apple … Read more

How the next Xbox can win the cable TV war

The battle for the future of television is just beginning, but it looks to be a long one. One of the key players is Microsoft, which has spent the past several years morphing its Xbox 360 from a straight-up gaming console into one of the best video-streaming boxes you can buy.

Of course, the current Xbox 360 is getting long in the tooth, and the next-generation model is expected to be announced soon, and to be available as early as the end of 2013. And TV services look to be just as central to the core of that device as … Read more

The best Windows 8 gaming laptops

We recently complained about the lack of a single best-case gaming laptop for the Windows 8 era. That was largely because of the handful of portable PCs with higher-end graphics cards we'd reviewed in the six months since Microsoft's new OS took over, none thought to include a touch-screen display. That's a feature not particularly called for in even current-gen PC games, but it's one that Windows 8 practically begs for during the hours when you're not using your laptop for gaming.

Since then, we've finished reviews of a couple more gaming laptops -- … Read more

Console on the cheap, games on the free with $99 Ouya (hands-on)

After seeing it in person this week, I can safely say that the Ouya game console does indeed exist. Now, will it quickly piggyback its way into millions of living rooms thanks to its low price and free-to-try games or assume a place in the pile of wouldbe consoles that failed to mount a legitimate challenge gaming’s mainstream? My bet’s on it finding a comfortable place somewhere in the middle; however, having only spent an hour with the console this week, it wouldn’t be fair to make any final judgments.

What I will do is attempt to … Read more

Sony gives developers a peek at PS4 controller, Eye camera

Sony gave the press a peek at its upcoming next-generation console last month, and today did the same with developers.

The company was in San Francisco earlier today as part of the Games Developers Conference, and showed off some of the only hardware of the PlayStation 4: the new DualShock 4 controller and PlayStation 4 Eye camera peripheral. Both were behind an enclosed display case and marked as mock-ups on GDC's expo floor.

High-resolution photos of both pieces of hardware were released by Sony late last month.

Key among the new features in Sony's new DualShock 4 controller is a built-in touch pad that can be used to interact with games and on-screen menus. There's also a built-in microphone jack, and a share button nestled next to the trigger buttons that lets gamers stream their gameplay live to friends in real time. … Read more