TT Games has announced that LEGO The Hobbit will be released next year for various systems. The game will be based on the first two films from "The Hobbit Trilogy." Players will take on the roles of various characters from The Hobbit including Bilbo, Gandalf, and all of the Dwarves. Players will also visit important locations from the films including High Pass and Rivendell. LEGO The Hobbit is set to release in 2014 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, 3DS, and PC. 🎮👍😊

Nintendo Releases and Rumors

Nintendo has announced two new 2DS bundles that include a copy of Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. A blue and black 2DS comes bundled with Pokemon Y, with a red and white 2DS being bundled with Pokemon X. Both bundles will be available in South Korea on December 7, 2013 for 180,000 won (About $170). It is also rumored that the same two bundles will be available in Europe, but we can't confirm this until Nintendo makes the announcement. No word yet on if these bundles will be heading to North America. 🎮👍😊

Update to Final Fantasy XIV

Square Enix has announced that an update will be heading to Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn next month. Update 2.1 will include general fixes and title updates, as well as introducing beauty salons. The salons will allow players to change their character's hair color, facial features like eyebrows and face paint, and other options specific to the appearance of a character like skin color. The update will be available on December 17, 2013. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is currently available for PS3 and PC and will be available for PS4 in Early 2014. Those that own the PS3 version will be able to upgrade to the PS4 version for free. 🎮👍😊

Nintendo has announced that beginning November 28, 2013, the Cobalt Blue 3DS bundle with Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will be available for $169.99. This offer is being made available as part of Black Friday which occurs this week. Nintendo also shared that consumers can pick up a 2DS at Walmart beginning November 28, 2013 for $99.96. On November 29, 2013, Target will be offering a 3DS XL for $149.99. No word on how long these deals will be available for or if it is while supplies last. 🎮👍😊

Final Fantasy and iOS

Square Enix has announced that the sequel to Final Fantasy IV is now available for iOS and Android devices. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is an episodic title that takes place 17 years after the original game. The After Years has been remastered with new visuals and includes all 10 chapters from the game. The After Years is now available for $15.99 in the iTunes App Store and GooglePlay. 🎮👍😊

Soul Sacrifice to be in the Instant Game Collection

Sony has announced that Soul Sacrifice will be the next title to join the Instant Game Collection. Starting tomorrow, PlayStation Plus members can download the PlatStation Vita for free. The action RPG title places gamers in the role of a slave who stumbles open a book that allows players to fight in battles against monsters. The game features a complex system of spells and weapons. Sony also announced that Dragon's Dogma will be leaving the Instant Game Collection on December 3, 2013. 🎮👍😊

Pirates and iOS

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed: Pirates will be releasing on December 5, 2013 for iOS and Android devices. The game will place gamers in the role of Alonzo Batilla who is a captain among the Caribbean. Players will upgrade their ship, manage a crew, and engage in real-time naval battles. The game will also feature encounters with Templars and Assassin’s. 🎮👍😊

Over the weekend, many users reported on various sites like Reddit that they were banned by Microsoft for inappropriate actions made using Skype and Upload Studio. Microsoft issued the following statement stating "To be clear, the Xbox Live Policy & Enforcement team does not monitor direct peer-to-peer communications like Skype chats and calls." The company then went on to state that "We take Code of Conduct moderation via Upload Studio very seriously. We want a clean, safe and fun environment for all users. Excessive profanity as well as other Code of Conduct violations will be enforced upon and result in suspension of some or all privileges on Xbox Live." While users were not banned for using Skype, it's clear that those who use Upload Studio can be banned for using foul language or by violating the Code of Conduct for Xbox Live. The Xbox One was released this past Friday in 13 regions including North America. 🎮👍😊

Twitch and the Terms Of Service

Twitch has announced that they will be heavily enforcing their terms of service in regards to PS4 and Twitch integration. This past weekend, many users turned to The Playroom, which is a augmented-reality based game available on PS4, and live streamed off-topic situations, some of which violated the Terms of Service of Twitch. The website will now be looking to moderate such live streams by removing them should they not be related to gaming. Twitch tweeted over the weekend, "FYI: We continue to moderate according to our Terms of Service. Non-gaming content is not allowed. If using PS4 Playroom, the content must be about games or gaming and within our ToS. Thanks for understanding." Sony has not announced if they will be limiting Playroom now or if they will be removing it from the PS4 all together. It's clear that the original intention of Playroom has been altered by users in unfortunate ways. We will keep you updated if Sony makes an announcement in regards to this situation. 

HYPE REVIEW - BLACKLIGHT RETRIBUTION

A free to play shooter is an interesting thing to announce, if only since it potentially indicates a shift in focus and direction for Sony's online service. Could it be that there'll be a greater number of free games like PC sensation League of Legends? And what would this mean for paid downloads? Only time will tell…

Gets ϟ ϟ ϟ

HYPE REVIEW - ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG

The most ambitious AC yet, a fully open world is something of a sea chane (pun fully intended) from the usual template. And with Ubisoft throwing around exactly the kind of buzzwords we want to hear - bigging up challenge, freedom and depth as it has been - we can't wait to get our hands on it. Also, pirates!

Gets ϟ ϟ ϟ ϟ ϟ

Batman: Arkham Origins swooped down on us like…well, a bat.

The Batman: Arkham games have been big successes for Warner Bros and developer Rocksteady, and as we all know, money talks.  Batman: Arkham Origins hit the shelves October 25th, and it's a prequel showcasing a young, inexperienced Dark Knight as he faces off against several supervillians for the first time.  It sounded pretty awesome, but there is a caveat - Rocksteady is not the developer.  The reins instead have been given to WB Games Montreal, an unproven studio whose biggest output to date was the Wii U port of Arkham City.
Cause for concern?  Perhaps, perhaps not. WB Montreal will be using Rocksteady's customized Unreal engine to create the game, so expect it to look and feel simile.  Arkham Origins takes place in a fully open world Gotham, which they promised to be much more alive and functional than Arkham City.  It's was also claimed that it was twice as big.  To make getting around a doodle, the Batwing jet offers fast travel for those tired of traversal.
It takes place Christmas Eve, as notorious crime boss Black Mask brings together eight assassins to hunt down and dispose of the Batman.  You see the debut of Deathstroke and Alberto Falcone, as well as the return of the Penguin and every one's favorite butler, Alfred Pennyworth.
Combat is similar but we assure you there are lots of new gadgets to play with, including the 'Remote Claw', which allows Batman to shoot two targets before pulling them towards one another.  You can create dangling explosive traps, string foes up or just smash two dudes heads together - sound like fun?One of the most interesting things about Arkham Origins is the new included multi player mode for the first time in the series.  Team based mode where players, acting as gang members affiliated to either the Joker or Bane, try to take down Batman and Robin.  We don't want to give away too many specifics, but it's an intriguing add on.
But what of Rocksteady?  Rumours have been around for a while that the studio is focusing on a prequel of it's own, based on the silver age of comics and not only starring Batman but several members of the Justice League.  This sounds like it could be the best thing ever, but we wonder how likely it is considering Arkham Origins is also a prequel.  There's one thing we do know - a Rocksteady game that lets us play as the The Flash will win every game of the year award, every year, forever.