The Gamer Theory Rumor Mill #1
By: Jeff Rivera
The Gamer Theory Rumor Mill is a new segment that will be posted whenever we get a nice set of rumors to report on. Everything we discuss will be based on information that is reliable enough to mention, but none of this has been confirmed officially. Each rumor will be given a grade of very likely, likely, doubtful, or very doubtful. If you have rumor tips, you can email them to jeff@gamertheory.com and we'll do our best to follow up on them.
Rumblings of new projects, new directions for old franchises, the Wii U and Unreal Engine 4, and a possible and unfortunate cancelation headline this edition of the Gamer Theory rumor mill.
Prey 2 canceled?
One of my favorite demos from E3 2011 was Bethesda's showing of Prey 2. Shown initially by appointment only, the demo left pretty much everybody who watched it walk away impressed. Well, it now seems that the project may be in trouble as retailers have leaked that the game is no longer expected to be released. Bethesda has been contacted repeatedly by media outlets, including Gamer Theory, and they've declined to comment on the rumors of cancelation.
When it comes to rumors of cancelation, a denial is general practice from the studios and publishers. When no comment is given, it's never a good sign. We can only hope that the game is still coming, but it's not looking good.
Rumor Credibility: Likely
The Nintendo Wii U to Support Unreal Engine 4?
Rumors are swirling on a daily basis about the Wii U, and most of the rumors won't be put to rest until E3 in June. One rumor that has been gaining traction lately is that the Wii U will support Unreal Engine 4, Epic's next generation game engine.
The rumor is based on quotes by Epic executives that the Wii U will be a big hit. Epic is notorious for criticizing any platform that is incapable of running their current and upcoming tech, so people are jumping to the conclusion that the Wii U will indeed be capable of running Unreal Engine 4. Locked down by NDA, however, Epic can't reveal this information quite yet.
Personally, I think Nintendo will give the Wii U the spec bump it needs to get UE4 running, even if it's at a basic level. In order to get ports brought over to the Wii U, the console will need to run the most commonly used game engines, and UE4 should be one of the most widely used. Given the power estimates from last year's Wii U uveiling, however, Nintendo will need to throw a bit more muscle under the hood to get the Wii U up to par.
Rumor Credibility: Likely
Silicon Knights Working on a Sequel to Eternal Darkness?
This is one of those rumors that has bits of it verified, but it's not specific enough to call news. Denis Dyack, the head of Silicon Knights has already confirmed that his studio has moved on from current generation development and is actively developing for the next generation consoles. In a recent interview with GameIndustry.biz, Denis mentioned that their current project is based on a franchise that is the most requested by their fans. The three leading candidates are Too Human, Legacy of Kain, and Eternal Darkness.
Based on other recent comments by Denis Dyack, you can most likely rule out Too Human. The franchise seems to need some more time to rest so it can get a fresh start. Legacy of Kain is a strong contender, but Eternal Darkness has been the most asked for franchise in recent years. Indications lean towards Eternal Darkness 2 being a reality.
Rumor Credibility: Very Likely
Is Halo 4 Being Developed With eSports in Mind?
eSports have enjoyed consistent growth over the past decade, and companies like Blizzard, Riot, Valve, Capcom, and Activision have all been the most supportive of the scene here in the West. Halo: Reach has been a popular game in MLG events, but when compared to a game like StarCraft 2 or League of Legends, it's not as well built for spectating and eSports.
Rumblings coming out of the eSports world indicate that 343i is working hard to make Halo 4 a much more friendly title for eSports and for spectating. As of now, 343 hasn't commented on the speculation, but with the way the industry is trending, it seems plausible that they'll be taking steps to carve themselves out a bigger section of the eSports pie. We should know more at E3 2012.
Rumor Credibility: Very Likely
Sony to Reveal Higher Storage PS Vita Memory Cards at E3?
Sony has commented that it will be possible down the line for the PS Vita to support larger memory cards and that storage concerns are one of the roadblocks to digital delivery adoption for some people. While prices on the PS Vita memory cards remain high, there are lots of gamers that have indicated that they would purchase a larger card if Sony were to make one available.
Despite Sony's comments that this may be coming, I think E3 2012 is too soon. Prices on the memory cards need to come down before Sony offers a higher capacity card. Sony is still fighting to justify the cost of the Vita and its accessories when compared to the 3DS, and it would be a bad PR move to unveil a card that would most likely retail for over $100.
Rumor Credibility: Doubtful
That's it for now. Stay tuned for more rumors as they sneak their way into our hands.
