Filed under: Rumors

North America's got something of a puzzling history concerning the sequel to the equally puzzling PSP action-platformer, Exit. While the game hit European and Japanese store shelves over two years ago, we never saw a trace of it -- until the ESRB gave an Xbox Live Aracade-bound U.S. version of the game an E rating, filling us with the hope that we'd be plotting further exoduses from perilous buildings soon enough. Sadly, Taito never confirmed the XBLA'd sequel, and news about the title has been scarce ever since.

However, TeamXbox recently produced a number of screenshots for the XBLA sequel, as well as a launch window of Q1 2009. Neither the images nor release info were given any attribution, so take them with a spoonful of trepidation. If they're legit, we fully expect Taito to crawl out of the woodwork and make the least shocking announcment since the revelation of Guitar Hero: Metallica.

This rumored red console bundle is said to also come packed with a red controller, copy of Resident Evil 5, an exclusive RE5 premium theme and a redemption code for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD. That'd be a pretty nifty bundle if MS were to release it ... but it's just a rumor for now.

In the wake of recent rumors that the entire Need For Speed series has been canceled -- rumors followed by the closing of developer Black Box -- Kotaku reports that "inside sources" are claiming a patch is soon headed to Need for Speed: Undercover. Details are fuzzy, though sources claim that the patch will focus on gameplay and performance issues and will include "improvements". Hopefully, the performance tweaks include a fix for the game's awful framerate. The patch is expected to arrive on all platforms in the coming weeks.

According to the pre-order listing, the "Mass Effect Two-Disc Edition" will release on February 10th for an eyebrow raising low price of $19.99. We're suspicious of the price because this new edition will not only come with the Mass Effect game disc, but the second disc will come packed with a documentary, design galleries, game trailers, music and the Bring Down The Sky downloadable content expansion. That'd be quite the gaming value for $20 and - if legit - we'll be happy to take two copies off Gamestop's hands.

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

Sporting a Free Radical logo watermark, a video of supposed Star Wars Battlefront 3 alpha footage has made its way onto YouTube and - if legit - gives us nearly six minutes of gameplay to drool over.

The footage was supposedly shot during an "internal show and tell Alpha meeting" that took place in November and not only shows impressive visuals, but nifty gameplay elements including airborne combat that flows seamlessly from planet-level to space. It should be stated that the status of Battlefront 3 is still relatively unknown thanks to the predicament developer Free Radical is in.

[Via Joystiq]

Gamestop.com and an internal Gamestop POS sheet obtained by the Destructoid crew have Metallica's own Guitar Hero edition releasing to all platforms on the last Sunday in March. Traditionally, retailer supplied video game release dates are only 12.4% correct, but we're optimistic on this one. Metallica releasing in March? It sorta makes sense.

Sources close to CVG have said that Ubisoft is poised to announce new installments of its popular Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six franchises later this year. According to the source Ubisoft, which released Rainbow Six Vegas 2 in March 2008 and has had Ghost Recon on the shelf since mid 2007, could have both titles ready for the 2009 holiday rush. Unfortunately details for either title are scarce but the general school of thought is both franchises would see a reboot away from current story lines and settings. So, the rumor is Ubi is hitting up new a Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six? In other news the sky is blue and the sun is hot.

According to TechCrunch and their new embargo breaking attitude, Microsoft has briefed them and other media outlets on their (lackluster) CES announcements, including the Xbox 360 news. Supposedly, Ballmer and crew's only Xbox news will be a reminder that Halo Wars and Halo: ODST will be releasing in 2009. That's it. So, if this turns out to be fact, we recommend looking forward to March's Games Developers Conference for a dose exciting Xbox news, because CES will be dull, dull, dull.

Supposedly, during a Radio One interview, a UK Traveller's Tales employee confirmed that they're working on a new LEGO game and that it's releasing in 2009, but exact specifics were withheld. That game being LEGO Rock Band, or so says videogaming247 and their sources who claim their information is "100 percent correct." LEGOs and Rock Band? It's an odd mix, but it could be tasty. Kinda like potato chip and peanut butter sandwiches.

[Via Joystiq]

Oh, and if you are Yosumin clueless, just think of it as puzzle game where you match up various symbols (that have adorable faces on 'em) in the shape of a rectangle. Easy peazy.

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Admittedly, the theory is a bit of a stretch, but isn't total crazy talk. SEGA prepping for an XBLA release of ChuChu Rocket! by re-registering the trademark kind of makes sense ... right?

[Via Wii Fanboy]

The Download & Win page explains that, in order to enter the giveaway, gamers must first register then "download the free Skate 2 demo between January 8 - 15." A statement that (thanks to our unnaturally high intellectual thought process) makes us believe that a Skate 2 demo will be downloadable via the XBLM on January 8th. Oh, and if the demo does release on the 8th, be sure to enter the Download & Win to score some nifty skate prizes.

Update: Fudzilla has now backtracked on its original story now claiming cuts could come from agency staff, as in contractors. Microsoft has denied massive layoffs are in its future.

Original: These are tough economic times not just for the little guys like us but for major corporations. Corporations like Microsoft. Fudzilla is reporting that long-standing rumors of Microsoft job cuts have been confirmed. Microsoft, who employs 90,000 workers worldwide, will make substantial cuts to its workforce. Microsoft plans are to cut 15,000 jobs, which equals about 17% of all employees come January 15, 2009.

Microsoft's Q2 earnings report is due on January 22, 2009, adding more weight to the expected layoffs date. According to the article, rumblings point to most cuts aimed at the MSN division with potentially larger cuts to Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Not expected to see cuts are departments and regions that are doing well. Considering console sales are on the upswing, Fudzilla theorizes Xbox employees are safe. But for how long?

SEGA's Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star II and comic book inspired Comix Zone are all listed on the ESRB as "Xbox 360" titles, which sorta lends the games to being XBLA releases. Of course, we're huge fans of Sonic 3 and even Comix Zone, but would you be willing to plop down 400 or even 800 Microsoft points on old-school SEGA gaming?

[Via CVG]

As rumor goes, Crackdown 2 is supposedly in development by the newly formed (and unofficially announced) Ruffian Games, a team comprised of a few "key" ex-Realtime Worlds employees. As is the norm, Microsoft isn't saying a darn thing. Though, if true, we hope Crackdown 2's release gets us access to the Halo 4 beta.

[Via Joystiq, Thanks to everyone who sent this in]