Both Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Medal of Honour: Warfighter are set to air adverts during today’s champions League Final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

As battle commences on the pitch, Activison and EA will be waiting until half time to flex their own muscles and unleash a new dose of FPS carnage. With the game kicking off at 7.45PM (BST), half time will occur around 8.30PM (BST) on both ITV 1 and Sky Sports 1. At this time it is unknown whether both ads will air on each channel or as direct competitors.

Black Ops 2 takes us into the future, as the Call of Duty franchise gets to grips with the impact of technology upon future warfare during a 21^st Century Cold War, whilst Medal of Honour: Warfighter tells the story of ‘Preacher’. A US Tier 1 Operator who is desperately longing for his return home.

Whilst no news has emerged regarding the contents of each games advert, it is expected that both will rely heavily upon cinematic imagery, with any in-depth gameplay footage likely to be reserved for next month’s E3 event.

Medal of Honour: Warfighter will be released for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on October 23 in North America and October 26 in Europe, whilst Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is scheduled for a November 13 worldwide release on the same platforms.

Sega are set to release a number of nostalgia inducing games and bundle packs onto the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation 3’s PlayStation Network in the next two weeks.

Whilst PlayStation users are set to be treated to individually priced titles such as Wonder Boy in Monster Land and Revenge of Shinobi, Xbox users will be treated to a series of gaming packs, with the Monster World Collection, Alex Kidd & Co. Collection, Golden Axe Collection and Streets of Rage collection each featuring three games from the arcade, Master System and Genesis/ Mega Drive.

With the announcement coming from the Sega’s US headquarters, there is no word yet whether the title will launch simultaneously across the US and Europe, however previous releases indicate that this is likely. The previously released Sega Megadrive Ultimate Collection for Xbox 360 and PS3 was a critical success and proved that there is still plenty of life in the likes of Alex Kidd, Sonic the Hedgehog and Ecco the Dolphin.

PSN games in the series will be available at $4.99 (£3.20) each, whilst each XBLA bundle can be purchased at a cost of 800 Microsoft Points. Release dates and titles are listed below:

PlayStation Network

• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Arcade)
• Wonder Boy in Monster World (Mega Drive)
• Monster World IV (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Super Hang-On (Arcade)
• Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System)

  Release Date: May 22 ($4.99 each)

  Xbox Live Arcade

  Monster World Collection (Contains the following):

• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Arcade)
• Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Monster World IV (Genesis/Mega Drive)

  Release date May 23 (800 Microsoft Points each)

  Alex Kidd & Co. Collection (Contains the following):

• Super Hang-On (Arcade)
• The Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System)

  Release date May 23 (800 Microsoft Points each)

  Golden Axe Collection (Contains the following):

• Golden Axe (Arcade)
• Golden Axe 2 (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Golden Axe 3 (Genesis/Mega Drive)

  Release date May 30 (800 Microsoft Points each)

  Streets of Rage Collection (Contains the following):

• Streets of Rage (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis/Mega Drive)
• Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis/Mega Drive)

  Release date May 30 (800 Microsoft Points each)

According to reports at Gamasutra, Sony are set to unveil a new digital pre-buy system; a first for console users.

The  pre-buy system, which is similar to that utilised via Steam for PC and Mac, will allow users to download games prior to release and have them available in preparation for their official launch date. At this point it is unknown whether the game will unlock at midnight, or whether it will be delayed until a scheduled roll-out time later in the day.

The first game set to use this new method of game release will be the PlayStation move enable title Sorcery. Set for release next week, Sorcery sees you take on the role of a young apprentice as he journeys to the heart of the Faerie Kingdom. With new magic skills learnt along the way, the action adventure is set for release on 23 May.

This move appears to be a big step forward in an increasingly digitally focuses market and with rumours of future generation consoles being made available without disc drives (dubious as the rumour may be), this step could perhaps herald a video game age where discs and other physical forms of games are a thing of the past.

So, what do you think of this move? Is it a positive one and do you expect to see Microsoft follow suit in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

Epic Games has released the first set of details and still images of their Unreal Engine 4 video demo, which was showcased at GDC earlier this year.

Shown to only “”select licensees, partners and prospective customers”, the video showcased the Gears of War creators’ latest games engine and was an instant hit with those lucky enough to get a brief glimpse. Of course, with such fascination regarding the next-generation, it was vital that the video remained visible on a ‘for your eyes only’ basis. However, Epic has now revealed the first set of details about the next-gen engine in an interview with US Wired.

Reportedly created in less than 3 months by a collaboration of just 14 engineers, the first interactive scene which Epic are describing as “the first title of the next generation”, is your classic introductory cinematic:

“Like so many games, the demo begins with what’s known as a cinematic, a non-interactive scene meant to wow players with all the punch of a blockbuster movie trailer,” Wired recalls.

“In this case, it’s as if H. R. Giger and George R. R. Martin took peyote together. And had a baby. And that baby had a fever dream. But it’s not just empty spectacle-it’s a crystal ball. Every pixel is spent on visual effects that are impossible in today’s games because of hardware limitations.

“But those limitations could be overcome: In an impressive departure from the usual practice of such demos, this one is running on a single consumer-level graphics card-Nvidia’s new Kepler GTX 680.”

Whilst the cost of this single piece of hardware may already have gamers guessing, the next scene is Epic’s attempts to “singe the eyeballs” over at Sony and Microsoft, who are being expected by the likes of Epic to make their next generation of consoles as powerful as possible.

“A heavily armored demon knight sits frozen to his throne in a ruined mountain fortress. As he awakens, lava begins to flow around him and flames engulf the world. A magma vent spews a column of smoke and smoldering embers. He stands, sending up showers of sparks that dance, fall out of focus, and fade into ash.

“The knight hefts a massive hammer that glows with an inner fire. As he stalks down an empty corridor, a deep rumble sounds and masonry falls from the ceiling-this is no mountain but a volcano on the verge of eruption.

“When the knight steps outside, we see a range of snow-capped peaks in the far-off distance, rendered in stunning clarity. Behind him the volcano belches black smoke, while burning embers mix with swirling snowflakes.”

Whilst impressive cinematics are one thing, we as experience gamers have come to know that gameplay is something different altogether. However, Alan Willard takes over the controls and begins playing the demo, proving that there is much more under the hood than pretty pictures.

“At this point the view switches to that disembodied first-person perspective made so ubiquitous by shooting games like the Call of Duty franchise and Epic’s own influential Unreal titles,” it describes.

“Willard maneuvers his avatar into a dimly lit room where a flashlight turns on, revealing eddies of dust-thousands of floating particles that were invisible until exposed. In another room, globes of various sizes float in the air.

“Willard rolls a light-emanating orb along the floor (think of a spherical flashlight that rolls like a bowling ball) and beams of light wobble and change direction, illuminating parts of the room and revealing the clusters of floating spheres with a kind of strobe effect.

“At first it all seems perfectly familiar: ‘Well, yeah,’ you think, ‘that’s how they’d act in the real world. What’s the big deal?’ But it is a big deal: This is stuff that videogames have never been able to simulate-the effects simply aren’t possible on today’s consoles.”

With UE4 very much utilising the finest in hardware capabilities, it is questionable as to whether we can expect to see this engine at launch, with many still anticipating UE3 to be a major player comes launch day for Sony and Microsoft’s next gen releases.

In the meantime, enjoy the screenshots from the video below:

Activision has released a brand new trailer for the recently released Modern Warfare 3 game mode, Face Off.

Having gone live to Elite members on Tuesday, the new game mode, which features as part of the Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection 3 DLC, will be available on general sale to Xbox Live Gold subscribers from next week and introduces the stand-off excitement of 1 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 2 combat taking place on specifically designed, close quarters multiplayer maps.

Of course, it isn’t like Activision to take it easy on the hype and new Infinity Ward community manager Tina Palacios has already taken time out of her busy schedule to get onto Twitter and let us know of upcoming addition to the game mode, Tweeting: “A little bird told me 3v3 may be coming soon.”

Current modes within Face OFF are limited to Team Deathmatch and Kill Confirmed, with no current plans to add further game modes into the mix. Aground and Erosion have already been specifically released to play in line with the new game mode, whilst two further maps, Getaway and Lookout, are scheduled for release on May 22 for Xbox 360 and later dates for PS3 and PC.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Continuing their sports branded promotions, Activision is set to unveil a new trailer for the impending release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 during Saturday’s Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Whilst there are currently no details about the upcoming advert, what is known is that the original trailer was giving very little away when it comes to the games multiplayer component. Perhaps we could see some new shots of zombie beheading carnage to go alongside the almost guaranteed doses of cinematic drama and fast action cuts.

Having seen the first Black Ops title recently declared as the best selling game from the Call of Duty franchise, Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg is said to be “Increasingly pleased” with the early numbers for Black Ops 2 pre-orders, “which in the first week since reveal are tracking ahead of the record-breaking pace set by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3″.

The first Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 trailer aired earlier this month and has already revealed a number of key elements to the upcoming campaign. With destinations set in the past, present and future, it seems that Black Ops 2 is set to open up the playing field, whilst the inclusion of interactive and non-linear gameplay components are sure to provide some fresh life to a series which has been criticised in recent years for failing to break the mould.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and Mac on November 13 worldwide.

South Park: The Game has been delayed until the first quarter of 2013.

Following in an ever growing line of game suspected, but failing to make it to a 2012 release, South Park: The Game has been officially suspended until next year, with THQ releasing the details via their annual earnings report.

Announcing that the title will see a final quarter released for the fiscal year, this means that we can expect to enter the world of South Park by March 31 at the latest, whilst January 1 marks the earliest possible date to head on down to South Park.

In bright news, a new PC version of the game has also been announced to go alongside console releases; surely a dream come true for the potential mod community likely to add more mayhem into the town than even Matt Stone and Trey parker could produce.

South Park: The Game will see you take on the role of the new kid in town, with a number of character types leading you through an array of adventures as you interact with the town’s more familiar faces.

In development by Obsidian Entertainment, South Park: The Game is set for release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in early 2013.

The next round of Mass Effect 3 DLC content has been unveiled, with the multiplayer pack set to be named ‘Rebellion’.

Following an honest mistake by Sony Hong Kong, an official description managed to appear online and was quickly investigated by the keen enquirers at Kotaku.

Including two new maps and six news multiplayer classes, the description reads:

“The Rebellion Multiplayer Expansion opens two new fronts against the Reapers: Firebase Jade’s jungle reservoir and Firebase Goddess on Thessia.

In-game reinforcement packs now include three new weapons as well as equipment, consumables, and six new classes: Quarian Engineer and Infiltrator, Vorcha Soldier and Sentinel, Phoenix Adept and Vanguard. The battle continues – hold the line!”

The details have since been removed from the site, whilst no official word has come out of BioWare to confirm or deny the release. The listing did however suggest that the DLC will be available this week, so be sure to check back for updates.

Mass Effect 3 has received no end of critique, praise and technical issues since launch, with the somewhat questionable ending to the trilogy causing web-wide debate amongst fans.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that BioWare had begun plans to create an FPS spin-off of the best-selling RPG shooter series. However plans to continue development have since been put on the backburner.

Titled “Team Assault”, the first-person spin-off was in production for a short time throughout 2010 and eventually went on to become a key component of the multiplayer modes in Mass Effect 3.

Mass Effect 3 is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has potentially seen its full line-up of vehicles unveiled, thanks to the impending release of Max Payne 3.

Despite a lack of confirmation from Rockstar, a key fan has already taken a sneak peak at the source code for Max Payne 3 and with the developer having previously placed GTA code inside games such as Red Dead Redemption and Bully, it came as no surprise that he should discover a list of cars, planes, helicopters, biked, train and boats.

Quickly posting the find to the GTA Forums, a number of fans have already begun to speculate as to the presence of new vehicles such as the snow plough and subway train.

Widely anticipated to be receiving an October release date, speculation has begun that the game may in fact join the likes of Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider in being delayed until 2013, whilst an official release date is most likely to be revealed at next month’s E3 event.

Grand Theft Auto 5 takes place in the faux LA city of Los Santos, San Andreas, a much welcomed return to one of the franchises most popular settings.

Grand Theft Auto V will be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Full Vehicle List:

Cars:

• apc
• bobsleigh
• benson
• biff
• bobcat
• boxville
• buccaneer
• burrito
• brzbus
• casco
• cadge
• car_brzhatchplc
• car_brzsedanplc
• car_brzhatchjnk
• car_brzsedanjnk
• carga
• cavalcade
• cognoscenti
• cs2000
• chavos
• dukes
• dune
• feroci
• forklift
• futo
• furzen
• fxt
• gant
• hauler
• minivan
• infernus
• patriot
• phantom
• prairie
• police
• rancher
• rhino
• schafter
• seinove
• skimobile
• taxi
• vanpony
• willard
• winky
• trash
• railmu
• flatty
• snowplough

Bikes:

• enduro
• jz125
• z75
• faggio2
• spike

Helicopters:

• autogiro
• bchopper
• annihilator
• bentham
• maverick
• hind
• napalm
• scamp
• heli_vcpf
• heli_tfe

Planes:

• cuban800

 
Boats:

• squalo
• bassboy
• chika
• fisher
• fishboat_a
• fishboat_b
• fishboat_c
• fishboat_d,
• marquis
• reefer
• tropic
• gunboat
• sabs_boat
• small_gb2
• dinghy
• p_mi_botfsh
• whaler
• woody
• woody2
• sporto
• tinny
• tug
• contbo
• smug
• edsboat

Trains:

• cablecar
• chairlift
• subway_lo
• subway_hi
• train_carg
• trainf_carg
• trainr_carg
• train_int
• lighty

Treyarch has revealed that significant work has gone into ensuring that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be as visually stunning as any game in the current generation.

Speaking with One of Swords, Treyarch head Mark Lamia discussed concerns regarding the now somewhat dated Infinity Ward (IW) engine set to run the title and was quick to assure fans that there is still more to be squeezed out of Version 3.0.

Suggesting large scale reworking on the engine which has previously powered IW 3.0 powered Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: World at War and the original Black Ops, Lamia states that “a pretty significant amount of work” will go into the graphics and lighting for the game.

“I think what people are asking for is for us to push. They want us to make a better-looking game; they want things. I don’t think those are things people can’t ask for. We asked ourselves that very same question – we wanted to advance the graphics. I think the questions are valid. The answer may not need to be an entirely new engine, but you might need to do an entire overhaul of your entire lighting system. The trick is, we’re not willing to do that if we can’t keep it running at 60 frames per second – but we did that this time.”

Clearly hinting at specific tweaks as being largely advantageous over a complete overhaul of the engine, Lamia continued, stating that:

“There’s a lot of good still in that foundation that you wouldn’t get rid of, and we don’t. We look to advance in the areas that support our game design. Engines, each time they get touched, they change. The creators alter them; they don’t modify what they don’t need to, and then they alter what they need to. You can’t make a competitive product if you’re not upgrading that engine along the way.”

A number of details have already emerged for the title. The campaign will be set 10 years into the future, whilst brief forages into the 1980’s will reveal additional details of our leads’ plight. The linear patterns so familiar to Call of Duty fans will also be replaced with more immersive, choice centric storyline and surely above all else, zombie Nazis are set for a soul sucking return.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be available from November 13 for Xbox 360, PS3, Mac and PC.