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The GameSpot AU Blog
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Community Blog
GSPN Mission: PlanetSide 2 Game Night!
MISSION: PlanetSide 2 Game Night US Start Time: Thursday, June 27th - 7:30 PM PST UK Start Time: Friday, June 28th - 3:30 AM...
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Gears of War: Judgment review-in-progress update
The launch of Gears of War: Judgment is nigh upon us, and though our written and video reviews aren't ready just yet, the review...
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Producer's Note
GameSpot Versus: Beat the Pros Edition Winter 2012 MVP's
GameSpot Versus Beat the Pros Edition is a way for GameSpot members to test their skills against super star pro gamers. From FPS to...
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Rumor Control
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 arriving Nov. 13?
Source: A supposed Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 box art photo posted to the unofficial Modern Warfare 3 Twitter account. What we...
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Call of Duty Championship qualifiers coming to Australia
Activision has partnered with Xbox and eSports organisations Major League Gaming (MLG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL) to present the Call of Duty Championship. The event, which will take place in Hollywood, and be based on Call of Duty: Black Ops II, will offer a prize pool of $1 million.
The competition will see 32 of the world’s best teams compete head-to-head in Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the 360 during a live-streamed event.
Players who are interested in participating must register on the website for a free Call of Duty Elite account. Australian and New Zealand teams can enter the local qualifier, which is being hosted by the Australian Cyber League (ACL) on March 2-3. The series of online matches will then progress to a live final hosted in Sydney on March 15. The top two teams will go through to the Call of Duty Championship in North America, taking place from April 5-7.
Sixteen team spots will be up for grabs across Asia, Australia, and Brazil, with the remaining places made up of the top eight squads from North America’s MLG Winter Championship and the best eight teams from ESL's European Finals. For more details, check out the ACL website.
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YouTube app available now for the PlayStation 3
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has partnered with YouTube to release a new application optimised for the PlayStation 3. The YouTube app allows PS3 owners to sign-in and see subscribed channels, search using new tools and control the app using a smartphone. Official music videos are also included when viewing channel subscriptions, a feature previously unavailable.
The YouTube app is available in YouTube Serviced Territories where the PlayStation Store is also available, including Australia.
PlayStation 3 owners who wish to access the app can download it free of cost via the XMB, under the TV/Video Services icon in ‘My Channels’.
Earlier this month, Sony released a 45-second teaser video suggesting the company will make a significant announcement on February 20 at 6 p.m. EDT. The "PlayStation Meeting" will be taking place in New York, according to an invite sent to GameSpot by Sony. The Wall Street Journal has speculated that the event will serve as the official unveiling of the PlayStation 4.
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AU Wrap Up February 4-8
AU Shippin' Out February 4-8: Dead Space 3
Dead Space 3 hit Aussie shelves this week with its newly introduced cooperative play; players are able to choose to face the Necromorphs with a friend. The game is available on the 360, PS3 and PC. Check Shippin’ Out for a full list of games out this week.StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Aussie launch event details
Australian fans looking forward to the release of real-time strategy game Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm will have a chance to participate in the official launch event and pick up their pre-order at midnight. To get more details on what's happening, read the full article.Two new PlayStation 3 colours announced for Australia
Sony Entertainment Australia has revealed two new colour schemes for the PlayStation 3 console; "Azurite Blue" and "Garnet Red". The 500GB consoles will be available for a limited time. For additional details and pricing, check out the article.Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut confirmed for April release in Australia
Access Games' horror action adventure title Deadly Premonition will be receiving a rework in the form of Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut. Slated for release in April this year, it will mark the first time the game makes it way to Australian shores. For more on the history of Deadly Premonition’s lack of Aussie release, read the full story.Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Aussie release date confirmed
Action adventure title Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate will be getting an Australian release on March 9 this year. The 3DS exclusive game is being brought to Aussie gamers by Nintendo Australia in partnership with Konami Digital Entertainment GmBH. More details can be found in the full article.God of War: Ascension pulled from Qld shelves - Report
PlayStation-exclusive action game God of War: Ascension will be unavailable due to lack of a R18+ rating in the state of Queensland. Retailers were allegedly instructed to remove promotional material and refuse pre-orders. More information available inside. -
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate Aussie release date confirmed
Nintendo Australia in partnership with Konami Digital Entertainment GmBH will be bringing Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate to Australian shores. The action adventure title will be released in Australia on March 9 this year exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.
The game was originally intended to launch last year but was delayed, with producer Dave Cox explaining, “It's been two years since the enormous success of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and with this next installment, we want to take the necessary time needed to give fans a handheld title unlike any other”
Mirror of Fate redirects its focus on the Belmont clan, 25 years after Castlevania: Lords of Shadow's conclusion. Players take on the roles of Trevor and Simon Belmont, as well as Dracula's own son, Alucard.
The game will also lead into this year's other Castlevania game, Lords of Shadow 2 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. All three games have Mercury Steam as developer.
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Two new PlayStation 3 colours announced for Australia
Sony Entertainment Australia has revealed two new colour schemes for the PlayStation 3 console. The 500GB model of the console will be released in colours "Azurite Blue" and "Garnet Red" for a limited time.
Fans who wish to pick up the new PS3 can expect a RRP of A$399.95 when it is released on February 21 this year, a day after Sony makes an announcement which the Wall Street Journal has reported as the official unveiling of the PlayStation 4.
Earlier this month, Sony released a 45-second teaser video suggesting the company will make a significant announcement on February 20 at 6 p.m. EDT. The "PlayStation Meeting" will be taking place in New York, according to an invite sent to GameSpot by Sony. The teaser video does not share any concrete information as to what may be divulged at the event.
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Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut confirmed for April release in Australia
Access Games' horror action adventure game Deadly Premonition will be receiving a rework in the form of Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut. The PlayStation 3 exclusive title has been confirmed for an April release this year in Australia and New Zealand.
The game sees players take on the role of FBI agent Francis York Morgan as he investigates a mystery murder case and deals with supernatural encounters.
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut will feature enhancements to the original game, including a new scenario from the game's director Swery (Hidetaka Suehiro), high-definition graphics, a reworked control system for combat, and additional downloadable content.
The Director's Cut will mark the first time the game will have been released in Australia. Local publisher Rising Star Games had decided in 2010 that the original title would not make it past local censors unscathed and declined to submit it for classification.
The original Deadly Premonition was a 360 exclusive title and was positively received in GameSpot's review. For more on Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut, check out GameSpot's exclusive interview with Swery below.
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StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Aussie launch event details
Australian fans looking forward to the release of real-time strategy game StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will have a chance to participate in the official launch event and pick up their pre-order at midnight. Blizzard will be hosting the event at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia, on the evening of March 11.
The launch event will see top professional StarCraft II players and casters invited for show matches, a cosplay competition, and a Q&A panel with members of the StarCraft II development team. Activities are scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. AEDST, with the Blizzard autograph table and game pre-order pickup available once the clock ticks over to midnight.
Fans who are unable to make it to the event can catch the action being streamed live. More details about the launch event can be found on the Blizzard website.
Heart of the Swarm is the second instalment in the StarCraft II three-part series. The Zerg-centric expansion will follow 2010's StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and precede the final entry, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. The game is scheduled to launch in Australia on March 12.
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AU Wrap Up January 28-February 1
AU Shippin' Out January 28 - February 1: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Studio Ghibli, the production house behind well-received Hayao Miyazaki films such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, has collaborated with developer Level-5 to bring gamers role-playing title Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. For the full list of games out this week in Australia, read the full article.New Super Mario Bros. 2 millionaires to be rewarded by Nintendo
To celebrate reaching the total global count of five hundred billion coins in Mario's latest mobile outing, Nintendo Australia is giving fans the opportunity to redeem an exclusive New Super Mario Bros. 2 certificate.Aussie fighting game tournament OzHadou Nationals to serve as Evo 2 013 qualifier
Australia's longest-running fighting game tournament the OzHadou Nationals will be officially serving as a qualifier for the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) in Las Vegas. More details on which fighting game tournaments will be eligible for seeding points at Evo are available in the article.Exclusive Australian Injustice: Gods Among Us special edition announced
Earlier this year, Warner Bros revealed collector's editions available for new fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us. Now, a special edition exclusive to EB Games has also been revealed. Will you be picking one of them up? -
Exclusive Australian Injustice: Gods Among Us special edition announced
NetherRealm Studios’ new fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us will be hitting Australian shelves April 17 for the 360, PS3, and Wii U. In addition to the collector’s edition Warner Bros announced earlier this year, fans now also have a chance to purchase a special edition of the game.
Exclusive to EB Games, it will feature a steelbook and the Red Son DLC Pack, which includes three alternative Red Son character skins for Superman, Wonder Woman, and Solomon Grundy. It will also include 20 additional missions set within the Red Son storyline.
The special edition carries a recommended retail price of A$79.95 and will be available for the 360 and PS3. No mention has been made of a Wii U release.
Injustice: Gods Among Us will feature a pantheon of DC staples, and introduces a new storyline. Several DC Comics icons have been confirmed as playable characters, including Batman, Green Arrow, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, Nightwing, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and The Joker.
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Aussie fighting game tournament OzHadou Nationals to serve as EVO 2013 qualifier
Australia’s longest-running fighting game tournament, the OzHadou Nationals (OHN), will be kicking off February 22-24. Hosted in Sydney by Australian fighting game organisation OzHadou, the tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) in Las Vegas.
The largest fighting game tournament globally, the Evolution Championship Series sees players travel from all around the world to compete in a variety of fighting games. With OHN officially part of the ROAD TO EVO players are able to qualify in selected games in order to receive seeding points.
Players who finish top 3 for the following tournaments will receive seeding points for EVO:
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition (360)
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (360)
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (PS3)
The King of Fighters XIII (360)
The OzHadou Nationals will run over three days from February 22 to Sunday, February 24 at 99 on York in Sydney's CBD. Further details can be found on the OzHadou website.
OzHadou is an Australian organisation that was founded in 2001 and has been dedicated to the Australian fighting game community. The OzHadou Nationals are run annually, and previous tournaments have seen players travel from all over Australia to participate in the Sydney-based event.
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AU Wrap Up January 21-25
AU Shippin’ Out January 21-25: Ace Combat Assault Horizon: Enhanced Edition
What games were released in Australia this week? Blast your way through the skies with Ace Combat Assault Horizon: Enhanced Edition, or redecorate your Sims home with The Sims 3: 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack. For a list of games out this week, check out the full article.Telltale's The Walking Dead coming to Australia
Telltale Games's episodic adventure series The Walking Dead received an MA15+ rating in Australia. The independent game studio revealed early last year that it had no plans to release the multi-platform title in Australia and New Zealand due to strict rating laws. To get the full rundown, check out the article.The Last of Us to get character-specific special editions
Two special editions for upcoming survival action-adventure game The Last of Us have been announced by Sony Computer Entertainment Australia. Due to launch globally on May 7 this year, the special editions will be based on each of the two main characters, Joel and Ellie. More details on what each one includes can be found in the story.Microsoft announces Xbox Live Australia Day deals
With the Australia Day long weekend coming up, Microsoft has announced several deals for Aussie gamers who log into Xbox Live. Special deals include free Xbox Live Gold access, Foxtel access, discounted movies, and other offers. Be sure to check out what offers are available in the full article. -
Microsoft announces Xbox Live Australia Day deals
Aussie Xbox 360 owners will have a chance to access some exclusive offers on Xbox Live this Australia Day long weekend. Special deals include free Xbox Live Gold access, Foxtel access, discounted movies and other offers.
From January 25 at 5 p.m. (AEDST) to January 29 at 7 a.m., Australians connecting to Xbox Live will have the opportunity to try the Xbox Live Gold service for free. This includes access to multiplayer gaming and video chat. Gold subscribers who sign up for Foxtel as a new user are also eligible to receive one month of Live TV/Catch Up for free.
In addition to these deals, a range of discounts will be applied to Australian movies, and films starring Australian actors. Accessed through Xbox Movies, titles include the likes of Robin Hood, A Knight's Tale, Bra Boys, and more.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II players will also be able to earn double XP for the duration of the Australia Day long weekend. The multiplayer bonus will start from 5 a.m. (AEDST) January 26 and run for 72 hours.
Currently, an Xbox Live gold membership can retail between A$80-A$89 for a 12-month subscription. The subscription grants access to multiplayer gameplay, Netflix movie-streaming services, free game demos, and discounts exclusive to Xbox Live gold subscribers.
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The Last of Us to get character-specific special editions
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has announced two special editions for its upcoming survival action-adventure game The Last of Us. Due to launch globally on May 7 this year, the special editions will be based on each of the two main characters.
The Last of Us: Ellie Edition and The Last of Us: Joel Edition will each contain a mini book featuring art from the game, and a copy of The Last of Us: American Dreams Issue #1, the first of a comic book series that details Ellie’s back story. The mini art book will feature a variant cover exclusive to the special editions.
Each edition will also contain a poster and a DualShock 3 controller skin with the respective character featured. The Last of Us: Ellie Edition and The Last of Us: Joel Edition will each carry a recommended retail price of A$114.95 and can be pre-ordered from JB Hi Fi and EB Games.
In addition to this, users who purchase a special edition will also receive a Survival DLC, Sights & Sounds DLC and LittleBigPlanet Sackboy skins. Content details are as follows:
Survival DLC Pack
- Multiplayer bonuses (Bonus XP, melee booster, in-game currency, customisable character items)
- Bonus Joel and Ellie skins available at the completion of the single player campaign
Sights & Sounds DLC pack
- Official game soundtrack
- Dynamic theme for the PlayStation 3
- PSN Avatars, Winter Joel & Ellie
The Last of Us is Naughty Dog's first game outside of the Uncharted universe since 2005. It is an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States, and follows the efforts of the pair as they fight to survive. Developer Naughty Dog recently confirmed that the game will feature a multiplayer mode, but hasn't yet detailed specifics on locations or objectives.
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AU Wrap Up January 14-18
AU Shippin' Out January 14-18: DmC: Devil May Cry
What games were released in Australia this week? Well, just the one game, really. For a brief rundown on the newest entry to the Devil May Cry series, be sure to read AU Shippin’ Out!Warner Bros to ask for Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition R18+ rating in Australia
The 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot was originally banned by the Australian Classification Board under terms that made it unable to be accommodated within the maximum MA15+ game classification guidelines. Recently, publisher Warner Bros confirmed that it will submit Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for classification under the new R18+ category. Check out the article for more information.Injustice: Gods Among Us Australian collector's edition revealed
Fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us will draw its cast from the DC Comics universe. Aussie fans can now look forward to a localised collector’s edition featuring different content to that offered in the US. For more details on what this consists of, read the full article.Valve investigating R18+ options for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia
Following the introduction of the R18+ classification for video games in Australia, Valve has responded to user questions surrounding the local release of an unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2. The game was originally banned by the Australian Classification Board, and a modified version submitted by Valve was later released. Click through for all the info.Green Man Gaming offers 30% discount voucher on Aust and NZ price-inflated games
Global digital games retailer Green Man Gaming has introduced a discount voucher for Australian and New Zealand customers, applicable to certain titles. The voucher was introduced in response to pressure from publishers to raise the price of certain titles for Australian and New Zealand customers. Details can be found in the article.Free PlayStation Mobile games for Vita owners
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has announced a free PlayStation Mobile game promotion for owners of the PlayStation Vita and other PlayStation Certified devices. For a list of compatible devices and promotional details, check out the full post.Melbourne's ACMI cuts staff, programs
The Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI) has announced its plans to cut back on staff and exhibition programs, and has shortened its opening hours in bid to cut costs. -
Free PlayStation Mobile games for Vita owners
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has announced a free PlayStation Mobile game promotion for owners of the PlayStation Vita and other PlayStation Certified devices. The promotion began on January 17 and will run for six weeks, with a different PlayStation Mobile game to be available each week.
The first game available is 2D brawler Samurai Beatdown. Vita owners can download the game from the PlayStation Mobile area of the PlayStation Store, while owners of a PlayStation Certified device must download and install the PlayStation Mobile Android application.
Currently, PlayStation Certified devices include Sony smartphones, Sony Tablets, and specific HTC Android mobile devices. A full list of the supported PlayStation Certified devices can be found on the PlayStation website. The promotion concludes on February 20. The selected game will change weekly, with updates to be posted on the PlayStation Blog.
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Green Man Gaming offers 30% discount voucher on Aust and NZ price-inflated games
According to an announcement on games.on.net, global digital video game retailer Green Man Gaming has announced that it will be introducing a voucher that grants a 30 percent discount on price-inflated games for Australian and New Zealand customers.
The voucher comes in the wake of pressure from publisher 2K games to raise the price of Borderlands 2 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Australian and New Zealand customers.
The code GMGAU-3J9MF-MUINW will grant 30 percent off titles “where publishers have forced them to gouge Australians unfairly”, games.on.net has written. The gaming site, which specialises in PC gaming, holds a commercial partnership with the digital retailer.
The discount voucher code will allegedly be valid for the next 10 years, although the terms are subject to change. Games that are valid for the Australian and New Zeakand discount include Borderlands 2 and its associated DLC, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Spec Ops: The Line, Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings, and NBA 2K13.
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Injustice: Gods Among Us Australian collector's edition revealed
New fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us will be hitting store shelves on April 17 for the 360, PS3 and Wii U. Developed by the creators of the Mortal Kombat series, NetherRealm Studios, Australian fans can now look forward to a local collector’s edition featuring different content to that available on the US edition.
The Australian Injustice: Gods Among Us collector’s edition will include a collector box, steel book packaging, an Injustice Comic Book, a 23cm exclusive DC Collectibles statue featuring Batman and Wonder Woman, and three in-game DLC character skins for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
The collector’s edition will be sold at retailers EB Games and JB Hi Fi, and carries a recommended retail price of A$109.95.
Warner Bros also announced that the new Injustice: Gods Among Us digital comic book from DC Entertainment is now available online on the DC Comics app, or via the iBookstore and the Kindle Store. It is a prequel to the game, with new chapters to be released digitally every Tuesday. A print version featuring three chapters will also be available on a monthly basis for an unspecified cost.
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AU Wrap Up January 7-11
AU Shippin' Out January 7-11: Anarchy Reigns
This week saw a very different trio of games released in Australia. Platinum Games' third-person brawler Anarchy Reigns was among the titles available, six months after its initial Japanese release as Max Anarchy in 2012. To see what other titles hit Aussie shelves this week, check the full list in AU Shippin’ Out.Sony unveils God of War: Ascension PS3 controller in Australia
Fans of the God of War series will be pleased to hear that Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has confirmed the release of a special-edition DualShock 3 wireless controller. The Kratos-themed controller will be launched alongside the God of War: Ascension game on March 14.Lara Croft-inspired controller to be released for 360
Not to be outdone, Microsoft has revealed its own gamepad with the Lara Croft-inspired 360 wireless controller in celebration of the upcoming Tomb Raider game. For more on the controller, including price and release date, full details can be found in the article.Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge becomes first R18+ game in Australia
Upcoming Wii U game Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge will be the first title in Australia to receive the brand new R18+ classification for games. Developed by Team-Ninja and published by Nintendo, the game’s release date for this year is yet to be confirmed. For additional details on the game’s submission and more, check out the full article. -
Lara Croft Xbox 360 controller unveiled
To celebrate the launch of Tomb Raider this year, Microsoft has collaborated with Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix to unveil a limited edition Lara Croft themed 360 controller. Featuring a design inspired by Lara's trials and tribulations in the series reboot, the wireless controller also contains a customizable D-pad, which is able to switch from a "plus" design to a "disc" pattern.
Fans who purchase the controller will also receive a download token for an Xbox 360 exclusive playable character--the Scavenger Archer. The controller will be available with the game's release on March 5 in the U.S. and will cost $59.99. In Australia, the controller will launch February 21 for a recommended retail price of A$69.95.
Tomb Raider is the first instalment in the series since 2010's downloadable multiplayer-focused Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and the first standalone game since 2008's Tomb Raider: Underworld. Karl Stewart, Crystal Dynamics's global brand director, revealed last year that the game's campaign will last between 12 and 15 hours, dependent on gamers' play style.
Tomb Raider is due out March 5, 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
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Sony unveils God of War: Ascension PS3 controller in Australia
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has confirmed the release of a special-edition DualShock 3 wireless controller for God of War fans.
The Kratos-themed wireless controller will be released alongside Santa Monica Studios' new entry to the God of War series, God of War: Ascension, on March 14 in Australia. The controller will launch with an RRP of A$79.95.
God of War: Ascension is a prequel to the original trilogy that will tell Kratos' origin story. It is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and includes a multiplayer mode, a first for the series.
The God of War franchise's last outing was God of War: Ghost of Sparta for the PSP in 2010, which featured events that took place between the original God of War and God of War II. The God of War Origins Collection, featuring God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta, was released in September 2011 for the PS3 in HD.
The last entry in the main series was God of War III, released in 2010 on the PS3, whose story seemingly concluded the main franchise.
