<![CDATA[Kotaku: Rumor Smash]]> http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: Rumor Smash]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/rumor smash http://kotaku.com/tag/rumor smash <![CDATA[Crytek Says It Has No 'Xbox 720' and Doesn't Know What You're Talking About]]> Crytek officially denied it has any "Xbox 720" or any kind of next-generation hardware from Microsoft, putting the kibosh on a rumor that, for the second time in as many months, said the 360's successor was coming soon. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5813310&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No Silent Hill Multiplayer, Says Studio]]> The producer of Silent Hill: Downpour shot down a rumor that a separate multiplayer version for the game would be published over Xbox Live. The rumor appeared in an Italian-language magazine's interview with the game's art director. Devin Shatsky told Hell Descent the remarks were either out of context or lost in translation. [Hell Descent] More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5784043&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Pokémon Company Squashes Twitter Rumor of Creator's Death [Update]]]> A spokesman for the Pokémon Company said all employees, including Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri, are alive and safe following Thursday's tremendous earthquake in Japan, specifically rebutting a widespread rumor that Tajiri had died in the disaster. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5781344&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No Dead Island Movie in the Works]]> Dead Island studio Deep Silver has said, via the game's Facebook page, that no rights to a Dead Island movie have been optioned yet. "Rest assured, a high-quality movie is the #1 thing we're concerned about for a film adaptation," writes the developer More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5765481&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Call of Duty's Pay To Play Rumors Squashed By Treyarch, Infinity Ward]]> The publisher of Call of Duty may want to explore "new digital business models" for its bestselling military shooter—perhaps as an MMO—but rumors of Modern Warfare 2 going pay-to-play appear to be premature. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5591137&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Did Pikachu's Voice Actress Really Die?]]> The news that 44-year-old voice actress Ikue Otani - best known for voicing Pokémon character Pikachu - had died this morning has been spreading like wildfireonline. But has she? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5585483&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No, There Isn't A Jimi Hendrix: Rock Band In The Works]]> The internet is swirling with rumors that Harmonix is working on a standalone version of Rock Band featuring the music of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. According to Harmonix, those rumors are false. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5473998&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No, Cliff Bleszinski Is Not Making A Horror Game]]> Cliff Bleszinski, designer of the Gears of War series, was rumored to be doing a horror game. He is not doing a horror game. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5469387&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Mass Effect On PS3? BioWare Says No]]> We were inundated with tips this week about supposed "proof" that code found within Mass Effect 2 on PC "confirmed" the presence of a PS3 version of the game. It does not. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5462963&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Bungie Definitively Shuts Down Halo: Reach/Natal Speculation]]> Rumors that Halo: Reach might be Natal-enabled were close to flatlining of late, but the subject never got a flat-out "no." Well, now it has. The studio says emphatically that it is not a Natal title. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5460401&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Sooprise, Sooprise: 'PSP-4000' Ad was 'Mistake']]> To the shock of very few, the advertisement about a week ago listing a "PSP-4000" in addition to PSPs 1000 through 3000, and the Go, has been disowned by the advertiser, who calls it an error. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5434668&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Valve: Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Did Not Reveal DLC Names]]> Speaking at an event today sponsored by Eurogamer, Valve's Chet Faliszek said the names for DLC packs found in the Left 4 Dead 2 demo were spaceholders only, put there as a test required by Microsoft. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5394260&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Eidos Prez: Rocksteady is Not Doing Hitman 5]]> A British actor listing voice and mo-cap work for Hitman 5 through U.K. dev Rocksteady sent around the buzz that series developer IO Interactive might be off the case. Not so, says Eidos chief Ian Livingstone. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5338512&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Gears Of War 2 On PC? Try Bears Of War]]> Rumors are circulating regarding a possible December release for a PC version of Gears of War 2, but the site the rumors reference might have its compass pointed in the wrong direction. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5288146&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Billy Mitchell Denies and Denounces Taunting Tweets]]> Some unsportsmanlike tweets attributed to Billy Mitchell are 100 percent fake, says the Donkey Kong world record holder. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5281416&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Sony Computer Europe Head Unaware Of Crackdown Devs Existence]]> David Reeves is retiring from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. In his retirement announcement, Reeves stated he plans to spend his time "trying to repay society" from all he has taken from it. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5230743&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[San Andreas PSP Listing The Result Of Retailer Daydreaming]]> You may have seen today a retail listing for a PSP game called San Andreas Stories. It's even got box art. Pity, then, it's all the result of the result of some wishful thinking. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5159223&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No, Famitsu Didn't Announce Tales of Vesperia For PS3]]> See that blurry magazine scan? It apparently says that Xbox 360 title Tales of Vesperia is coming to the PS3 with new events and new dungeons. Don't get excited just yet. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5135913&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rockstar: Sorry, No Grand Theft Auto "V" In 2009]]> The most recent issue of Game Informer contains "loose talk" that Rockstar Games is readying a new Grand Theft Auto, a fully-fledged follow up to GTA IV for the holidays. Not so, say Rockstar reps. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5132601&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Square Enix On Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Canning Rumor]]> Square Enix has replied to recent rumors that Wii title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, stating that the company does "have every intention of releasing it." The rumors surfaced in the recent issue of EGM, and Square Enix has released this statement to refute it: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5086718&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[EA: Spielberg's Game Still Alive]]> Electronic Arts contacted us this morning to let us know that rumors of the death of Steven Spielberg's next game, LMNO, are greatly exaggerated. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5072242&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rumor Smash Galore: EA Not Interested in Epic, No Sega Portable]]> Often times it's more work to discover something is crap and shouldn't be posted than it is to find something that is. But we've heard so much noise about a couple things it's nice to put the rumor smash on two that couldn't pass the sniff test doused in Chanel No. 5. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5059188&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What is the Xbox Pure? [Update]]]> Desz over on Cheap Ass Gamer recently posted a blurry snapshot of what appears to be an internal Microsoft memo dealing with an Xbox 360 name change. The memo, seen above, appears to suggest that this particular, model I suppose, of the Xbox 360 was once codenamed Xbox Xbox Lean or Xbox Granite and that the final name should be Xbox Pure. I'm also intrigued by the comment that "metal plates" have been disregarded. Judging by the codenames and final name, it seems to suggest that this would be a stripped down version of the Xbox 360. Could this be Microsoft's answer to Sony's slim line of consoles? Are we soon going to be seeing a new, thin 360 with only disc-based game support and no harddrive? I'm sure, if this rumor is true, we will be finding out in the next month. XBOX's New Name? [Cheap Ass Gamer] UPDATE: It appears that this rumor story could be CAG throwing their credibility out the window as part of a contest. Kotaku''s decision to run rumors is always based on the credibility of the site and the information contained within it. In the past CAG has proven to be a reliable site, having broken a number of stories through apt reporting. It appears that may no longer be the case. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5052203&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Valve Kills Google Buy-Out Rumor]]> Earlier today The Inquirer quotes well placed sources as saying that Google was going to be buying Valve "any second now," setting all of our hearts a flutter. While the idea seems crazy at first blush Valve's Doug Lombardi has said they're willing to be bought. So we checked in with Lombardi himself this morning and he put our minds at ease, telling us it is purely a rumor, a bit of fiction. With Google out of the picture, I guess the real question is who exactly would Valve like to buy them. Google Entering Game Industry Through Valve? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5051164&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nope! White Knight Story Hasn't Been Dated Yet, Folks!!]]> Oh ho ho. We told you to take that White Knight Story-is-dated-for-Japan-December-11th story with a "pinch — nay, a handful — of salt". And good thing! Pictured is the new issue of Famitsu which was supposed to contain this announcement. It doesn't. At all. Not only is there not a single article on the PS3 RPG exclusive, the game isn't even given a launch window. Just look at the cover and see how there's not a single mention of White Knight Story (in Japanese 白騎士物語). You'd think a big Level-5 developed Sony published PS3 exclusive would at least get a cover mention. Still, don't believe us? Hit the jump for the proof. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045717&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[That Xbox 360 Phone? Sh*t's Fake, Yo]]> Via Reader Carlos T., here's Soulja Boy coppin' to the hoax. He never had an Xbox 360 Sidekick. Full confession comes at timestamp 1:00 of the above video. Caution, the whole thing looks like it's an ad for some Tony Hawk-branded Sidekick whateverthhell. Yay. We all got strung along for a free ad, but a hip-hop artist sold out to carry water for a skateboarder, so, that takes some of the sting out of being played like a fiddle for viral marketing. Twice.Soulja Boy's "Tony Hawk Special Edition Sidekick LX [YouTube] More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5040984&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Alan Wake At TGS? "Not An Announcement"]]> Remember when we told you to pencil (yes, pencil) in upcoming Remedy title Alan Wake for the Tokyo Game Show? As Kotaku's own Mike McWhertor pointed out a mention that it would be at TGS appeared in a Windows branded contest that actually dates from last year. Over on the Alan Wake Forums, Remedy has posted: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5027601&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[This Wii Hard Drive Is So Damn Phony (And Funny)]]> See that picture of a supposed Wii hard drive? It's from a tipster, and a note on the Flickr page where it appears reads: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5023182&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Will Half-Life 2: Episode Three Be At E3? Valve Says 'No']]> According to E3.net and various excited internet reports, Half-Life 2: Episode Three will be making its debut appearance at E3, just a few weeks away. According to the site, it will also be joined by titles like Kid Icarus and Animal Crossing for Wii. That'd be great news, if E3.net were the official E3 site, as some reports have claimed, and not an unofficial UGO owned web site. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5020376&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Capcom: Major RE5 Announce is Not Exclusive Xbox Deal]]> This sounds like it'll dog Resident Evil 5 right up to the release date. We had Capcom/RE5/Microsoft exclusivity rumors going back to February and they were shot down then. Well, Videogaming247 this past week said a little birdie told them Capcom had "some big things to reveal at E3," in mid-July. PlayStationLifeStyle.net citing "from what I have been told" said that Microsoft had offered wads of lucre to get an exclusive crack at it a month ahead of Sony. Christian "Sven" Svensson knocked it down over on Capcom Unity. "The assertion is false. RE5 is a multiplatform release that fits with our oft-stated crossplatform strategy." More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5018575&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Square Enix Crushes Final Fantasy XIII Pachinko Rumors]]> In Japan, lots of video games get turned into pachinko or pachislot machines. No biggie! SNK, Sega and Konami have all spun off selected titles into pachinko parlors across the country. So when a rumor popped up that Square Enix was doing the same for Final Fantasy XIII, it did seem possible that, yes, Japan would be getting a FFXIII pachinko machine. No way! says Square Enix. In an official statement, the company says: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5018182&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Kojima Productions Says "No MGS4 90 Minute Cutscenes"]]> Late last month, magazine PSW stated that upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 has 90 minute cutscenes — which, the magazine pointed out, could be skipped. Website GamePro fired back, confirming that the game does have "occasionally lengthy" cutscenes and calling the 90 minute cutscenes "a pretty big exaggeration." Magazine EDGE offered this in its review: "The cutscenes here are sure to invoke that thousand-yard stare, two in particular coming perilously close to the 90-minute mark." But what's the official word from Kojima Productions? Metal Gear Solid 4 Assistant Producer Ryan Payton tells Kotaku that the 90 minute cutscene claim is a "gross exaggeration." Hit the jump for his full statement and POSSIBLE SPOILER. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5013357&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Those Aren't The Starcraft II System Specs You're Looking For]]> Those supposed Starcraft II system requirements? Lies. All lies. More like speculation really, as Blizzard was kind enough to let us know that the gang at Micromania "pulled their numbers straight out of thin air." We would suggest resting assured tonight that, when ready, and not a minute before, Blizzard will be telling you the exact minimum and recommended system requirements in an official capacity. That will most likely be, I'm guessing, after the company gives us a ship date and come in handy FAQ form. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5010798&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nope, No Diablo 3 Announcement Coming, Sorry]]> The last few days have been good sport for anyone who enjoys watching the internet conjure rumours out of sheer fantasy. Take the one concerning Diablo 3, for example. The teaser for next month's PC Gamer contained the line "so huge we had to go to [CENSORED] to get it," and from that nondescript sliver, we somehow got a ton of people convinced Diablo 3 is coming. And hey, it might be, sometime in the future, but not now, with PC Gamer telling Shacknews "we're officially squelching the Diablo rumor. We've got two big announcements coming in our August issue, but neither is from Blizzard". Case closed. Return to your Diablo fan forums and remain there until further notice. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=392883&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Boys Pay Hookers To Play Halo And...Oh, That Story Isn't Real]]> If you've been trawling the recesses of the internets for the past week or so, you may have come across a story about a pair of 13 year-old kids who lied about winning a WoW tournament, booked a swish hotel room then paid for two $1000-a-night hookers to come upstairs and play Halo with them. For their troubles, the pair have allegedly been "convicted of fraud". It'd be a pretty funny story if it was true. Thing is, it's not. Kiwi site Stuff actually bothered to check with the police in Newark, Texas, where the events supposedly took place, and were told:
As far as we know, this story is a hoax. There have not been any arrests here, and we're not aware of any convictions like that in this county.
Hint: as soon as the story involves midgets, and not just hookers, Xbox and WoW, there's a good chance it's too good to be true. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=391055&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[SNK USA Is So Not Closing Down [Updated]]]> Rumors are swirling that SNK Playmore, best known for Metal Slug and The King of Fighters, is closing its US offices this summer. What's more, apparently the company is letting go all American employees and officially no longer directly selling its games in the States. The Osaka-based game developer says that this is false. The company is relocating its US office. SNK Japan tells Kotaku: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5008950&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[That "Release GTA IV Early" Letter? It's Not Real.]]> Sorry fanboys. Have you seen that letter from "Rockstar" conceding defeat to those already pirating GTA IV, urging Holland to ignore the April 29th release date as to not lose any more sales? Well, needless to say, it's not real. But if our own assurances aren't enough, Rockstar has confirmed that, no, it's not real. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=383724&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Activision Denies Infinity Ward CoD Exclusivity]]> What a wonderful world it would be if Infinity Ward became the sole developer of the Call of Duty franchise, as rumors earlier today seemed to indicate, but it's one wonderful world that we won't be seeing anytime soon. Speaking to Eurogamer, Activision has vehemently denied the rumors.
A spokesperson for the publisher told Eurogamer it was a total fabrication, and that Treyarch and Infinity Ward would still alternately create installments in the shooter series.
This also lays to rest rumors that Activision Underground was shut down due to said non-existent exclusivity deal, due to the whole nonexistence of it all. All we can do now is hope that Treyarch can follow Infinity Ward's footsteps and provide us with a emotion-stirring rap anthem at the end of Call of Duty 5. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=382606&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Xbox 360 Remains Blu-ray-less]]> While there was some speculation of the Xbox 360 supporting the Blu-ray HD format, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has put that idea to rest. He says that Microsoft is not currently in talks with Sony about integrating Blu-ray into the system. Nor are there any SKUs for Xbox 360s with Blu-ray in the works. So there you have it. From Greenberg's mouth to our ears, there's no Blu-ray in the future of the Xbox 360. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=367406&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Microsoft: British Mag Taking The Piss, GoldenEye Not Coming To XBLA]]> Hope you didn't get your hopes up. Britain's Xbox World 360 magazine has been cock-teasing for a little while that they've got some BIG NEWS regarding GoldenEye on Xbox Live Arcade. Hands-on impressions, screenshots, the works. Which was an odd thing to be boasting, because we'd heard that the project had been shitcanned. So why were they banging on about it? Who knows. Microsoft have issued a statement over their story, which reads:
The story in Xbox World 360 is based entirely on rumour and speculation. Unfortunately, we were never contacted by the publication to confirm information or participate in the story in any way, as we would have confirmed that we do not have the necessary rights to release GoldenEye on Xbox Live Arcade.
Like I said, hope you didn't get your hopes up. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=360270&view=rss&microfeed=true