The Catch-Up: March 14th, 2014 - Metal Gear Solid Wasn't Expected to Sell Well

HOW DID WE MISS GOD OF WAR 2’s BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY?!

General News

When Ragnarok Odyssey ACE is released on April 1st in North America, there will be a fair amount of DLC for the title. This includes free DLC to owners of Ragnarok Odyssey or $0.99 for everyone else (Archer’s Apple, Bunny Hair Band, Floppy Cat, Gunslinger, Majestic Horns, Ninja, Taekwon Kid), DLC free for two months and then priced at $0.99 (Royal Ball Outfit), DLC free for two months and then priced at $2.99 (Gorgeous Headwear), free DLC you have to download (Grandia Set), and free DLC through a free patch (Ragnarok Odyssey Collection, Ragnarok Online BGM Arrange Collection). [Press Release]
If you don’t want people randomly showing up in your Watch Dogs game, Lead Game Designer Danny Belanger confirmed that “all the online activities are just part of the menu. They’re a choice. But if someone is not into that… they can totally turn it off.” [Source]
In anti-climactic news, that OPM cover reveal has turned out to just be Batman: Arkham Knight. [Source]
Want a different choice when it comes to Batman: Arkham Knight pre-order bonuses? Walmart is offering the prototype Batmobile, in addition to Harley Quinn and the 4 maps. [Via, Pre-order It]
The patch to improve Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition is being tested right now, with a “definitive update” coming next week. [Twitter]
Focus Home Interactive has announced that the release date for Bound by Flame on PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC will be Friday, May 9th. This appears to be the date for just Europe, as Majesco is publishing the game in North America, and have yet to reveal a date. A new trailer focusing on the combat system will arrive soon, or you can watch this gameplay trailer. [Source]
After originally being given a 15+ rating in Australia back in September 2013, Watch Dogs has been reclassified by the Australian Ratings Board and is now 18+, with the new descriptor reading “references to violence and sex scenes.” [Twitter 1, 2, 3]
Rockstar has approved 10 more jobs in Grand Theft Auto Online. [Read All About Them]
Sony Santa Monica did some final stress testing for the PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale patch last night. We should get more info about it soon. [Twitter]
Hide Kojima recently talked about Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker: “Unlike other MGS, & since it was handheld, scattered segments of story was placed in missions of PW, letting player actively obtained. I presume many people would get surprised reading the novelized book, as PW is a noble & heavy story where Big Boss settles with The Boss.” [Twitter 1, 2]
During the Twitch AMA, Hideo Kojima also said, “Neither I nor anyone else expected Metal Gear Solid to sell at all. So I was fortunate, because I didn’t have to think, ‘I have to sell this game this much,’ so pretty much all I did was put in that game all the things I really like.” [Via, Source]
Remember how we thought Mercenary Kings would be the PlayStation Plus free game on PS4 in April because Secret Ponchos hadn’t had an update in awhile? Well, the game’s developer, Switchblade Monkeys, said, “We’ve been working like mad, getting [Secret Ponchos] rebuilt in PhyreEngine for PS4! Get your hands on the new SP debut PAX East! Its been worth it.” Since PAX East starts on April 11th, I think it’s safe to say it won’t be the PS4 PS+ free game in April. [Twitter]
If you had any doubts about The Elder Scrolls Online’s beta not being popular, it’s been announced that over 5 million people have signed up already. [Twitter]
EA said today, “Each day, gamers play 200 million minutes of [FIFA] across all platforms.” [Twitter]
Pre-ordered Dark Souls 2 on the PSN and didn’t receive your bonus content? [Follow These Steps]
4J Studios is “aiming to release one or two PS3 texture packs at the same time as the TU14 update (Title Update 14’s bug list is “getting shorter every day”)” for Minecraft: PS3 Edition. Judging by this picture, it looks like those packs will include content from Uncharted, Killzone, and Sly Cooper [Twitter 1, 2, 3]:

New Videos

Metrico for the PlayStation Vita is in the final stages of production ahead of its Spring 2014 release, and the developers brought out this trailer to tease the game (it’s interactive, so mobile users won’t get any fun out of it):

Patch 2.22 for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Through the Maelstrom, is coming later this month. Here’s a video showing off what you can expect [More Info]: