SEGA has announced that it has scrapped plans to bring new patches to Aliens vs. Predator on consoles.

A community manager writing under the alias Clumsyorchid said, “I’ve just received a mail this AM regarding patches for the console versions of AVP and I regret to inform everyone that these have sadly been scrapped.

“I had previously made a claim that these were coming and at the time, this was very much on the table. For the console community, I apologize, as I know there are many features and updates that you’d like to see. I’ll keep fighting internally for this to happen, but until I hear otherwise, there will not be a console patch for either Xbox or PS3.”

 

Rebellion has released a large patch for Aliens vs. Predator today. It includes three notable new multiplayer features.

The Predator’s Smart Disc has had its damage reduced unless it’s a headshot and its Plasma caster no longer knocks down enemies.

When joining a game in progress on a dedicated server, players will now have a chance to choose their species and team before being thrown into the action – assuming the server settings allow for it.

Dedicated servers can now run downloadable maps and no longer require Steam.

A full changelog follows:

 

SEGA has announced today that the Special Edition maps of Aliens vs. Predator will be available as downloadable content next week on all platforms via Steam, the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

The DLC includes four multiplayer maps, with two for multiple game modes and two for survivor mode.

The DLC will become available on the 19th of March for £4.79 or 570 Microsoft Points.

SEGA have released Aliens vs. Predator in New Zealand today, marking the comeback of a much loved gaming franchise.

Developed at Rebellion by the team responsible for the original 1999 classic, in the all-new Aliens vs. Predator players will have the chance to take the role of the three infamous species; the Colonial Marine, the Predator and the Alien.

AvP is available now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. Official site.

 

Rebellion has apologised to players of Aliens vs. Predator’s new multiplayer demo over the weekend, which suffered from matchmaking issues.

While the 360 demo was unaffected, the PC version, running via Steam, saw users having issues joining games until a Steam patch was released.

 

SEGA has announced today that a demo of Aliens vs. Predator’s multiplayer will be available tomorrow.

The demo will be set on one map, Refinery, and will feature a single game mode, deathmatch. All three species, aliens, humans and predators, will be playable.

If you haven’t already, check out our hands on with AvP’s multiplayer here, and read our interview with the game’s senior producer, Dave Brickley, here.

Aliens vs. Predator is due for release on the 19th of February.

 

GP: Can you talk us through the game’s setting?

Dave: The game is set about 30 years on from Alien 3. So essentially we’re dealing with the future of the universe created by Ridley Scott, James Cameron and David Fincher in the first 3 Alien films. The Weyland-Yutani corporation, spearheaded by Karl Bishop Weyland (played by Lance Henriksen), is still a powerful force in the galaxy. On a remote W-Y colony on planet BG-386 the ruins of a lost Predator civilisation are discovered. Deep within those ruins are Xenomorph eggs. After the discovery of these eggs, things go very wrong for the colonists and the intervention of the Colonial Marines is required. The Predators are also alerted to the presence of humans and Xenomorphs on one of their mythical homeworlds. And so the stage is set for an epic three-way conflict.

GP: How linear or sandbox are each of the game’s levels? Are there multiple paths or multiple ways to achieve any one objective?

Dave: All three campaigns include encounters that can play out in different ways. For the Alien and Predator, there are sandbox encounters focused around stealth and stalking. For the marine, this is more about the unpredictability of the Alien AI creating unique combat situations.

 

The list of games based on the Alien and Predator film franchises is extensive, but the first of what could be referred to as a modern FPS title hit the shelves back in 1999. Titled Aliens versus Predator, and released for the Windows and Mac platforms, this intense, terrifying title followed three distinct story paths laid down by Alien, Predator and Colonial Marine characters.

Naturally, a sequel followed shortly afterwards, and for the next few years we were varyingly treated and subjected to ports, crossovers and all manner of mobile versions until arriving in 2010, whereupon we can now expect an entirely new title from the same developers as the original, Rebellion Developments. At a press event today at PlayTech on Auckland's North Shore, we caught up with Paul Mackman from this UK-based studio and played a few rounds on the PlayStation 3 version.

The game features several multiplayer modes, with some yet to be announced. We got our hands on four of them, some genre standards, others inspired by the source material, and one under embargo which we won't be telling you about. We are glad to report however that all were punctuated with cheers, shouts of surprise and hollering.