Saints Row: The Third

The chief contributor to this modest improvement is Saints Row: The Third. More than four million copies have been shipped since its release in November, and developer Volition's steady flow of DLC has resulted in digital sales exceeding expectations. More >

The app, available now at the source link below, contains an initial seven games: Saints Row The Third, Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, Magicka, Sniper: Ghost Warrior, The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings, Orcs Must Die, and Farming Simulator 2011. More >

THQ has said it has no further plans for uDraw after it revealed that the failed expansion of its tablet peripheral to PS3 and Xbox 360 has cost it $80 million in lost revenue. Speaking during an investor call after the publication of its dismal third-quarter results, the publisher said it had shipped a million uDraw tablets to retailers, leaving 1.4 million units of manufactured stock left unsold. More >

Brian Farrell, CEO of publisher THQ, said last night he was not concerned that yesterday's Grand Theft Auto V unveiling would impact sales of its own upcoming open-world gangster title, Saints Row The Third. "I went online like everyone else to see the GTA trailer," he told an investor who asked if there was concern that Saints Row pre-orders could be affected during a call following the announcement of its second-quarter results. More >

EA's nascent digital distribution platform EA Origin took a significant step in its bid to establish itself as a true Steam rival when three high-profile publishers signed up to sell their PC games through the service. In a press release, EA reveals that Warner Bros, THQ and Capcom are now on board and that a selection of their games will be available from next month. More >

The cloud gaming service, which launched in the UK last week, is offering a free microconsole to those who pre-order the OnLive version of the upcoming Batman: Arkham City. The microconsole, which lets users play streamed games on an HDTV instead of a PC browser, normally retails for £69.99. More >

In what seems an entirely appropriate move for a game marketed by sex toys and porn stars, Dead Or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki will be a playable character in the upcoming Saints Row: The Third. Itagaki, whose in-game avatar will sport his trademark sunglasses and leather jacket, is currently developing the action-adventure Devil's Third for Saints Row publisher THQ.

THQ CEO Brian Farrell says the publisher expects future consoles to drop physical disc support in favour of cloud gaming, resulting in reduced hardware manufacturing costs, lower console prices for consumers that will drive mass market adoption, and no physical goods costs for publishers. Delivering a keynote presentation at the Cloud Gaming USA conference, the executive said the transition from physical retail to digital is well underway. "The box, ship and done model is transitioning to observe, measure, and modify," he said, according to GamesIndustry.biz. This is "a games as a service model where direct consumer feedback allows the ability to operate in this always on, always connected environment. We have the opportunity to interact with players in new ways that can be reactive to their desires, play habits, and buying habits.” Farrell then revealed plans to release 40 weekly DLC packs for upcoming title Saints Row: The Third, "which will grow and change the experience as the consumer engages with the game… We intend to create an online digital ecosystem with the consumer that keeps them interested for almost a year, perhaps even longer. And we expect most of our large console games going forward will extend the base experience with DLC packs. Things like online in-game storage, and consumables and other online items that will go on for at least a year post-release."