• Krieg the Pyscho's Craziest Skills from Borderlands 2

    Gearbox Software has released the official skill tree for Krieg the Psycho, the next player class to be introduced in Borderlands 2, and there's a lot here to digest. You can view the full skill tree right here, but let's take a look at some of the highlights.

    Buzz Axe Rampage

    Krieg's action skill, as we had previously heard, is Buzz Axe Rampage, in which Krieg's melee damage and movement speed are increased and earning kills will instantly refill your health bar. This essentially turns Krieg into a killing machine, but remember it does not affect ranged weapons at all as Krieg is a melee character first and foremost.

    Other standouts in Krieg's skill trees include:

    • Buzz Axe Bombardier - when thrown, your Buzz Axe now has dynamite attached to it that explodes on impact.
    • Bloodsplosion - killing an enemy will cause an Elemental Nova that matches the element of the weapon used to kill them. If no element is applied, the Nova will use explosive damage.
    • Light the Fuse - when activated, Fight For Your Life is replaced with Light the Fuse. Krieg pulls out a bundle of dynamite, earning a kill with which will cause you to be revived. 
    • Release the Beast - if Krieg is at 33% or less health when activating Buzz Axe Rampage, his health will instantly be refilled and he will turn into a Badass Pyscho Mutant. This also comes with increased melee damage and damage reduction.
    • Fire a Fiend - melee attacks have the chance to ignite enemies.
    • Raving Retribution - when on fire, homing balls of fire will target your attacker and explode on impact, locked to a rate of one ball of fire per second.

    Krieg will be available in The Pyscho Pack which releases tomorrow, May 14th, for $9.99.

  • Claptrap, GLaDOS and More Coming to Poker Night 2

    Telltale Games has announced a pretty awesome lineup of bonus characters coming to their upcoming game Poker Night 2. The game itself, of course, is a poker game and not actually a shooter but with all of these awesome FPS-related bonuses, we just had to share.

    To start with, players will be able to play a few hands with Claptrap from Borderlands at the table. To ensure everyone is playing by the rules, hands will be dealt by none other than GLaDOS from Valve's iconic Portal franchise. On top of those great characters, players will also be able to earn 'Bounty Unlocks' in Poker Night 2, that include skins and character heads for use in Borderlands 2 as well as some special accessories that can be used in Team Fortress 2 (PC exclusive). 

    Other goodies include Xbox 360 avatar items and premium themes for PlayStation 3.

    Check out http://www.telltalegames.com/pokernight2 for more information on the rest of the characters that were announced today from both video games and film.

  • New Playable Class Coming to Borderlands 2, Psycho Bandit (Update: Better Video)

    Before you start scratching your head, yes the psycho bandits in Borderlands 2 are normally on receiving end of your bullets but in the next player class add-on for the game, you are actually playing as the bandit for a change.

    Krieg is an ex-psycho bandit that serves as a brawler-style character class in Borderlands 2. His skills are mainly melee based and make use of his Buzz Axe. We don't have the full skill trees for Krieg yet, unfortunately, but we're definitely excited to see more from him. Hit up the source link for some images of Krieg's skill trees, it's not much but it's all we have right now!

    The Krieg update will go live in May for $10.00 on all platforms. Check him out in action in the video above.

    Gearbox also announced that the next campaign DLC will be released sometime towards the end of June but no details on what that will entail.

    We should have more solid information after PAX wraps up today in Boston, most of this stuff is being collected piecemeal so doubtless Gearbox will release full trailers and previews on YouTube either later today or throughout this week. Stay tuned!

    Source: Kotaku

  • Borderlands 2 Getting Level Cap Increase, New Difficulty Mode

    Announced this morning at Gearbox's panel at PAX East, we've learned that Borderlands 2 will be getting two pretty significant updates.

    The first update is definitely a long awaited one for some Borderlands 2 players. Gearbox is going to be bringing the level cap up to 61 from it's current cap at 50. The level cap add-on will actually run you $5.00 unless you have already purchased the season pass for Borderlands 2. This update will also include the return of Pearlescent weapons, which were a high-level weapon type from the original Borderlands.

    Secondly, Gearbox is going to be adding a third playthrough difficulty mode for people looking to run through the game again on an even higher difficulty. The game shipped such that once you completed the game, you could play it through a game on True Vault Hunter Mode for an even deeper challenge. Well, if that wasn't enough for you, perhaps Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode will sate your appetite.

    This is going to be an even more challenging difficulty and will only be available to players who have reached level 50 or above. This content update will be completely free.

    Both of these big Borderlands 2 updates are coming on April 2nd and will presumably be available on all platforms, though we haven't confirmed that yet.

    Source: Kotaku

  • Borderlands 2 Characters Coming to Minecraft on Xbox 360

    This was just revealed this morning and we had to share it, because we know that a lot of you guys are big Minecraft fans. Coming to Xbox 360 in Skin Pack 4 are four brand new skins for the game featuring classic Borderlands characters.

    These skins are going ot be available as part of the larger skin pack that will most likely retail at 160MSP as all previous skin packs have gone for. This is just the latest in a growing love affair between Gearbox Software and Minecraft. We haven't forgotten that epic Minecraft easter egg, have we?

    All told, players will be able to outfit their character as Lilith, Brick, Mordecai and Claptrap.

    Poor Roland.

  • The Downfall of Aliens: Colonial Marines, What Went Wrong?

    As the release of Aliens: Colonial Marines drew near, rumors went around that maybe the game wasn’t everything I had hoped.  Everyone was quick to point out that there were no advance reviews, that the launch trailers were a lot of editing with little in the way of gameplay and substance. But this was Gearbox!  The guys who brought us Half Life: Blue Shift, Brothers in Arms, Borderlands 1 and 2.  They were all great games – these guys know what they’re doing. 

    Well I forgot about one thing: Duke Nukem Forever. 

    For those who may not know the whole story of DNF, a quick primer: after the wildly popular Duke Nukem 3D came out back in 1996, it wasn’t long before rumors and then an official announcement of the next game in the series came along.  It was going to be a true polygonal 3D game, like what Quake was to Doom.  Years past; we saw so many different versions of this game, and every time a new screenshot or trailer surfaced it looked better than ever.  But this went on for over a decade, DNF was vaporware: as far as anyone could tell nothing concrete existed, no one outside of developer 3D Realms had seen the game in action, and it seemed that we never would.  Then in 2010, 14 years after Duke Nukem Forever was announced, came news that Gearbox had picked up the game and were finishing it up for release within a year.  People were excited, as I was excited about Aliens: Colonial Marines. 

    This was a solid studio that seemed to have the chops needed to complete the game and ship what people had been waiting over a decade for.  Randy Pitchford, CEO at Gearbox, claimed that Duke Nukem Forever was “intelligent” and a “worthy successor” to its predecessor.  As you probably all know, the game was a huge flop - dated gameplay, dated graphics, at best it was worthy of the bargain bin.  

    It seemed that those 14 years far from giving the game any kind of polish or unique style had served only to make the game look and feel stale.

    Keep reading for more on the downfall of Aliens: Colonial Marines.

  • Borderlands 2 On Track to be 2K Games Best-Selling Title

    2K Games announced in an investor call yesterday that Borderlands 2 is rapidly approaching 6 million units sold, easily surpassing the 4 million that the original Borderlands notched. If Borderlands 2 reaches 6 million units sold - which it will - it will become 2K Games' best-selling game to date. As you may have assumed, Borderlands 2 was 2K's biggest game in 2012.

    Speaking on the call, Take-Two Interactive CEO (2K Games' parent company) said:

    Building on its extraordinary launch in September, Borderlands 2 continues to expand its audience and remains on pace to become the highest-selling title in 2K's history. It has also been the largest contributor to our digitally delivered revenue this year, driven both by strong sales of full game downloads, and high attach rates for the title's add-on content, especially the Borderlands 2 Season Pass.

    Check out the Borderlands 2 Wiki at http://www.bl2wiki.com/ for more information on the game!

    Source: Joystiq

  • Sega Releases A Brand New Aliens: Colonial Marines Trailer

    Sega has released a brand new trailer for Gearbox Software's upcoming shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines. The game looks great but this trailer is...not safe for work. Or if you're around children.

    Corny voice acting aside ("If it moves, kill it. If it's not moving...kill it again!"), the gameplay looks solid and the environment in Colonial Marines looks worth of the Aliens franchise. If you're not familiar with the game, here's a quick debriefing on what you can expect. 

    Gearbox Software is taking the helm at development, bringing in iconic items, weapons and enemies from the film franchise. Aliens: Colonial Marines is being set up as a proper sequel to the 1986 film Aliens and follows the events of that movie. The story follows Corporal Christopher Winter, who has been sent with his squad to locate Ripley, Hicks and the rest of the crew from that film. 20th Century Fox is giving the game its full blessing as part of Aliens canon, so long-time fans of the series can put aside any doubts as to the integrity of the story that Gearbox is building.

    Check out the trailer below, Aliens: Colonial Marines releases on February 12th, 2013 on Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. Remember, you're not just fighting for the human race. You're fighting for the title of baddest mothe - well, you get it.

  • Gearbox Releasing 'Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt' on January 15th

    Gearbox Software has officially been hacked. Or at least their Twitter account @Echocasts has been hacked.

    Again. 

    This time, it's none other than Sir Hammerlock himself who has taken over control of the account. But don't worry, he's not out to wreak some social revolution in 140 characters or less, he's just here to announce some brand new Borderlands 2 DLC. 'Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt' is officially set to release on January 15th, bringing some brand new content to Borderlands 2 in the form of new weapons and new player customization, including heads and skins for all characters. The team also released a brand new trailer for the content update, which you can see after the break below.

    In the meantime, make sure you stay connected to Sir Hammerlock himself on Twitter at https://twitter.com/echocasts!

  • Hands On With Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage Borderlands 2's DLC

    Earlier this month, Gearbox Software released Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage for Borderlands 2. This second DLC expansion has a lot of great content to offer, and we've gone hands-on to help our readers make an educated purchase.

    Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage doesn't raise the level cap in Borderlands 2 or include any new vehicles, but don't let that make you think that this DLC pack is light on content. Clocking in at roughly 6 - 8 hours, depending on your playstyle, Mr. Torgue brings a lot of fresh gameplay for not a very high price tag. The campaign revolves around the Badass Crater of Badassitude and the arena that it plays home to. 

    If you signed up for the season pass when Borderlands 2 came out, then this content is already yours. If not, then hopefully you can learn something new and see the DLC in action for yourself in the video above!

    Check out http://www.youtube.com/FPSGeneral for even more Borderlands 2 content as well as video coverage of a wealth of other first-person shooters.

  • Borderlands 2 'Mr. Torgue' DLC Arriving November 20th

    Yesterday we received the news that Borderlands 2's next DLC expansion pack would be entitled 'Mr. Torgues Campaign of Carnage' and today we have some brand new details on the upcoming content.

    2K Games has announced that the DLC will be arriving next week, on November 20th, keeping in their tradition of last-minute press announcements. Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage will be available for free if you picked up the Season Pass for Borderlands 2, or you can pick it up individually for 800 MSP/$9.99.

    Packed with unforgettable battles and an engaging storyline, this must-play content includes new loot drops along with a new currency specific to Torgue weapons. Also included with this content are new heads and skins to further customize your vault hunter’s appearance. An assortment of new bosses, including Pyro Pete, Motor Momma and Badassaurus Rex make this the most challenging Borderlands add-on content campaign yet.

    Follow @ECHOcasts on Twitter for regular updates from Mr. Torgue himself, and check out some brand new screenshots of the content after the break.

    Source: 2K Games

  • Borderlands 2's Next DLC is Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage

    Borderlands 2 viral Twitter account, @ECHOcasts, has been updated to have the display name 'MISTER TORGUE', who appears to be in the process of being hacked. Previously, the account was used by Gaige the Mechromancer, to share updates with the Borderlands 2 community.

    With Mister Torgue at the helm, the account has been Tweeting regularly with updates from the new boss in charge. One of these Tweets asked if we were ready for 'Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage', which is set to be the next DLC expansion for Borderlands 2. 

    We don't have any information on the DLC expansion pack, but here are some of the Torgue's more awesome Tweets:

     

     

    Check out the account for yourself at https://twitter.com/ECHOcasts and take a look at Mr. Torgue himself at the top of this post.

  • Borderlands Legends Now Available on iOS Devices

    As of this morning, Gearbox Software has released the mobile game, Borderlands Legends, on iOS devices including iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

    In the game, players are reunited with the four original vault hunters from Borderlands; Brick, Mordecai, Lilith and Roland. Fend off waves of enemies, including Skags, Bandits, Psychos, Bruisers and more utilizing touch screen controls that have been designed from the ground up for Borderlands Legends.

    The game has been built exclusively for mobile devices, so the control system and UI are streamlined for the displays and controls on Apple devices. Borderlands Legends pays homage to classic Borderlands staples, with strategic "shoot 'n' loot" gameplay and a seemingly endless supply of weapons.

    Each mission plays out on a randomized map, so no two missions are alike. Each time you play will spawn new strategic cover locations and new loot for the taking. All of the weapons are randomly generated as well, so you literally never know what is waiting for you when you fire up Borderlands Legends.

    Check out the game in the App Store today. The iPad version of Borderlands Legends is available for $6.99, while the iPod and iPhone version can be had for $4.99.

  • Playing Borderlands 2 On Xbox 360? Beware of Malicious Users

    Gearbox Software has issued a notice that malicious users on Xbox Live are targeting Borderlands 2 players with an external application aimed to sabotage characters of legitimate players. Thankfully, it looks like the malicious activity is easy to avoid and, furthermore, a fix for the issue has already been submitted for certification to Xbox Live.

    From Gearbox CM Chris Faylor:

    Recently a few users have begun violating the Xbox Live Code of Conduct by using an external application to maliciously disrupt the experience and sabotage characters of legitimate Borderlands 2 players on Xbox 360. Fortunately it’s easy to avoid this scenario.

    After extensive internal testing, an update to prevent this disruption has been submitted to Microsoft and will be released as soon as possible. Until then, concerned Xbox 360 players of Borderlands 2 should consider playing online with trusted individuals in non-public sessions. This does not affect players on PC or PlayStation 3.

    We also advise that before ceasing play, users always select "Save and Quit" from within the pause menu while their character is alive. If after the death of their character players find themselves at the main menu of Borderlands 2 instead of respawning in-game, be sure to immediately select "Continue" to resume playing as that character.

    We ask that players report any suspicious behavior in Borderlands 2 to spotted@gearboxsoftware.com and provide as much details and documentation of their disrupted experience as possible to assist us in our investigation.

    If you're playing Borderlands 2 on Xbox 360, be alert and follow these simple guidelines to avoid having some serious damage done to your saved character.

    Source: Gearbox Forums

  • All Four Original Vault Hunters Return in Borderlands Legends, Coming to iOS

    2K Games and Gearbox Software have officially unveiled Borderlands Legends, a brand new Borderlands experience designed exclusive for mobile platforms.

    Slated for a launch on Apple's iOS, Borderlands Legends marks the return of the original four vault hunters; Brick, Roland, Mordecai and Lillith. Stepping into the shoes of the original characters, players will be able to enjoy a top-down, shoot-and-loot experience.

    Rather than porting something over to iOS, Borderlands Legends has been designed exclusively for mobile devices from the ground up.

    Just like in the core Borderlands releases, players will be able to level up their character and equip themselves with weapons from an arsenal of thousands of unique weapons. Borderlands Legends also features a complement of unique abilities for each character.

    Check out some screenshots after the break.

  • Gearbox Software Launches First Expansion Pack for Borderlands 2

    About a week ago, Gearbox Software announced the first expansion pack for Borderlands 2, entitled Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty. While the DLC was announced just a few days ago, it is already launched and ready to download for Borderlands 2 players on all platforms.

    While the Mechromancer class update, released earlier this month, just delivered a fifth playable class, Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is a completely new adventure for players to enjoy in Borderlands 2. This means new weapons, new loot, new enemies, new characters and some brand new locations to explore.

    Christoph Hartmann, 2K Games

    “We’re so excited at how the Borderlands 2 experience continues to grow with Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty and the fifth playable character class, the Mechromancer. With hours of new story-driven content to play through and an entirely new character to play as, gamers are getting a lot of additional value. The really exciting part is that we’re just getting started.”

    Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is the first of four projected expansion packs for Borderlands 2. Drop by http://www.borderlands2.com/ for more information on the game and the brand new DLC expansion pack.

  • Sir Hammerlock Introduces Borderlands 2's Mechromancer Class

    Gearbox Software has released a trailer for the recently released DLC player class, the Mechromancer, in Borderlands 2. The class was released a week ahead of schedule, paving the way for the next DLC expansion, Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty.

    We took a look at the Mechromancer earlier this week, so be sure to check out our videos over on the YouTube channel. We'll have more coverage of Borderlands 2 this week, with the brand new DLC expansion launching on October 16th (tomorrow).

     

  • Hands On With The Mechromancer in Borderlands 2

    Have you had a chance to download the Mechromancer update in Borderlands 2 and fire up a new game?

    If you've been on the edge about whether or not you should start a new game to play as the Mechromancer, we've put together a close look at what she brings to the table, hopefully giving players a chance to see her before they pick up the DLC for themselves.

    Probably our favorite part of playing as Gaige, the Mechromancer is Deathtrap, the hulking robot bodyguard that serves as Gaige's action skill. Deathtrap is a formidable ally to have on the battlefield and can prove to be the deciding factor in just about any fight.

    See for yourself in the Class Spotlight above, crafted with loving care by our own Andrew who has been spending a lot of time with the Mechromancer over the past week. 

  • First DLC Expansion for Borderlands 2 Hoists Sails Next Week

    Borderlands 2 hasn't even been out for one month, but if you've somehow managed to play everything that the game has to offer and are looking for a breath of fresh air, you're in luck. Gearbox Software has announced that the first DLC expansion pack for the game will launch next week - on October 16th (the date that the Mechromancer DLC was scheduled to launch before Gearbox snuck it in a week early).

    The DLC, entitled 'Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty', is a pirate-themed expansion that focuses on the one-eyed pirate queen, Captain Scarlett. The expansion features a 'bandit filled shanty town' known as Oasis, in the middle of the desert. Although the DLC is themed after pirates, it ironically features no expanse of water at all. As Gearbox's Randy Pitchford explains, it's all dried up...

    "You can sense the pirate theme across the landscape, even though there's no water. It's all dried up. It feels more like Tatooine than an ocean. These bandits have really embraced the pirate lifestyle, and there's the legend of a treasure. That kicks off this whole adventure that the players can go on."

    The DLC includes a new currency system known as seraph crystals, new enemies including sand worms and a brand new vehicle known as the Sand Skiff which you can see in the image above.

    Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty will cost you $9.99 or the equivalent in Microsoft Points and is expected to launch on October 16th. 

    Source: AP

  • Gearbox Software Releases Mechromancer DLC Ahead of Schedule

     

    Credit Gearbox Software with the sneak attack today, launching the Borderlands 2 Mechromancer DLC a full week ahead of schedule without any warning at all.

    That's right, the Mechromancer DLC is available right now in Borderlands 2, a full week before we were expecting it, on all platforms.

    If you're not familiar with Gaige, the Mechromancer, she is a brand new playable class in Borderlands 2 with a completely fresh skill tree to progress and she's bringing along Deathtrap, her mechanized sidekick who likes nothing more than bringing death to Gaige's enemies.

    Shh, do you hear that? That's the sound of a hundred thousand new games being started in Borderlands 2.