NEWS: HMV Will No Longer Sell Pre-Owned Games - 70% Discounts Applied

With plans of no longer selling pre-owned games, HMV has given a massive 70% discount to all stock in an attempt to get rid of it.

Games across all platforms including Xbox One and PS4 are currently on discount throughout the UK at seemingly every HMV store. The retailer wants to eradicate pre-owned content, so to speed up that process, a decision was made to apply a large-scale sale.

It's not yet clear why HMV wish to remove pre-owned games from their stores, but this is a fantastic opportunity to bag some bargains before all stock is gone, which at a discount that high, shouldn't take too long.

HMV Chester tweeted a photo displaying the 70% discount on CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and merchandise - its not confirmed if all outlets are also offering sales on other goods besides video-games. Get spending!

NEWS: PS4's Lifecycle Could Be Shorter Than PS3

Various hints have suggested the overall lifecycle of the newly released PS4 could very well be shorter than the PS3.

UK Sony boss Fergal Gara spoke with Tech Radar in regards to the PS4's lifespan throughout certain markets and their respective territories. The thirst for new technology will be the primary reason according to Gara, saying:

"It's probably a sign of the times and how much has changed in seven years, but I think the willingness and the appetite to pick up new technology fast has probably changed quite a bit."

Because the PS4 has just launched, it is difficult to accurately predict its future, however Gara went on to say:

"We're going to have a much better feel for it once we're a good few months in and we can see how the dynamics are emerging."

Are you standing in the queues in the cold for your PS4 tonight? Leave your experiences in the comments below.

NEWS: European PS4 Launch Events Detailed

With this Friday marking the European release of the PS4, Sony have revealed various launch events throughout Europe.

SCEE Blog Manager Fred Dutton has posted an extensive list of various locations throughout European territories that will be hosting special launch events in preparation of the PS4.

People planning to buy their PS4 at launch are encouraged to attend these events if possible - "If you're close to one of these locations please do join us. It's going to be one heck of a night."

Take a look at the locations below:

Berlin, Germany
Where: Sony Center Berlin, Potsdamer Platz, Kemperplatz 1
When: 28th November, from 5pm
Celebrate the PS4 launch on a midnight sale together with live acts, celebrities and a stage spectacle.  

Copenhagen, Denmark
Where: All Gamestop stores in Denmark, plus five selected stores with special support from PlayStation: Næstved, Cph Fisketorvet, Lyngby, Ålborg Storcenter, Bruuns Galleri.
When: 28th November, from 9.00pm
Midnight opening, with giveaways, competitions and more.

Dublin, Ireland
Where: PS4 Rooms, 10 St Stephen Green, Dublin 2
When: Open now until 8th December
Visit the PS4 Rooms for your chance to get hands on with the PS4 and the fantastic line-up of games – Knack, Killzone Shadow Fall, Call of Duty Ghosts, DRIVECLUB, Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag, and much more.

Gdansk, Poland
Where: Galeria Baltycka Shopping Center
When: Open now, until close on 28th November
Go hands-on with PS4 launch games, including Killzone Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Knack, FIFA 14, Need for Speed Rivals and more.

Helsinki, Finland
Where: Tennispalatsi
When: 29th November – 30th December
Visit our PS4 Lounge and try out the new console.

London, UK
Where: 17 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9HP
When: 28th November, from 7.00pm
PS4 will be available to purchase on the night with entertainment happening throughout the evening. We have goodie bags, competitions, special guests, chances to get hands-on before launch, performers and more! Can’t make it to London? Over 400 stores nationwide open at midnight. 

Katowice, Poland
Where: Silesia City Center
When: Open now, until close on 28th November
Go hands-on with PS4 launch games, including Killzone Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Knack, FIFA 14, Need for Speed Rivals and more.

Madrid, Spain
Where: Sony Computer Entertainment España, Calle Pedro Valdivia, 10, 28006
When: 28th November, from 3.30pm
Come to PlayStation HQ, meet people from PlayStation Spain, and be in with a chance of winning a PS4. Cosplayers very welcome!

Moscow, Russia
Where: M.Video, Trubnaya square, 2, Neglinnaya mall
When: 28th November, from 10.00pm
Sales will open two hours before midnight, with giveaways, prize-draws and other celebrations.

Oslo, Norway
Where: GameStop Generius Storgata 32 1472
When: 28th November
Midnight opening with giveaways and a FIFA contest.

Paris, France
Where: Sony Store Paris, 39 avenue George V, 75008 Paris
When: 29th November, from 11.00am
800 PS4s will be available to purchase without pre-order.

Poznan, Poland
Where: Stary Browar
When: Open now, until close on 28th November
Go hands-on with PS4 launch games, including Killzone Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Knack, FIFA 14, Need for Speed Rivals and more.

Rome, Italy
Where: Castel Sant’Angelo
When: 28th November, from 8.30pm
Witness the amazing transformation of an iconic landmark.

Stockholm, Sweden
Where: Webhallen Store, Sveavägen 39
When: 28th November, from 10.00pm
Midnight opening, with countdown, giveaways, competitions and more.

St Petersburg, Russia
Where: M.Video, Balkanskaya square 5, Gallery mall
When: 28th November, from 10.00pm
Sales will open two hours before midnight, with giveaways, prize-draws and other celebrations.

Warsaw, Poland
Where: Arkadia Shopping Center
When: Open now, until close on 28th November
Go hands-on with PS4 launch games, including Killzone Shadow Fall, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Knack, FIFA 14, Need for Speed Rivals and more. Plus, midnight opening in Sony Store.

Retailers will also be holding their individual midnight launch events, which are not included in the list provided within the EU PlayStation blog.

NEWS: PS4 Killzone Shadow Fall Bundle Coming to UK

Sony have announced that an exclusive Killzone Shadow Fall PS4 bundle will be coming to the UK ready for launch day. More bundles will be routinely revealed over the next few days or so.

This particular bundle will retail for £420, the same price as the Xbox One in European territories.

People who have already pre-ordered their PS4 will have the option to change their order if they wish to choose one of the new bundles.

In an interview with Eurogamer, PlayStation UK boss Fergal Gara said:

"Starting yesterday, our retail partners are contacting their pre-order customers in order, so starting with the first, working up to when they run out of that special bundle, saying, we now have clarity on exactly what PlayStation 4 bundles we have to offer for day one. Would you like option A, B, C, or D?"

In terms of the bundle's contents, it will include Killzone Shadow Fall, the PS4 console, all the necessary wires and/or cables, two DualShock 4 controllers, and the PlayStation Camera.

The PS4 is set to launch November 29 in Europe and November 15 in the US. Check out the Killzone Shadow Fall multiplayer trailer, and decide if you'll be purchasing this UK-exclusive bundle. 

NEWS: Grand Theft Auto V - Biggest Launch in UK History

Just a day after its release, Grand Theft Auto V has claimed the title of biggest launch title in UK history.

Right now, I'm probably the only person in the UK who hasn't got a copy of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V (I'm getting it next week, don't worry) - it seems the launch was extremely successful worldwide and even broke records here.

Around 1.57 million copies were sold in just one day yesterday, creating a sum of approximately £65 million according to recent figures.

Previously, Black Ops II held the record for most units sold on launch day - back in November 2010, 1.41 million copies were sold, whilst bringing in £58 million.