Sources say development on LucasArts’ action-shooter has been frozen since Disney acquired the Star Wars brand in October.

Three independent sources have told Kotaku that development on Star Wars 1313 has been frozen since Disney acquired the Star Wars brand in October. As a result, the action-shooter could miss this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo and slip into 2014, they said.

This contradicts comments from LucasArts at the time of the Disney acquisition. A representative said at the time that development on all projects continued unabated.

Asked about the status of Star Wars 1313, a LucasArts representative told the site that the game is not canceled, but would not say more.

“LucasArts has been working diligently to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that the new Star Wars movies present,” the company said. “Star Wars 1313 continues production.”

Kotaku’s sources also provided new development details on Star Wars 1313. The game was reportedly conceived in 2009 as a tie-in to a live-action Star Wars television show that was to be set between the original Star Wars films and the prequel movies. The game was called Underworld at the time, the sources said, noting it would feature adult themes.

The sources added that Underworld/Star Wars 1313 was originally planned as an open-world role-playing game in a similar vein to BioWare’s Knights of the Old Republic series. Episodic character updates were to be delivered through regular downloadable content expansions.

This game was scaled back in 2010 due to budget concerns, the sources said, and was re-written with a plot not related to the TV show. It was also at this time that LucasArts was reportedly looking to reinvent itself and was considering Star Wars spinoffs in new genres. The company was supposedly considering a Star Wars version of FarmVille and a Call of Duty-esque first-person shooter codenamed Trigger.

The report goes on to detail a 2011 or 2012 meeting where Star Wars creator George Lucas saw Star Wars 1313 and “loved” it. He also reportedly told developers to have the game answer questions like “Who is Boba Fett?”, “Why was Han working for Jabba?”, and “Who were the Bothan spies?”

The game’s last public showing came eight months ago during the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo in June.

For more on Star Wars 1313, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage of Star Wars 1313.

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Sources say Microsoft will release next Xbox in time for next year’s holiday season, but hasn’t decided when to announce it.

Sources reportedly with knowledge of the matter have told Bloomberg that Microsoft will release its Xbox 720 in time for the holiday 2013 shopping season. This is far from the first time such a release window has been predicted, but Bloomberg has a track record of accuracy.

Additionally, the sources said Microsoft has not yet decided when to announce its Xbox 360 successor. The company is reportedly mulling an announcement at an industry event like the Electronic Entertainment Expo or a separate event where the new machine would have all of the spotlight.

A Microsoft representative was not immediately available to comment.

Microsoft’s next Xbox may not be just one device, but rather a two-SKU platform. A report from last week suggested Microsoft, in addition to a full-fledged Xbox 720, is also planning an Xbox-branded set-top device. This device will reportedly be a “low-cost” alternative to the full machine and will play casual games.

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Souces tell Kotaku long-delayed action role-playing game from Square Enix has been quietly shuttered.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII, which has seen several delays since its initial development alongside 2010′s Final Fantasy XIII, may finally be done for. Work on the action role-playing game may have been quietly shuttered, according to several anonymous sources who spoke to Kotaku.

We’ll always have Cocoon.

The sources claimed the game was officially canceled several weeks ago, but Square Enix decided to refrain from a public announcement. The game did not appear among the publisher’s several other titles at its Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference and floor show, nor was it present at the previous year’s Tokyo Game Show. Even before then, the game’s development status was the cause of some confusion.

Other Kotaku sources claimed the game’s development and resources had been folded back into development of another numerical Final Fantasy. GameSpot has requested comment from Square Enix but did not receive a response as of publication.

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Real time demo features new engine called Luminous Studio

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on June 5th, Square Enix showed off a new, internally-developed game engine called Luminous Studio. In a video called “Agni’s Philosophy” they exhibited the power to “depict high quality real time computer graphics at the same level as pre-rendered computer graphics.” Decide for yourself how well you think it looks after the break!

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Square Enix scoops up the rights to a variety of sites for fourth title in the open-world action series before it’s even confirmed the third game.

Just Cause 3 hasn’t even been announced yet, but Square Enix is already laying the foundation for a fourth game in Avalanche Studios’ open-world action franchise. As reported by Fusible, Square Enix last week registered a handful of domains for Just Cause 4, including JustCause4.com and JustCause4.co.uk.

No parachute? No problem.

While it hasn’t talked about the future of its flagship franchise, Avalanche has teased a number of projects in the pipe. In February, the Stockholm, Sweden-based developer said that it had a trio of big-budget titles in development. The first of those projects has been promised for unveiling prior to July, which suggests Avalanche might have some news for next month’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

The original Just Cause debuted on the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, and PC in 2006. The game followed protagonist Rico Rodriguez, who sowed sedition on the fictitious island nation of San Esperito in a bid to overthrow a corrupt dictator. The game was primarily noted for its outlandish stunts, in which Rodriguez could hitch rides on the wings of in-flight planes, BASE-jump from cliffs, and parasail from moving vehicles. The 2010 sequel retained the original’s open-world gameplay, complete with over-the-top parachute jumps and grappling-hook antics.

For more on the series, check out GameSpot’s review of Just Cause 2.

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Studio founded by former Call of Duty developers not unveiling first project at next month’s Los Angeles tradeshow.

Gamers yearning for the first proper look at Respawn Entertainment’s first game won’t get it at next month’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. Speaking to Joystiq, Respawn community manager Abbie Heppe said, “We won’t be showing anything or doing any press related to the game” during the annual geek gala. Heppe confirmed this statement to GameSpot this afternoon.

Respawn’s first game isn’t coming into focus at E3.

This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo will be the second straight that the company has opted out of public activities. This time last year, the San Fernando Valley, California-based studio announced it would skip the industry’s big summertime event.

Respawn has kept its first project out of sight thus far. Outside of a blurry screenshot and news that the game will be published by Electronic Arts, no further firm information is available concerning the studio’s maiden title.

Speculation on the project has suggested it will be a first-person science-fiction shooter that may support 3D, and could ship by March 2013. Respawn Entertainment was founded in 2010 by fired Infinity Ward developers Jason West and Vince Zampella, and is currently staffed by a host of Call of Duty developers, among others.

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Examiner.com is reporting both publishers have locked in dates and times for their annual Electronic Entertainment Expo press conferences.

Sony and Microsoft have announced the dates and times of their individual press conferences ahead of this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), to be held June 5-7 in Los Angeles.

E3 will be taking place from June 5 to 7 this year.

According to Examiner.com, Microsoft’s press conference will take place on June 4 at 10am PST/1pm EST. Sony’s press conference will follow at 6pm PST/9pm EST. While both publishers are expected to make significant announcements relating to both hardware and software, the companies have confirmed that neither will be revealing or talking about new-generation consoles at this year’s E3.

Traditionally, E3 press conferences are where publishers make new announcements. This year, Microsoft is expected to talk about strong Xbox 360 sales, platform-exclusives like Halo 4, and its upcoming Kinect software lineup. Sony is expected to focus on PlayStation Vita titles, PS3 and Vita worldwide sales, and upcoming PS3-exclusives like The Last of Us from Uncharted developer Naughty Dog.

E3 2012 will take place June 5-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

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Forget The Box is reporting publisher’s upcoming console carries manufacturing costs of around $180; Wii U’s retail price “will be no less” than $300 at launch.

A new report claims Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console could retail for around $300 at launch.

Wii U to cost around $300?

Citing “sources closely involved with manufacturing and distributing Nintendo products”, Forget The Box reports the total cost of materials required to manufacture the Wii U console, including the Wii U controller, is estimated to be around $180, with materials and components costing Nintendo an additional $50.

Based on these estimates, the report claims Nintendo is likely to finalize the cost of the Wii U to be no less than $300 at retail when it launches before the end of the year.

“Cutting production costs to maximize profits is Nintendo’s main concern with the Wii U,” the source told Forget The Box.”

“They are cutting costs in the Wii U’s hardware to build back confidence in investors. Nintendo wants investors to view Wii U as a less risky proposition.”

At the time of the Wii U’s unveiling at last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata indicated the new console will probably cost more than ’20,000 ($250.47).

By comparison, the Wii began its life cycle selling for $250.

Earlier this month, it was reported the Wii U could be set for a November 18 global release date.

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Source claims the next PlayStation will ship ahead of Microsoft’s future-generation console; PlayStation Vita to work as PS4 controller.

The PlayStation 4–believed to be called the Orbis–will ship before Microsoft’s next-generation console, according to a mystery source speaking to VG247.

Gamers will have a PS4 before an Xbox 720, according to the source.

The site’s tipster said the design ambitions for the PS4 were set “at least” two years ago, and Sony is “confident” that it will release the console ahead of Microsoft’s next Xbox.

Release windows for forthcoming machines from Sony and Microsoft have yet to be announced, but a new report suggested the next PlayStation would ship as early as holiday 2013.

The site’s source also notes that Sony has clued in select partners (Ubisoft was specifically called out) about the console, and these developers are “already working on it.” This falls in line with previous scuttlebutt, which suggested certain studios were developing titles for next-gen Sony technology.

Additionally, the site has learned that parts of the PlayStation Vita’s launch hardware were altered to make sure the PS4 and PS Vita could interact in a similar way to the Wii U and its tablet controller. PS4 games will be playable using the PS Vita controller’s twin sticks and touchscreen, according to the site.

As of press time, Sony had not responded to GameSpot’s request for comment.

In January, a Sony executive said the company would be last to announce its next-generation technology. Thus far, of the three major console-makers–Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony–only Nintendo has taken the wraps off its new tech. The Wii U is due for a worldwide release this holiday season.

Gamers aren’t likely to learn anything official concerning the PS4 anytime soon, as Sony previously confirmed it has no plans to bring the system to this summer’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs June 5-7.

For more on rumors and speculation concerning the next-generation of consoles, check out GameSpot’s rumor roundup feature.

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Rockstar indicates gamers aren’t likely to receive new information on anticipated open-world action game anytime soon.

It has been about three months since Rockstar Games last offered any information on Grand Theft Auto V, and it appears as if an update remains a ways off. As part of an Asked & Answered update on its website today, Rockstar said that it does not expect to release any information on the anticipated open-world action adventure for a few more months.

Los Santos awaits.

“Right now, we are very hard at work on the game and are excited as well to show and tell you more as development progresses–expect that we’ll be talking much more about GTAV starting at some point in a few months’ time,” the update reads.

That time frame lines up with the game industry’s biggest information-drop event of the year, the Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year’s show will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 5-7.

Rockstar has provided brief glimpses at GTAV thus far. The game will be set primarily in present-day Los Santos, a fictional town modeled on Los Angeles. Rockstar has also said that GTAV boasts the largest scope of any installment in the franchise to date.

For more information, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage of GTAV.

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