SA game releases you can play this week

It’s a bit of a sparse week in gaming, and that’s probably because no one has the courage to take on the unstoppable FPS force of the yearly Call of Duty launch.

Otherwise, SA PC gamers who have been waiting patiently for their retail copy of Batman: Arkham Origins finally see light in the darkness.

Call of Duty Ghosts – 5 November 2013 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

Activision and Infinity ward’s latest mainstream shooting extravaganza, Call of Duty: Ghosts drops this week for current gen consoles and PC.

There’s still time to pre-order the game if you want to save a few bucks: Call of Duty: Ghosts – where’s the cheapest. PC gamers should also check their system is up to spec for the game.

Ghosts will be slightly different from other iterations in the series, taking a fictional post-catastrophe setting that will allow for some unique weapons, locations and set-pieces that the series has become known for – and don’t forget the most innovative feature of all, Riley the Call of Duty Dog.

The multiplayer will once again rope in millions of players who are likely already getting their trigger fingers ready and arguing about the best loadout. Interestingly, Infinity Ward reckons their player base aren’t exactly “hardcore” gamers.

Infinity Ward also recently unveiled the intriguing Extinction mode; a “1-4 player cooperative game mode featuring a unique blend of fast-paced survival action, FPS base defence, scavenging and class levelling,” according to the press blurb.

The video shows players fending off giant beasts, while using tools to destroy the alien-hives, which likely spawn the oversized creepy-crawlies.

Call of Duty: Ghosts will launch on PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on 5 November 2013, Xbox One on 22 November, and PS4 on 29 November.

Batman: Arkham Origins – 6 November 2013 (PC retail)

Batman: Arkham Origins suffered a few delays at SA retail due to a European delay and subsequent shipping problems, but things should have righted themselves for those who wanted to pick up the game at retail.

Origins is the next game in the Arkham franchise, but instead of being developed but RockSteady Studios – who handled Arkham Asylum and Arkham City – the game development fell into the hands of Warner Bros. Games Montreal.

WB Montreal has been given full access to Rocksteady’s custom modified Unreal engine, which will keep Arkham Origins within the same vein of the previous games.

Regarding the setting, the game will take place before the events of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City where an “unrefined Batman” takes on some super-villains for the very first time.

Origins will see “eight of the world’s best assassins coming together on one night, Christmas Eve, to kill the Bat”.

The Wii U versions of Batman Arkham Origins has been delayed until 15 November 2013 at SA retail.