It wasn’t even September when readers started asking when we’d publish the initial list of 2015 release dates. Our ever-popular and regularly updated roster of launch dates for the new year is here.

If you see anything we’ve missed, please let us know in the comments. Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates. Prior to that, they will appear in the bottom grouping.

Warhammer Quest (PC, Mac, Linux) - January 7Chariot (Wii U) - January 8Funk of Titans (Xbox One) - January 9
Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk (Vita) - January 13
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition (Vita) - January 13
Blackguards 2 (PC) - January 20
Citizens of Earth (PS4, Wii U, Vita, 3DS, PC) - January 20
Resident Evil Remastered (Xbox One, 360, PS4, PS3, PC) - January 20
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected / Gat Out of Hell Expansion (Xbox One, 360, PS4, PS3, PC) - January 20
Dying Light (Xbox One, PS4, PC) - January 27
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires (Xbox One, PS4, PS3, PC) - January 27
Grand Theft Auto V (PC) - January 27
Grim Fandango (PS4, Vita) - January 27
Life is Strange: Episode 1 (Xbox One, 360, PS4, PS3, PC) - January 30 

Microsoft and 343 Industries have announced three different versions of Halo 5: Guardians. In addition to the standard version that includes the game alone, there are two higher-priced editions with added digital and physical content.

The Limited Edition ($99.99) includes digital content to “enhance Spartan combat” and “exclusive items.” The game will come in a steelbook case instead of the regular green plastic one.

The Limited Collector’s Edition ($249.99) includes everything in the Limited Edition plus another, as yet unrevealed physical item. 343 Industries is designing a numbered statue that will be included in this set.

We might as well call this one the "Halo 5: Guardians Beta Edition" (out today, December 29) of New Releases, because that's the long and short of the list. For everyone else, it's a dive into the backlog, wrapping up in-progress games, and gorging on Steam, PSN, Xbox Live, and retail sales.

It's not too early to start thinking about 2015, though. Be sure to check in with our regularly updated release list to see what's coming in the early months of next year.

We hope the remainder of your 2014 is filled with gaming fun. New Releases will return in the new year.

Is it a specific game? Consistent online connectivity? More Sequels? More innovative titles?

After the last few days, more consistent online connectivity is certainly high on my list, but I am also looking forward to more innovative games – the kind of games that will sneak up on me and surprise me. Of course, there are a lot of sequels I am excited about as well, like The Legend of Zelda Wii U, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Halo 5.

How about you? What are you looking forward to in 2015? For more of our most anticipated games of next year, head here.

Sad games about children interacting with gentle giants just aren't meant to be – even if when they come from the creator of Final Fantasy.

Below you will find a trailer for a cancelled game from the mind of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series and the founder of developer Mistwalker. Titled Cry On, the game was cancelled in 2008. The trailer features a girl and a small creature which can apparently transform into a gigantic golem. The trailer is highly reminiscent of The Last Guardian, Sony and Team Ico's seemingly forever in development follow-up to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

To be fair, we don't know much about either game. The Last Guardian still exists according to Sony, but may have changed drastically from its original trailers featuring a child interacting with a gigantic bird-like creature. This game, Cry On, has been legitimately cancelled and the trailer below is likely all we will ever see from the game.

For those who purchased Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the beta for Halo 5: Guardians' multiplayer begins tomorrow.

Xbox Live has been experiencing issues since Christmas day, but thankfully, the problems appear to have cleared up. Hopefully those issues won't reappear tomorrow when the beta opens up.

To see the beta in action, which went online a little early for preview purposes, check out our Test Chamber video below.

Road Redemption, the Kickstarted motorcycle racer inspired by Road Rash, is adding an unconventional cyclist.

Shovel Knight comes from a much different genre that the violent motorcycle racer, but he is from an independent studio like the creators of Road Redemption and he was Kickstarted, so it's not too much of a stretch. You can see him in action in the video below with bullet-proof knight armor, and his handy shovel for knocking people off their motorcycle.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Last night both Sony and Microsoft confirmed its online services were returning to normal functionality.

Both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network have been experience issues since Christmas day. Nintendo's online services have been mostly unaffected.

Update: PlayStation Network access is being restored: http://t.co/2hJvJ1Ll8U

In light of recent online issues, Xur's stay in the tower this week will be extended until at least Monday night at 10 PST. Depending on how the networks look, Xur's visit could potentially last even longer.

Full information from the Destiny forums -

"We understand that Xur has been hard to reach for a lot of you this weekend, so we’re going to extend his stay. Our current plan is to allow him to remain in the Tower with his current inventory until Monday night at 10pm PST, just before the weekly reset. We’ll also keep an eye on the overall situation, and prolong the extension, as needed, for as long as is feasible. Next week, Xur will return to his regular schedule, with refreshed inventory. "

One of the big questions regarding Final Fantasy XV is “How’s the combat going to work?”

MP won’t be used in the standard fashion in Final Fantasy XV to cast all those Firagas, but instead will fuel many special systems that tie into the core of combat.

Kotaku has some interesting details and summations regarding the combat system coming to the long-anticipated Square Enix title.