BioWare’s a busy group, working on Star Wars: The Old Republic, a new Dragon Age already, and according to EA’s COO John Schappert, there’s “something far-reaching coming from Mass Effect” in early 2011.

That would mean something is releasing between January 1 and March 31 next year.

BioWare is obviously making Mass Effect 3, but could it finish development in time? Kotaku notes that project manager Casey Hudson once said that “definitely want to make ‘Mass Effect 3′ a fairly short turnaround.” These conditions would comply.

Tomorrow, two free downloadable items will be released for BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 via the game’s Cerberus Network, the developer has announced today.

The first item, the ‘Cerberus Assault Armor’ (pictured above), gives shepard +10% in heavy weapon ammo capacity, shields and health. The second, an ‘M22a Eviscerator Shotgun’, gives Shepard a farther shotgun range and armor-piercing ammo. Apparently, the “design also violates several intergalactic weapons treaties.”

They’ll both go live tomorrow at 12:00 PM MST. They’re free so make sure to get them.

Cerberus Armor and Eviscerator Shotgun DLC Available Tomorrow Feb 9 [BioWare]

Electronic Arts has released their Q3 financial results today, which confirms release windows for many of their most anticipating titles as well as some new titles we’ve yet to hear about.

This year in the July to September range, EA will release both Realtime Worlds’ All Points Bulletin and EA Los Angeles’ Medal of Honor. (more »)

Natural Motion, the guys behind the Euphoria engine used in Grand Theft Auto IV, have been hard at work on their very own football game. Backbreaker takes football on from a third-person view rather than an over-the-top view like Madden games are known for doing. Along with that, it adds completely unmapped unique tackles that makes literally every play different.

See for yourself. (more »)

Over at the European PlayStation.Blog, SCEE Social Media Manager Jem Alexander was able to get a small question and answers session with producer, Yoshinori Kitase, and director, Motomu Toriyama regarding Final Fantasy XIII. As you know we’ll be exactly a month away from the western release as soon as the clock hits midnight.

Alexander brings up some pretty good questions, but we took some of the most notable for our readers. (more »)

Xbox 360 owners with an Xbox LIVE gold membership can sign onto their consoles today and download a free demo and premium theme for Sega’s Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

The demo will cost you a gig of space, but it’s worth it if you have a thing for blue hedgehogs like a lot of us seem to. I’m not sure who’s in the demo, but I’m guessing at least Sonic will be available. Go ahead and queue it up at the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

If you’re into the theme, a shot of it can be seen above. It’ll run you 240 Microsoft Points. Not as free as your other option. Queue it up here.

Come to think of it. Why the hell does Sonic need to drive a car? Isn’t that like a handicap for him?

LucasArts has announced today that the third episode in the LEGO Star Wars series is coming to consoles this autumn. Titled LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, LucasArts’ next game in “next-generation family entertainment” is set to arrive on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, DS and PC.

The Clone Wars will include every character from both seasons of the Cartoon Network animated series as well as “fan-favorites” from the original Star Wars saga. New battle modes like head-to-head combat, an upgraded level builder, and the ability to play as either a Jedi or Separatist will all be included. On top of that, there will be plenty of new character abilities for the player to mess around with. (more »)

Late last week, Ubisoft teased a “BIG” reveal to come this week. I speculated it has something to do with Microsoft’s X10 event being held on Thursday, and with a new tweet from Ubisoft community developer Kimi Matsuzaki, it looks like my speculations may be correct.

“Xbox Live – where you want to keep an eye on for the Big announcement,” wrote Kim in a recent tweet.

We’ll keep our eyes on it, then.

Mass Effect 2 producer Casey Hudson has revealed that not all Mass Effect 2 saves will work in Mass Effect 3 for players who want to import. That is, if Shepard ends up giving his life for the sake of humanity at the end of Mass Effect 2.

“Dead is dead. Mass Effect 3, as with the rest of the trilogy, is Shepard’s story. If you have a dead Shepard at the end of Mass Effect 2, that saved game won’t import into Mass Effect 3.” (more »)

You’d think the costume party for the Japanese PlayStation 3 version of Tales of Vesperia would’ve ended by now, but it appears Namco Bandai isn’t finished quite yet. There’s a new set arriving this Wednesday being called the character’s strongest costumes.

Obviously, the costumes won’t make the player any stronger, but the look adds a sense of higher power to the character, which is why the name is being used. (more »)

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has done some numbers since it’s June 2008 release date. In Konami’s Fiscal Year 2010 3rd Quarter Financial Results, the publisher reveals that Snake’s latest has sold over five million copies and has become PS3’s best-selling exclusive title. In this fiscal year alone, Metal Gear Solid 4 sold over 650,000 copies.

It’s no wonder why it’s the best. This is Hideo Kojima we’re talking about, a mastermind, a legend in the video game industry. Let him take his rightful bow.

Alpha Protocol, Obsidian’s spy role-playing game which already received a delay to spring from its original holiday 2009 release, has been delayed once again. Now, Alpha Protocol is slated to arrive summer this year.

The reason for the delay? (more »)

This upcoming week sees the release of some very anticipated games further engulfing your wallet into the deepest depths of a black hole. 2K’s BioShock 2 is on the list, putting players in the boots of a Big Daddy. EA’s Dante’s Inferno is on the list as well, pitting players against the darkest depths of hell.

Read on for the full release list. (more »)

The March 2010 issue of Game Informer reveals the first details on Team Bondi’s open-world detecive game L.A. Noire. The game is set in a 1947 Los Angeles where history is correct.

Cole Phelps is a beat up cop looking to clean the L.A. streets of crime. Working for a corrupted police force won’t make it any easier. As players progress through the game, Phelps will work his way up the department dealing with cases such as murder. (more »)

Electronic Gaming Monthly, which ceased production last year after 1UP was acquired by UGO, is finally back. It’s been a long time coming, but subscriptions are up and ready to arrive at your doorstep in the next month or so. (more »)

This month’s issue of PC Gamer magazine features a cover story on Bethesda’s Fallout: New Vegas and thanks to some early copies, we’ve got tons of brand new information on the game.

In New Vegas, you do not play as a Vault dweller but you will receive a Pip-Boy from one. The storyline is focused on the New California Republic vs. Caesar’s Legion vs. New Vegas residents. The Hoover Dam, which is also in the game, supplies electricity to New Vegas residents. In the mag, there are no actual screenshots of New Vegas, only concept artwork. (more »)

In the latest issue of Famitsu, a feature on Kingdom Hearts‘ main character Sora calls in Tetsuya Nomura for an interview. Tetsuya talks Sora’s design, the series and if we’ll see a third game.

Since the feature is on Sora the character, Nomura talks about how he originated. Apparently, Sora first looked like a mix between a human and lion, with a tail and beast-like ears. This is because Nomura wanted Sora to look like more of a Disney character. Sora even used a chainsaw rather than a keyblade at first. (more »)

The first reviews for 2K Games’ BioShock sequel have started coming in today and they’re up in the green. Reviewers are averaging the game around the 90 out of 100 mark and it seems well deserved, with PSM3 calling it a “lovingly crafted, carefully constructed masterpiece”. (more »)

There are always things going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. EA is no exception, with concept art for a new Road Rash surfacing today and even art for a game based off of the Oliver Twist novel. (more »)

Peter Molyneux, head honcho over at Lionhead Studios, has told Develop Online that Fable III is at the brink of completion, saying the game is “almost at its final edit.”

Looks like we may be getting Fable III at a much earlier point in the year than we thought. The game will be on the floor at Microsoft’s X10 event next week – first gameplay and all that.

Stay tuned.