Xbox 360

There probably aren't too many of you who missed out on Gearbox Software's outstanding Borderlands 2, but those who did can get it -- along with a few other things called "Borderlands" -- on the cheap for today only. Microsoft's ongoing Countdown to 2013 Xbox Live deals continue today with temporary price drops on a trio of Borderlands offerings (via Major Nelson).

The original Borderlands is selling via Games On Demand for $9.99, though it's not the DLC-loaded Game of the Year edition (which can be gotten elsewhere for $19.99). Borderlands 2 is also a Game On Demand offering, marked down 33 percent to $39.99 (from $59.99). Finally, the Borderlands 2 Season Pass that allows you to pre-buy four DLC packs for the game (two of which are already available) is selling for 1,800 MS Points (down from 2,400).

Tomb Raider, which Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix will release on March 5, 2013, may feature some sort of multiplayer component that pits Lara Croft's shipmates against "Yamatai's scavengers" in "a variety of modes," according to a now-edited GAME UK product listing (as reported by All Games Beta). We've reached out to Square Enix for comment, as there's been no official talk yet of anything other than the story-driven campaign that reboots the series.

UNofficially, this isn't the first hint we've had that Tomb Raider will deliver something for the multiplayer crowd. Way, way back in 2010, a Crystal Dynamics job listing sought a producer to "take on a major production role in the multi-player part of an upcoming action adventure title" (via MTV Multiplayer). The job could conceivably have been for a different game, though don't forget that the studio has worked on nothing but Tomb Raider since 2006 (as far as the public knows).

Stay tuned for an update from Square Enix as soon as we hear back.

Spark Unlimited's ninja-themed zombie game, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, isn't officially confirmed for any specific platforms, though some new job listings at the studio suggest that this is a current-gen game (via Joystiq). Multiple listings state that Yaiba is a "3rd Person slasher with horror elements for the PS3 and Xbox 360." Still not official confirmation, mind you, but it's all we have to go on for now.

The job listings offer few other details, though we can infer a number of things based on what roles the studio is looking to fill. Many of the job listings call for experience building game content in Unreal Engine 3. There's also a single multiplayer-oriented listing, which is worded in a way that suggests Yaiba might include either or both adversarial and cooperative online play.

It's all speculation of course, but we'll take what we can get with so little revealed about the game thus far.

This new trailer is meant to prepare you for Visceral Games' Dead Space 3, which hits stores on February 5, 2013. There's still plenty of time to work your way through the series' first two games, but this "story so far" video does all the work for you. Spoilers ahead?

It's not as spoiler-y as you might think, revealing only the main beats of the previous releases. You'll still want to avoid the trailer if Dead Space/Dead Space 2 are on deck for the coming weeks, but even knowledgeable fans can appreciate this video refresher on Markers, Unitology, and other bits of lore from the Dead Space universe.

Rockstar Games couldn't give gamers the gift of Grand Theft Auto 5 for the 2012 holiday season, but the studio does the next best thing in giving the gift of new Grand Theft Auto 5 screens. A batch of five new images are posted on the Rockstar Newswire, hinting at several new elements in the game.

As you can see above, the underwater play in the waters around Los Santos will at some point include a submarine. There's no way to know at the moment if you can drive the thing, but I'm going to bet on yes. There are more screens after the jump too, including one that stars a swimming shark and another which shows off some of the game's aircraft. If you look carefully, you'll see a blimp in the background.

Please let us pilot a blimp, Rockstar. 

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The fans have spoken and the reversible cover image for BioShock Infinite has been chosen. Irrational Games has the result posted on its website, though you can also see the winning image above. This Songbird image nabbed itself 38 percent of the total votes, the most out of the six options offered.

The official cover art for BioShock Infinite wasn't terribly well-received among fans due to its somewhat generic feel. Irrational creative director Ken Levine admitted that he was ready for the backlash, explaining that the cover is meant to sell BioShock to mainstream audiences. The fan vote for reversible cover art is meant to give hardened gamers an alternative to the official art.

Whatever your chosen form of worship is, life tends to stop in the United States on Christmas Day. Whether that means family time or a day at the movies, you're still going to find yourself with some free time to play with.

Looking back over the video game releases of 2012, there's something of an embarassment of riches. We've gotten some solid games this year, games that surge thanks to original design and fresh spins on old chestnuts. Why not take today to catch up with some of those? Here are five contenders that you could have easily missed as the year unfolded...

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You saw the news of Battlefield 3's End Game DLC, due for a March 2013 release, earlier this week. Now you can take a first look at the fifth and final DLC release for Battlefield 3, compliments of a newly released trailer (via All Games Beta).

The minute-long montage focuses almost entirely on the content pack's new vehicle, the dirt bike. The ride allows for a driver and a single passenger, with the latter able to fire at whatever's ahead. The brief teaser also suggests that End Game's maps will be well-suited to this new vehicle, with proper roads, makeshift jumps, and tight corridors that couldn't accomodate larger vehicles.

Gary Schyman, the man behind the music of BioShock and BioShock 2, is returning once again to work with Ken Levine and the Irrational Games team on scoring BioShock Infinite. The news is confirmed in an official announcement from Levine that came at the start of his appearance for yesterday's Reddit AMA session.

“His score is very different from the first two games, yet very much guided by the same aesthetic principles," Levine said of Schyman's current work. "We were lucky to have him and I can't wait until you get to hear some of his stuff. He's working in a different, sparer style, but it's awesome.”

You can hear some of that style right now in a newly released excerpt from BioShock Infinite's soundtrack, the full version of which is a packed-in exclusive included with the Premium and Ultimate Songbird versions of the game.

The upcoming Star Trek game from Namco Bandai is now officially set by the publisher and partner Paramount Pictures for release on April 23, 2013. The game's story serves as a bridge between the events of the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek and its 2013 follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness.

The release announcement also reveals a pre-order bonus in the form of the "Elite Office Pack," offering "exclusive items and unique uniforms" for Kirk and Spock, the two stars of this co-op-enabled game. The pre-order bonus comes with five separate costume packs that let you outfit Kirk and Spock in a variety of themed duds.

The Aftermath DLC is now live and available on all platforms for Battlefield 3 players, which means that the fifth and final pack -- End Game -- is going to be here soon as well. Electronic Arts and DICE share the first official details in a newly updated product page on Battlefield.com.

End Game adds four new multiplayer maps "designed for high speed combat and action" to the game, along with three new vehicles (dirt bikes and lightweight anti-air vehicles are mentioned), a new dropship "with vehicle drop capabilities," and the return of the Capture the Flag game mode.

There isn't a specific release date confirmed yet for End Game, but expect it to arrive sometime in March 2013.

Square Enix continues to milk the Final Fantasy 13 setting for all it is worth, with the recently confirmed Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 now on display in a new trailer. The minute-and-a-half long clip is a mixture of CG and gameplay and hey, whaddya know-- it looks like Final Fantasy!

According to Eurogamer, the trailer surfaced early today before being pulled, only to surface once again a short time later. Let's all take a moment to thank the Internet for being the Internet. The gameplay shows off a little bit of combat and town exploration as well as... wait. Is that some light platforming?

Looks neat. And very Final Fantasy. We'll likely be hearing more soon, as Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 launches in 2013.

Hey, look at that: rumors of a Borderlands 2 DLC pack titled Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt are true. 2K Games and Gearbox Software confirmed the news this morning in a media blast and 2K blog post, confirming that the third DLC pack for September 2012's fan-favorite looter shooter will be coming on January 15, 2013.

Like the previous two DLC releases, Hammerlock will cost $9.99 (800 MS Points) on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC platforms. Players will be sent off to explore the Pandoran continent of Aegrus on a hunting trip. A new villain and self-proclaimed Handsome Jack superfan presents himself shortly after you arrive and it's not long before you're taking on an assortment of new baddies in an effort to stop him.

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The Albert Hughes-directed web series, The 7 Wonders of Crysis 3, continues today with its second episode, The Hunt. The focus in this gameplay clip is primarily on the 2013 game's bow and arrow weapon, used here to hunt a pack of Ceph aliens.

There's a little light machine gun action and a large set of explosions as well, just to ensure that you don't start to think that Crysis 3 doesn't also bring in some heavy firepower. As the title suggests, however, this second episode is all about the hunt. Also, it's about showing off more of those slick, slick graphics.

FUSE, Insomniac Games' upcoming 4 player co-op game, has a new trailer "The Dalton Rules" which lays out the 3 rules Dalton, a snarky, energy shield equipped, Overstrike agent lives by. It looks like someone breaks one (or more) of Dalton's rules in this trailer so I can't imagine he's very happy about that.

Check out the latest FUSE trailer and see if you've broken any of Dalton's rules today:

What 3 rules do you live by? Mine include always sitting with my back against the wall and never purchasing off-brand toilet paper.