So, I wake up early on a Friday morning and am rewarded with a couple of release dates for some highly anticipated titles.

After announcing Grand Theft Auto V was coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (finally), Rockstar has kept the cards very close to their chest in regards to time frames for release. With 2014 rapidly nearing the fall season, people were starting to wonder if GTA V was going to make it in time. Well, Rockstar finally put all those questions to rest this morning when it announced that the game will be coming to “next-gen” consoles on November 18 in what I’m calling the remastered edition. PC gamers, I’m sorry to say that you’ll need to wait just a bit longer as Rockstar has pushed that version to January 27, 2015.

So what’s new in this version? Well, the obvious feature will be the upgraded visuals which include enhanced damage and weather effects.  In addition, you’re getting more weapons, a new foliage system, new vehicles, activities, denser traffic, more wildlife, and 100 additional songs and DJ mixes. If you’re into GTA Online, all previously released content will be available from the start as well. What’s better though? Xbox 360 and PS3 players can also transfer progression and characters to this new version.

The other big news this morning comes out of Techland as they’ve announced that their first person parkour zombie game, Dying Light, will be available on January 27, 2015. Jeez, where have I heard that date before? Hmmm.

Featuring a dynamic day/night cycle, players try to accomplish missions during the daylight hours in this open world while being able to perform parkour moves while staving off the zombie horde. At night, zombies become empowered making traversal more difficult as you try to survive the night. For a glimpse of the action, here is their GamesCom gameplay trailer.