Friday, February 17, 2017

The latest News from GameSpot News On 02/18/2017

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In the 02/18/2017 edition:

Watch The New Power Rangers Movie Trailer

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 18, 2017 12:27 am

After releasing a new image of Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa earlier this week, Lionsgate today published the newest trailer for next month's Power Rangers. Take a look:

Power Rangers opens in theaters on March 24, 2017, and is directed by Dean Israelite (Project Almanac). It stars Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G, and Ludi Lin as the Rangers. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) portrays the Rangers' mentor, Zordon.

If the film is a success, the series could span up to seven movies.

A previous trailer was released in January--watch it here. Power Rangers is produced by Lionsgate, the film company behind big-name franchises such as The Hunger Games and John Wick, among others.

A multiplayer fighting game called Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is coming out alongside the movie for mobile devices in March. Another game, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle, launched in January for PS4, Xbox One, and PC with basically no fanfare.


Walking Dead S7: Here's How Many People Watched The Mid-Season Return

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 18, 2017 12:21 am

[UPDATE] The Season 7 mid-season premiere picked up 15.9 million total viewers, according to Variety. This is up by 3.9 million viewers from the live-+same day ratings announced earlier this week.

The original story is below.

The seventh season of AMC's The Walking Dead started strong, with a premiere that pulled in the second-highest numbers for the zombie show ever. Viewership dropped off after that, however. The show returned for the second half of Season 7 on Sunday night and now we know how it fared.

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According to Deadline, Sunday's episode,"Rock In The Road," picked up 12 million viewers; 7.3 million of them were in the 18-49 demographic, giving the show a 5.7 rating. Viewership is up 13 percent compared to December 2016's mid-season finale.

This is the first time that a Walking Dead midseason return has risen since Season 4, in 2014. However, the 12 million number is down 13 percent compared to the Season 6 mid-season return in February 2016. Last year, the Grammys took place on a Monday, while this year they were held on a Sunday, competing directly with "Rock In The Road."

Also note that these numbers are only preliminary. AMC will announce how the show performed with live/same-day figures and the three days after combined later this week.

An eighth season of The Walking Dead is on the way, scheduled to start in late 2017 with the show's 100th episode. Showrunner Scott Gimple is coming back for the new season.


Nintendo Switch Will Link Digital Purchases To Your Account - Report

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 18, 2017 12:05 am

In what sounds like very good news, Eurogamer reports today that the Nintendo Switch will tie digital purchases to an account, not a specific piece of hardware. For the Wii U, games are linked to your console, so if you want to re-download on a new system, you're (probably) out of luck.

In a recently posted Nintendo Switch unboxing video, a line of text can be seen that explains games can be re-downloaded using the same account. Here is the message, as noticed first by Twitter use @BjoernTheSmexy:

The passage reads: "Your Nintendo Account contains your Nintendo eShop purchase history and current balance. By re-linking your Nintendo Account after initializing the console, it will be possible to redownload any software or DLC purchased using that account. (Software that has been discontinued may not be available to redownload in some cases.)"

We have followed up with Nintendo in an attempt to get more details.

The Nintendo Switch launches on March 3, which is just a few weeks away, so it won't be long before we know a lot more specifics about the console.

For more on the Nintendo Switch, you can watch us play the minigame collection, 1-2 Switch.


Xbox One Price Drops To $250 To Match PS4 For A Limited Time

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 11:34 pm

Microsoft today announced a $50 price cut on all Xbox One and Xbox One S systems, bringing the price of the console down to $250 to start. This is a temporary price cut good until February 25.

The price cut matches Sony's temporary PS4 price drop to $250 that started February 12 and also runs until February 25. When Sony announced its PS4 price cut, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft followed, as it's done in the past.

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As mentioned, the Xbox One price cut is good on all Xbox One and Xbox One S bundles, including the 1 TB Xbox One S Halo Wars 2 system that launches today. Its list price is $350, but the discount brings it down to $300. It comes with a copy of the Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition, which unlocks today ahead of the RTS sequel's official release on February 21.

There are quite a few Xbox One S bundles available, including the 500 GB Battlefield 1 system that comes with that game and a one-month subscription to EA Access. It normally sells for $300 but is now available for $250 thanks to the price cut.

The $50 price cut on all Xbox One models is good at all major retailers in the US, including the Microsoft Store, Amazon, Target, GameStop, Best Buy, and Walmart.


New Mass Effect: Andromeda Video Shows Off Combat, Weapons, Abilities, And More

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 10:27 pm

Right on schedule, BioWare today released a brand-new trailer for its spacefaring RPG Mass Effect: Andromeda that spotlights the game's weapons and skills.

BioWare explains that Andromeda offers "amazing freedom of movement," including a jetpack that you can use to get to high ground to gain the upper hand. The video also talks about Andromeda's "seamless" cover system, which allows you to use basically anything as cover. The goal, BioWare says, is to give players the tools and freedom to take on missions however they want.

Also in the video you'll see Andromeda's four types of weapons: pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, and assault rifles. There are no class-specific weapons, so everything is available to everyone. Additionally, Andromeda's skills and abilities are not limited by class. There are three categories of skills: combat, tech, and biotics; all of these can be upgraded throughout the game.

This is the first in a new series of videos that shows off different elements of the game. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest Andromeda videos as they become available.

In other news about Andromeda, BioWare recently stressed that the game is not open-world in its structure but is more of an "exploration-based game." Additionally, BioWare recently discussed the game's sidequests and how they may be inspired by those from The Witcher series.

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Andromeda launches on March 21 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.


PSN Flash Sale For Action Games Starts Now

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 10:20 pm

Sony today launched the latest PSN Flash sale, this one themed around action games and more. PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita games are marked down, along with movies and TV shows that fit the bill of "action."

Sony hasn't provided a full list of the deals as of yet, but the PlayStation Store website shows off what's on sale. On PS4, Grand Theft Auto V is down to $30, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's Game of the Year edition is discounted to $8, Bloodborne's Complete version is marked down to $17.50, and The Elder Scrolls Online has its price cut to $18. These are just a small sampling of the deals; go to the PlayStation Store website to see all the available offers.

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This PSN Flash sale runs until Monday, February 20, at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, so you don't exactly have to rush to take advantage of these offers.

This sale runs alongside the regular slate of weekly PSN deals. This week, the weekly deals are themed around the Final Fantasy series and titles from 2K Games. You can see a roundup of the best deals here.

In other PSN news, Sony has dropped the PlayStation Plus requirement to play games online for a week. This started today, February 17, and runs until 11:59 PM PT on February 23. As part of this, you'll be able to access any game's online mode that would ordinarily require a Plus subscription. You won't, however, receive any of the other benefits of Plus, like access to the month's free games.

For more deals news, check out see GameSpot's roundup of the best deals from this week's retail flyers here.


Another Injustice 2 Character Reveal Coming Soon, Here's When

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 10:10 pm

Injustice 2 developer NetherRealm will announce the next playable character for the fighting game on Thursday, February 23. The developer made the pre-announcement on the Injustice website.

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The latest character to be confirmed for Injustice 2 was Swamp Thing. Other confirmed playable characters for Injustice 2 so far include Batman, Blue Beetle, The Flash, Harley Quinn, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, Aquaman, Robin, Cheetah, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Black Canary, and Atrocitus.

NetherRealm's Ed Boon has said the game will feature obscure characters.

Earlier this week, NetherRealm showed off female fighters Cheetah, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and Black Canary in a new gameplay trailer. Another video focused exclusively on Black Canary and her devastating moves.

Injustice 2 launches for PS4 and Xbox One on May 16. You may not have to wait that long to play, however, as a closed beta is going on right now. This beta just recently added Black Canary to its playable roster.

In other news, an Injustice 2 mobile game has been announced.


Xbox Exec Says 2017 Is One Of The Most Exciting Years Ever For Xbox

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 09:50 pm

It's a big year for Xbox. Not only is the company launching new hardware this year in the form of Project Scorpio, but Microsoft plans to have more Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusives this year than last. Now, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has weighed in with his thoughts on what he believes will be a momentous year for the Xbox brand.

"2017 is shaping up to be one of the "most exciting" years ever for Xbox gamers," he said in a post on the Xbox Wire. "We are preparing to launch the most powerful console ever made this holiday--Project Scorpio--along with a diverse lineup of games. In fact, we are committed to delivering even more exclusive games for both Xbox One and Windows 10 this year than we launched in 2016.

"I was very proud of our first-party lineup in 2016 and I am encouraged by an even bigger and more differentiated first-party lineup in 2017, starting with today's launch of Halo Wars 2."

Halo Wars 2 is available today through the $80 Ultimate Edition and the $350 1 TB Xbox One S Halo Wars 2 bundle. It launches for everyone on Tuesday, February 21.

In terms of first-party Xbox exclusives for 2017, there is Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, and Crackdown 3, in addition to Halo Wars 2. Spencer said State of Decay 2 and Crackdown 3 are "looking and playing great." He teased that Microsoft will have "more in store for [fans]" at E3 2017 in June.

"With such a broad and varied roster of games and first party exclusives on the horizon, continuous improvements across Xbox Live, and the upcoming launch of Project Scorpio, 2017 is going to be an incredible year for Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers," Spencer said. "On behalf of everyone at Team Xbox, thank you for your continued passion and support."

One Xbox-exclusive that won't come out this year is Scalebound, as Microsoft canceled it in January.

Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing this year takes place on the Sunday before E3 week instead of the usual Monday.

This story has been updated.


Skyrim Director Teases Next Mobile Game

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 09:19 pm

Fallout Shelter was the first mobile game that Fallout 4 and Skyrim developer Bethesda Game Studios ever created and it won't be the last. Director Todd Howard revealed last year that the studio is making more mobile games. These have not been announced just yet, but in a new interview with GameSpot, Howard recalled the huge success of Shelter and teased the studio's next mobile title.

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"We loved making it so we were ecstatic when it was so successful," Howard said about the free-to-play Shelter. The game was released for iOS and Android devices in 2015; as of June 2016, it had more than 50 million registered players. Bethesda doesn't provide specifics, but reports have said the game has made millions of dollars, with revenue coming from microtransactions.

"It kind of blew us away," Howard said about the reaction to Shelter.

He added that the key to long-term success in the mobile market (and elsewhere) is to continually release new updates to keep players engaged. Bethesda has definitely done that, as Shelter has been supported with lots of seasonal updates and other patches.

Shelter still has a "pretty active player base," Howard said.

Looking ahead, Howard teased Bethesda's second mobile game, saying it's something that the studio has had in mind for a long time.

"We do have another mobile project game that we thought about for a while," he said. "Based on the Shelter experience, we're kind of rolling on something new."

It remains to be seen which studio is working on the new mobile game. In December 2015, Bethesda Game Studios opened an office in Montreal with an aim to "expand its development capabilities in console, PC, and mobile gaming."

In other news about Shelter, the game recently launched for Xbox One and Windows 10 as a Universal Windows Platform app. The game may not come to PlayStation 4.


For Honor Review Roundup [Update]

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 17, 2017 09:15 pm

Ubisoft's new medieval fighting game For Honor is out now, and as such, reviews have started hitting the web.

Unfortunately, the game has been hit by a number of issues, seemingly not allayed by the recent open beta. If you want to see some footage of the game running, check out our recent Let's Play of the closed beta, or over 10 minutes of the game on its highest PC settings.

GameSpot has a For Honor review in progress up--we'll be posting our final review once we've had a little more time to dive deep into the game's fighting mechanics. Until then, check out the roundup below. We'll continue to update this article as more final reviews come in.

  • Game: For Honor
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
  • Release: February 14
  • Price: US $60 / £45 / AU $100

GameSpot -- No score (review in progress)

"One-on-one battles are fun and challenging for the way they punish you for thoughtless play. But this heavily contrasts with fighting For Honor's AI minions, which frequently feel mundane; defeating them simply requires mindless swinging rather than the calculated execution of one-on-one combat. Fighting these "opponents" also proves middling due to the inability to lock onto them directly. More often than not you'll find yourself swinging your weapon wildly at the air rather than hitting them.

[But] despite these evident shortcomings, For Honor already has the workings of a well-made multiplayer fighting game." -- Matt Espineli [Full review in progress]

IGN -- No score (review in progress)

"For Honor is a unique and somewhat risky venture in this day and age of publishers being hesitant to stray far from the model of their proven hits. Like a delicious, gamified Turducken, it's a brawler with the depth of a fighting game inserted into the body of a third-person action game, which is in turn stuffed into an online team-based objective game. And in my roughly 40 hours spent playing a combination of alpha and beta tests, it's easy for me to say that For Honor's combat system is the most tactically complete and flexible version of melee combat I've ever experienced." -- Brandin Tyrrel [Full review in progress]

PC Gamer -- 74/100

"Outside of the fighting, however, For Honor is a needlessly bloated game. There's a lot of tediously granular customisation, a tacky free-to-play-style storefront selling in-game currency for real-world money, and a tangle of ugly, confusing menus to wrestle through before you can get into a battle. And as time goes on, and those stalwart, hardcore players continue to hone their skills, it'll be even more unwelcoming to newcomers. Stick with it, though, and you'll find a rich, tactical fighting game with wonderfully weighty combat and hidden depths to uncover. But if you want something accessible you can easily dip in and out of, you may want to swear fealty to another lord." -- Andy Kelly [Full review]

Eurogamer -- Recommended

"For Honor skews a bit too sharply towards defensive play at higher skill levels. Whatever the differences between characters, the safest approach is often to let the other person make the first move, then dodge or parry and deal out a vengeful drubbing. If the battle is not yet won, however, it's off to a bloodthirsty beginning, and it's worth bearing in mind the example of Rainbow Six: Siege - another terrific multiplayer effort from Ubisoft that wasn't all it could be at release. It's scruffier fixtures notwithstanding, this is one of the finest weapon-based fighting games I've encountered - a game of mindgames and reversals in which you'll savour nothing quite so much as a glorious defeat." -- Edwin Evans-Thirlwell [Full review]


Kong: Skull Island's Latest Clip Is A Spectacular Monster Fight

By Dan Auty on Feb 17, 2017 09:10 pm

The first clip from the upcoming Kong: Skull Island that was released this week was an intriguing dialogue scene. Now a second clip has landed that delivers full-on monster action--specifically, King Kong versus a Skullcrawler, one of the movie's terrifying new creatures. Check it out below:

Last week, this amazing Japanese poster for Skull Island was revealed. It follows a stylish Apocalypse Now-inspired poster that was issued for the film's US IMAX release.

Kong: Skull Island is released on March 10, 2017. It stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, John C Reilly, Corey Hawkins, and John Goodman.

In a recent interview, Hawkins revealed that despite the scary threat in the trailers and clips, the film wouldn't be entirely dark. "The tone of the movie is the tone of the set," he said, via Collider. "There were serious undercurrents of shooting this film, and then there was shooting with these guys--you've seen the cast--it was one of those journeys.

"We got the opportunity to find the light moments. It can't be all serious at all times, and I think in our darkest moments you have to find the humor and the lightness. Sometimes humor is necessary to get you through. It's honest."

The movie is part of an ongoing monster movie series, that kicked off with 2014's Godzilla. The next entry will be Godzilla: King of Monsters, which is expected in 2019. Last month, Krampus director Michael Dougherty was confirmed as director, with Stranger Things break-out star Millie Bobby Brown reported to be part of the cast.


God Of War Dev's Canceled Sci-Fi Game Allegedly Has Huge Art Leak

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 17, 2017 09:08 pm

Images alleged to be concept art from Sony Santa Monica's canceled sci-fi game have leaked.

The images were first spotted by Nerdleaks, which says the pictures were published by a former employee who was working on the game before leaving in 2014. The complete gallery have since been backed up on Imgur (via Eurogamer).

Nerdleaks goes on to reveal more information about the canned project. The game was apparently futuristic, with dinosaur-like enemies and a heavy emphasis on exploration.

The project, which was apparently codenamed Darkside, was in development at God of War studio Sony Santa Monica. The game was canceled in 2014 after a round of layoffs at the company, and it had apparently been in development since God of War III. It remains unclear why the project was canceled.

Sony Santa Monica's current project is PS4's God of War, announced at E3 2016. The game's director, Cory Barlog, says it will offer a "more diverse emotional palette" than previous God of War games.

Barlog has previously spoken to GameSpot about the challenge of making people take Kratos seriously. He's also talked about reinventing Kratos and the series' perspective.

We also know the game will be set after the events of third game, and it won't feature an open-world--though Barlog did say it was "open." It won't feature the original Kratos voice actor, T.C. Carson--the role has instead been taken over by Stargate SG-1 actor Christopher Judge.

The new God of War will not feature any multiplayer, much like the next big PS4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn.


Watch The Absurd Trailer For New Will Ferrell And Amy Poehler Comedy

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 08:59 pm

The first trailer for the new Will Ferrell/Amy Poehler comedy The House has come online and it's pretty wild.

Ferrell and Poehler play parents who can't afford to send their daughter to her favorite college. So what do they do? With the help of their neighbor Frank (Jason Mantzoukas), they create a casino in their house, of course. The premise is crazy and so is the trailer, as basically everything associated with casinos--good and bad--is happening here. Poehler wields a flamethrower at one point, while someone unfortunately loses a limb as part of a shakedown gone wrong. It's all pretty wacky--take a look at the trailer below..

The House opens on June 30. It was directed by Andrew Jay Cohen and written by Brendan O'Brien alongside Cohen; they both worked on Neighbors and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, among other comedies.

A poster has also been released, showing Ferrell and Poehler as suave-looking casino operators. The movie's tagline is "If you can't beat the house, be the house."

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Amazon Has Final Fantasy 15 For $40 Right Now

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 08:21 pm

Amazon has a pretty solid deal going on right now for Square Enix's Final Fantasy XV. The role-playing game is discounted to $40 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

This is not a Deal of the Day item, but if you're interested, you may want to act quickly; there is no word on how long the deal will be available. Go to the product pages here: PS4, Xbox One. Shipping is free with Amazon Prime (via Kotaku).

It's not the absolute best deal we've seen on Final Fantasy XV, as the game dropped to $35 on Amazon less than a month after it came out last year.

After years of development and multiple delays, Final Fantasy XV finally arrived at the end of November. It shipped 5 million copies at launch, setting a new record for the franchise. It has now shipped 6 million copies.

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GameSpot's Final Fantasy XV review scored it an 8/10.

"While it's safe to assume fans and outsiders will find some aspect of Final Fantasy XV disappointing--be it the shallow story or finnicky Astrals--it would be hard for anyone to deny that Final Fantasy XV is a fascinating game after giving it a chance," reviewer Peter Brown said. "Where its characters fail to impress, Final Fantasy XV's beautiful world and exciting challenges save the day."

In other news, Square Enix this week released a new Final Fantasy XV survey asking people to help "shape the future" of the game. Additionally, Square Enix and Japanese food company Nissin have teamed up for cup noodle hat DLC.


Activision Listed Among "World's Most Admired" Companies

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 07:55 pm

Business magazine Fortune has posted its list of the World's Most Admired Companies for 2017. Call of Duty, Destiny, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft company Activision Blizzard made the cut, ranking at No. 3 in the Entertainment Sector, behind only Netflix and Disney in that order.

Activision moved up three spots from last year, when it was ranked No. 6 in the Entertainment category. No other video game companies made the cut in the Entertainment sector.

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Overall, across all industries, Apple was name the World's Most Admired Company. Rounding out the top five were Amazon, Starbucks, Berkshire Hathaway, and Disney. Microsoft landed at the No. 9 spot.

The results come from a survey that asked 3,800 executives, analysts, directors, and experts to rate companies on nine different criteria, from "investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent." Additionally, only the highest-revenue companies in each industry (680 in 28 countries overall) were considered for the survey.

Full details on the survey's methodology can be found here.

Activision Blizzard reported earnings for its latest financial period last week, revealing new financial records. However, the company's Activision Publishing division suffered job losses.

In other news, Destiny 2 is scheduled for this year, as is a new Call of Duty game from Sledgehammer Games that goes back to the franchise's roots.


Star Wars: This Is What Happened To Jar Jar Binks

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 07:24 pm

The fate of the heavily criticized Star Wars character Jar Jar Binks has been revealed. According to Mashable, new Star Wars novel, Star Wars Aftermath: Empire's End, reveals that the Gungan, shunned for his failed political maneuvers, becomes a clown, performing for children on the streets.

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In Attack of the Clones, Jar Jar became the interim Galactic Senator, going on to put forth the "war powers act" that in effect hurt the Republic and led to the formation of the Empire.

"Jar Jar makin some uh-oh mistakens," Jar Jar says to an orphan in Empire's End, which is canon. "Desa hisen Naboo tink I help the uh-oh Empire."

An important note here: "Of course, the scene can also be read as an elaborate trolling, a commentary on older Star Wars fans who went apoplectic over what they saw as Jar Jar's tone-deaf character," Mashable reported.

Whatever the case, this seems to confirm that Jar Jar is still alive, so it's possible--however seemingly unlikely--that he could appear or be referenced in future Star Wars films.

Chuck Wendig's Star Wars Aftermath: Empire's End goes on sale this coming Tuesday, February 21.

The next Star Wars movie is Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which comes out this December. For more, check out GameSpot's newest stories about the film below.


Here's 14 Minutes Of Lords Of The Fallen Dev's New Action Game, The Surge

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 07:18 pm

A new trailer for Lords of the Fallen developer Deck 13's new action-RPG, The Surge, has come online. The extended, in-depth video shows off 14 minutes of gameplay, featuring commentary from developers at the German studio. This is one of the best looks we've seen of the game so far.

As you'll see, The Surge has a focus on melee combat. You are equipped with an exo-suit of sorts, and can can target specific body parts of your enemies. Once you defeat an enemy, you can acquire their items and weapons and use them yourself. Additionally, all the weapons in the game have different "finishing sequences," some of which look pretty brutal. This video also spotlights the game's upgrades menus and wraps up with a pretty cool action sequence; check out the full video below.

The Surge will be published by Farming Simulator company Focus Home Interactive. The game comes out this May for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

In other news about Deck 13, it has been confirmed that the German studio will not be involved in the upcoming Lords of the Fallen sequel.


Logan Director Wants To Make X-Men Spinoff About X-23

By Dan Auty on Feb 17, 2017 07:17 pm

The mutant child X-23--aka Laura Kinney-- has become a popular Marvel comic character over the past decade, and she will make her big screen debut next month in Logan. Now director James Mangold has revealed that he would be interested in making an X-23 spinoff movie.

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In an interview with We Got This Covered, Mangold spoke highly of the performance of Dafne Keen, who plays X-23 in Logan. "I think Dafne is incredible in the film," he said. "I would love to see another film about that character and that's certainly something I'd be involved in.

"For me that was one of the big additions I brought to the table, this decision to try to make the film about family and to try to insert Laura and the pressures that would put and the idea about Charles [Xavier] ailing."

Earlier this week, Keen appeared in a creepy viral promotion for Logan, which showed Laura being given her claws. Check it out here.

The movie arrives in theaters on March 3, and early box office tracking suggests that it will be a hit. The movie is currently predicted to make $55-$60 million in its first weekend, which is an impressive opening for a March release.

Logan stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Boyd Holbrook, and Richard E. Grant.

For more, check out GameSpot's recent impressions feature, "Why Logan Is The R-Rated Wolverine Movie We Want."


Spider-Man Director In Talks For Bermuda Triangle Mystery Thriller

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 06:40 pm

Spider-Man director Sam Raimi is in talks to direct a "mystery thriller" about the Bermuda Triangle, according to a story from The Hollywood Reporter.

Raimi would direct the Skydance Productions Bermuda Triangle film, which is one of three movies based on the mysterious geographic spot on the Earth where planes and vessels have gone missing. Major film companies Universal and Warner Bros. are also making movies about the Bermuda Triangle.

"In such a competitive environment, all the companies are keeping their own takes super-secret for fear of letting out who or what is behind the disappearances," THR said. "Even getting the directing gig was controlled: Prospective filmmakers had to go to Skydance's offices just to read the script."

Skydance has produced movies like Star Trek: Beyond and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.

Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, who wrote the script for the video game movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, are writing the script for Skydance's untitled Bermuda Triangle film. According to THR, Skydance sought Johnny Depp to star in the movie at one point, though there have been no announcements so far about casting.

The last movie that Raimi directed was Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful. He was in talks to direct the Warcraft movie, but dropped out and later claimed that Blizzard mismanaged its production.


Sea Of Thieves Video Shows Off Skeletal Pirates, New Islands, And More

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 06:25 pm

Developer Rare has posted the newest video for its upcoming pirate game, Sea of Thieves. This latest video shows off the Xbox One and PC game's newest update, Alpha 0.1.1, which is available now for players lucky enough to be in the game's technical testing period.

As the video explains, Sea of Thieves' world grows larger and more dangerous with this update. There are now more islands to explore and new challenges to take on, including some that involve stealing gold from other players. Additionally, the update adds fall damage, so you can no longer jump off high-up areas and hope to be just fine. In terms of the new dangers, the update adds skeletal pirates that you'll need to take down with your group of swashbuckling heroes. Here's the video:

You can sign up to take part in the Sea of Thieves technical alpha test here--there are no guarantees that you will be accepted.

Sea of Thieves is an Xbox Play Anywhere game. That means if you buy it (digitally) on Xbox One, you will get the PC version for free and vice versa. Saves and achievements move between systems.

The game comes out in 2017, though a release date has not been announced. While not confirmed, it seems likely that the game will factor into Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing, which now has a date and time.

Microsoft has also stated that this game is the best game that Rare has ever made.


After Confirming E3 2017 Showing, State Of Decay 2 Gets Concept Art

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 06:10 pm

Earlier this week, State of Decay 2 developer Undead Labs confirmed it would share some news about the mysterious zombie sequel at Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing in June. You don't have to wait until then to know a little more about the game, however, as new concept art has come online.

Posted on the Undead Labs website, the newest image (concept art is released every week) shows a rural setting featuring train tracks and an "industrializing tone." The "super early" artwork is dark and moody, and is meant to make you curious about the world around it. It looks pretty awesome, but don't expect to see this exact scene in the game; it's only a reference of sorts.

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"This image shows a really early (as in before we even announced to the community) exploration into what a more industrial area might look like in State of Decay 2," Undead Labs said. "We were feeling our way through the process of keeping the rural vibe, but add in a little more industrialization. While this exact scene does not appear in the game, you will see elements like factories and railroad tracks."

You can see the concept art that Undead Labs released in the four previous weeks here, here, here, and here.

State of Decay 2 was announced back at E3 2016 for Xbox One and PC. It's a four-player co-op game, rather than the MMO Undead had discussed previously.

All we've heard about State of Decay 2 so far is that its world will be "substantially larger" than the first game's and that it will allow co-op players to split up.


Xbox Boss Teases E3 2017 Lineup -- "I'm Confident In What We'll Show"

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 05:59 pm

After Microsoft announced that its E3 2017 briefing is moving to a Sunday, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has now spoken a bit more about that change. Asked by someone on Twitter to shed some light on that decision, Spencer said a Sunday showing will be "a nice change."

Microsoft's usual E3 slot is Monday morning of E3 week. This year's show kicks off on June 11 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 10 PM GMT. That's a little late, especially for a Sunday evening before the work or school week. Spencer said about this, "Sorry Europe viewers for the late hour."

There will be some State of Decay 2 news and more details on Project Scorpio at Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing, but outside of that, we don't know what Microsoft will show. Microsoft has also confirmed that its FanFest event is returning for 2017--more details will be announced later.

In January, Spencer teased Microsoft's E3 2017 lineup. Before that, the executive said 2017 will not be a FPS Halo- or Gears of War-led year, suggesting that no new games in those franchises are coming this year. Instead, Microsoft will focus on "new experiences with different IP."

More recently, Spencer said there should be more first-party Xbox games this year than last.

In other E3 news, Bethesda has confirmed that its E3 2017 briefing will also be held on Sunday, June 11. If history is any indication, EA's briefing might also take place that day.

What are you hoping to see from Microsoft at E3 this year? Let us know in the comments below!


Beauty And The Beast Gets New Images That Show Emma Watson As Belle

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 05:57 pm

Ahead of its release next month, a batch of new images from Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast have come online. Posted by Entertainment Weekly, the images show off Emma Watson as Belle galloping through the enchanted forest and inside the great halls of the Beast's castle.

Go to Entertainment Weekly to see all the images.

Also in the feature, Watson talked about how she attended a "boot camp" of sorts to prepare for the film. "I kind of went into this boot camp for three months before we started shooting, which was singing four times a week, dancing five times a week, riding [horses] three times a week," she said. "Yeah, I did Belle boot camp."

Watson is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Hermione in the Harry Potter series. She said she feels "so blessed" to have had that opportunity to play one of her childhood heroes. Now she's doing it again with Belle. "I feel like that's almost unique to an actress to get to do that."

Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters on March 17. In addition to Watson, the film stars Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as LeFou. Ian McKellan plays Cogsworth and Ewan McGregor portrays Lumiere.

It is just the latest live-action adaptation of a classic Disney film, following Maleficent, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, and Alice in Wonderland.


Halo Wars 2 Review Roundup

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 17, 2017 05:53 pm

Halo Wars 2 launches today (for some) on Xbox One and PC, but for those who haven't already got their hands on it, what is the game like, and how does it compare to the original Halo Wars, which we awarded a 6.5 back in 2009?

The game has definitely changed after the recent open beta, says publisher Microsoft. To see what the game looks like now, take a look at its launch trailer here.

GameSpot's review is up now, meanwhile. Critic Kallie Plagge called the game "a very light RTS experience geared toward Halo veterans," and said "it runs out of steam quickly." To find out more, you can read our full Halo Wars 2 review, or check out the roundup below.

For a wider view on Halo Wars 2's critical reception, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

  • Game: Halo Wars 2
  • Platform: Xbox One, PC
  • Developer: Creative Assembly, 343 Industries
  • Release: February 21, February 17 for Ultimate Edition owners
  • Price: US $60 / £40 / AU $100

GameSpot -- 6/10

"Halo Wars 2 carries forth enough of the series' beloved elements to make any fan of Halo feel right at home at first, but not in the long run. It's palatable for those used to the FPS games, taking inspiration from favorite missions and putting a strategic spin on them; but just when things become more challenging and actually interesting, it runs out of steam." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review]

Polygon -- 8/10

"I couldn't tell you why, from a business perspective, Halo Wars 2 exists. It doesn't seem like the kind of project that will yield blockbuster returns for anyone involved. It doesn't move the RTS genre forward. But it does make for an accessible RTS that doesn't feel stupid in the process, and it serves as a reminder of how well Halo's world and fiction lends itself to spaces outside of the first person shooter, even if it can't quite shake its franchise avoidance of meaningful denouement." -- Arthur Gies [Full review]

The Guardian -- 4/5

"So has Microsoft pulled off the double whammy of pleasing both Halo and RTS fans? Apparently so. This is a game that can sit proudly in the Halo canon and also call itself a true, albeit hybrid, RTS. It's instinctive to play, exciting to watch and packs in some genuinely new ideas that deserve exploring. And if you still can't get past the inevitable compromises and unfamiliar UI, there's always the PC version." -- Mike Anderiesz [Full review]

GamesRadar+ -- 3/5

"Finding a compromise between designing an RTS for consoles and PC isn't easy (hence so few developers have tried it). Halo Wars 2, however, isn't a compromise, it's a console RTS ported to PC. Its competent but simple mechanics are wrapped around a good story that caters mainly to fans of the Halo universe.

Creative Assembly deserves props for the relentlessly zany Blitz mode, which throws up a curious vision for a direction that RTS could take in the future. I just wish that some of the creativity that went into making this genuinely fresh mode somehow permeated through the rest of the game." -- Robert Zak [Full review]

Wired -- 8/10

"While Halo Wars 2 doesn't feel as weighty or as deliciously dramatic as its FPS cousins, it does offer a tactical distraction for adventurous fans. It's not just a tagline on the box--there's actual real-time strategy here, it's well made, and it's on console. Such a trifecta doesn't come along often, and when it's spearheaded by Master Chief and company, all the Grunts would do well to take notice." -- Mitch Wallace [Full review]


DC Superheroes Meet The Looney Tunes In New Crossover Comics

By Dan Auty on Feb 17, 2017 05:52 pm

Some of Warner's most famous characters are set to team up in a series of comic books this spring. The surprise is that these specials will see a variety of heroes from the DC universe meet the legendary Looney Tunes.

A quartet of images from the upcoming books have been released. They team Martian Manhunter with Marvin the Martian, Batman with Elmer Fudd, Lobo with The Road Runner, and Jonah Hex with Yosemite Sam. Check them out below:

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Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3

Next month, DC are releasing a series of crossover annuals that will feature its heroes alongside Hanna-Barbera characters such as The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and Space Ghost. But while no further details about the Looney Tunes/DC specials have been released as yet, their covers seem to imply a slightly more serious team-up than Top Cat's adventures with Batman. All will be revealed soon.


Nintendo Was "Less Interested" In Bethesda Games Before Switch, Skyrim Director Says

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 05:17 pm

Bethesda is bringing its acclaimed RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the Nintendo Switch, marking the first time a game in the series has been released on a Nintendo platform. Now, game director Todd Howard has spoken out to praise Nintendo's new hybrid system. In an interview with GameSpot, Howard added that Nintendo was "less interested" in Bethesda's games in the past.

"I think it's really smart what they've done," Howard said about the Switch and its hybrid nature. "I think it's the kind of device that only Nintendo could make. It's exciting to bring Skyrim to the Nintendo audience."

Howard went on to say that Nintendo has been a "very good partner" for Bethesda in its effort to bring Skyrim to the Switch. This is an improvement over how things were in the past, he explained.

"Whereas before they were less interested in the types of things that we did or some other groups did," Howard said.

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Like many other developers, Howard isn't completely sure if the Switch will be a hit. "I don't know where it's gonna go," he said. "But I think it's a really smart platform. We like it a lot."

Skyrim is slated to launch for Switch this fall, though a specific release date has not been announced.

A remastered version of Skyrim, the Special Edition, came out in October for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Bethesda is one of the dozens of publishers signed up to bring games to the Switch. You can see all of the console's current launch titles here and every game confirmed for the console here.

The Switch launches on March 3.


Halo Wars 2 Launches Today For Some

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 17, 2017 05:04 pm

Halo Wars 2 doesn't officially release until February 21. However, people who buy the $80 Ultimate Edition or pick up the $350 1 TB Xbox One S Halo Wars 2 bundle that launches today can start playing the RTS sequel right now. This is the full version of the game, not a limited section.

Halo Wars 2 is available for Xbox One and PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. This means that buying the game once (digitally) on either platform gets you a copy of the game on the other for no extra cost. Additionally, achievements and saves move between platforms.

No Caption Provided

In other news, Microsoft has confirmed that Halo Wars 2 will not have a ranked competitive system at launch. Instead, this system, which Microsoft says is similar to that of Halo 5, will come "shortly after launch." Additionally, the company said it is exploring the possibility of DLC maps.

The physical PC edition of Halo Wars 2 has been canceled for the United States, though it will still be available in Europe.

GameSpot's Halo Wars 2 review scored the game a 6/10.

"Halo Wars 2 carries forth enough of the series' beloved elements to make any fan of Halo feel right at home at first, but not in the long run," reviewer Kallie Plagge said. "It's palatable for those used to the FPS games, taking inspiration from favorite missions and putting a strategic spin on them; but just when things become more challenging and actually interesting, it runs out of steam."


Decade-Old Team Fortress 2 Bug Finally Fixed

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 17, 2017 04:59 pm

The latest Team Fortress 2 update fixes a bug that apparently went unnoticed by developer Valve for nearly 10 years.

The bug, as spotted by YouTuber Nicknine and Reddit user Sigsegv, was a strange one. The pair say that if you were to join a server and choose one of the Scout, Heavy, or Sniper classes, then switch to any of Soldier, Pyro, Demoman, Engineer, Medic, or Spy, then some weird things would happen to your character's hitboxes.

Essentially, the shape and position of your body on screen would be different to what the server--and other players--saw, leading to some frustrating deaths where you might think you were out of sight, but to other players you were visible (and shootable). Nicknine claims the issue has been present in the game since launch in October 2007.

In any case, the latest patch fixes "an animation bug that would cause the client and server hitboxes to become out of sync," so hopefully that's the last we'll hear of it. Take a look at the issue, pre-patch, in action below.

Valve recently confirmed it has made a working VR version of Team Fortress, though "there was absolutely nothing compelling about it," according to the company's president, Gabe Newell. Team Fortress 2 continues to perform well, meanwhile. Nearly 10 years after release, the sequel is still the third most-played game on Steam in terms of players per hour, according to a recent report.

If you want to see what we thought of the game all the way back in 2007, check out GameSpot's Team Fortress 2 review.


Logan: Early Box Office Predictions Suggest Big Opening Weekend

By Dan Auty on Feb 17, 2017 04:46 pm

The final Wolverine movie Logan isn't released for two weeks, but early box predictions are already suggesting that it will have a big opening weekend.

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As reported by The Wrap, early tracking by box analysts suggest that the film will make between $55-$60 million in its first three days. While this would put it behind the $85 million opening gross for 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, that film was released in the summer, when films tend to perform better.

If Logan does take $60 million, it is an impressive March figure, and ahead of 2014's The Wolverine. That also opened in July and took $55 million.

There has been quite a bit of new publicity for Logan recently. A creepy viral video was revealed this week by director James Mangold, which followed this mysterious black-and-white teaser. In addition, a stylish new retro-themed IMAX poster has also been released.

While it is well known that Logan will be Hugh Jackman's final X-Men movie, there had also been speculation that co-star Patrick Stewart might also be finished with the franchise. However, in a new interview, Stewart suggested he would be interested in playing Professor X in more films. "Hugh has raised the flag that says goodbye. I haven't done that yet," he said.

Logan also stars Sienna Novikov, Stephen Merchant, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Boyd Holbrook, and Richard E. Grant. It hits theaters on March 3, 2017.

For more, check out GameSpot's recent impressions feature, "Why Logan Is The R-Rated Wolverine Movie We Want."


Archer Season 8 Trailer Takes The Show To Dreamland

By Jason Imms on Feb 17, 2017 10:51 am

Acher: Dreamland is the show's eighth season, coming to FX's sister network on April 5, 2017.

Season 7 ended on a cliffhanger, and it looks like Season 8 will be departing from the show's main plotline to tell a side-story about Archer as a hardboiled private eye.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Archer is on the hunt for his murderous ex-partner Woodhouse, Mallory plays "the biggest mobster in L.A., and Lana will take the role of a nightclub performer.

Show producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson say Archer will meet alter-ego versions of the Archer characters you know and love over the course of the Dreamland season.

Back in October, Reed said Archer will end after season 10, and in September Obsidian Entertainment's Josh Sawyer likened the show to Alpha Protocol.


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