Monday, February 27, 2017

The latest News from GameSpot News On 02/28/2017

Updates from

GameSpot News

The latest News from GameSpot

In the 02/28/2017 edition:

New Hearthstone Expansion Announced, Journey To Un'Goro

By Chris Pereira on Feb 28, 2017 12:20 am

Blizzard has announced the latest expansion pack for Hearthstone, Journey to Un'Goro, which launches in "early April" and begins the Year of the Mammoth.

As revealed in the video below, the expansion brings the usual assortment of news cards--135 in all. A small handful of these have been revealed, including the five-mana Shaman card Volcano, which randomly deals 15 damage split between all minions. There's also the Mage's Pyros, which starts out as a two-mana card that returns to your deck on death and repeatedly gets stronger (and more costly). Additional cards will be revealed beginning on March 17.

Blizzard noted that some "familiar faces" will be added to the Elemental type, while a new Adapt keyword is being introduced. This "allows a minion to become infused with elemental power, granting it new properties." When playing an Adapt card, you can choose from three different buffs for the minion, with 10 total buffs in all. These include:

  • Deathrattle: Summon two 1/1 Plants
  • +3 Attack
  • Can't be targeted by spells or Hero powers
  • Divine Shield
  • Windfury
  • Taunt

Another new type of card is the Quest type. These are one-mana Legendary cards that will always show up in your opening hand (provided there is one in your deck). Some type of quest will be listed, and by completing it, you'll receive "incredible rewards." One example is Awaken the Makers; this tasks you with summoning seven Deathrattle cards. Once you do so, you'll obtain Amara, Warden of Hope, a five-mana, 8/8 card with Taunt that has a Battlecry that sets you hero's health to 40.

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6Gallery image 7Gallery image 8Gallery image 9

"Ready to join Elise Starseeker and her junior explorers on an expedition into the uncharted territory of Un'Goro crater?" reads a description on Hearthstone's blog. "Your descent into these wild lands will be a thrilling adventure--you'll make wondrous discoveries as you become one of the first to unearth mysteries long forgotten under the thick jungle mists. Un'Goro's prehistoric inhabitants may not take kindly to your curiosity, but you never know who might appear to offer assistance in your time of need."

Ahead of a release in April, preorders for Un'Goro open tomorrow, allowing you to purchase 50 card packs from it for $50. Doing so also nets you the Fossil card pack, pictured above.

Today's news comes after a series of announcements regarding upcoming changes to Hearthstone. These include moving certain Classic cards to the Wild format, an adjustment to the schedule for when new content is released, and shifting Arena to the Standard format.


New Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 Trailer Coming This Week, Watch The Teaser Now

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 11:53 pm

A new trailer for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will arrive tomorrow. Ahead of that, Marvel today published a teaser that shows Drax (Dave Bautista) enjoying a campfire meal with his squad. He's enjoying it, at least; everyone else scoffs at how loudly he chews.

It's not clear when exactly the new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will arrive tomorrow, but we will bring it to you as soon as it's made available.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017. It also stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Vin Diesel, and Kurt Russell. It is directed by James Gunn, who also helmed the first film. You can check out a batch of images from the movie here.

In Guardians of the Galaxy video game news, Telltale is working on an episodic title based on the series, while Deus Ex developer Eidos Montreal is rumored to be working on a game based on it as well.


$250 Xbox One Bundle Comes With A Free Controller, 3 Months Of Xbox Live

By Chris Pereira on Feb 27, 2017 11:46 pm

Promotions discounting the Xbox One and PS4 to $250 were meant to have ended by now, but they're apparently continuing. Best Buy currently has a deal on the Xbox One that makes an already good offer even better.

By purchasing any Xbox One bundle on Best Buy's website this week, you'll receive a free controller and three months of Xbox Live Gold. The controllers are limited to the black and white options, but it's a solid deal nonetheless.

No Caption Provided

Note that you aren't stuck with only the $250 bundle options, which feature 500 GB systems and either Battlefield 1 or Minecraft. As pictured above, you can also choose from 1 TB bundles that come with games like Halo Wars 2, Gears of War 4, and Forza Horizon 3.

For a rundown on more deals, check out our roundup of this week's best gaming offers.


There's A $300 Version Of Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

By Chris Pereira on Feb 27, 2017 11:20 pm

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor sequel Shadow of War was officially announced today following a retailer leak over the weekend. That leak revealed a $100 Gold Edition will be available, but it turns out that is far from the most expensive version of the game.

As revealed by GameStop, where it will be sold exclusively (at least in the US), Warner Bros. plans to offer a Mithril Edition of Shadow of War. Priced at $300, it consists of the Gold Edition in addition to a 12-inch statue depicting a battle between a Tar-Goroth Balrog and a Carnan Drake.

No Caption Provided

Here's everything it comes with:

  • Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Gold Edition with Exclusive Steelcase
  • Premium Case with Magnetic Ring of Power
  • Exclusive Mithril War Chest
  • Official Game Music Soundtrack
  • Limited Edition 12" Tar-Goroth Balrog vs. Carnan Drake Statue
  • Cloth Map of Mordor
  • Collection of Exclusive Lithographs
  • Tribe Sticker Pack
  • Collector's Box

The Gold Edition, which is also sold separately, comes with the base game and various DLC, including story expansions.

Like its predecessor, Shadow of War takes place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It's slated for release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, although only console versions (PS4/Xbox One) of the Mithril Edition are listed on GameStop's website. Like the base game, it launches on August 22.


The Division: Last Stand DLC Launches Tomorrow Alongside Free Trial

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 10:55 pm

It's a big week for Ubisoft's The Division. The company announced today that the shooter's third and final expansion, Last Stand, launches tomorrow, February 28, on all platforms alongside the new 1.6 update.

The expansion and the update launch on all platforms simultaneously. Underground and Survival, the first two expansions, launched first on Xbox One and PC before coming to PS4 later.

The Last Stand expansion adds the new, more challenging Dark Zone North area, as well as a PvP mode called Last Stand. The mode, which is basically organized PvP in the Dark Zone, pits teams of eight against each other and supports matchmaking. A new Incursion, Stolen Signal, is also included.

You can read more about Last Stand here.

The free 1.6 update adds new Contamination events that are set inside a Dark Zone underground location. More Exotic weapons and landmarks are also included. Additionally, the update adds Dark Zone leaderboard and an ultra-difficult Legendary mode that is aimed at "top players."

Last Stand is included with The Division's $40 DLC pass; if standalone pricing follows from the two previous add-ons, you can expect to pay $15 for it a la carte.

Additionally, Ubisoft will launch a free trial version of The Division tomorrow for all systems. This is the full version of the game, but it caps players at level eight and is only playable for six hours. All progress from the trial edition will move to the full game if players decide to buy it.

In other news about The Division, Ubisoft recently talked about how the movie based on the franchise starring Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal is "well on the way."


Final Kong: Skull Island Trailer Is Big, Loud, And Thrilling

By Dan Auty on Feb 27, 2017 10:54 pm

The final full trailer for Kong: Skull Island has arrived. The movie hits theaters next week, and this latest trailer is packed with new footage and some spectacular monster action. Check it out below:

This trailer follows a series of promo videos that have been released over the past few weeks. These featurettes provided a behind-the-scenes look at the movie, while one clip showcased a spectacular showdown between Kong and the island's terrifying Skullcrawlers.

Kong: Skull Island is directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and is released on March 10. It stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, John C Reilly, Corey Hawkins, and John Goodman.

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 star Millie Bobby Brown reported to be part of the cast.

In other news, Skull Island director Vogt-Roberts recently confirmed that his Metal Gear movie is still in the works.


This Week's Best Game Deals: $20 Doom, $15 Borderlands Collection

By Chris Pereira on Feb 27, 2017 10:51 pm

We're rounding up the best gaming deals from this week's sales circulars, along with a few choice selections from places like Amazon and Steam.

Promotions that discounted the PS4 and Xbox One to $250 were supposed to have ended by now, but it appears they are continuing, at least for the time being.

No Caption Provided

Shovel Knight can be had for $10 on all platforms; that's a good deal in and of itself, but it's particularly noteworthy because its regular price will soon increase. Buying it before that happens still entitles you to upcoming free content, such as the new campaign.

GCU prices at Best Buy refer to Gamers Club Unlocked, which grants 20 percent off on new games.

PS4

The PlayStation Store's weekly deals are available for a bit longer. This consists of offers on EA games as well as a Critics' Choice sale, discounting The Witcher 3's Complete Edition to $25 ($30 without PlayStation Plus), Titanfall 2 to $24 ($30), and Darkest Dungeon to $10 ($12.49).

Pick up last week's new PS4 game Berserk and the Band of the Hawk at Best Buy and you'll get a $10 gift card. This stacks with Gamers Club unlocked, letting you get the game for $48 with the gift card.

Target is throwing in a free beanie with the PlayStation icons on it when you buy Horizon Zero Dawn this week.

  • Doom -- $20 (Amazon)
  • XCOM 2 -- $30 (Best Buy - $24 GCU)
  • Dishonored 2 -- $30 (Amazon)
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition -- $45 (Walmart) / $60 (Best Buy - $48 GCU)
  • Borderlands: The Handsome Collection -- $15 (Best Buy - $12 GCU)
  • Titanfall 2 -- $25 (Walmart)
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition -- $30 (Amazon)
  • Fallout 4 -- $20 (Amazon)
  • Digimon World: Next Order -- $45 (Walmart)
  • Destiny: The Collection -- $35.64 (Walmart)
  • Mafia III -- $35 (Best Buy - $28 GCU)
  • Grand Theft Auto V -- $36 (Walmart) / $40 (Best Buy - $32 GCU)
  • WWE 2K17 -- $30 (Walmart)
  • Sword Art Online: Lost Song -- $15 (Walmart)
  • Guitar Hero Live -- $20 (Best Buy - $16 GCU)
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare -- $40 (Best Buy - $32 GCU)
  • Turtle Beach Ear Force PX24 wired headset -- $65 (Best Buy)

Xbox One

The weekly Xbox Store deals continue through today, February 27, offering Grand Theft Auto V for $30, Shadow Complex Remastered for $7.50, and more.

Buy an Xbox One at Best Buy--including the bundles still going for $250--and you'll get a free controller and three months of Xbox Live Gold.

  • Doom -- $20 (Amazon)
  • XCOM 2 -- $30 (Best Buy - $24 GCU)
  • Dishonored 2 -- $30 (Amazon)
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition -- $46.47 (Walmart) / $60 (Best Buy - $48 GCU)
  • Borderlands: The Handsome Collection -- $15 (Best Buy - $12 GCU)
  • Titanfall 2 -- $25 (Walmart)
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition -- $30 (Amazon)
  • Forza Horizon 3 -- $37.31 (Amazon)
  • Fallout 4 -- $20 (Amazon)
  • Mafia III -- $35 (Best Buy - $28 GCU)
  • Overwatch -- $40 (Amazon) / $40 (Walmart)
  • Grand Theft Auto V -- $40 (Best Buy - $32 GCU)
  • Guitar Hero Live -- $20 (Best Buy - $16 GCU)
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare -- $40 (Best Buy - $32 GCU)
  • Xbox One Elite controller -- $135 (Amazon)
  • Turtle Beach XO One wired headset -- $54 (Best Buy)
  • Turtle Beach Ear Force PX24 wired headset -- $65 (Best Buy)

PC

  • Doom -- $20 (Amazon)
  • Shovel Knight -- $10 (Steam)
  • Dishonored 2 -- $30 (Amazon)
  • Fallout 4 -- $20 (Amazon)
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare -- $35.37 (Walmart)
  • Steam Controller -- $35 (Steam)
  • Steam Link -- $20 (Steam)
  • Euasoo Z-7900 mouse -- $19 (Amazon)

3DS

Select Amiibo figures are on sale at Best Buy, ranging in price from $5-$10. These include Lucina, Tom Nook, and, most importantly, Waluigi. Gamers Club Unlocked stacks with these sale prices.

  • Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns -- $34 (Amazon - $32 Prime)
  • Shovel Knight -- $10 (eShop)
  • Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice -- $18 (eShop)
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy -- $15 (eShop)
  • Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies -- $12 (eShop)

Wii U

Select Amiibo figures are on sale at Best Buy, ranging in price from $5-$10. These include Lucina, Tom Nook, and, most importantly, Waluigi. Gamers Club Unlocked stacks with these sale prices.

  • Shovel Knight -- $10 (eShop)
  • Just Dance 2017 -- $14.36 (Amazon)

Mass Effect: Andromeda - BioWare Exec Talks About Nudity In The Game

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 09:57 pm

Every entry in the Mass Effect series has been rated M for Mature in North America. The rating for the latest game, Mass Effect 3, noted that there was "partial nudity." Mass Effect: Andromeda's ESRB rating has not been published yet, but BioWare GM Aaryn Flynn has now suggested that you can expect it to get an M rating, in part because the game is upping the ante in the nudity department.

Here is what he said on the subject (via Polygon):

What appears to have been a preliminary rating for Andromeda spotted by BioWare Social Network showed an M rating and mentioned "partial nudity." However, Flynn's new tweet suggests that the rating's language will be amended. With just a few more weeks to go before launch, we would expect the official rating to be published on the ESRB's website very soon.

It's also possible Flynn was simply joking around. We've followed up with BioWare in an attempt to get more details.

The ESRB ratings for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 3 mention "partial nudity," but Mass Effect 2's does not.

Flynn went on to joke that Andromeda, which will have "pretty good banging," is "totally softcore space porn."

No Caption Provided

Andromeda launches on March 21 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. You may not have to wait that long to play, however, as a multiplayer beta is expected to launch at some point before then.

In other news, BioWare has confirmed there will be a day one patch and revealed the game's file size.

While you wait for Andromeda to come out, you can check out latest preview and chat with BioWare about the size of the game.


Watch The New Beauty And The Beast TV Trailer

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 09:51 pm

With its release now just a few weeks away, Disney has published a new trailer for its upcoming live-action Beauty and the Beast. The 30-second spot aired during the Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday, and in it, Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) invites Belle (Emma Watson) to "be our guest."

The video also briefly shows a dramatic scene where Gaston (Luke Evans) pushes Beast (Dan Stevens) off the roof of his castle. Take a look:

Beauty and the Beast opens on March 17. It also stars Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Josh Gad as LeFou, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, a character not seen in the 1991 animated movie and invented for the new version. The film is directed by Twilight's Bill Condon.

It is expected to have a huge opening in the US, where it could make as much as $120 million for its opening weekend, according to estimates. If it can cross $100 million, that would make it one of the biggest March openings in movie history. Only three movies have ever made more than $100 million for a March opening, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166.1 million), The Hunger Games ($152.5 million), and another Disney film, Alice in Wonderland ($116.1 million).

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


New Avengers Anime Show Coming From Marvel

By Dan Auty on Feb 27, 2017 09:47 pm

Marvel is turning the Avengers into an anime series. The company has announced that the new show will be titled Marvel Future Avengers, and is set to to premiere in Japan this summer.

No Caption Provided

As reported by Anime News Network, Marvel Future Avengers will target a younger male demographic. The site states that the show will focus on Makoto, a boy who gains powers via a gene manipulation experiment. Makoto and other superpowered kids are apprenticed as "Future Avengers" by the likes of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and the Wasp.

The show will debut on Disney's Japanese satellite channel Dlife, and will be accompanied by a manga series. It is currently unknown if the show will be screened in the US.

Marvel Future Avengers is not the first time that Marvel has produced anime versions of its superhero properties. In 2010, four shows were screened on Japanese TV--Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade. All were overseen by acclaimed British comic book writer Warren Ellis.

These were followed by the anime movies Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore and Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher in 2013 and 2014.


Get Half Off A Lot Of Uncharted 4 Multiplayer Items In New Sale

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 09:32 pm

Naughty Dog has kicked off a big sale for Uncharted 4's multiplayer mode. Now through March 6, everything that you can buy with Uncharted Points is half off.

No Caption Provided

This includes things like character skins, taunts, and chests. Additionally, Uncharted 4 multiplayer bundles are included in the sale, so you can save even more, Naughty Dog said in its announcement.

This sale runs until Monday, March 6, so you have a full week to take advantage of the offers. It applies to Uncharted 4's head-to-head multiplayer and the Horde-like Survival mode.

In other news, Uncharted 4 took home multiple awards at the recent D.I.C.E. Awards, including Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Achievement in Story, and Outstanding Achievement in Animation.

Uncharted 4 will receive more free multiplayer DLC this year, while a standalone game, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, is also slated to come out this year.


Horizon Zero Dawn Hides A Kojima/Death Stranding Easter Egg

By Chris Pereira on Feb 27, 2017 09:31 pm

Sony's new PS4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn, contains a small nod to Kojima Productions, the maker of another upcoming PS4 game, Death Stranding.

During your adventure, you'll come across various items that can be traded with merchants. In our time with the game, we discovered a pair of Very Rare-quality items that might catch the attention of eagle-eyed players.

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2

Both of these have icons that feature a striking resemblance to the silhouette of the Kojima Productions logo. Beyond that, there's the name of the two items, Stranded Shackles and Stranded Figure, that might hammer home that this is not a mere coincidence.

Their respective descriptions--or at least that of the Stranded Figure--may also further hint at what we've seen in trailers for Death Stranding. "This mysterious item is valuable only to the most curious merchants. A battered idol of an infant, smelling faintly of decay," it reads. A baby has factored prominently into our early looks at Death Stranding.

There may be other Easter eggs hidden in Horizon. If so, with it getting into the hands of the public tomorrow, February 28, it's only a matter of time before they're discovered.

That Guerrilla would wink in Kojima's direction isn't a huge surprise. Late last year, it was announced that Hideo Kojima had elected to partner with Guerrilla and use the Horizon engine to develop Death Stranding.


Bulletstorm: Full Clip Gets New Story Trailer

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 08:49 pm

A new trailer for the updated version of 2011's over-the-top shooter Bulletstorm has arrived.

The video for Bulletstorm: Full Clip focuses on the game's story. You play as Grayson Hunt, who is an exiled member of an "elite assassin" group known as Dead Echo. He's been sent to a planet called Stygia, who is now populated by "mutated" creatures. As you can see in the trailer, there are a lot of big action set-pieces and dramatic dialogue; take a look in the video embed above.

After leaking at E3 2016, Bulletstorm: Full Clip was officially announced during The Game Awards in December. The game will be published by Gearbox, and preordering the game lets you play through it as Duke Nukem, with Jon St. John providing new lines.

It comes with "hi-res textures, increased polygon counts, sterling audio, [and] smoother framerates," as well resolution support of up to 4K on PC and PlayStation 4 Pro. Also included is all previously released DLC.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip launch on April 7 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.


New Horizon Zero Dawn Video Shows Off Skills And Abilities

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 08:40 pm

As part of its ongoing "Countdown to Launch" series, Sony today released the newest trailer for Horizon Zero Dawn, which is now just hours away from release.

This newest video shows off some of Horizon Zero Dawn's skills and abilities, with commentary from Guerrilla Games managing director Hermen Hulst and game director Mathijs de Jonge. They discuss how Horizon Zero Dawn aims to be hybrid game that blends action and RPG elements.

"When we started the project, we had a good think about, 'How much depth should there be in the RPG systems?' And, 'How much should this game lean towards action?'" de Jonge said (via DualShockers).

Hulst added that Horizon Zero Dawn is an "RPG that plays like an action game."

You will also notice in the trailer that Horizon Zero Dawn lets you see video previews of different skills and abilities before selecting them. Additionally, the developers stresses that the game does not have any predefined classes or anything else that would lock you into playing one particular way.

Horizon Zero Dawn unlocks tonight at 9 PM PT in North America--you can preload it right now.

Reviews for the PlayStation 4 exclusive Horizon Zero Dawn started to show up last week. The game is receiving a lot of praise, including a 9/10 score from GameSpot.

"This is first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo," reviewer Peter Brown said. "For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process."

This story has been updated and corrected.


You Can Now Buy Games From Twitch, And Streamers Get A Cut

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 27, 2017 08:38 pm

Streaming service Twitch is to start selling digital PC games soon. The site announced today that it will allow viewers to purchase games directly from streamers' pages starting spring 2017.

Once you've bought a game, it will be launchable through Twitch's own desktop program, or through publisher-led applications such as Ubisoft's Uplay. Doing so will reward customers with a free Twitch Crate, which may include randomized drops of items such as exclusive emotes, chat badges, and more.

No Caption Provided

In addition, any partnered streamer whose page you purchase a game from will receive a 5 percent cut, with the developer receiving 70 percent. Publishers already signed up to the scheme include Ubisoft, Telltale Games, Paradox Interactive, Hi-Rez Studios, and more.

Twitch said the service will begin this spring with pricing in US dollars only; regional price tags will start appearing later in the year.

The streaming website, which is owned by Amazon, has sought to monetize its platform in a number of ways in recent years. It now offers a premium subscription package, called Twitch Turbo, that is integrated with Amazon Prime and occasionally gives away free games. In addition, microtransactions for chat items were introduced last year.


Minecraft Sales Reach 121 Million, 55 Million People Play Every Month

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 08:19 pm

The Minecraft franchise continues to soar. Microsoft announced today that the series has passed 121 million copies sold and 55 million unique players. This is the first official sales and engagement update since June, when Microsoft confirmed 100 million sales and 40 million unique monthly players.

Microsoft celebrated the new Minecraft milestones today with some animated GIFs that speak to the enormity of the sandbox game as it relates to sales and monthly users.

Microsoft acquired the Minecraft franchise and developer Mojang in 2014 for $2.5 billion. Series creator Markus "Notch" Persson reportedly held a 70 percent share in Mojang and would go on to leave the company after the buyout. He later outbid Jay Z and Beyonce for a Beverly Hills mansion.

At the time the buyout was announced, Persson said about the deal: "It's not about the money. It's about my sanity."

Minecraft is available on PC and all major consoles, as well as smartphones. Looking ahead, Minecraft and Minecraft: Story Mode are headed to Nintendo Switch.

In 2014, Xbox boss Phil Spencer addressed the possibility of developing a Minecraft sequel.

"I don't know if Minecraft 2, if that's the thing that makes the most sense," he said at the time. "The community around Minecraft is as strong as any community out there. We need to meet the needs and the desires of what the community has before we get permission to go off and do something else."

A Minecraft movie directed by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney will be released in May 2019.


Middle-earth: Shadow Of War Confirmed, Watch The Epic Announcement Trailer

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 08:18 pm

After yesterday's leak, Warner Bros. today officially announced a follow-up to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The new game, as rumored, is titled Shadow of War.

The amazing announcement trailer can be seen in the video embed above. It's a CG video, with the first gameplay slated to arrive on March 8.

Like Shadow of Mordor, Shadow of War is developed by Monolith Productions. Talion and Celebrimbor return from the first game; they must "go behind enemy lines to forge an army and turn all of Mordor against the Dark Lord, Sauron." The first game's praised Nemesis System also returns.

Here is the official plot description for Shadow of War:

"In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, players wield a new Ring of Power and confront the deadliest of enemies, including Sauron and his Nazgul, in a monumental battle for Middle-earth. The open-world action-adventure game is brought to life through the expansion of the award-winning Nemesis System. The robust personalization from the first game is now applied to the entire world where the environments and characters are all shaped by player actions and decisions, creating a personal world unique to every gameplay experience."

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6Gallery image 7Gallery image 8Gallery image 9Gallery image 10

Shadow of War is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

"Following the amazing reception to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, we massively expanded every dimension of the game, including the world, the story, the RPG systems, the core gameplay, and of course the personal player stories of the Nemesis System," Monolith Productions VP Michael de Plater said in a statement. "As lifelong fans of Middle-earth, we are so grateful to have the privilege to bring to life the most incredible fantasy world ever created in a new way, for a new generation. With Middle-earth: Shadow of War, we can't wait to see the amazing stories players are going to create and share."

Shadow of War's updated Nemesis System features an element called "Followers." These are characters that will add "entirely new stories of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge." The Nemesis System from the first game was a gameplay system that allowed enemies to remember every encounter with the player. The enemies also have different personalities.

Overall, Monolith is promising a "richer, more personal, and expansion world" for Shadow of War. Players can expect to see "epic heroes and villains," as well as "iconic locations, original enemy types, even more personalities, and a new cast of characters with untold stories."

Shadow of War will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam and Windows 10).

In its own statement, Microsoft confirmed that Shadow of War will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title for Xbox One and Windows 10. This means buying a digital copy for either platform provides access to it on the other. Additionally, Microsoft announced that Shadow of War will be available on Project Scorpio this holiday. The game will also be available on PlayStation 4 Pro.

Shadow of War launches on August 22 in North America and August 25 in Europe.

No Caption Provided


Twin-Stick Shooter Rive Coming To Nintendo Switch, Wii U Version Canceled

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 27, 2017 07:31 pm

Update: Developer Two Tribes has revealed to GameSpot that the previously-announced Xbox One version of Rive is "in limbo."

Managing director Martijn Reuvers stated the project "depends on a lot of things, most of them being Microsoft."

Original story follows.

Twin-stick shooter Rive's Wii U version has been canceled, developer Twin Tribes has announced. The company has revealed the game will come to Nintendo Switch instead, though no release date has been confirmed.

The shoot-'em-up was previously delayed for Wii U, with Twin Tribes telling Nintendo Life at the time, "We won't release Rive unless it's a solid 60 FPS, and if that means delaying it to a future platform, we will make that call and make sure Nintendo fans get the perfect experience." That version has now been canceled in favor of a Switch edition that runs at a smooth 60 FPS.

Rive originally launched on PlayStation 4 and PC late last year. We enjoyed it here at GameSpot--critic Daniel Starkey awarded it an 8/10.

"Rive is demanding," reads our full review. "But it pushes the kind of near-thoughtless play that shoot-'em-ups strive to achieve. When faced with an onslaught of enemies and environmental hazards, you'll have to think fast or die. Rive also doesn't run all that long, but what's here is excellent, top-notch action, and the game delivers some of the most memorable moments in a shoot-'em-up in years."

Nintendo Switch launches on March 3, priced at US $300/£280/AU $470. Eleven games are coming at launch: Skylanders Imaginators, 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I Am Setsuna, Human Resource Machine, Little Inferno, World of Goo, Shovel Knight, Fast RMX, and Super Bomberman R.

For all the games confirmed to be coming to Switch--but not necessarily at launch--take a look at our roundup. Or For lots of videos and galleries on Nintendo's hybrid console, check out our rundown of all the details in one place.


Bill Gates Is Doing A Reddit AMA Today; What Will You Ask Him?

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 07:14 pm

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will take part in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit today. He announced this with a completely bonkers promo video that parodies the Saturday Night Live David S. Pumpkins sketch featuring actor Tom Hanks.

Here's the Bill Gates AMA announcement video:

Today's Reddit AMA begins at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET. We'll report back with details on what he said if anything notable or relevant to gaming comes up.

The last time that Gates held a Reddit AMA, in March 2016, he shared his thoughts on the FBI vs. Apple case and joked about reviving the Age of Empires franchise. In a 2014 AMA, Gates talked about how he does not play a lot of video games and does the dishes every night.

Here is the SNL sketch (from October 2016) that Gates parodied:


Sea Of Thieves-Branded Xbox One S And More Rare Memorabilia Being Auctioned Off For Charity

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 07:10 pm

Developer Rare is auctioning off a number of cool items to benefit charity, including a cool-looking Xbox One S themed around the UK studio's upcoming Xbox One and PC game, Sea of Thieves.

As reported by Eurogamer, Rare is auctioning off the items for Special Effect, which is a UK-based charity that aims to help people with disabilities through video games and technology.

The eBay auction page for the Xbox One S console shows that the system is already up to £749.99 after 30 bids. The auction ends on March 1. Rare will ship the item internationally, so if you're in the US or another region, you can still bid on the console.

One three of these Sea of Thieves Xbox One S consoles exist in the world.

Rare's other charity auction items include signed and framed Rare Replay art, an original poster for Conker's Bad Fur day, and a Viva Pinata original promotional poster, among other things. You can see everything that Rare has up for auction right here.

One hundred percent of proceeds will go to Special Effect.

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. A new trailer was recently released--watch it here.


The Pokemon Franchise Turns 21 Today

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 06:58 pm

Today, February 27, is Pokemon Day. The original games came out in Japan on February 27, 1996, meaning the franchise is now 21 years old. The Pokemon Company celebrated the franchise's 20th anniversary last year with a Super Bowl commercial and a party with Drew Barrymore.

This year, fans can expect a number of events and goings-on as well to mark the latest anniversary of the celebrated and perpetually popular franchise.

No Caption Provided

One of the biggest events is happening in Pokemon Go. Now until March 6, a special version of Pikachu who is wearing a festive party hat (see above) will appear in the world.

"These special Pikachu will keep their party hats forever, but they can only be found during this limited-time celebration, so make sure to keep an eye out for them as you explore," developer Niantic said in a blog post.

Other Pokemon Day celebrations include the launch of a new Gallery Figures collection featuring toys for Eevee, Mew, Magikarp, and of course, Pikachu.

Additionally, Pokemon: The First Movie, Pokemon 4Ever, and Pokemon--Zoroark: Master of Illusions are available to watch as part of a marathon on Pokemon TV. You can stream the movies and shows at Pokemon.com or through the Pokmon TV mobile app.

What's more, a new "Pikachu Yellow Edition" New Nintendo 3DS XL is now available for $200, while GameStop is giving out Bottle Caps for Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon right now.

No Caption Provided

The Pokemon Trading Card Game Online and the Pokemon Shuffle app are celebrating as well, with new bonuses available now. Lastly, The Pokemon Company is holding an "all-day celebration" on Twitch today, featuring footage from Pokemon World Championships and more.

Read this blog post to learn more about how The Pokemon Company is celebrating Pokemon Day.

How are you celebrating? Let us know in the comments below!

This story has been updated.


X-Men Producer Confirms Next Movie Is In Development, Says It Will Be "Dangerous"

By Dan Auty on Feb 27, 2017 06:55 pm

While there have been rumors that the seventh X-Men movie--potentially called X-Men: Supernova--might start shooting later this year, there has been official news about it. However, series producer and writer Simon Kinberg has now given an update on the movie.

No Caption Provided

Speaking to Den of Geek, Kinberg confirmed that he was "deep inside" development for the movie, and alluded to reports that he might be in line to direct. "In terms of development of the next X-Men movie, Hutch [co-writer Hutch Parker] and I are in deep, deep inside of right now," he said.

"Regardless of what my role is going to be on the movie, the challenge that we have given ourselves--and that the studio has given us--is to make it feel fresh and different from all of the X-Men movies that have proceeded it, and feel like it's a new experience. And that's a great opportunity as an artist and a filmmaker."

However, Kinberg refused to be drawn on the rumors that the next X-Men film might be based on the classic Dark Phoenix storylines from the Marvel comic books.

"I can't really talk about the content of what we're talking about right now," he said. "But we certainly want to enter into new areas that the X-Men haven't entered into before. And that means just not the possibility of [the Dark Pheonix saga], but really the interpersonal dynamics between these characters.

"We would like the next movie to feel grounded and even gritty and dangerous in ways that we haven't really seen an X-Men movie be."

There's plenty more from the X-Men universe on the way. Logan hits theaters this week, while Deadpool 2 and New Mutants are expected to go into production later this year. In addition, the X-Men TV show will start shooting next month. The series was greenlit by Fox in January, and will center upon young mutants who go on the run with their parents to escape government agents.


Free Ghost Recon: Wildlands Xbox Avatar Costume Available Now

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 06:17 pm

The Ghost Recon: Wildlands open beta wrapped up earlier today on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Although it has come to a close, Xbox One owners can now pick up a free Avatar costume themed around the soon-to-launch squad-based open-world shooter.

Male and female versions of the Wildlands Nomad outfit are available right now from the Xbox Store (via Slickdeals). As you can see in the image below, the outfit makes your Avatar look like one of the characters from the game, sporting sunglasses, gloves, a hat, and a tactical vest.

No Caption Provided

The Wildlands beta ended this morning. You can check out your stats at the Ghost Recon Network site.

Wildlands contains the largest open world that Ubisoft has ever made for any of its games--you can see the game's massive map here. It launches on March 7 for all platforms.

For more on Wildlands, check out all of GameSpot's videos and written content here.


How To Buy A Nintendo Switch At Launch Without Preordering (Possibly)

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 06:12 pm

The Nintendo Switch launches this Friday, March 3. Preorders for the console are sold out basically everywhere. However, if you're in the market for the system, you may still have a chance to get one for launch.

According to WWG, retailers Target and Best Buy have now confirmed that they will have some amount of units available at their stores for walk-in shoppers on launch day or via midnight release events. GameStop, too, will offer systems for walk-in shoppers, the retailer announced last week.

Target will have Nintendo Switch stock available for walk-in shoppers starting at 8 AM local time on March 3.

Best Buy will open its stores at 12:01 AM on March 3. People can buy the Nintendo Switch itself, as well as games and accessories. Additionally, the store is giving out free Zelda posters while supplies last. You can find out if your local Best Buy is holding an event on this website.

No Caption Provided

There is no word on how many units any of the retailers will have available at launch. Nintendo has said it will ship 2 million Nintendo Switch units worldwide in March.

The Nintendo Switch costs $300 and does not come with any pack-in games. Extra sets of Joy-Con controllers are available for $80.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably the Nintendo Switch's biggest launch title. You can see all the launch games here and every title confirmed for the system here.

For more on the Nintendo Switch, check out GameSpot's roundup of everything you need to know about the soon-to-launch console.


Horizon Zero Dawn Preload Now Available, File Size And Unlock Time Revealed

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 27, 2017 05:32 pm

Sony's next big PlayStation 4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn, arrives in the US on February 28 and in Europe on March 1. Now, people who preordered digitally can preload the action-RPG.

According to GearNuke, the file size is 39.485 GB.

No Caption Provided

People who preorder a digital copy of Horizon Zero Dawn from the PlayStation Store will receive a dynamic theme for the game and the Nora Machine-Trapper Pack. This comes with weapon mods that increase the accuracy and damage of weapons, as well as crafting resources.

Horizon Zero Dawn unlocks in North America tonight at 9 PM PT, which comes out to midnight Eastern. It's not immediately clear when exactly the game will become available in other regions.

In other news, you can watch Horizon Zero Dawn's launch trailer here.

Reviews for Horizon Zero Dawn started to show up last week. The game is receiving a lot of praise, including a 9/10 score from GameSpot.

Earlier this month, Sony talked about how Horizon Zero Dawn has the potential to become a new franchise for the company. A report from SuperData said the game could sell as many as 6 million copies by the end of 2017 and up to 8 million for its lifetime, bringing it close to Uncharted 4. This would be a particularly notable achievement, as Horizon Zero Dawn is a brand-new franchise.

In other news, developer Guerrilla Games has announced everything that's in Horizon Zero Dawn's day one update. For more on the game, read all of GameSpot's previous stories and watch every video here.


New Trailer For Crazy Cop Movie Bright Features Will Smith, Guns, And Orcs

By Dan Auty on Feb 27, 2017 04:44 pm

The upcoming fantasy thriller Bright reunites Suicide Squad director David Ayer with star Will Smith, and the first trailer is here. It's a weird-looking mix of urban cop drama and outlandish fantasy--check it out below:

According to a synopsis on IMDB, Bright is "set in a world where mystical creatures live side by side with humans. A human cop is forced to work with an Orc to find a weapon everyone is prepared to kill for."

The movie also stars Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, Exodus: Gods and Kings), Noomi Repace (Prometheus), and Edgar Ramírez (The Bourne Ultimatum). It's written by Max Landis, who penned the likes of Chronicle and American Ultra.

The movie is produced by Netflix, and will hit the streaming service in December. The company won the rights to make the film in a bidding war last year, ultimately investing $90 million into the project.

In related news, it was reported recently that Ayer will direct a Suicide Squad spinoff called Gotham City Sirens. The movie will focus on Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and will also feature other characters from DC's roster of female supervillains. Suicide Squad also won an Oscar this weekend, taking home the prize for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.


Top 10 UK Sales Chart: For Honor Holds Off Halo Wars 2

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 27, 2017 03:32 pm

Ubisoft's medieval fighting game For Honor maintained its position at the top of the UK physical sales chart for the week ending February 25, holding off competition from new release Halo Wars 2.

Microsoft's strategy game finishes at No.2 in its debut week, with much of the remaining top 10 places filled with familiar games: Grand Theft Auto V continues to chart well at No.3 while FIFA 17 comes in at No.4 for the third week in a row. Sniper Elite 4 drops from No.2 to No.5 in its second week on sale to round off the top five.

For Honor's performance this week follows a strong critical reception in the days after launch. GameSpot awarded the game an 8/10 in our review; Matt Espineli said the game offers "some of the most satisfying multiplayer melee fighting conceived in recent years." For more, check out our full For Honor review. Halo Wars 2, meanwhile, launched this week without a ranked multiplayer mode. Reviews for the Xbox One and PC-exclusive RTS title were mixed, with GameSpot critic Kallie Plagge saying the game "runs out of steam quickly." You can more in our full Halo Wars 2 review.

In the meantime, take a look at the full top 10 sales below. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.

  1. For Honor
  2. Halo Wars 2
  3. Grand Theft Auto V
  4. FIFA 17
  5. Sniper Elite 4
  6. Battlefield 1
  7. Rocket League
  8. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
  9. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
  10. Forza Horizon 3

Moonlight Wins Best Picture In The Weirdest Way Possible

By Mat Elfring on Feb 27, 2017 11:23 am

The 89th Academy Awards was nothing but smooth sailing up until the final moments of the telecast. During the presentation for Best Picture, it was announced that La La Land won the Oscar for Best Picture. The problem was that Moonlight actually won.

Check out the video below to see it all play out.

La La Land was announced as the winner by Faye Dunaway, who presented with Warren Beatty. Jordan Horowitz, the producer of the film, stated there had been a mistake and Moonlight had won. Horowitz showed the piece of paper that was originally inside the envelope displaying Moonlight as the winner.

To make things even more confusing, Beatty returned to the mic and said, "I want to tell you what happened. I opened the envelop, and it said, 'Emma Stone, La La Land.' That's why I took such a long look at Faye and at you. I wasn't trying to be funny." He had accidentally been given the Best Actress envelope, which Stone won earlier in the evening.

The cast and people behind Moonlight accepted the award, and director Barry Jenkins said "Even in my dreams, this could not be true. But to hell with dreams. I'm done with it because this is true." He went on to give his love to La La Land.

In total, Moonlight won three awards that evening: Best Picture, Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali), and Writing (Adapted Screenplay). Find out all of the winners for the 89th Academy Awards here, which includes a Suicide Squad win.


Sony Interactive Entertainment's Australian Managing Director Made Redundant

By Jason Imms on Feb 27, 2017 09:39 am
No Caption Provided

Michael Ephraim, managing director of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Australia and New Zealand, has been made redundant after nearly 25 years with the company.

According to Kotaku's source, SIE management broke the news to Ephraim last week. The redundancy will come into effect at the end of this week.

Ephraim has worked with Sony Australia since 1992, having previously worked with Sega Ozisoft as sales director. He is currently a member of the board at the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association.

We have reached out to Sony representatives for comment.


Suicide Squad Is Now An Academy Award Winning Film

By Mat Elfring on Feb 27, 2017 08:07 am

At the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday night, Suicide Squad, the David Ayer directed DC Entertainment film, walked away with an Oscar for "Makeup and Hairstyling."

No Caption Provided

Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini, and Christopher Nelson accepted the award. This was the first award for each of them. Bertolazzi, who is Italian, dedicated the award to all immigrants during his speech.

While the film wasn't a huge hit with mass audiences or critics, only scoring a 40 on GameSpot sister-site Metacritic, it did win over many people with the practical makeup on characters like Killer Croc, Enchantress, Harley Quinn, and El Diablo. It was one of the few things the film did exceptionally well, and now, they have an Oscar to prove it.

From the start, the film had a troublesome production. However, Suicide Squad broke some box office records, including making more than $200 million over a weekend in August.


Recent Articles:

You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.

http://Gamefeed.us10.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=b01828b2bfdd2acf079c9de40&id=55a5ab23e0&e=96854223cb&c=5936917aa0

Gamefeed

http://Gamefeed.us10.list-manage2.com/profile?u=b01828b2bfdd2acf079c9de40&id=55a5ab23e0&e=96854223cb

demo-mailchimp-gamefeed15032015@mailcatch.com

VCard:

Gamefeed
Gamefeed
Mumbai, Mh 400001

Add us to your address book

Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp

No comments:

Post a Comment