Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon aren't the only adventures still in store for 3DS; today publisher Atlus announced it is bringing a trio of RPGs to the handheld.
The first to launch is the next installment in the Etrian Odyssey series, Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth. Like previous entries in the franchise, the game is a first-person dungeon crawler. Players create their own party members and set out on a quest to reach the top of the fabled Yggdrasil Tree. What sets the series apart from other dungeon crawlers, however, is its cartography system; as you navigate the labyrithine corridors of Yggdrasil, you'll need to manually chart out a map of the dungeon using the 3DS's touch screen.
In addition to that, Atlus is bringing two expanded verions of previous RPGs to the handheld. The first is Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, a 3DS port of the 2011 DS release Radiant Historia. Along with redrawn character art and new voice overs, Perfect Chronology contains new story content in the form of a third timeline made up of "what-if" scenarios.
Perfect Chronology also features two different modes, Perfect and Append. Perfect mode allows players to experience the expanded story immediately, while Append mode takes players through the original quest before allowing them to jump into the expanded adventure in New Game+.
The final release is Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux, an expanded port of the DS title. This time, players will encounter a mysterious new character named Alex, who plays an important role in how the tale unfolds. The game also features new demons (many drawn from other Shin Megami Tensei titles), new endings, and an additional dungeon to explore.
Etrian Odyssey V is releasing for 3DS this fall, while Radiant History and Strange Journey Redux are arriving in "early 2018." Each title will retail for $40.
A new update for Playerunknown's super-popular PC game Battlegrounds is coming this week, and now the patch notes and specific timing details for it have been released.
The patch is due out on Thursday, June 8, at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET, and should take around 1 hour to appropriate, the developer confirmed on Steam. If you're on the game's test server, you can already experience the new changes, apparently.
The new Battlegrounds patche introduces changes to improve server performance. In one area, an issue has been addressed that prevented characters from moving when a "large amount of data is sent." In terms of gameplay changes, the "match ends" timer now displays at 1 minute remaining instead of 5.
There are also bug fixes in his update. Specifically, the patch addresses an issue where weapon icons at the bottom of the screen would not display when switching weapons or opening the inventory. You can see the full patch notes below.
Football fans, this one's for you. Sony has released its weekly deals and they include several top soccer titles under its Futbol Sale.
Until June 13, you can get 60% off several titles including PS4's FIFA 17 Standard Edition for $16 (or $24 for the Deluxe edition). PS3 versions of both games are available at a deal, too, and so is Pro Soccer Evolution 2017 for PS4 ($20) and PS3 ($14).
The weekly deals are a little lighter this week than usual, ahead of Sony's upcoming Days of Play promotion. Starting June 9, there will be a week of game sales with retailers offering Nioh, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and MLB The Show 17 for $40 each, among hardware sales (including a gold-color PS4 Slim for $250).
Ahead of Microsoft's E3 briefing this Sunday, the company today released new teasers for its briefing, inviting people to "feel true power."
The brief trailers are strange and interesting. They show people booting up a console, presumably the Project Scorpio, while all manner of weird images and sequences follow, including pupils widening, volcano plumes, a wolf, and more. They each end with the tag, "Feel True Power," which is surely a reference to Project Scorpio. You can see the videos below.
According to reports, these videos might contain clues about Scorpio, including potentially its release date--an object has the phrase X10S101-317, which some believe is an October 13, 2017 date--and a possible dig at Sony's PS4 Pro. Let us know in the comments below if you've been able to find any secrets in the videos.
More details on Scorpio will presumably be discussed at E3 next month, during Microsoft's briefing on the afternoon of June 11. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
All Xbox One games work on Scorpio, though the Scorpio editions can look and perform better, in some cases, if developers want to do that. It is a similar situation with PS4 and PS4 Pro.
The second season of Netflix's sci-fi mystery Stranger Things is one of 2017's most anticipated shows, and it hits the streaming service in October. Now the creators, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, have been speaking about what fans can expect from the upcoming season.
In an interview with Variety, Ross admitted that knowing the show now had a big following had changed their approach to the next season. "The pressure is we know people are going to watch it," he said. "It's trying to make something that we think they're going to like. We've tried in the writers' room to go, 'Okay, what do we want to see?' And hopefully people will respond to that as well.
"A lot of the story for Season 2 was figured before the show had come out, so we had the big beats figured out already," Matt continued. "Some of the stuff that fans had been asking for, we wanted the same stuff. But the point is not to give everyone what they think they want. Because I don't think they really know what they want."
The Duffers wouldn't give many plot details about Season 2, but did tease that it would feature new monsters. "Hiding the monsters can be more effective than seeing [them], so restraint can be a good thing," Ross said. "I can't talk too much about them, but they're cool."
However, they did confirm that Barb, the fan-favorite character who met a gruesome end in Season 1, wouldn't be back. "There's no resurrecting Barb. It was really surprising how much she took off," Matt said. "I related to her, so I think other people did as well."
In April, David Harbour, who plays cop Jim Hopper, revealed that he had seen the finished first episode of the new season. "I've seen Episode 1 and have seen a lot of the shooting at the monitor and I can honestly say that I am so excited for you all to see this season," he said. "It's so fun and dark and complex. The characters all get to deepen and develop and we get to take on even greater demons (inner and outer). The story moves so fast in the middle and the tension is so high."
A first teaser was screened during the Super Bowl in January--check it out here.
GTA Online's Gunrunning update will launch on June 13, Rockstar Games announced today.
As announced previously, Gunrunning adds new weaponized vehicles, the Mobile Operations Center vehicle, and bunkers where players can store their illegal arms and practice their shots. You can see the content in action in the brand-new trailer released today.
The Gunrunning update will be available on the usual platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC.
In other news, Take-Two recently announced that Grand Theft Auto V has shipped 80 million copies.
In ancient Egypt, a Pharaoh's heiress is robbed of her status by the birth of a brother. She lashes out in a rage and unleashes mystical power but is eventually suppressed and mummified, only to be reawakened in the present day, and still eager to claim a position of all-encompassing power. Seeing ancient, magical forces wreak unsuspecting havoc on modern society is a tantalising prospect. But while there is some payoff, The Mummy often gets bogged down in exploring the unremarkable mythology of how and why its titular monster came to be. The cast of mostly one-note characters don't add much to that, leaving the film's brief teases of its expanded universe as the most notable thing about it.
The film begins focused on that lore, jumping between ancient eras in an effort to build anticipation and foreshadow the inevitable events of the film. Eventually, we join Tom Cruise and Jake Johnson from New Girl, who play a couple of unscrupulous American soldiers stationed in the present-day Middle East, and have a knack for getting themselves in hot water while hunting for ancient treasures. We encounter them facing unwinnable odds, but surviving mass destruction nonetheless through dumb luck as a goofy, buddy-cop duo. Jake Johnson is comfortably in his element here, though Cruise comes off worse because of him. Cruise's humorous quips and supposed womanising personality feel insincere by comparison and his jokes never really land, making his lighthearted moments awkward at best, with only a couple of exceptions.
The buddy-cop dynamic doesn't last long, though. When the mummy is finally released into the world, the film shifts to a more ominous tone. Tension becomes the film's primary objective, and it succeeds for a brief time, during the period where characters are still oblivious to the threat at hand. But as the mummy continues to regain her strength away from the main cast, Cruise spends time trying to work out what the hell is going on and how to overcome it, with the help of Annabelle Wallis' archeologist character. But the discovery of this information is given a lot of screentime for what is ultimately superfluous and could have easily been summarized by one of the film's early punchlines: "It's Egyptian." Nevertheless, Wallis' character is devoted to this exposition, guiding Cruise through his discovery of the film's world-building beats, and acting as an emotional foil when necessary.
There is some value that comes out of this, and it revolves around the introduction of Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe), who leads a mysterious paramilitary organisation devoted to locating and acquiring creatures of ancient and mystic origin. The influences taken from Marvel's Nick Fury character and his SHIELD organisation are unmistakable, but from the pseudo-scientific methods they use to keep the mummy contained, to the teases of possible monsters to come, to Dr. Jekyll himself, the promise of seeing mysticism go up against modern warfare are the most intriguing parts of the film.
Although her backstory is pedestrian, the titular villain is also interesting in her own right. Sofia Boutella moves with convincingly creepy mystique, and seeing her abilities depicted is entertaining, especially when it comes to showing Cruise's inability to go head-to-head with her. There is also an interesting portrayal of the mummy's curse, which features an aspect of psychological dominance as she manipulates Cruise and others to do her bidding. But because of this mostly uncontested power, a lot of later scenes involve unconvincing chases as Cruise and Wallis run from zombie-like creatures. The threats become more regulated, and scenes of tension are not as well executed, often being undermined by unbelievable outcomes and premature cutaways. Even the climactic world-destroying devastation that arises, though visually stunning, still feels underwhelming with the most disastrous occurrence amounting to a few flipped cars, and a thick layer of dust over everything. Cruise's disaffected character also means that the stakes in these final scenes are ultimately meaningless.
The end of the film leaves you looking ahead to speculate on the future events of the Dark Universe, but those aspects become the only memorable takeaways. Though the mummy herself is an intriguing antagonist, the cast and story structure that support her are mostly uninteresting, making The Mummy a disposable experience at best.
The Good
The Bad
Russell Crowe's Jekyll sparks anticipation for the Dark Universe
New information on Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima's newest project, Death Stranding, has certainly been scarce, but it appears we'll have to wait even longer to learn more about the enigmatic title.
Kojima announced today via Twitter that Death Stranding will not be at this year's E3. Kojima says the reason for this is because his team is "fully focused on development." In typical Kojima fashion, he followed that message with another cryptic tweet, this time of a poster with the word "Bridges" beneath a spider web. While it may not help clarify any details about the game, Kojima says that is the "only new information [he's] able to provide at this time."
Death Stranding is Kojima's first project since the designer parted ways with Konami following the release of Metal Gear Solid V. The game was announced at last year's E3, though much of it remains shrouded in mystery. The title is described as an open-world action game and stars Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus as the protagonist (and features the likeness of actor Mads Mikkelsen and director Guillermo del Toro).
Death Stranding is in development for PS4. The game doesn't have a release window, though Kojima says it will arrive before 2019.
Square Enix has announced Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, the third fighting game featuring characters pulled from across its long-running role-playing series, will be released for PlayStation 4 "in early 2018."
The three-on-three fighting game has been available to play in Japanese arcades for some time now, but this is the first time it will be available on a console. The first Dissidia was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2008.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is developed by Square Enix in partnership with Team Ninja, the studio behind the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series, and--more recently--Nioh. Players pick three characters from a range of Final Fantasy heroes and villains, and then pit them against enemy teams in over-the-top brawls.
Fighting takes place from an over-the-shoulder perspective and hallmarks of the series such as magic and summons are a key focus. Check out the video above to see some Final Fantasy Dissidia NT gameplay.
"Offering strategic online and offline play, players can select from over 20 legendary characters and familiar summons, including Ifrit, Shiva and Odin, to bring into 3 vs. 3 battle," reads a press release. "The game also brings back the Dissidia series' unique 'bravery combat system,' alongside unparalleled visuals and seamless gameplay."
Square Enix has also said that producer Ichiro Hazama, director Takeo Kujiraoka, and professional fighting game players Justin Wong and K-Brad will appear at the E3 Coliseum on Tuesday June 13th at 15:15 PDT / 23:15 BST to discuss the game further.
GameSpot will be providing all the latest coverage from E3, including news, previews, and detailed analysis of all the major press conference. You can find out when Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, as well as the major publishers, will have their keynote events using our E3 2017 press conference planner.
[UPDATE] Geoff Keighley has revealed that there will be a one-hour God of War presentation at the E3 Coliseum event to kick things off on June 13. Director Cory Barlog will be there.
E3 Coliseum kick off with an epic 1 hour presentation from @corybarlog and the God of War team. They've been working hard on this one.
The massive poster for Star Wars: Battlefront II is not the only one going up in Los Angeles ahead of E3 2017's official kickoff. Sony is putting up a huge poster for the PlayStation 4-exclusive God of War, suggesting it will have a major presence at the gaming show next week.
Below is a picture of the poster, snapped by Twitter user MonkeyFlop. As you can see, the poster is not quite finished.
That the new God of War would have a major presence during Sony's E3 showing next week is no big surprise, given the franchise is one of Sony's biggest and best known.
The new God of War game was announced at E3 2016, but it was a no-show at PlayStation Experience and we haven't seen much of it at al since the initial reveal. Game director Cory Barlog teased that the wait for new footage will be worth it. "I promise we will be showing something really awesome when it is ready," he said.
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all the Electronic Arts titles that will be at EA Play, the company's E3 event.
We will continue to update this story as more titles are revealed.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from EA, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
This year's Call of Duty: WWII is centered around the European theater of the war. Its single-player campaign includes famous WWII battles and settings, like the D-Day invasion of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge, and primarily stars a young, inexperienced soldier from the US 1st Infantry Division. The game's multiplayer will be familiar to Call of Duty veterans, but it will also introduce a new "War Mode" featuring iconic battles as well as a social space. Call of Duty: WWII launches on November 3 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Below you can find articles highlighting important details we know about the game thus far:
Activision and developer Sledgehammer Games have promised a full multiplayer reveal for Call of Duty: WWII at E3. It will also be playable on the show floor for attendees.
What We Hope To See At E3
It seems like the focus at E3 is on multiplayer. A lot of the game's multiplayer will be familiar for Call of Duty, so we'd specifically like to see the new War Mode in action--it's a team-focused mode set in "iconic" World War II battles, and we're curious if it'll resemble Battlefield 1's Operations mode or something entirely different. It'll also be interesting to see how the game's WWII setting will shape competitive multiplayer.
Of course, It would be great to see something about the Zombies mode. Nazi Zombies in particular has been a fan favorite for a long time, and Sledgehammer could provide a fresh take on the classic.
As for single-player, but Sledgehammer has said that it wants to treat the war with respect. The reveal trailer was pretty bombastic, so it would be nice if the developer took some time during E3 to showcase parts of the campaign that could set Call of Duty: WWII apart from other WWII games. Everything shown so far has been very familiar territory, especially D-Day--E3 is the perfect setting for Sledgehammer to really distinguish its next game.
In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, we see the return of Talion and his wraith companion Celebrimbor as they take the fight straight to Sauron and his dark army around Mordor and beyond. As the follow-up to GameSpot's 2014 Game of the Year, the developers at Monolith Productions have significantly enhanced the game with a much larger scale in combat and exploration, an expanded loot system, and an extension to the incredible Nemesis System in the recruitment of allies. Though the game saw a rather unexpected delay recently, the developers are confidant that it will be worth the wait.
Below you can find articles highlighting important details we know about the game thus far:
Though nothing has been directly confirmed yet, we can expect to see the game on stage at the Microsoft press conference, as Xbox is now a marketing partner for the game. Though it was just announced back in March, WB Games have been surprisingly generous with details about the game and has released a sizable amount of video footage for the game. And given that the game will be out later this year, it's likely we'll see more generous helpings of footage and impressions from the game.
What We Hope To See At E3
Given its stance on recontextualizing Tolkien lore and showing off sides of the world that are rarely seen in the films and books, it would be really wonderful to see more characters from the source material in Shadow of War. The one thing going through the back of every Tolkien fan's mind is who else is going to show up in this game? Of course, this game is about Talion and Celebrimbor's story, and the developers have their own fiction to work on, but it would be a really special moment to see one of the characters from the films show up during Middle-earth's E3 showing.
If that's too much to hope for, then what WB Games and Monolith Productions can really do is show off more of the open-world gameplay. Given the expanded scope, and how the enhanced NPC systems are also getting a buff, it would be really exciting to see how those systems come to blows in epic fashion. Tolkien's universe does the epic scale well, and it would be very satisfying to see it within the context of Shadow of War, which is looking to be more ambitious than its predecessor by a country mile.
With E3 right around the corner, we're putting together lists of all the games you can expect to see at the big-time gaming show. This list is for all the games for on every major platform.
We will continue to update this story as more titles are revealed. Keep checking back for our lists for all the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch games confirmed for E3 2017.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
An official list of every company that will be an exhibitor at this year's E3 has been released, and in terms of sheer numbers, it's quite long. Among them are the industry's biggest publishers, including Activision, Sega, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft.
Among those absent from the list are Electronic Arts and Devolver Digital. Both companies still have plans for E3, but they won't technically be at the show; EA will host its EA Play event in the days prior to the convention, while Devolver will have its usual setup across the street.
You'll see GameSpot listed as well, as we'll be back on the show floor once again.
E3 2017 runs June 13-15, with briefings from Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft planned for the days before the show kicks off.
As well as the upcoming movie versions of Stephen King's It and The Dark Tower, the author's classic novella The Mist is getting the small screen treatment. The new show premieres on Spike later this month, and a full trailer has now been released. Check it out below:
This follows two earlier teasers--you can check them out here and here.
This will be the second time that King's 1980 novella has been adapted. In 2007, Frank Darabont directed a movie version, which was a critical hit but failed to make much of an impact at the box office.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Christian Torpe explained how the new series would differ from the source material. "The novella is 200 pages and one location, and we needed to change that to make an ongoing series. But we wanted to remain faithful to the heart of the story," he said.
In the book and the film version, the people of the town huddled together in a grocery store to avoid the mist and the monsters outside. While in the store, they became the monsters. In the TV show, there will be several of these "lockdown locations," according to EW.
The Mist premieres June 22. It stars Alyssa Sutherland, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Bill Carr, Gus Birney, and Luke Cosgrove.
Ahead of E3 next week, developer Rebellion has announced a brand-new IP called Stranger Brigade. Put simply, it's a co-op shooter with supernatural enemies, but it's one that's also set in the rarely used setting of the 1930s.
"There are remote corners of the British Empire where the supernatural lurks and the shadows linger, where few dare go and fewer return," Rebellion said in a press release. "In Strange Brigade you'll encounter fantastic and forgotten civilizations shrouded in mystery, uncover treacherous tombs and test your wits against unfathomable foes."
There enemies are further described "mythological menaces" who have been summoned by a resurrected Egyptian witch queen (which sounds vaguely reminiscent of the new Mummy movie). Players take part in a "rip-roaring, third-person 1930s adventure full of peril, mystery, and derring-do" while playing as one of four characters. Each character has their own weapons, tactics, and supernatural powers, although none of these were explained in any detail.
Stranger Brigade supports four-player co-op and is "coming soon" to PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can check out the first trailer above and screenshot below. You can expect to hear more about the game at E3 next week.
The X-Men franchise continues to grow, with The New Mutants, Deadpool 2, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix all expected in the next couple of years. But there is one X-Men spinoff that hasn't been quite as lucky, and that is the much-delayed Gambit. Now producer Hutch Parker has confirmed that the studio still plans to make the movie.
In an interview with ScreenRant, Parker was asked about whether Gambit would actually happen, given there were so many other X-Men movies set to hit screens. "It is [still part of our plans]," he said. "I don't have any news on that but there's still a desire and a passionate interest to see that movie made."
This comment follows those made recently by director Doug Liman, who was at one stage attached to the movie. "It's a crowded field of superhero films so the challenge for Gambit or any of those other movies is finding its unique space and its unique take," he told IGN."But, yeah, I think Simon Kinberg, who is producing it, is a great producer and he'll create something great out of it."
While both of these comments are positive, they don't suggest that the movie is going to happen any time soon. Gambit was originally scheduled for release in October 2016, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Rupert Wyatt as director. He left the film in September 2015, citing citing scheduling conflicts. However, a story in Deadline at the time suggested that there had been ongoing disagreements over both the script and budget.
If it happens, Gambit is set to star Channing Tatum as the card-throwing superhero of the title. Like Deadpool, Gambit is a character spun off from the X-Men, first appearing in a 1990 issue of The Uncanny X-Men. He appeared briefly in 2009's critically panned X-Men Origins: Wolverine, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch.
"This is a game that truly understands what makes a platformer great, and it adds enough unique elements to separate it from its peers," reviewer Tom McShea said at the time. "From the pacing and difficulty curve to the controls and combat, everything comes together to form an amazing, unified adventure."
Looking to play Overwatch this weekend? You will be doubly rewarded. Blizzard announced today that Overwatch is hosting a double XP event June 8-12 on all platforms.
The XP bonus applies to almost every way you can earn XP, including completing matches, winning matches, earning medals, and more. Additionally, it stacks with group and IGR bonuses, but it does not boost your first win of the day bonus--that stays at 1500 XP.
The double XP event starts June 8 at 5 PM and comes to an end on Monday, June 12, at 11:59 PM PT. You can see how that time converts based on where you live in the image above.
"It's been an incredible year, and we're so thankful you were a part of it," Blizzard said in a blog post announcing the Double XP event.
The next Mass Effect: Andromeda patch is on the way. BioWare today announced update 1.08, which expands the romance options for Scott Ryder, adds new options to the character creator, fixes bugs, and more.
Scott Ryder can now romance Jaal. BioWare points out that he's the first squadmate of the same sex that Scott Ryder can become romantic with. Additionally, the update addresses one of Andromeda's romance-themed achievements.
"Scott Ryder did not have a same-sex squadmate available as a romance option, nor could the achievement for completing three romances be achieved with only male same-sex partners," BioWare explained in a blog post.
"And as the Angara have expressed their fluidity in how they perceive gender, it seemed only natural that Scott could have a relationship with Jaal," the developer added. "The relationships with your crew are some of the most loved and cherished parts of our games, so we wanted to make sure we got it right. We consulted with members of the LGBTQ community, both externally and within our own studios. After carefully considering all feedback, we decided this was an important change to make, and one that made sense for Jaal, Scott, and the Angara."
BioWare added that it hopes the relationship between Scott Ryder and Jaal "feels as fulfilling and memorable for Scott as it does for Sara."
The newAndromeda update also improves the game's character creator by adding two new head options, one each for male and female. There is also a new complexion option and more skin tones. Additionally, all hairstyles are now unlocked for both sexes, as is a new bald option.
What's more, you can now change your appearance mid-game at a station on the Tempest.
Outside of those changes, the patch fixes a number of bugs, including one where the audio for ammo pick-ups would not play correctly. Another issue addressed with this update is when melee attacks would not work if the revive icon was close to the center of the screen.
The full patch notes for Andromeda's 1.08 update follow below.
[UPDATE AND CORRECTION: This update is not out yet, but is coming soon]
Mass Effect: Andromeda 1.08 Patch Notes:
Single player
Ryder's appearance can now be changed onboard the Tempest
Expanded the range of options available in the character creator
Jaal can now be romanced by Scott Ryder
Dialogue for Hainly Abrams was adjusted to change the flow of personal information she discusses with Ryder.
Fixed issue with Nomad upgrades Shield Crafting quest
Nexus level and cryo pod points are retroactively granted
Vendors now carry weapon mods for Level 60-71 players
Vendors now sell weapon augmentations for automatic fire, burst fire, and single-shot fire
Improved clarity of descriptions for augmentations
Plasma Charge system now works properly for shotguns
Beam Emitter augmentation now causes guns to fire a constant beam with scaling damage based on the weapon's damage per second
[PC] Added experimental support for Dolby Vision technology
Multiplayer
Stealth Grid challenge now increments properly
Fiend no longer sprints when within 10 meters of target, and will decelerate to base speed
Enabled movement correction during Fiend attacks to reduce incidence of players seeing Fiends attacking in the wrong direction
Improved movement prediction for some enemies in tight spaces to reduce appearance of teleportation
Fixed issue that prevented melee attacks if the revive icon was near center screen
Fixed issue where ammo pick-up audio incorrectly played
Fixed issue where Backlash could malfunction while moving
Using Stealth and Recon Visor together no longer increases duration of invisibility for Turian Agent
Fixed issue where weight reduction modifications wouldn't reduce weight
The Revive Pack Transmitter now displays the revive radius in the loadout screen
Equipping the Cobra RPG now interrupts reloading
Player turns to Adhi when getting synced to avoid teleportation issue
Fixed issue where enemies would occasionally enter T-pose when hit
Improved visual and audio cues for player ready status in Multiplayer lobbies
E3 is right around the corner. There are always rumors about what might get revealed and shown off at the year's biggest gaming event, and this year is no different.
Below is a roundup of all the big rumors heading into E3 2017. Let us know in the comments below if we've missed anything, and as always, you can send in tips at news@gamespot.com.
Multiplatform
This year's Assassin's Creed game is expected to be formally announced at E3 during Ubisoft's briefing, but we already know some of the details thanks to multiple leaks and reports. It's rumored to be called Assassin's Creed: Origins, with a hero named Ba Yek. [More details]
Bethesda is rumored to announce a new Wolfenstein title, The New Colossus, at its briefing. This rumor actually dates back to E3 2016, where a follow-up to The New Order was teased. After that, a handful of leaks and reports have suggested a sequel is coming. [More details]
Another big rumor this year is that Bethesda will possibly announce a sequel to The Evil Within, from Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami's studio, Tango Gameworks. This was teased as part of Bethesda's E3 2017 invitation card. [More details]
Sony
Nothing has tied it to E3 as of yet, but a noted analyst said earlier this year that Sony might release a new, more powerful PlayStation in 2018. [More details]
Microsoft
Microsoft has said Halo 6 won't be at E3, though the company did tease that it will have a "little something" for the Halo brand at the show. As of yet, we don't know if it's a new game or something entirely else. [More details]
Nintendo
There have been a good amount of rumors swirling around Nintendo this year, starting with a new Mario/Rabbids crossover game that's reportedly titled Battle Kingdom. It's rumored to be a turn-based role-playing game where Rabbids dress up as Mushroom Kingdom characters, so that's cool. [More details]
Switching gears, a new version of Pokemon Sun and Moon for Nintendo Switch is reportedly on the way. The new game is reportedly titled Pokemon Stars. It was not announced during the Pokemon-themed Nintendo Direct on June 6, but it could show up during Nintendo's main news event at E3 on June 13. [More details]
Following the NES Classic console in 2016, Nintendo is reportedly preparing another Classic console, this one for the SNES. If it follows the model of the NES Classic, you can expect it to have a similar form factor to the SNES (but smaller) and come bundled with a number of games. We would hope Nintendo has listened to feedback and includes a longer controller cord and is easier to find this time around. [More details]
THQ Nordic has released the first gameplay trailer for its newly announced sci-fi RPG, Elex.
Developed by Piranha Bytes, the studio behind Gothic and Risen, Elex is an open-world sandbox RPG set in Magalan, a world ravaged by a meteor strike. The game mixes together fantasy with sci-fi elements and pits you in the role of a former Alb, a tribe who consume the eponymous life force to stregthen their bodies and rid themselves of emotions.
The new trailer gives fans their first glimpse at the vast and varied world of Magalan, which is comprised of five distinct regions that players can freely explore from the game's outset. You can watch the video below.
Elex is releasing for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 17. THQ Nordic is releasing a special collector's edition of the game that includes an art book, soundtrack, a cloth map of Magalan, a combat drone amulet, and a 10-inch figure.
GameSpot recently had the opportunity to speak with 612 Games boss Stephen Bugaj, who formerly worked at Pixar and Telltale Games, about this change and a lot more.
In our interview, Bugaj said 612 announced Wild West Online earlier than it had planned, due in part to a leaked screenshot for the game that some assumed was for Red Dead Redemption 2. The developer "had to respond" to the leak, and decided to announce the game and its plans for a Kickstarter campaign. The excitement was so strong that the initial investors decided to add to their funds, allowing the game to bypass Kickstarter and Steam Early Access altogether.
Also in our interview, Bugaj talks about how even though Wild West Online has no single-player, it still has "other activities" for people who want to play solo. Additionally, he told us more about the exciting-sounding train-robbery game mode and said there are no current plans to port the game to consoles. He also commented on Red Dead Redemption 2's delay to Spring 2018 and what that means for Wild West Online, while he spoke about what his game offers that Rockstar's may not.
Wild West Online is scheduled to launch later this year on PC, with a beta coming up this summer. Our full interview, edited and condensed for clarity, follows below.
GameSpot: What can you tell us about the private investors who kicked in the extra funds allowing you to bypass Kickstarter and Early Access?
Stephen Bugaj: They are experienced game financiers who recognized a legitimate response among the fans and were willing to put in enough money to get the initial version up and running.
Why do you think they might have been hesitant before the reveal to go all in?
We hadn't asked because we were planning for the Kickstarter campaign and had just accepted that was the path we had to take. When the leak occurred, we had to respond, and the reaction from gamers was so strong that the investors decided it would be worth a further investment to allow the team to focus on making the game, and connecting with players through forums and eventual direct presales, rather than running a crowdfunding campaign and all the work that entails.
The response to Wild West Online you've said has been overwhelming. What's some of the feedback you've received that has stood out or made a mark on you in particular?
People want a multiplayer Western experience, and we are especially happy that players totally recognize the different play types that WWO will provide versus RDR2. What surprised us is how big the pent-up desire for such a game really is, and how much time people are prepared to spend immersing themselves in this kind of world. People on the forums are already crafting Role Play characters and making copious gameplay suggestions for a game that was just leaked a couple weeks ago. We were also very pleased with how thrilled gamers are about the concept art for the women characters, especially.
Due to the extra funds, you are no longer on Kickstarter or Early Access, but do you plan to solicit feedback from the community to shape the direction of the game? Will the beta do that?
We've already started doing that through the forums at forum.playwwo.com. The team is small and very busy, so we don't respond to a lot of the suggestions directly, but we're reading them and taking everyone's thoughts into consideration. Alpha and Beta will continue that tradition, but like every good multiplayer online game we hope the players spend a lot of time in our world over the years, and we have plans to continue updating the game long after 1.0, so even after official release we will be listening to players and adjusting things based on community suggestions, complaints and observation of how folks are playing. Does that mean everyone will get everything they want? Of course not, but we want to maximize the fun for everyone as much as is possible.
When are the alpha and beta periods coming and what can we expect from them in terms of content?
We're planning to have an initial alpha test this summer. Our focus during alpha will be on checking our server infrastructure and making sure that the basic gameplay elements are working correctly. WWO will be pretty light on content at this stage and most likely we'll have around 25% of the map opened for players, but we will be expanding on both content and open the other map areas as we progress through a series of alphas, and move into a Closed Beta. We hope that we'll reach closed beta in mid Fall 2017.
You have said you're looking to create a "living, breathing Wild West world"--what does this mean in practice? What kinds of activities can players partake in for PvP and PvE?
PvP is combat-based: gunfights and hand-to-hand. Group PvP will take the form of raids, with one group raiding and the other defending; and similar group combat like group duels and ambushes. Groups can also go on NPC-provided PvE quests together, and generally just explore and role play together. PvE quests, which are also available to solo operators, will include finding specific locations, items, etc. Finally, players can build and maintain homesteads, and engage in resource farming.
Can you play and have a good time as a solo player?
There is no single-player mode, but a solo player can go on NPC-provided quests, resource farm, and engage in one-on-one PvP combat. Of course, through role-playing and out-of-game socializing, solo players will also have a chance to make new friends and team up for further adventures, which for us is the most enjoyable part of online multiplayer gaming. If that's not your cup of tea, there are still other activities that let you lone wolf it.
Do you plan to make Wild West Online available on Steam and DRM-free on GOG?
WWO will eventually be available on Steam, and players who preorder or buy the game before it makes it debut on Steam will automatically receive free Steam keys to be able to play on Steam if they want.
Do you have a price point in mind for Wild West Online? And can players expect micro transactions for things like customization items or boosters or anything of that nature?
We are targeting a $40 price point, but we will also be offering some discount opportunities, as well as opportunities to buy-in to some of the things that would've been Kickstarter rewards had we not cancelled that campaign.
When you started talking about Wild West Online, one of the elements that sounded the coolest was the multiplayer, server-wide train robbery mode. What more can you tell us about this mode and how it works?
This is something we are planning to release as one of the first expansions to the game. There will be a train that goes around the map once every few hours. Players can go to the train station and as soon as the train arrives they can get on it. As soon as they're on the train they will assume the role of "defender." For each route segment--from station to station, they get paid, and they can basically get off the train as soon as it reaches station. This activity will take as much time as you are willing to put into it, but the more time you dedicate to defending train the more in-game money you will earn.
On the other hand, if you'd rather attack the train as a "bandit" you can plan ambushes. The train and its position will be clearly marked on the game map so everyone will know where it is right now and where it is going next. To slow down the train, bandits can plant explosives along the tracks and they can attack the train by shooting at it. At the same time, they can shoot the train's defenders. The goal of the "attackers" is to get the train to stop. Once it's stopped they can go to the cargo cars and rob the train of its gold. The train is stopped each time only for a small period of time while it's being "fixed"--this is basically a timer. Once the train starts moving you can't rob it anymore and you'll need to stop it again.
If an attacker managers to get gold, they will need to bring it either to merchants in the towns or to bandit settlements to "sell" it for in-game currency. But beware, if you're killed on your way to sell gold you just robbed from the train, then your gold will drop and other players will be able to pick it up.
Essentially this "Event" that we're creating is sort of a Raid that happens every few hours within our world and it is open to all players to participate.
Rockstar recently moved Red Dead Redemption 2 to 2018. You were previously going up against them. What's your response to that move and how does it impact Wild West Online, if it does at all?
We are RDR fans, so we're disappointed that we will have to wait longer to play RDR2. Otherwise, we've never thought of RDR2 as direct competition: we're a PC-only, online, open-world, multiplayer game and as far as we know so far RDR2 is a console-targeted, narratively-driven, single-player experience. Both games have a Western setting, but only because the genre is underrepresented does the question seem especially urgent--nobody thinks much about it when a dozen different modern warfare games drop in the same year or if one of them delaying means much. We think Rockstar did what they need to for their game to be what they want it to be and it isn't a reflection of the market for Western games overall because we also know that the fans are still excited for WWO (because they're telling us).
Do you have any plans to bring Wild West Online to consoles?
At this time we are 100% focused on making the PC game as good as it can be and haven't made any porting plans whatsoever. However, as they say, the only thing you can't predict is the future. Check-in again after the 1.0 PC release and we'll see.
"We would like to address rumours based on a clerical error on the Pokemon press site," a spokesperson said. Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon are coming exclusively to Nintendo 3DS family of systems and are not due for release on Nintendo Switch. This listing on the Pokemon press site was made in error and is not indicative of future plans."
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were announced during the Pokemon Nintendo Direct today. The new versions of the 2016 3DS RPGs launch in November, featuring an "alternate story" and "new features that will allow you to enjoy your adventure even more." Additionally, there will be Pokemon that did not appear in the original versions of the game.
During the Direct, Nintendo also announced Pokken Tournament will be released for Switch. It will feature new fighters, including grass- and ghost-type Pokemon Decidueye. The game will be showcased further at Nintendo's Treehouse Live events during E3.
As E3 kicks off in Los Angeles this weekend and attendees get the chance to play Super Mario Odyssey for Nintendo Switch, fans much further away will be signing up to try the game too. Nintendo is hosting two early access events in Canada, where Nintendo Kiosks will allow select people to try the game.
The events take place at Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and at Metropolis at Metrotown, in Burnaby, British Columbia. You have register for time slots to play, and registration takes place this Saturday, June 10 at 10 AM. Nintendo urges players to come early and sign up, as each person gets one time slot and there are a limited number of spots to go around.
Time slots to actually play the game take place at the same locations June 13-15. You can find full details on Nintendo's website.
Nintendo has some swag on offer, too. If you preordered Super Mario Odyssey, Arms, or Splatoon 2 and you show staff at the Nintendo Kiosks the receipt, they'll give you a Mario Universe Challenge Coin and enter you in a drawing to win credit to spend on more Nintendo gear.
Super Mario Odyssey isn't due out until the end of this year, but it will be on full display at E3. GameSpot is there to bring you the latest details on the game and others, and you can follow our full E3 coverage right here.
Nintendo is bringing its Splatoon 2-themed Switch Pro controller to North America, the company announced today via Twitter.
The special-edition controller releases on July 21, the same day Splatoon 2 launches worldwide. The controller was unveiled last month during the Japanese broadcast of Nintendo's Arms-focused Direct, along with other Splatoon-themed accessories such as neon pink and green Joy-Cons. The special-edition Pro controller features pink and green grips as well as paint splatter designs on its body.
Nintendo hasn't confirmed if it'll bring the other Splatoon-themed accessories to the US, but it seems likely the company will release the Splatoon-colored Joy-Cons here as well.
Nintendo also anounced a special Splatoon 2 Switch bundle for Japan, though like the system, the bundle quickly sold out. Fans can still purchase the empty box, however.
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