The two games will arrive in a single package dubbed the Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack. Along with the base adventures, Striker Pack includes all of the DLC that was released for both Azure Striker Gunvolt and its sequel following their launch, which encompasses new stages, bosses, and modes.
Additionally, Inti Creates has touched up the games' presentation to take advantage of Switch's hardware. Both titles now run at 60 FPS (as opposed to 30 on 3DS) and feature higher resolution visuals, redone menus, and a number of enhancements such as HD Rumble and Switch Pro Controller support.
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack will be available at retail and in the Switch Eshop for $40. Already in the console's digital store is Mighty Gunvolt Burst, an offshoot of the Gunvolt series that features retro-styled visuals and a Burst combo system triggered by shooting close range enemies. Mighty Gunvolt Burst costs $10 and is also available in the 3DS Eshop.
September's almost here, which means that it's just about time to get a look at the next iPhone. According to a new report, the reveal event for the iPhone 8 (or whatever Apple will call it) will be held on September 12.
As for what we can expect from the next iPhone lineup, some of the features are already all but confirmed. According to code found in the development kit for Apple's HomePod speaker, the iPhone 8 will feature face-scanning technology and won't have a home button.
Other features, though, are all based on rumor. Some of the more well-substantiated reports assert that Apple will announce three iPhones: two that are similar in size and spec to this year's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and a third that's larger, has an OLED screen, and is bezel-less. It's likely that it will have a limited supply and will run you over $1,000. You can read all of the rumors about the iPhone 8 over at GameSpot sister site CNET.
This next lineup of iPhones--alongside the release of iOS 11--could be particularly good for gamers, as well. Earlier this year, Apple announced several gaming-related projects, such as ARKit for augmented-reality games on iOS, as well as support for Unity, Unreal Engine, and VR headsets on MacOS. Although most of these announcements have been focused on Apple's desktops, it's not inconceivable that we see greater attention paid to mobile gaming at the iPhone reveal event.
We'll report on whatever Apple reveals this September, so keep an eye on GameSpot in the coming weeks.
Super Troopers 2 is now officially less than a year away. The release date has been confirmed with the debut of the upcoming comedy's first teaser trailer, which you can watch above.
The red-band trailer re-introduces the returning characters and shows a scene in the locker room that I won't spoil. We also see a sequence where the character played by Jim Gaffigan in the first movie returns to reference the well-known "meow" bit.
There's very little in the trailer itself to set up the film's story, but the accompanying description reiterates what we first heard about the plot years ago. "When the United States and Canada get into a dispute about the location of the actual border, the Super Troopers--Mac, Thorny, Foster, Rabbit and Farva--are called in to set up a new Highway Patrol station in the contested area," it explains. "Our heroes quickly revert to their own brand of unconventional police work."
Super Troopers 2 recently wrapped up production and is scheduled for release on April 20, 2018. The movie was successfully crowdfunded through Indiegogo, where it raised over $4.6 million. It was written by the five members of Broken Lizard--Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanke--who also star in the movie, with Chandrasekhar directing. Other members of the cast include Brian Cox, Linda Carter, Rob Lowe, and Fred Savage.
Those still in the market for a PlayStation VR headset now have some cheaper options if they don't already own all of the required hardware. Alongside the introduction of a new bundle in the US and Canada, the existing premium bundle is seeing a $50 price cut.
For $400 (or $500 in Canada), the newest bundle comes with both the PSVR headset itself and the PlayStation camera. In addition to the headset and a PS4, the camera is the other piece of hardware necessary for the PSVR experience--but until now, it was not included with the cheapest PSVR option. This new bundle takes the place of the existing $400 standalone PSVR headset package; as Sony notes, this effectively means you now get the camera for free. This is not ideal for those who already own the camera and were hoping the headset would become cheaper, but it's a good deal for everyone else.
Sony will also continue to offer the PlayStation VR Worlds bundle, which includes a headset, camera, two PlayStation Move controllers (which are generally optional but can enhance the experience in many games), and a copy of mini-game compilation PlayStation VR Worlds. This will now be available for $450 in the US and $580 in Canada.
According to a PlayStation Blog post, these two bundles will "start arriving" in retailers on September 1; that phrasing suggests there could be a small delay in seeing it actually pop up in stores. Sony also notes that the hard-to-find Farpoint bundle, which includes a copy of the first-person VR shooter and its excellent PSVR Aim controller, are now back in stock.
October will mark the one-year anniversary of PlayStation VR's release. Sony hasn't shared firm sales figures for the device, although this is the first time it's enacted anything resembling a price cut for it. For more, check out GameSpot's PlayStation VR review.
Game of Thrones may have just wrapped up its seventh season, but HBO is hoping to continue capitalizing on fans' interest in the series for a bit longer. A new behind-the-scenes series called The Game Revealed has been announced, and the first episode is out now for free.
Game of Thrones Season 7 spoilers follow below.
Episode 1 clocks in at about 14 minutes long and features interviews with cast members and the production crew. It includes never-before-seen footage from the show and touches on a number of major moments from this season, such as the season-opening scene where Arya kills the hall full of Freys. The video explains the process for creating the shot in which Arya pulls off her Walder Frey mask. What's even cooler is to see how Cersei's giant map of Westeros was created.
This first episode is premiering for free on YouTube and Facebook; you can watch the YouTube version above. Future episodes will only be for HBO subscribers and will premiere through HBO Go, HBO Now, and HBO On Demand. There are a total of seven episodes planned for this season, with a new one coming each Monday.
PC players have to wait until October to get their hands on the full release of Destiny 2, but thankfully the game's PC beta test starts today for some. If you've pre-ordered the game, you can try it out in the beta now.
Bungie has already said, however, that some players are running into errors while trying to access the game. The studio is actively working on resolving those issues.
It's available for download through the Battle.net app, although you'll first have to redeem your pre-order code on Bungie's website. If you don't have a code, the beta goes live for everyone tomorrow, August 29.
Content-wise, Destiny 2's PC beta is very similar to the console beta that took place back in July. Players can try out the first story mission, the Inverted Spire Strike mission, and the Countdown and Control competitive multiplayer modes. The only difference is that PC players will get to try out a new multiplayer map.
It's understandable if you've never heard of Rune, the action-adventure game from developer Human Head. The title came out way back in 2000, and since then, Human Head has become much more well-known as the developer of the original Prey and the ill-fated Prey 2. Today, Human Head announced that its next project is a follow-up to Rune, called Rune: Ragnarok.
Rune: Ragnarok is an open-world sandbox RPG, according to the announcement trailer's description. Nothing else is known about its gameplay right now, but the trailer hints at the game's context and tone.
"From birth, the children of the North hear tales of the end of the world," the video's narrator states. "A battle so great the gods fall and the Nine Worlds are consumed by frost and fire. But these tales are false. The gods did not perish. For seven years our worlds have been devoured by death and destruction. Now, mankind must rise and do what the gods could not. Ragnarok must end."
Human Head hasn't announced a release date or even platforms for the game yet. However, the studio's website currently states that it works on titles for PC, consoles, VR, and mobile devices, so there's a possibility that Rune: Ragnarok could support VR headsets.
If you're interested in learning more about the original Rune, you can read GameSpot's review here. Critic Erik Wolpaw said at the time that it's a "beautiful-looking experience" but ultimately limited by a simplistic combat system.
Aside from Super Mario Odyssey, the biggest game in store for Switch this holiday season--both figuratively and literally--is Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Nintendo showcased nearly an hour of new footage of the sprawling RPG this past weekend at Gamescom, giving fans their first look at a breathtaking new area and providing them with a more detailed overview of the game's battle system.
As in the first Xenoblade, the world of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is spread across the backs of colossal beings known as Titans, which roam about an endless sea of clouds. While most of the game's locales are set on the surface of these Titans, the new area we got to see during Nintendo's Gamescom stream, Uraya, is located inside one of the giants. The area resembles a vast, faintly lit cave dotted with autumnal trees and flowing rivers, which give it an ethereal glow unlike any of the other areas Nintendo has shown off thus far. You can watch the entire gameplay demonstration below.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2's battle system is similar to that of the series' previous titles, though it has been notably streamlined in certain areas. This time around, rather than having to cycle through your entire palette to select an Art, each one has been assigned to the buttons on the right Joy-Con. The buttons on the left controller, meanwhile, allow you to swap between Blades--the physical manifestations of the weapons you use in battle. Each Blade has a different elemental type, and the Arts you are able to use change depending upon which of your Blades is currently active.
NBA 2K18 is getting a couple of huge names as commentators. 2K Sports revealed today that former NBA stars Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will provide commentary in the game.
It also released a new video that gives one of the best looks yet at NBA 2K18's new and improved gameplay. You can also listen to some of the discussions and analysis that Bryant and Garnett will provide when they're commentating on a game.
According to the developer, the two are just "Guest Commentators," indicating that there'll be a different crew in the booth more frequently. 2K explained that Bryant and Garnett will appear "on a rotating basis," although it's unclear if they'll commentate random games or games that fit a certain criteria. Rotating commentary teams were introduced last year to the 2K series.
NBA 2K18 launches on September 19 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. It'll star Kyrie Irving on the cover, although he'll be in his old Cleveland Cavaliers uniform on the standard version. Later on, 2K will release a version of the game with Irving wearing his new Boston Celtics uniform, assuming his trade to the Celtics goes through.
Game of Thrones' abbreviated seventh season has come to a close, and the indeterminately long wait for the eighth and final season now begins. One of the few things of which we can be sure is that a specific character won't be showing their face next season following a major death scene in Episode 7, "The Dragon and the Wolf." Showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss have now spoken out on the scene and shared some thoughts on how and why it happened.
Game of Thrones Season 7 spoilers follow.
As a show famous for its many shocking death scenes, Season 7 was shocking for its distinct lack of deaths. Even characters who were seemingly doomed, like Tormund in Episode 6, made it out alive. But Episode 7 featured a twist that marked the end for Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, one of the show's most fascinating characters. He's also one who enjoyed a surprisingly long run, appearing in more episodes than all but a handful of characters (and employing more than a few accents along the way).
In an interview with EW, Benioff described his elimination as "one of the harder death calls we had to make," despite having relatively little screen time overall. "The fact that Littlefinger looms so large when people talk about the show, and when we think about the show, it's really a credit to Aidan [Gillen]. Every scene he's in manages to make you think about Littlefinger. And when he's at the center of a scene--like his final scene in the finale--he's completely mesmerizing."
Benioff also noted that he and Weiss had been fans of Gillen's from his role on The Wire. They also attribute much of the success of Littlefinger as a character to his performance. "He's just one of those guys you know is going to give you something good," Benioff said. "And with Aidan you don't know what he's going to give you. He's able to change things in ways that are strange and beguiling, yet to the betterment of the character and the show. Littlefinger is a much different character than we initially imagined, and the bulk of the credit for that goes to Aidan."
Weiss added, "I would echo that there's such a beautiful strangeness to his performance and it's almost all coming from what he brings to the character. He almost turns Littlefinger into a mystical embodiment of will-to-power and thriving on chaos. There's something impenetrable to everything he does."
After a somewhat confounding sixth episode (as well as the season overall), Episode 7 made up for the show's faults. A number of things have been set up for Season 8, including a future without Littlefinger. As Benioff told EW, "We loved having Littlefinger along for the ride, but he f***ed with the wrong girls."
As the next film from the esteemed and inimitable Pixar, Coco has all the makings of something huge. But as a film about Mexican culture, it also represents a potential minefield when it comes to the ways it represents people's very real cultural heritage and personal identities. Pixar has experience with films about other cultures, from Brave's portrayal of medieval Scotland to Ratatouille's setting in France. But centered as it is on a non-white and non-English speaking culture, Coco presented an even greater challenge. Luckily, the filmmakers were keen to do it right, as GameSpot learned on a recent press trip to Pixar's Emeryville, Calif. headquarters.
Set in a small town in Mexico, Coco follows a young boy named Miguel who longs to be a famous musician like his idol, the celebrated Ernesto De La Cruz. The movie takes place during Mexico's famous Dia de los Muertos--the Day of the Dead--celebration, the one day a year when passed family members are invited back to the land of the living. The movie's focus rests entirely on family, but there's the conflict, too: Miguel's family hates music and musicians. He practices on an acoustic guitar while cloistered in a hidden attic where nobody but his street dog amigo, Dante, can find him.
It's natural to feel wary when a gigantic company--even one with as phenomenal a reputation as Pixar--appears to seek to capitalize on another culture. The filmmakers confessed that they worked hard to navigate potential pitfalls.
"The moment [Pixar Chief Creative Office John Lasseter] said 'Yes, this is the idea I want you to pursue,' I went oh my gosh, what did I just get myself into? Because I knew that I had to get it right," said Coco Director Lee Unkrich, whose previous directing credits include Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and Toy Story 2 and 3. "The last thing I wanted to do was make a film that felt like it was made by an outsider. I'm not Latino and I will never be Latino. I just can't change that. But I comforted myself in knowing that there have been a lot of great films made over time by filmmakers that were not of the cultures they were making films about."
He was first inspired to make a film centered on Dia de los Muertos by the Mexico pavilion in Disney's multi-cultural Epcot park in Florida. "I had always been drawn to Dia de los Muertos, the idea of the celebration, the folk art, the iconography of it," he told members of the press.
Plus, Pixar films are enormously successful in Mexico--prior to The Avengers, Toy Story 3 was the biggest movie ever in the country, Unkrich said. "That started the first little seed of me thinking, wow, I've never seen anything quite like that in animation, or live action," he said. "There hadn't been a film about Dia de los Muertos."
Once Lasseter approved it, they began an exhaustive years-long research process that would take them all over Mexico. "I started learning more about the celebration, and the beauty of it really opened up to me," Unkrich said. "It blossomed, and went beyond just an appreciation for the artwork to a much deeper understanding of what the celebration was really all about, and this whole notion of this family reunion that spans the divide between the living and the dead. And I just started to see a lot of potential for a story."
L to R: Adrian Molina, Producer Darla K. Anderson, and Lee Unkrich
Unkrich isn't directing Coco alone. "When I heard that Coco got greenlit I was like 'put me on that movie. It sounds wonderful. It sounds beautiful,'" said Adrian Molina, the film's writer and co-director. Molina is of Mexican-American heritage, and he said he felt a huge responsibility to get this right.
"So much of the film is about family and your connection to family, and in my experience, in my upbringing, it's true of my Mexican-American community that that is very important," he said. "I think there's something really beautiful and necessary about being able to see yourself up on-screen, see yourself as the hero. And for a Mexican-American or a Mexican family to be able to go together and have that experience, I think that would be a unique thing that they could share in watching this film."
Coco sees Miguel travel from his hometown all the way to the Land of the Dead in pursuit of his dream. But despite its fantastical elements, everything is grounded in Miguel's desire not just to become a musician, but to be accepted by his family no matter what. He can't just run away with his guitar--that's what his great-great-grandfather did, and it caused his family seemingly irreparable harm. He has to prove himself to them, helping his family to see the joy of music as he does.
"We made some big changes in the story based on the input that we got from the advisers."
Miguel's unwavering dedication to his family is one of the aspects of Mexican culture that's central to Coco. That same accuracy and authenticity could be seen in every facet of the movie shown to press, from the movie's opening scenes to Miguel's foray into the Land of the Dead. Everything from the all-important music to the background art in every shot was painstakingly crafted by dedicated teams intent on creating a Mexican town that looks and sounds authentic. That attention to detail is a Pixar trademark, but in the case of Coco it can also be attributed to the cultural consultants with which the filmmakers worked at every step, beginning even earlier in the process than on most Pixar films.
"We did something that we've never done on any other film: We actually brought the core team of our cultural consultants, the three of them, we started inviting them to every one of our [internal] screenings," Unkrich said. "Normally at Pixar we play our cards really close, and it's not until very late in production that we start to do public preview screenings. But in this case we started showing the film not just to them, but we had a series of screenings where we brought in cultural advisers from Los Angeles and different places around the country, some pretty important figures in the Latino community, and let them into the tent, as it were, to see what we were up to."
"Some of them were very wary about what we were doing and not sure about what our intentions were and how seriously we were taking it, but I think we put them at ease pretty quickly--but also made them feel comfortable giving us sometimes big notes," he continued. "We made some big changes in the story based on the input that we got from the advisers."
For example, in earlier versions of Coco Miguel's Abuelita--his grandmother--carried a wooden spoon tucked in her apron strings, like a six-shooter, to whack people who made her angry. "It was one of our advisers who said, 'No no no no, it has to be her chancla,'" Unkrich said. "She's got to pull off her slipper and beat them with it." The film turned out better for it--Miguel's family are shoemakers, after all, and Abuelita's new weapon felt all at once truer to the character, more authentic, and funnier. Unkrich said that's just one of many examples where their work with cultural experts made the movie better.
It also doesn't hurt that every member of Coco's voice cast--with the sole exception of John Ratzenberger, who traditionally has had at least one line in every Pixar movie to date--is Latino. From Gael Garcia Bernal, who plays the wily skeleton Hector, to newcomer Anthony Gonzalez, who voices Miguel, each actor brought his or her own perspective and experience to the movie, according to the filmmakers.
"I have a little bit of Spanish as a second language, but my primary language is English, and so I'll write a line that expresses what we need to express, but then we also want to use our actors as a resource and say 'If you can say this line in a way that feels more natural to you and more natural to this character, by all means go for it,'" Molina said. "And Gael really went for it. He started keying onto things like, 'I want to call [Miguel] 'chamaco,' because that feels like an old-timey kind of way that this guy might relate to this kid.' And we're like, 'OK, do it. Go for it.'"
"If we have any missteps, it's not for lack of trying really hard."
Years of research and work on the part of countless individuals both inside and out of Pixar have gone into making Coco not just a great Pixar film--but a culturally respectful one, too. Ultimately, the filmmakers appreciate this responsibility, and they emphasized that they believe they've done their best.
"I took the responsibility very seriously, and I have for many, many years," Unkrich said. "It's been great having Adrian at my side, and all of the cultural consultants that we've gathered, and the many Latino members of our crew that have been a part of this for a long time. I hope we got it right. If we have any missteps, it's not for lack of trying really hard."
Based on what we've seen of Coco so far, it's a safe bet to say that their efforts paid off. Pixar's Coco hits theaters Nov. 22.
Mario is certainly no stranger to bizarre crossovers; after all, Nintendo's iconic plumber has competed against his one-time rival Sonic the Hedgehog in more Olympic sports by now than most trained athletes. However, none of his previous collaborations have raised eyebrows quite like Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, his joint adventure with Ubisoft's Rabbids. Fans were bewildered, to put it politely, when the first piece of concept art of the rumored collaboration leaked online, which showed Mario and friends wielding gun-like weapons and accompanied by four bug-eyed Rabbids dressed like the Mushroom Kingdom heroes.
Despite this rather poor first impression, however, the game managed to defy all expectations when it was officially unveiled at E3 2017 this past June. We were pleasantly surprised by its depth and challenge when we recently got to go hands-on with with the strategy RPG, and that level of polish is just as apparent in the final build. In GameSpot's Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle review, critic Edmond Tran said the game "triumphs in creating a magical game world that is undeniably delightful" and called it "a consistent delight."
Reviews of Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle have begun cropping up online, and it appears other critics are just as taken with the game. We've collected a sample of other Mario + Rabbids reviews below. For a broader look at the game's critical reception, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Developer: Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Milan
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release: August 29
Price: US $60 / £45 / AU $90
GameSpot -- 9/10
"Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It's a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle's unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with. Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." -- Edmond Tran [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Recommended
"On first sight of that leaked artwork, with Mario frowning and pointing his shark-nosed blaster into the camera, many wondered why Nintendo would ever have said yes to the pitch for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. It seems like such a risk. Even setting the guns and the wobbly tone aside, the Rabbids are not Sonic, and XCOM is not the Olympics. The game's director Davide Soliani says that Rabbid Peach just made Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto laugh, and it's true that character embodies a winningly silly sense of fun that permeates the game and is hard to resist. But Miyamoto will also have seen a game put together with great imagination, wit and prudence that makes its chosen genre easier to get along with while also refreshing it; that is at once simple and sophisticated; that fits clean and clever concepts together until they add up to a great deal more than the sum of their parts. And that man knows a beautifully designed video game when he sees one." -- Oli Welsh [Full review]
IGN -- 7.7/10
"Based on its colorful world, beautiful animation, and source material you might expect Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle to be 'My first turn-based tactics game.' But you're in for a surprise: even for XCOM vets some of its battles are challenging puzzles. Some of its tougher levels do devolve into a trial-and-error slog, but a good mix of enemies, objectives, and character abilities keep things interesting." -- Dan Stapleton [Full review]
Polygon -- 8/10
"Mario + Rabbids manages to walk a narrow road, offering up a legitimately challenging squad tactics experience without alienating the family friendly Mario audience. While it doesn't quite have the full layer of spit and polish of an in-house title, Ubisoft comes damn close to capturing that Nintendo magic." -- Russ Frushtick [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4.5/5
"Mario + Rabbids is not a concept that I expected to get this much love. This is a legitimately great strategy experience, tailored toward the sensibilities of Nintendo and the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. It's a charming adventure for Mario, and the Rabbids don't get in the way, even if they don't necessarily add much either. In the same way that the original Super Mario RPG showed Square Enix using Nintendo's property to create some magic, Mario + Rabbids delivers something close from Ubisoft. If you're up for the challenge, pick up Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. It's worth it and I'm glad it exists." -- Mike Williams [Full review]
Game Informer -- 8.5/10
"I was as skeptical as anyone when I heard the words 'Mario' and 'XCOM' uttered in the same sentence, but Kingdom Battle didn't just prove me wrong--it ended up being my favorite Mario game in recent years. Nintendo and Ubisoft took a big risk working together outside their comfort zones, and that risk paid off." -- Jeff Marchiafava [Full review]
With September approaching, it's nearly time for the next batch of free games for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Microsoft has announced the four titles that will be available across Xbox One and Xbox 360 through Games With Gold, and there are some quality ones in there.
September starts off with Forza Motorsport 5: Game of the Year Edition, an Xbox One launch game, being free for Gold members. The timing is perhaps a bit odd, with Forza Motorsport 7 launching in early October, but this may be meant as a teaser for that game. The Game of the Year Edition comes with a Top Gear DLC car pack that introduces another 10 vehicles to the game.
Halfway through the month, on September 16, Xbox One owners will also be able to grab Oxenfree. The atmospheric, dialogue-driven adventure game first released early last year, making it the much newer of the two Xbox One games for the month.
On the Xbox 360 side, the first half of September brings Hydro Thunder Hurricane, the water-based racing game. It'll be followed by Battlefield 3 starting on September 16. Both of these games are playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
Most of August's free Games With Gold titles remain available for a few more days. One of those games, Trials Fusion, will remain free through September 15.
September 2017 Games With Gold
Xbox One
Trials Fusion (August 16-September 15)
Forza Motorsport 5: Game of the Year Edition (September 1-30)
Amazon has announced all of the movies and TV shows coming for Prime subscribers in September, and there are quite a few notable additions. That includes the comedy Wedding Crashers arriving on September 1, while Season 2 of Amazon's original series One Mississippi premieres on September 8.
The Amazon original movie The Lost City of Z, starring Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Robert Pattinson (Twilight), and Tom Holland ( debuts on Amazon a week later, on September 15. Additionally, Season 4 of Amazon's drama Transparent starring Jeffrey Tambor arrives on September 22.
Outside of the movies and TV shows, Amazon will air the first Thursday Night Football game on September 28, which is a matchup between the Packers and the Bears.
The latest batch of deals is now live on the PlayStation Store. This week, PS4 and PS3 players can find lots of discounts on Bethesda games as part of the QuakeCon Sale.
As usual, PS4 owners have the bigger selection of deals to choose from. Nearly all of the publisher's titles for the platform are on sale this week. The open-world RPG Fallout 4 is available for $20.09, while its season pass retails for $30. Also on sale is Prey; players can purchase the acclaimed shooter for $30. Those looking forward to Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and The Evil Within 2 can pick up their predecessors at a discount; Wolfenstein: The New Order is available for $15, while The Evil Within can be downloaded for $5. Other notable sales include Dishonored 2 ($30), Doom ($20.09), and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition ($30).
PS3 owners have slimmer pickings this week. As on PS4, Wolfenstein: The New Order and The Evil Within are both on sale for $15 and $5, respectively. The first Dishonored is also discounted this week for a mere $2.49. Beyond those deals, PS3 players can purchase various DLC packs for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. You can find the full list of games on sale this week on the PlayStation Store website.
Outside of the QuakeCon Sale, Sony is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the PlayStation Blog with discounts on select downloadable titles. Players can save 33% off Journey, Flower, Axiom Verge, Firewatch, Ratchet & Clank, The Last of Us Remastered, and other titles. In order to get the discount, players will have to enter the following code at checkout: ELR6CKF4P9. This promotion runs until September 5. You can find the full list of eligible titles here.
The QuakeCon Sale ends on August 29 at 8AM PT/11 AM ET. QuakeCon itself kicks off this Thursday, August 24, and runs until August 27.
Microsoft has announced the next set of regular weekly Xbox Live deals, which are available now for Xbox One and Xbox 360. These were posted on Major Nelson's blog. We've selected a few notable deals, but you can see them all here on his blog.
As for Xbox 360 deals, some of the discounted titles this week include BioShock Infinite ($12/£8/$32 AU), Fallout 3 ($3.74, £3, $5 AU), Far Cry 4 ($15/£7.50/$15 AU), and Rage ($3.74/£3/$5 AU).
These deals, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership, are good through August 28. Again, this is just a small sample of what's on sale this week; go to Major Nelson's blog to see a roundup of all of them.
There's just over a week left in August, which means it's nearly time for a new slate of content to arrive on Netflix. The streaming service has announced all of the new titles coming to the service, as well as everything that's on its way out.
Most notable for video game fans is Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light. The original series was announced earlier this year (when it carried the much funnier subtitle Daddy of Light) and is set both inside and outside of the MMO. It tells the story of a father and son who play the game together without the father knowing who his in-game companion is. Season 1 debuts on September 1.
That same day, you'll be able to watch Gangs of New York and all four Jaws films, as well as Pulp Fiction. Other notable additions throughout the month include Season 4 of BoJack Horseman and Season 7 of The Walking Dead (September 8); Season 7 of Portlandia (September 9); Beauty and the Beast (September 19); and Season 3 of Gotham (September 21).
On the departures side, the first two seasons of Wilfred, The Batman Seasons 1-5, and A Nightmare on Elm Street disappear on September 1. CSI: Miami and all 10 seasons of its incredible one-liners go away on September.
The full lists follow at the bottom of the post, and you can hit the links below to see the other video streaming services' September updates announced so far.
The Nintendo Switch has been a difficult console to find for some, with many retailers sold out of their stock and selling through new allocation almost right away. Just recently, GameStop said it sells through new shipments in a matter of days. Now, Nintendo has spoken up to say it will "ramp up" production for the hard-to-find hybrid console in preparation for the always-busy holiday shopping season.
"We're doing everything we can to make sure everyone who wants to buy a Nintendo Switch system can do so," Nintendo said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. "We will ramp up production for the holiday period, which has been factored into our forecast."
Officially, Nintendo's plan is to ship 10 million Switch consoles to retailers by the end of its latest fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. Sources in the console's supply chain told WSJ that they should be thinking about preparing to produce 18 million units. "One executive in the supply chain said his company was ready to pick up the pace of production if asked," WSJ reported.
As of June 30, Nintendo sold 4.7 million Switch units worldwide. Nintendo's stock is up 50 percent since the console's release in March, and with big games like Super Mario Odyssey and the holiday season coming up, Nintendo's fortunes could improve.
The Switch is not everything it could be right now, as it's still missing streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. You can check out GameSpot's gallery here to see the 15 Things We Want To See From Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo's Super Mario Odyssey has taken home the top honour at Gamescom's awards show. The upcoming Switch game won the Best of Gamescom award, organisers have announced. It won four others: the "Most Wanted" Consumer Award, the Best Nintendo Switch Console Game, Best Action Game, and Best Family Game.
Odyssey launches this October exclusively for Switch. The console itself continues to be hard to find, but Nintendo recently promised to "ramp up" production of the console heading into the busy holiday season.
Destiny 2 won Best Multiplayer Game and Best Social/Online Game, while the Xbox One X took home the award for Best Hardware. The award for best sports game went to PES 2018, while Best Racing game went to Forza Motorsport 7.
Since the beginning of Game of Thrones, Jon Snow has been known as the bastard son of Ned Stark. While there have been plenty of theories as to who Jon's true parents are, including a couple hints last season, there's been no concrete evidence about where Jon came from, until the Season 7 finale.
Warning: Spoilers are coming.
It was revealed through information between Bran Stark--who can see into the past--and Samwell Tarly--who learned a few things about marriage annulments while at the Citadel--that Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Also, his name isn't even Jon; it's Aegon, a popular name in the Targaryen lineage.
Ned changed his name to Jon and claimed him as his own son because Robert Baratheon--the King of Westeros at the time--would kill him, as Aegon would be the true heir to the Iron Throne. This was probably the best kept secret in Westeros. The only person who knew about this--Ned Stark--has been dead since Season 1.
That being said, if Rhaegar is Aegon's father, that makes Daenerys his aunt, which makes the sex scene between the two during the season finale a whole lot weirder, and somehow, still very Targaryen. However, if you're a Game of Thrones fan, incest isn't a new thing, especially within the Lannister family.
The "Jon is a Targaryen" theory has been popular with fans for quite some time, and it's gotten much more attention the past year, after Bran's flashbacks in Season 6 and Jon adorably petting Daenerys' dragon this season. Even crazier is that this hasn't been revealed in the books yet, so both fans of the novels and television series got the reveal at the same time.
Once fans got past the moment they realized Aegon is engaging in coitus with his aunt, many are probably wondering, "What does this mean for the Iron Throne?" Once Aegon finds out this information for himself, he'll have a decision to make. He could stay loyal to Daenerys or take his rightful place on the Iron Throne. Or he could rule Westeros together with Daenerys. However, before any of those decisions can be made, there's an army of the undead to take care of, as well as a long break before Season 8, which will be the final one of the series.
Spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 7, up through its finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf," below
Game of Thrones has had its ups and downs over the last few seasons. I've always been quick to call it out for its failings, like I did after Season 7, Episode 6, "Beyond the Wall," mangled Westeros's rules of time and space beyond recognition. I criticize Game of Thrones because I love it, which also makes it a joy for me to point out that the Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf," made up for all its shortcomings so far.
Everything just happened: Cersei, Jon, Jaime, Tyrion, and nearly every other character on the show came face to face; Jaime and Cersei finally split for good; Sansa, Arya, and Bran joined forces and took out Littlefinger; the Wall fell; and Bran and Sam pooled their knowledge and realized that Jon is a trueborn Targaryen--real name Aegon Targaryen, in fact.
(OK, so we didn't get our Cleganebowl; at least the dog-faced brothers came face to face at last, and it's definitely coming next season.)
"The Dragon and the Wolf" may have been Game of Thrones' single most important episode ever, and it knocked every scene out of the park. A lot of that was thanks to pacing: Just look how much time they spent on that big pow-wow between all the major players, and the subsequent meetings, like Tyrion's reunion with Cersei. There's a scene, seasons and years in the making, that needed room to breathe. And it had it.
Cersei's immediate reaction to seeing the undead with her own eyes was real, not feigned. That must have been the most terror she'd felt since holding the choking, purple Joffrey in her arms. But her longer-term reflex rang even truer: The Cersei who fans have come to know would never throw in with her enemies, cede an iota of power, or back off a single inch. She's shown that countless times, and this was the Sept of Baelor all over again (R.I.P. the Tyrells). A Cersei who's appeared to see reason is the most dangerous Cersei of all, as our Stark and Targaryen friends will doubtless learn next season.
In the North, Sansa and Arya turned out to be playing Littlefinger for real, and Bran dropped the knowledge that made it possible, as some predicted would happen. Watching the expression on Littlefinger's face change as Sansa called him out for his crimes--all his crimes, thanks to Bran's ability to peer through the veil all the way back to Season 1--was one of the most satisfying things ever seen on this show. Sansa learned well, and she'll take Baelish's lessons with her into the future--without him.
The big Jon reveal was one fans have awaited for decades, ever since the first book, A Game of Thrones, was published in 1996. Over 20 years ago, the most eagle-eyed readers picked up on clues that Jon might not be who he seemed--that Lyanna Stark died in a "bed of blood," and other hints. Throughout the subsequent books, and then the last six seasons of the show, the theory grew firmer and firmer in many fans' minds.
The currently published books aren't yet at the point of that reveal, but the show passed the books a long time ago. The most devoted Game of Thrones fans waited long enough, and the Season 7 finale delivered a pulse-racing one-two punch: Yes, Jon is a Targaryen, and yes, he's a legitimate heir. He belongs on the Iron Throne at least as much as--if not more than--Daenerys does.
Even the simple sight of Rhaegar and Lyanna on-screen together, likely the happiest they'd ever be, was a huge moment for Game of Thrones fans. And the show gave it the time it deserved. That's not even mentioning the action immediately following--and, in case you're not aware, getting weird with immediate family members is the most Targaryen thing there is, next to "fire and blood." Jon and Dany may not know it yet, but Game of Thrones Season 7 left them exactly where they're supposed to be.
And then, the Wall came crumbling down. It's fair to wonder what the Night King's plan was before he got himself a dragon, which is just one of the lingering concerns we'll cover another time. He has one now, and he used it to answer another decades-old question: What could possibly bring down that mighty Wall? If you answered "undead dragon fire" at any point throughout the series, give yourself a mighty pat on the back, then go and have a good cry. You've earned it.
Game of Thrones has six episodes left. The Season 7 finale didn't tie as neat a bow on it as some viewers might have predicted--Cersei's still alive, and she's not backing down, so humanity's forces aren't quite united against the rapidly approaching threat. That just leaves more action, drama, and intrigue for Game of Thrones' final season, which--it pains the books-lover in me greatly to say--can't come soon enough.
The Season 7 finale of Game of Thrones offered quite a few shocking revelations, but one that may have been a tad over-shadowed by everything else was the death of a character who first made their debut in Season 1.
Warning: Spoilers are coming.
While the majority of the finale dealt with the whether or not Cersei Lannister would join the fight with the North, there was an incredibly important moment that happened at Winterfell. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish has been playing Sansa Stark for far too long, trying to turn her against her own family, and presumably turning Arya against her; the conflict between the three characters has been the focus this season in Winterfell.
Sansa has a decision to make about her sister and her family. She has Arya brought to the Great Hall where it seems like Sansa is going to try her sister as a traitor. However, she turns to Lord Baelish to have him answer to the accusations of treason and murder. Sansa calls out Baelish on his years of manipulation, murder, and selling Sansa off. Baelish is thrown off by this and begs to explain the matter to Sansa in private. She thanks Baelish for his "many lessons," and without hesitation, Arya walks over to him and slices his throat.
For Game of Thrones fans, this is one of the more satisfying deaths on the show, right up there with King Joffrey and Ramsay Bolton. Baelish has really been the one thing in the way of everything running smoothly for House Stark, which has been in a complete nosedive since the tail end of Season 1. His death means that the family will be able to work together again without paranoia and suspicion. Sansa obviously struggled with Baelish dying, as a tear rolled down her face while Arya slashed his throat, but for better or worse (mainly worse), Littlefinger has been the only constant person in her life that wasn't abusing her or trying to kill her--he just sold her off to a sociopath. It was a horribly toxic relationship, but luckily, Arya has no problem killing off people who have wronged her or the Stark household.
Aidan Gillen, who played Petyr Baelish, appeared in 41 episodes of the series, making his debut as Littlefinger in Season 1, Episode 3. The character started his journey at King's Landing as a brothel owner, and the Master of Coin on the Small Council of the king. Throughout the series, he spent quite a bit of time manipulating members of the Stark family, trying to put himself in a more powerful position in Westeros. However, his lies finally caught of with him, and he's dead. Many fans couldn't be happier.
Right on schedule, Warner Bros. today released a new trailer for fighting game sequel Injustice 2 that shows off the next DLC character, Black Manta.
In the trailer embedded above, you can see Black Manta fight against his longtime enemy Aquaman and other Injustice 2 characters. As you'll see, Black Manta appears to be a fast-moving character who can slice you with his daggers and blast you with lasers from his eyes. Black Manta's finishing move looks appropriately impressive.
Black Manta will be available in September through the Fighter Pack 2, which goes on sale on September 12. There are three characters in all in the Fighter Pack 2, including Raiden from Mortal Kombat and the cigar-loving action hero Hellboy.
Fighter Pack 2 is included with Injustice 2's Ultimate Edition or can be purchased separately. Fighter Pack 1 was priced at $20, with its individual characters--Sub-Zero, Red Hood, and Starfire--costing $6 each.
Project Cars 2 developer Slightly Mad Studios is "impressed" with the Xbox One X hardware, COO Rod Chong said in a new interview. The Xbox One X version of the simulation racing game will have "enhancements," but Chong said he wasn't ready to get into specifics about those because the studio is still benchmarking.
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you that much right now because we are benchmarking as we speak," he told us. "We are impressed with the hardware but right now we are benchmarking. There will obviously be enhancements, but we are not ready to showcase exactly what those are yet. Other than it must be 60 frames per second or death."
People playing Project Cars 2 on PlayStation 4 Pro will also see enhancements, though specifics are unknown at this point. That console is available now, while the Xbox One X hits shelves worldwide on November 10.
At Gamescom, Microsoft announced a list of more than 100 games that take advantage of the Xbox One X's power. The system has an eight-core custom AMD CPU that clocks at 2.3 GHz. The system has 12 GB GDDR5, a six-teraflop GPU, and 326 GB/sec memory bandwidth. The console costs $500/£450/$650 AU.
Project Cars 2 game director Stephen Viljoen recently said Project Cars 2 for Xbox One X will look "significantly better" than the PS4 Pro edition. "I can't tell you exactly what all the various sliders will be at when you're on Xbox One X versus on PS4 Pro, but obviously they'll be higher [on Xbox One X], so there will be a significant, a noticeable improvement, because you have better hardware," Viljoen said.
Project Cars 2 launches on September 22 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. For more, you can check out all the cars and all the tracks through GameSpot's new videos below. Also linked below are recent news stories about the game.
Star Citizen came to Gamescom 2017 in a big way. Developer Cloud Imperium Games announced a wicked cool-looking real-time facial animation system for the game, while the studio also gave a presentation during which a lot of new gameplay was shown. If you missed the broadcast or want to see it again, the video is now online and can be seen below (via Kotaku).
The video shows off Star Citizen's upcoming Alpha 3.0, which, among other things, adds persistence to the world which means the damage your ship may contain will carry forward when you play. The gameplay video (skip to around 9 minutes) starts with the character waking up from sleep on a ship before going out on a mission, driving across alien landscapes. Also on display in this video is the new facial animation system, which tracks your facial movements and tracks them into the game in real time.
"We'd like to thank our backers for their support, and our devs and QA testers for all their hard work on the presentation," developer Cloud Imperium Games in an email.
"Events like Gamescom are a great way for devs and backers to come together to discuss and celebrate Star Citizen. The excitement and enthusiasm is not only inspiring, but also a welcome reminder of why we're all working so hard to deliver the best damn space sim ever."
Star Citizen is the most successful crowdfunded project of any kind in history, bringing in more than $157.9 million in backer contributions by the latest count.
What do you make of the new gameplay footage? Let us know in the comments below!
How do NFL players feel about their Madden ratings? Now we know, at least for some of the stars of the Dallas Cowboys. Cover 4 recently caught up with players like Dak Prescott, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and others to talk about their Madden 18 ratings.
Prescott received an 86 overall rating, which he said isn't fair. "But life's not fair," the quarterback said. Witten, a tight end, said "I'll take it" about his 90 overall rating. Cornerback Anthony Brown, whose rating is 79, said he looks forward to trying to improve his rating as the season goes on. As for Bryant, the WR said he's mad about his 76 Strength rating and 89 Speed rating, while DT Tyrone Crawford said his overall 77 rating is "extremely disrespectful." He added about his 80-rating for Toughness, "Let me get the [Madden creator] over here and I'll show him toughness. Who makes these ratings?"
In 2015, FiveThirtyEight posted a huge feature about how Madden ratings are decided. The franchise's "Rating Czar," Donny Moore, left that position and is now working on the competitive gaming side of things at EA Sports. It's not exactly clear how Madden ratings are decided currently, but it has never been an exact science.
"Overall, Madden 18 marks an unusually large shakeup in a series that, due to its annualized releases, rarely features much more than small, iterative changes," reviewer Alex Newhouse said.
One movie theater in Texas is hosting a clown-only showing of the upcoming Stephen King movie It, which stars a killer clown named Pennywise. The Alamo Drafthouse's Austin, Texas theater will require attendees to be wearing clown costumes. Really.
There will also be a pre-party with face-painters and a photo booth, as well as prizes to win from raffles and "other terrifying merriment."
"For this special Clown screening of It, all attendees should arrive dressed as a clown in order to attend. Please arrive early and join us in the Barrel O' Fun beginning at 5:30pm for an It pre-party where we will have face-painters available for clown "touch-ups", a photo booth, raffles for prizes, and other terrifying merriment. Please arrive in your own Pennywise best and be ready to float with us."
The special screenings, which are sure to be beyond terrifying and you may never sleep again but hey it's fun anyway, are taking place on Saturday, September 9. Two of the screenings are sold out, but a third has been added at Slaughter Lane at 7 PM.
It opens on September 8. Directed by Andres Muschietti, the film stars Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfard as one member of the ensemble cast.
Plans for the It sequel are already underway. Muschietti confirmed that he would start work on the second part of the adaptation soon. "We'll probably have a script for the second part in January," he said. "Ideally, we would start prep in March. Part one is only about the kids. Part two is about these characters 30 years later as adults, with flashbacks to 1989 when they were kids."
Some movie theaters screened the hugely hyped Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match on Saturday evening, and a lot of people turned out to watch. The weekend box office figures for the US have come in via EW, and the fight took in $2.4 million, putting it in the No. 9 position for the weekend. Of course, the fight was a one-night event, while the rest of the figures cover three days of of ticket sales.
The fight, which Mayweather won by TKO, was shown in around 481 theaters across the US, which comes out to around $50,000 per theater.
The No. 1 movie at the US box office this weekend was the Samuel L. Jackson/Ryan Reynolds action movie The Hitman's Bodyguard, which made $10 million, down more than 50 percent from last week's opening weekend. Rounding out the top five were Annabelle: Creation ($7.3 million), Leap! ($5 million), Wind River ($4.4 million), and Logan Lucky ($4.3 million).
This weekend's total across all movies, $65 million, stands to be the worst for the US box office since at least September 2014. The final numbers--these are only projections--could be even lower, possibly dropping to the worst since September 21, 2001. At that time, box office receipts, in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, totalled $59 million.
This weekend's box office performance in the US might have been impacted by the catastrophic storm Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Also, people possibly stayed at home to watch the Mayweather/McGregor fight.
Last month, we invited GameSpot readers to ask any question about the dinosaur-survival game Ark: Survival Evolved. We selected some questions and put them to Jesse Rapczak, the co-creative director, art, and technical art director on the game.
You can find the questions and answers below. Among other things, Rapczak spoke about split-screen support, the possibility of supernatural elements coming to the game, how mean comments affects the team, why there is no cross-play, and a whole lot more.
Ark: Survival Evolved has been in Early Access on PC for more than two years, and unfinished versions of the game are available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The full launch, which will be available digitally and on a disc at retail, is slated for August 29.
"The Windows 10 version of the game will support local splitscreen, since it is based on the Xbox version of the game. We're still evaluating whether to add local splitscreen to the Steam version. Stay tuned!"
"Do you ever plan on adding an overt supernatural element to the game, even as an option? Not so far as a magic system, but anything that strays from the science fiction atmosphere?" -- Submitted by Nerdonomicon
"We are huge fans of fantasy and mythical themes, especially when it comes to designing amazing visuals, lore and gameplay to go with them. While Ark is primarily a Sci-Fi universe, we have already dabbled pretty deep into fantasy themes with Ark: Scorched Earth, adding Wyverns, Rock Elementals, and the ruins of an ancient human civilization obsessed with worshipping the Obelisks and the Manticore. More recently, we added an exciting Griffin that can be tamed on the official Ragnarok mod map. Be sure to check this stuff out if you haven't already, and remember that Ragnarok will be coming to consoles at the end of August!"
Rapczak
"Are you sure it's ready to come out of early access? Considering there are still numerous bugs and performance issues across a number of systems, how confident are you people will pick this game up for double the price it was for early access?" -- Submitted by Smalwex
"We definitely are ready to come out of Early Access, but that doesn't mean we're ending development! Now that the console versions have hit Gold Master, many of the biggest issues in the multiplayer game are being addressed over the next few weeks with the team focused especially on PC optimizations and bug fixing leading up to launch.
Our server refresh and cheating fixes being deployed are intended to fix a lot of the remaining problems players have been seeing with the live game. We are already seeing a tremendous amount of pre-launch interest in the retail version of the console game, and strongly believe that Ark's retail price is a great value at launch--especially for new players!"
"Is there a possibility at some future point that Windows 10/XBL users would be able to play with those that purchased on steam? At some point could the Windows 10 version possibly be activated on steam?" -- Submitted by Groto
"We have said it before and we'll say it again--we want everyone to play together! While there are no issues with Steam, the main hurdle is Sony's policy against PS4 cross-network play with Xbox. We just don't have the time or resources to make multiple versions of the PC game and servers that support cross play with only one console platform (and it's confusing for end users).When the day comes that Xbox Live and PSN players are allowed to play together, we'll be first in line to support it."
"For the full release of the PC version, are you planning any additional anti-cheat measures? Do you think cheaters at this moment in time pose a serious risk for the game and people's enjoyment of it?" -- Submitted by Wiro_
"Prior to the retail launch we are rolling out new server code and infrastructure necessary to prevent critical issues such as server crashing exploits, duping, and DDoSing. This will be deployed on a new server network that will give new players the best experience on launch day. Legacy servers will still be supported, although we plan to remove low population servers over time." (more info here)
"Have any of the negative comments every pushed you to curl up on the couch with a pint of ice cream and just binge your favorite show on Netflix?" -- Submitted by Louis
"I think it's important to remember that we're all hard-working human beings, making huge personal sacrifices to ship a game that we can all be proud of. The internet can be quite mean and nasty sometimes, and I'd be lying if I said hurtful comments don't affect us. That being said, we try not to take the bad stuff personally and appreciate ALL feedback: Good, Bad and Ugly. Negative remarks that aren't simply intended to be insulting often contain valuable feedback, which is why we choose to develop the way we do, with as much transparency and two-way communication as possible."
"How much longer do you feel you can work on this game before you move to something else? Would you consider handing the continuing support of the game to others?" -- Submitted by Louis
"Ark has proven to be a hugely successful IP with staying power, so we don't plan to stop developing it any time soon. We have exciting plans and lots of ideas to extend Ark over the next few years, and you'll be hearing about them soon."
"Do you have a preference for the future of Ark? Do you feel more effort will be put towards new maps, or trying to build in an adventure element? Or will there be a push for yet another level to the tech? Or Filling out what's there?" -- Submitted by Wiro_
"All of the above! We very much feel that Ark is an IP that transcends one game, and you'll be hearing more about Ark's future following the retail launch on August 29th. Stop by our booth at GamesCom (Aug 22 - 26) or PAX West (Sep 1 - 4) to find out more - it's going to be an exciting ride!"
"Good news! We have some nice PC optimizations coming for retail launch based on the console work we recently completed. It's important to remember that Ark's world is fully dynamic, and while we have created countless proprietary optimization techniques, Ark can't benefit from being optimized in the same ways that many other games can.
Nearly every tree and bush can be removed, most medium-sized rocks can be demolished, players can build massive structures everywhere, hundreds of AI creatures can be tamed from tens-of-thousands out in the wild, and we still want to use advanced dynamic lighting techniques and highly-detailed assets. That's why our system requirements are higher than many games if you want to turn some of those features on, and performance can depend on a lot of factors related to what you've managed to get on screen.
"I have always wondered if there are any plans to get private games more improved to allow further player distances instead of being close to the host?" -- Submitted by LLamasOnTheRun
"For console, this is a problem of memory. Xbox One, PS4 and PS4 Pro just don't have enough memory to keep the entire world loaded while also playing the game. Fortunately, the Xbox One X has massive amounts of extra memory, so we plan to remove the host barrier when the host is using an Xbox One X!"
"Will the two follow-up Expansions announced for the Season Pass complete and close the Ark Storyline entirely or is there potential for additional Expansion content not included in the initial Season Pass?" -- -- Submitted by Cyanicember
"As long as Ark players are interested in the type of content we are creating for the Season Pass, we'll continue making it! We have lots of ideas and a full-time writer on staff to help us develop the Ark story further. In the meantime, have you read all the Explorer Notes yet??"
Umbrella Corporation, Sarif Industries, Aperture Science, Inc.--names that are as recognizable to gamers as real life brands like Nabisco, General Electric, and Exxon. Logos--real or fictional--add color to game worlds, whether it's the aesthetic and thematic focal point of Rapture in Bioshock or the more subtle businesses that blend into the city of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V. And while the likes of Red Bull in Wipeout XL, Tully's Coffee in Binary Domain, and Tower Records in Crazy Taxi were eye-catching and noteworthy real life brands, made up companies are often more effective in immersing the player into these imaginary worlds.
This collection features a mix of 100 distinguished and less familiar fictional logos.
Part of the fun of exploring the worlds of Fallout and Dishonored is in the discovery of new and imaginative brands, businesses like Red Rocket and Rothwild Whale Slaughterhouse. These companies add a great deal of character to their environments partly due to their occasional intertwining with their respective game's narrative. That also includes the not-too-subtle signage pointing in-the-know patrons to the black market shops in Dishonored 2.
Nuka Cola -- Fallout
Vault-Tec Corporation -- Fallout
Red Rocket -- Fallout 4
Union Aerospace Corporation -- Doom
Nabcom -- Doom 3
Rothwild Whale Slaughterhouse -- Dishonored
Rothwild Whale Meat -- Dishonored
Winslow Safe Company -- Dishonored 2
Black Market Shops -- Dishonored 2
Dragon Symbol -- Skyrim
TranStar -- Prey
Wipeout By Designers Republic
In futuristic sports, no competitive organization is as visually iconic as Wipeout's Anti-Gravity Racing League and its myriad teams like Feisar and AG Systems. The series' lore isn't especially rich or deep but you can track a team's evolving brand across the franchise's 200-year timeline. The influence and significance of Designers Republic--the firm behind many of these logos--can't be overstated.
Anti-Gravity Racing League -- Wipeout
FEISAR -- Wipeout
AG Systems -- Wipeout
Auricom -- Wipeout
Qirex -- Wipeout
Piranha -- Wipeout XL
Angryman icon -- Wipeout XL
Eye Spy icon -- Wipeout XL
Icaras -- Wipeout 3
Assegai Developments -- Wipeout 3
Bioshock
Ken Levine's metropolises in Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite aren't direct reworkings of real life cities in the way that Liberty City is New York and Vice City is Miami are for the Grand Theft Auto series. That said, well-conceived businesses like Sinclair Solutions and Fink Manufacturing help considerably in conveying the believability of Rapture and Columbia.
Sinclair Solutions -- Bioshock
Minerva's Den -- Bioshock 2
Atlantic Express - Bioshock 2
Fink Manufacturing -- Bioshock Infinite
The First Lady -- Bioshock Infinite
Military Organizations
Fictional armed forces like COG from Gears of War and Halo's UNSC are organizations with iconography compelling enough appear in real life clothing and accessories that fans wear with pride.
Independent State Allied Forces -- Ace Combat
United Nations Space Command -- Halo
Coalition of Ordered Governments -- Gears of War
Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces -- Dead Space
XCOM - XCOM
Corporations and Private Organizations
Abstergo Industries, Shinra Electric Power Company, and Atlas are perfect examples of business that are narratively integrated into their various games. Some of corporate entities are diabolical enough to serve as the target of many games' protagonists. And a company name can even be used in game titles themselves, as proven by Wario Ware Inc. and Umbrella Corps.
Abstergo Industries -- Assassin's Creed
Hardiman -- ADR1FT
Atlas -- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Mustang Arms -- Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Sarif Industries -- Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Shinra Electric Power Company -- Final Fantasy VII
Canyon Entertainment -- Grand Theft Auto
Black Mesa -- Half-Life
Dexter Industries -- Hitman: Absolution
Cerberus -- Mass Effect
Tomato -- Shenmue
Blume Corporation -- Watch Dogs
876 Production -- The Idolmaster
Aperture Laboratories -- Portal
Gentek -- Prototype
Umbrella Corporation -- Resident Evil
Ultro Corporation -- Saints Row, Red Faction
Liandri Mining Corporation -- Unreal
Wario Ware, Inc. -- Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
Meskor Engineering -- Papers, Please
Mishima Zaibatsu -- Tekken
Teams, Factions, and Clans
Game heroes and their resistance movements don't have the resources and marketing dollars to pay for carefully-crafted branding like evil corporation do, but that doesn't mean these groups--like the Assassin's Order and The Fireflies--don't have their own memorable logos. From the Hunter's Mark in Bloodborne to the Vanguard faction in Destiny, the majority of clans and teams in games aren't borne out of rebellion but still add context and character to a game's narrative and environments. Last but not least, our inclusion of the Anchorage Watchmen from Backbreaker serves as an example of the thoughtful but under-appreciated logos of fictional sports teams.
Assassin Insignia -- Assassin's Creed
Anchorage Watchmen -- Backbreaker
Hunter's Mark -- Bloodborne
Ares One -- Destiny
Vanguard -- Destiny
Inquisition -- Dragon Age
Grey Wardens -- Dragon Age
Yorha -- Nier: Automata
Saika Clan -- Nioh
Team Rocket -- Pokemon
Order of the Flaming Rose -- The Witcher
Thors Military Academy - Branch Campus Leeves Crest -- The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Squad 7 -- Valkyria Chronicles
Gallian Revolutionary Army -- Valkyria Chronicles
Shadaloo -- Street Fighter II
The Fireflies -- The Last of Us
Shoreline -- Uncharted 4
DedSec -- Watch Dogs
Hideo Kojima Works
Hideo Kojima and his art teams have a history of designing memorable insignias. Dogs, foxes and skulls make up much of the iconography of the Metal Gear franchise, evolving as the series' timeline grew to span over a century. Logos can also be found in Kojima's other works like Zone Of The Enders and Policenauts.
Outer Heaven -- Metal Gear
Fox Hound -- Metal Gear Solid
FOX -- Metal Gear Solid 3
Pieuvre Armement -- Metal Gear Solid 4
Diamond Dogs -- Metal Gear Solid 5
Militaires Sans Frontieres -- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Maverick Security Consulting, Inc. -- Metal Gear Rising: Revengance
Policenauts Crest -- Policenauts
United Nations Space Force - Zone Of The Enders
Food and Beverage
Even game characters need to eat and drink, especially if it's Jill's Sandwiches and Saints Flow. Like a fine cocktail, OverCharge Delirium XT from Sunset Overdrive and Virility from DmC Devil May Cry go a step further as products well-blended into their games' plots. And as eCola and Nano Cola proved, there are unlimited ways to reimagine the ubiquitous carbonated soda.
Hotdog -- Alien Storm
Jill's Sandwich -- Dead Rising
Big Kong's Crunch -- BS Golf Daisuki! O.B. Club
Virility -- DmC Devil May Cry
Saints Flow -- Saints Row: The Third
Power Cola -- Two Crude Dudes
NacDomalds -- Tokimeki Memorial
Big Bang Burger -- Persona 5
Nano Cola -- Overwatch
OverCharge Delirium XT -- Sunset Overdrive
eCola - Grand Theft Auto
Brand Assortment
From presidential seals to anti-vomiting drinks, you'll never know when or where a memorable brand might appear. Rather than have real life car manufacturer and gas company brands in racers, games like Mario Kart and Burnout Paradise illustrate the effectiveness of parody and homage. From the storytelling power of mundane objects in Gone Home to the clothing companies in Style Savvy, developers have many outlets to design imaginative logos.
Hammerhead Full Service Station -- Final Fantasy XV
Watson -- Burnout Paradise
Rossolini -- Burnout Paradise
Presidential Seal -- Saints Row 4
Unknown Dimension Literature -- Gone Home
Peptic Thunder -- Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Marble Lilly -- Style Savvy
Alaco -- L.A. Noire
Marioro -- Mario Kart 64
Bowser Oil -- Mario Kart 8
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