Destiny 2 is out now, and among the elements that you can play beyond campaign and the Crucible is the first of the game's weekly Nightfall Strikes. A Nightfall Strike is a special version of the activity, with special modifiers to crank up the challenge.
A post on Bungie's website confirms many of the details about this first Nightfall Strike, including the name, "The Arms Dealer." Your task is to "shut down the operations of an ironmonger providing weapons to the Red Legion."
Unfortunately, the modifiers are being kept under wraps. So you'll have to discover those for yourself when you play the game. We do know the challenges, however, and these include the following:
Speed Of Dark: Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
Unbroken: Complete the Nightfall with fewer than 3 deaths.
Trash The Thresher: Shoot down a Thresher while fighting Bracus Zahn.
Nightfall Strikes, along with their modifiers, rotate weekly, so you'll have many more chances in the future to try your hand at them. Given that the modifiers change, it is recommended that players select a loadout with the modifiers in mind, but you can do whatever you want.
Pokemon Sun and Moon players can soon add another free Pokemon to their collections. To commemorate the series' upcoming 20th anniversary film, Nintendo will be distributing six Pikachu, each one wearing the different caps Ash donned throughout the anime series.
Beginning September 19, Nintendo will release a special code via Pokemon.com that allows players to receive one of the aforementioned Pikachu. Each one will only be available for a week and, along with wearing a different hat, comes with a slightly different moveset that reflects the attacks it used at that point in the anime. However, players will only be able to redeem the code for one of the Pikachu, so you'll have to choose carefully. You can find the distribution schedule (and the corresponding games that season was based on) below.
Those who attend a showing of Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You will also get a bonus Ash's Pikachu TCG card, as well as a special QR code for the upcoming Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon versions. Players can use this code to add a Pikachu wearing the hat featured in the movie to their team.
Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You will receive a very limited international showing on November 5-6. Those interested in attending can find their nearest venue and purchase tickets through Fathom Events. Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon release for 3DS shortly after the movie's theatrical run, on November 17.
Destiny 2's release is officially here on PS4 and Xbox One. After launching early for those with physical copies, Bungie has launched its new shooter, and things appear to be holding up pretty well. It warned of server queues when trying to log in, and while those were present, the wait for many was relatively short. Bungie has also shared some details regarding when other key components of the game will come online, including the Raid.
Destiny 2's first Nightfall Strike is already available, while the Raid kicks off at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST on September 13 (3 AM AET on September 14 in Australia). Trials will become available at the same time on September 15 (16 in Australia).
Bungie is intentionally not sharing any details on Destiny 2's first Raid. "If you have witnessed the race to become the first to topple the final boss, you know we keep Raid info well under wraps," Bungie said. "These are your moments to discover--your mysteries to solve. We've given you the when. You will soon discover the who, the what, and the where. Together, as a team, you might even discover the how."
We also learned that Destiny 2's Guided Games system won't be available until September 12 at 10 AM PT. This will be rolled out as part of what Bungie is calling a "soft beta," in that only some players can get in at the start. Guided Games is a new feature coming to Destiny 2 that will help solo players link up with Clans to tackle the most profound challenges in the game as a Fireteam.
"This will allow us to slowly ramp up players over the course of September (and allow Clan populations to grow) so that everyone has a great experience," Bungie said. "During the Guided Games Beta period, we need your Clans to fully test the system at scale. All Clans will be able to guide solo players, so once you've mastered the Nightfall, Fireteam up and guide solo players to the highest heights."
Here is a breakdown of when the Guided Games feature will begin:
Nightfall Guided Games Beta: September 12th, 10AM PT
30-50% of players will be given seeker access, depending on clan participation in Destiny 2 during the first week.
Nightfall and Raid Guided Games: September 26th, 10AM PT
Target: 100% of players will be given seeker access.
Figment, the upcoming adventure-game-meets-musical, now has an official PC release date and a new launch trailer that shows off some of its story, gameplay, and original music (check it out below). We've also gotten a more firm idea of when to expect versions of the game on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Developer Bedtime Digital Games will release the game on PC and Mac (via Steam and GOG) on September 22. For the console releases, Bedtime says to expect them sometime during the winter.
Figment puts you in control of Dusty, as he explores "the recesses of the human mind: a strange and surreal world...populated by the many voices we hear in our heads," according to Bedtime. You solve puzzles, navigate whimsical levels, and battle Sinister Nightmares. Enemies and character sing songs from the original score, and music (along with the charming hand-drawn visuals) play a big role in setting the tone of Figment.
"This mind has been quiet and calm for many years. But something has changed," Bedtime said, describing the plot. "New thoughts have started to emerge--taking the shape of nightmarish creatures who spread fear wherever they go. The only hope is for the grumpy Dusty, the mind's former voice of courage, to get back to his old self and help the mind to face its fears." You can check out more of Figment's gameplay and its original score in the music video trailer, released in July.
After many PlayStation 4 players found themselves unable to play Destiny 2 due to server errors, today has brought with it a new problem. A number of players have reported a PS4 crash error that's begun popping up, and Bungie says it's aware, though it doesn't yet have a fix.
Bungie has confirmed reports of players encountering crashes, which yield the PS4 error code CE-34878-0. The official help page for this error dates back to April and talks about updating firmware, reinstalling your original hard drive (if you've swapped it out), or formatting the system. Posting on its official forums, Bungie said that some players have reduced how often this happens by disabling HDCP on their PS4. This option can be found in the System area of the PS4's settings menu.
Of course, simply causing crashes to happen less often is still far from ideal. Bungie noted that it's working with Sony "to identify the cause for this issue." As such, there's no word on how quickly a fix might be released.
This follows a (since-resolved) online permissions error that prevented many PS4 players from playing overnight and into today. Those on PS4 Pro have also been dealing with crashing errors, which is among the known issues in Destiny 2 outlined by Bungie. Other problems to be aware of include one with the Nightfall (be sure to create a Fireteam before launching the Strike) and falling off a cliff in Nessus's Sunken Caverns (which may force you to return to orbit before being able to progress further). For more, check out our roundup of everything you need to know about Destiny 2, as well as our ongoing Destiny 2 review diary.
Despite their immense popularity in the West, shooters typically don't garner nearly as much attention in Japan. For Destiny 2, Sony and Activision have taken a more creative approach to selling the game to a Japanese audience.
Sony shared a new live-action trailer for the game today on the Japanese PlayStation YouTube channel. The video starts off rather seriously, with one Guardian sniping an enemy from afar. From there, however, things take an unexpected turn, and the rest of the trailer erupts into a giant dance party. You can watch the full video above.
Activision recently released an English live-action trailer for Destiny 2, which was directed by Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. While it sadly doesn't feature any dancing, it is likewise very lighthearted, with Cayde-6 humorously introducing a trio of Guardians to their new life devoid of the comforts they once knew.
Destiny 2 is available today for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while the PC version arrives on October 24. GameSpot will have a full review of the game up soon, but so far critic Kallie Plagge has called its campaign a "clear improvement over Destiny's much-maligned storytelling" in our Destiny 2 review-in-progress. Be sure to check out GameSpot's guide for everything you need to know about Destiny 2 before jumping into the anticipated shooter.
Another handful of games is now available for Nintendo Switch. In addition to R.B.I. Baseball 17 and Lego Worlds, both of which released for the console earlier this week (with the latter arriving in Europe on September 8), six more titles have now been added to the Switch Eshop.
As usual, one of the releases is an ACA Neo Geo game. This week, it's Blue's Journey, a side-scrolling platformer. As Blue, players must use their ability to shrink in size to navigate through the game's branching stages and save the planet Raguy from the evil Daruma tribe. Blue can also pick up and throw leaves, boomerangs, and even enemies to defeat foes and bosses. Like all previous ACA Neo Geo games, Blue's Journey retails for $8/£6.29.
Blue's Journey
Also available today is Double Dragon IV, a retro-style beat-'em-up by developer Arc System Works. Set immediately after the events of NES's Double Dragon II, the game sees heroes Billy and Jimmy Lee battling through waves of enemies to rescue the kidnapped Marian. Players can download Double Dragon IV for $7/£8.59.
Rounding out this week's batch of releases is the visually striking logic puzzle game, The Bridge ($10/£9); the "arcade lightspear-throwing simulator" Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition ($10/£9); the futuristic twin-stick shooter/RPG NeuroVoider ($14/£13); and the matching puzzle game Physical Contact: 2048 ($5/£4.49). Switch owners in Europe, meanwhile, can also now pick up The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+, which released in the US back in March.
At least one noteworthy game is in store for Switch next week. On September 12, the acclaimed platformer Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition arrives on the console. Players can download a free demo of the game right now from the Switch Eshop.
While Marvel has a carefully planned schedule of future movies in its cinematic universe, superhero rival DC seems to adopt a more scattershot approach. The Suicide Squad spin-off Gotham City Sirensis apparently now no longer happening, and has instead been replaced by a movie focusing on the Joker and Harley Quinn. To add to the confusion, it has also been reported that the studio is working on a second Joker film--with a different actor--that will explore the character's origins. If this sounds complicated, you're not alone in thinking that. Jared Leto, who played the Joker in Suicide Squad and is expected to play him in the Harley Quinn film, has also expressed his confusion.
In an interview for On Demand Entertainment to promote the launch of Destiny 2, Leto was asked about the different Joker movies in development. "I'm a little confused, too," he admitted. "There are a couple of things happening. I love the Joker. He's a great character and really fun character to play. But it's a big universe and when you play the Joker, there's no ownership there. You have the honor of holding the baton for a little while and then passing it off. There are other films that are in development and I'm excited to see what comes from them."
However, according to a recent story in The Hollywood Reporter, Leto was "was caught off guard by the plans." The site states that he subsequently informed his agents that he wasn't happy about DC planning to have "multiple Jokers."
The Joker/Harley Quinn movie was announced last month. According to The Tracking Board, it will be "criminal love story" that reunites Leto and his Suicide Squad co-star Margot Robbie. The origin movie, meanwhile, will potentially be produced by legendary director Martin Scorsese. Last week, it was reported that the studio is keen to cast Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role.
In related news, it has been reported that Suicide Squad 2 now has a director. Gavin O'Connor will helm the supervillain team-up sequel, which is expected to start shooting next year.
We're giving away 3x Destiny 2 Collector's Edition for PS4. To enter for a chance to win, scroll down below.
This is not an instant win. Competition ends Sunday, September 10th at 12:00 PM PT. Three (3) winners will be contacted via email. Entry is open to United States residents only, void where prohibited.
Destiny 2 Collector's Edition includes:
Premium Digital Content
Expansion Pass I and II
Limited Edition SteelBook Case With PS4 Game Disc
Destiny 2 Frontier Bag
Cabal Schematic
Collectible Postcard Images
Cabal-Themed Collector's Box
Cabal Booklet
Cabal-Themed Sticker
Cabal Lenticular
Solar Blanket And Paracord
Solar Panel USB Charger And Li-Ion Battery With Built-In Light
Enter below (the additional entries are optional to increase your chances of winning):
Destiny 2 is a first-person action game and the evolution of its award winning, internationally acclaimed predecessor, Destiny. With a compelling, immersive story and fresh beginning awaiting all new, returning, casual, and competitive players, Destiny 2 will deliver an experience for new and existing players to discover.
2017 is proving to be a particularly busy year for Stephen King fans, with a large number of adaptations of his books either hitting screens or in development. We've had movie versions The Dark Tower and It over the past few months, plus The Mistand Mr Mercedes on TV, and this month will see the release of Gerald's Game.
The movie is set to hit Netflix on September 29. It's directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously made the acclaimed Hush for the streaming service, as well as horror hits such as Oculus and Oujia 2. Carla Gugino (Sin City) plays a woman who finds herself trapped in a unpleasant situation involving a pair of handcuffs. Check out the trailer below:
Gerald's Game also stars Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek), Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), and Kate Siegel (Hush).
The adaptation of It hits theaters this weekend. GameSpot's reviewer Michael Rougeau said that the movie is "the rare adaptation that does the original justice while crafting its own identity, too. There are some jump scares, but just as many chills come from steady build-ups and simple, well-earned moments of terror." Check out the full It review for more.
In related news, it was reported this month that King is in the process of regaining the movie rights to several of his classic stories, including The Dead Zone, Cujo, Children of the Corn, and Firestarter. This process will stop the rights to adapt these works from passing to another copyright holder, and will ensure that they are returned to King. This could potentially pave the way for new, more faithful versions.
Destiny 2's launch has largely been very smooth, some short waits in server queues aside. But there are a number of other, mostly minor issues that have already been discovered. Bungie has provided a list of those that it's aware of, and in some cases, it has tips to help resolve or avoid them.
Perhaps most notable is one concerning the Nightfall Strike. This high-end activity is available now, and if you're powerful enough to attempt to tackle it, you'll want to make sure you create a Fireteam before jumping in. That's because people who join an in-progress Nightfall may not qualify for completion of the activity, meaning they won't receive the rewards for finishing. For now, creating a Fireteam and then launching the Nightfall is the way to ensure this doesn't happen.
Also worth calling out is an issue on Nessus. Falling off the cliff in the Sunken Caverns can cause your Ghost to "be placed in an area that blocks progression of activities." If that happens, you may have to head back to orbit and then come back to Nessus in order to proceed.
Bungie also said it's aware of problems that cause the Cabbage error code to pop up; an issue where the first item in your inventory can't be moved to the Vault; and crashes for PS4 Pro players. The full list of known issues follows below, or you can also see them on Bungie's forums. There's no word on how soon these will be resolved, and presumably, additional problems will arise as players spend more time with the game. We'll report back with any developments, but you can follow along with all of our coverage in our roundup of everything you need to know about Destiny 2.
Destinations
Nessus: If players proceed to fall off of a cliff on Nessus in the Sunken Caverns area, their Ghost may be placed in an area that blocks progression of activities. Players may be required to return to orbit and relaunch the Destination.
Cinematics
Skipping Cinematics: Non-Fireteam Leaders cannot skip in-game cinematics. Fireteam Leads must manually skip the cinematic if the Fireteam desires to.
Armor Perks
Linear Actuators: The functionality of this perk does not always trigger upon the correct requirements.
Activities
Nightfall: Fireteam members who attempt to join a Nightfall Activity in progress will not always qualify for Activity completion. We recommend that all members be within the Fireteam when initially launching the activity.
Memorialization
Emblems: The Lore Scholar emblem will only be awarded to players who have opened the Age of Triumph Record Book within Destiny 1 prior to August 1, 2017.
Prison of Elders: Memorialization for the Prison of Elder will show the first time a player defeated Skolas, rather than completing a Prison of Elders activity.
Character: Some hair colors do not match their Destiny 1 counterpart.
Inventory
Storage: The first item of Inventory categories cannot be played within the Vault. For example, if a player wishes to place the first Shader present within their inventory into the Vault, they will need to select an alternate sorting for the Shader to be moved from the first slot, then they may proceed to store the item within the Vault.
Subclasses
Sentinel: If a player has swapped their Shoulder Buttons and is guarding when the Titan Sentinel Super ends, they will be temporarily suspended aiming down sights. To resolve the issue, players will need to tap their left bumper.
User Interface
Waypoints: Tracking a Vendor during an activity will not present a waypoint to players.
Infusion: When an Exotic Weapon or Armor piece is equipped, eligible exotic items under the Infusion tab will be grayed out due to Exotic equipment limits. The item may still be infused as desired.
Player Inspection: Destiny 2 Currencies, such as Glimmer or Bright Dust, will display as "0" when inspecting an alternate player.
Roster: Adding or removing a friend on Xbox Live will temporarily remove all friends from the Director Roster on Xbox One.
A number of new games are now available for Xbox One. As was the case with PS4, this week is fairly light on releases; only three new titles have come out for Microsoft's console, the most notable undoubtedly being Destiny 2.
Players can now pick up Bungie's anticipated shooter from retailers and the Xbox Store. Full reviews of the game aren't available just yet, but based on early impressions from critics thus far, it certainly seems to be an improvement over the first Destiny. In GameSpot's Destiny 2 review-in-progress, critic Kallie Plagge says the game "builds on the original in smart ways" and called its story "a clear improvement over Destiny's much-maligned storytelling." We've put together a guide of everything players need to know heading into Destiny 2.
Beyond that, this week sees the release of Don't Knock Twice, which is also available on PS4. Billed as a first-person horror game based on a "terrifying urban legend," Don't Knock Twice has players exploring the depths of a grand manor house to uncover hidden clues and save their daughter. The game normally retails for $12.49, but players who pick it up within the next two week can download it for a slightly discounted $10.
This week's final release is Squish and the Corrupted Crystal, a side-scrolling platformer inspired by classic games like Sonic the Hedgehog. Players guide the shapeshifting Squish through fast-paced levels, using momentum and their ability to change forms to collect crystals and reach new areas. Squish and the Corrupted Crystal retails for $15.
Sony has revealed the latest selection of PlayStation Store deals for the US. Headlining this week's batch of discounts is a Bandai Namco sale, which offers PS4, PS3, and Vita owners savings on many of the publisher's titles.
PS4 players have the wider range of deals to choose from. Most notably, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin and Dark Souls III are both on sale in the PlayStation Store this week. The former retails for $12, and the standard edition of the latter costs $24. PS4 owners can also pick up Dark Souls III: Deluxe Edition for $42.49, while the game's season pass runs for $15.
Beyond those titles, RPG fans can download Tales of Berseria for $36. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is on sale as well; the standard game retails for $36, while its Deluxe Edition costs $54. Some other notable discounts include:
Beyond the Bandai Namco sale, players can find discounts on the Farming Simulator series, including the latest PS4 installment, Farming Simulator 17, for $25. The sales are available until 8 AM PT/11 AM ET on September 12. You can find the full list of this week's game deals here.
Sony has also begun its "Day 1 Digital" promotion, which gives players a 20% coupon when they purchase two or more recent or upcoming titles like Destiny 2 and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy from the PlayStation Store. The offer runs until November 7; you can find a list of eligible games here.
It's a lighter-than-usual week for the PlayStation Store. Only 11 new games are scheduled to arrive on PS4, though there is one particularly notable title among this week's batch of releases: Destiny 2.
Bungie's anticipated new shooter is now out at retail and in the PlayStation Store. While full reviews of the title aren't available yet, early impressions from critics have been very positive thus far; GameSpot's Kallie Plagge called the game's campaign a "clear improvement over Destiny's much-maligned storytelling" in our Destiny 2 review-in-progress. You can find everything you need to know about Destiny 2 in our handy roundup.
This week's other high-profile release is Knack 2, the sequel to the PS4 launch title. While many critics found the first Knack underwhelming, its follow-up has turned out to be a welcome improvement. In GameSpot's Knack 2 review, critic Jason D'Aprile called the game "a more enjoyable romp than the original" and awarded it a 7/10.
Other PS4 releases this week include the sci-fi action RPG Songbringer; the PSVR game The Lost Bear; and the fighting game/bullet hell hybrid Senko no Ronde 2. Vita also receives a trio of titles this week. The first two, Licky the Lucky Lizard Lives Again and Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth, are available now, while Drive Girls, a hack-and-slash game featuring girls that can transform into cars, launches on September 8. You can see the full list of this week's PlayStation releases below.
Destiny 2 is officially live. Whether you pre-ordered it or purchased the Deluxe edition, you may be wondering where your bonus items are once you log in. Most of these are not awarded immediately, and you'll actually have to play through a significant chunk of the game before getting them--sorry, no Exotic at Level 1 for you.
Bungie has outlined the exact process for obtaining these items, and in all but one case, you'll have to complete the campaign before doing so. Once you've finished the campaign, you'll then collect any items you qualify for from various sources, such as the Postmaster, Shaxx, or the Gunsmith. Below, you'll find Bungie's unlock process for each item.
Destiny 2 Pre-order Content
Coldheart
Qualifying players may collect Coldheart after meeting the following requirements:
Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Gunsmith. This item may also be re-acquired from the Exotic Weapon Collection in exchange for Legendary Shards.
Kill-Tracker Ghost
Qualifying players may collect the Kill-Tracker Ghost after meeting the following requirements:
Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from Lord Shaxx. This item may be re-acquired from Lord Shaxx in exchange for Legendary Shards.
Salute Emote
Qualifying players may collect the Salute Emote after meeting the following requirements:
Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Emote Collection.
Destiny 2 Limited Edition Content
Qualifying players may collect Destiny 2 Limited Edition Content after meeting the following requirements:
Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
After meeting these requirements, these items may be retrieved from the following:
Qualifying players may collect the Athena Victorious Sparrow after meeting the following requirements:
Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Shipwright. If this item is discarded, it may be repurchased from the Shipwright.
XP Boosts
Qualifying players may collect XP Boosts after meeting the following requirements:
Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Postmaster. This item will provide XP gains for specific amounts of time, specified by the type of XP boost received. Multiple items may be consumed, but time limits will not be increased.
Promotional Engrams
Qualifying players may collect a limited amount of Promotional Engrams after meeting the following requirements:
Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Postmaster and redeemed through the Cryptarch.
Destiny 2 has officially launched, and soon it will be available worldwide. Full reviews won't arrive just yet, but reviews-in-progress have started to pop up around the internet based on a recent three-day event in Seattle.
The much-anticipated sequel doesn't radically shake up the Destiny formula, instead opting primarily to refine and improve the core of the first game. You can see our breakdown of Destiny 2's five biggest changes for a basic idea of what to expect.
Below, you'll find a collection of various critics' impressions of the game so far. In GameSpot's Destiny 2 review in progress, Kallie Plagge calls the story a "clear improvement over Destiny's much-maligned storytelling," adding that "Destiny 2 builds on the original in smart ways that make me excited to keep playing." We've also more recently published a Destiny 2 review diary that offers more of Kallie's thoughts now that the game is live.
Release: September 6 (PS4/Xbox One), October 24 (PC)
Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $100
GameSpot
"Of course, all of this still feels like Destiny. The new social space, the Farm, is functionally the same as the Tower in the original. Finding loot and switching out your old gear still takes up a significant portion of your time. Enemies have been tweaked, but they're not wildly different, either. That's not necessarily bad, but it also makes me wonder if I'll see Destiny 2 as a sequel, rather than a half-step forward, the longer I play and the more I grind and repeat." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review in progress]
"Though I've only replayed things I've already done, I'm still excited about Destiny 2. I can't wait to find my next exotic weapon, but I'm also looking forward to completing more Adventure missions and learning more about the world. My next step is to finish the story, reach level 20, and run some Strikes, so check back soon for more impressions." -- Kallie Plagge [Destiny 2 review diary]
Polygon
"At the very least, what I've played of Destiny 2 is an incredibly promising start. In plain English, it feels like Destiny without all the bulls***. It seems like the sequel Bungie needed to make--not a fundamentally different experience, but improved enough over its predecessor to reel veterans back in and attract people who skipped the original Destiny. Now we have to see how it holds up." -- Samit Sarkar [Full review in progress]
IGN
"My initial impressions leave me with more questions than answers. Is the story going to stay engaging through the end? Are the great drops going to get stingier at higher levels? Am I going to get bored exploring the new destinations? We'll have to answer those hanging questions later, but based on what I've experienced so far, Destiny 2 hasn't disappointed my high expectations as a fan of the original. There have been deliberate steps to improve the moment-to-moment experience, be it something as simple as bringing up the next task with the press of a button or by keeping you constantly climbing the Light ladder without realizing it with enticing dynamic events. That's all on top of a story the team at Bungie knew they had to get right after the convoluted mess of the first game which forced you to read Grimoire cards on a website to experience the original story. So far it seems as though they've succeeded." -- Destin Legarie [Full review in progress]
Rolling Stone
"However, what's remarkable about the structure of Destiny 2--aside from it having a real central plot--is that it achieves what the first Destiny tried but ultimately failed to do: it gives the player freedom. Yes, there's some linearity to the Red War missions and the order in which the destinations are introduced--but you can spend the bulk of your time wherever you're most comfortable, where you find combat encounters most fulfilling, or where the rewards on offer are most appealing to you." -- Alex Kane [Full impressions]
Ars Technica
"I am not at an ideal state to issue anything resembling a verdict. But I at least feel safe declaring this: I entered the event perturbed that I would play so much Destiny 2 and not get to transfer that progress to the final, retail version. Now, I am anxious to dive back in and try again. I want to flex the muscles of an entirely different class. I want to devote far more attention to so much in-mission dialogue and exposition. Above all else, I want to group up with some friends and see how the 'always a battle around every corner' sensation feels when I have some persistent fireteam members at my side." -- Sam Machkovech [Full pre-review]
DualShockers
"So far, Destiny 2 has improved upon the original Destiny in every way. There's a Pierce Brosnan-impersonating sniper who serves as your faction representative for the European Dead Zone. There's new enemy types, including staff-wielding Fallen Wretches and caped-flaming-crossbow-wielding Hive Knights. There are cutscenes where The Speaker, who never really had much to say, is actually a savage and disses Ghaul in rap-battle proportions during cutscenes. When I sat down to play this game I had one mission for Bungie: prove to me that Destiny 2 isn't just another expansion. Thankfully, it turns out that Destiny 2 has listened to the fans and has taken a look in the mirror: the product is one that I--so far--thoroughly enjoy." -- Noah Buttner [Full review impressions]
Bungie's highly anticipated shooter Destiny 2 is finally here, and we'll have lots of coverage in the days and weeks ahead. For now, we're collecting all the big details to know about, including our review in progress, recent news stories, and other key particulars. You can keep checking back with this story as we learn more about the shooter.
Editor Kallie Plagge spent 20 hours playing Destiny 2 and came away feeling generally impressed and eager to keep playing. She is starting again now that the game is in a live environment and will document her progress in a Destiny 2 review diary over the next few days as she plays more. You can look for Kallie's full review in the days ahead.
Destiny 2 Review
"I haven't finished the main story yet, but so far it's a clear improvement over Destiny's much-maligned storytelling," Kallie said. "Like the beta, Destiny 2 begins with an attack on The Tower by a Cabal faction called the Red Legion. But rather than being thrust into situations with little to no context, as was so often the case in Destiny, each mission of the Red War arc has objectives that make sense within both the mission itself and the grand scheme. Locating a missing Cayde-6, for example, is important to the fight against the Red Legion, since he's a powerful Hunter. But fighting waves of Vex to get to him also makes sense, as he's trapped in a Vex teleporter, and that small bit of context makes that moment feel distinct from others where you're killing the same enemies."
For Destiny veterans, a lot has changed in Destiny 2, while the game will also see many newcomers to the series. Whichever boat you fall in, we'll have plenty of guides to help you succeed in the days and weeks ahead.
Unlike the first Destiny, Destiny 2 is available only for new-generation consoles, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It's also coming to PC, but not until October 24. Returning players will get rewards and a nice little memorial.
Destiny is available in Standard, Digital Deluxe, and a Game + Expansion Pass Bundle. The Digital Deluxe edition comes with a Legendary emote and the Cabal Empire-themed emblem. It also includes the Expansion Pass, which comes with two expansions to be released later. The Game + Expansion Pass Bundle is pretty self-explanatory.
Here are the prices:
Standard -- $60/£55/$100 AU
Game + Expansion Pass Bundle --$90/£80/$140 AU
Digital Deluxe -- $100/£90/$150 AU
People who pre-ordered Destiny 2 will receive the Coldheart Exotic rifle, the Kill-Tracker Ghost, and the Salute emote.
According to Destiny 2's store pages, the game weighs in at 30.9 GB on PS4 and 34.98 GB on Xbox One. The PC version's file size may end up being larger, but we don't know yet.
What Is And Isn't Available In Destiny 2 Now?
While Destiny 2's first Raid, Trials, Guided Games, and in-game Clan features are not available, you can play the full campaign and the Crucible multiplayer mode. Additionally, Destiny 2's first Nightfall Strike is available now.
The raid kicks off at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST on September 13 (3 AM AET on September 14 in Australia). Trials will become available at the same time on September 15 (16 in Australia). The in-game Clan features will go live in the next several days, Bungie said, but for now you can access Clan-management systems through Bungie's website.
If you're willing to take a break from leveling up, the Farm social space holds an intriguing secret that you might have overlooked. [More details and mild spoilers here]
How To Kill Those Annoying Phalanx Enemies
In the original Destiny, defeating Phalanxes usually involved either chucking a grenade behind them, or shooting the tiny bit of arm visible sticking outside their shields. In Destiny 2, they've been granted a brand new weak spot, smack in the middle of those shields. Ping that glowing spot with a few shots and the shields retract, stunning the jerks in the process. [Lots more details here]
Known Issues And Server Queues
Destiny 2's release is poised to be massive, likely straining the game's servers. To allow for a better experience, Bungie is using a system MMO players are familiar with: server queues. Bungie has warned that players may not be able to immediately access the game. In order to "regulate player population to provide stable conditions for Destiny gameplay," server queues can pop up in Destiny 2 just as they could in the previous game. In other words, you may have to wait in line before you can play. Additionally, there are a number of issues to be aware of.
One of the shortcomings of Destiny 1 was that content was not released fast enough to meet players' expectations. For the sequel, Bungie is working with outside studios like High Moon and Vicarious Visions to create and release content faster. We know there are two paid expansions coming, and recently, a leak suggested the first expansion is called The Curse of Osiris and will be out in December. It'll supposedly add a patrol zone on Mercury, a social space, and a storyline centered around Osiris.
Keep checking back with GameSpot in the days and weeks ahead for lots more on Destiny 2.
LA Noire for PS4 and Xbox One comes with the full version of the original game and all DLC, along with expected updates such as better graphics. This includes "enhanced lighting and clouds, new cinematic camera angles, high resolution textures, and more." The game will output at native 1080p for PS4 and Xbox One, and in 4K on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.
LA Noire was developed by Australian studio Team Bondi. However, that developer has since closed. Rockstar did not say which team or teams made the new versions of the game. We've contacted the publisher for comment and will update this post with anything we hear back. For its part, Rockstar said is will have more details to share on the new versions of LA Noire "in the weeks ahead," so keep checking back soon for more.
LA Noire originally launched for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in May 2011, before coming to PC in November of that year. You play as LA police detective Cole Phelps, who was performed by Mad Men actor Aaron Staton. Among the cases you investigate is the horrifying Black Dahlia murders. GameSpot's LA Noire review scored it a 9/10. For more on Rockstar's L.A. Noire announcements today, check out the stories below:
The Switch edition includes the full original game and all previously released expansions. Specific to the Switch version will be gesture-based controls with the Joy-Cons. Also included is HD rumble and new camera angles: wide and over-the-shoulder. Additionally, there will be "contextual touch-screen controls" for when playing in portable mode.
In May, the CEO of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, Strauss Zelnick, said the firm believes in the Switch as a platform. He pointed out that the Switch had a "very successful launch," but cautioned that it "remains to be seen how it does" in the longer term. "We're excited about it," he said at the time. "Assuming there is an installed base, we'll be there. Not with all of our titles, but selectively."
Australian studio Team Bondi made the original Team Bondi, but with that studio closed, it remains to be seen which team is behind the new versions for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and HTC Vive. We've contacted Rockstar for comment. Rockstar did say in its announcement that fans can look forward to more details about all of the new versions of LA Noire in the weeks ahead.
While L.A. Noire is the first title from Rockstar to come to Switch, it's not going to be Take-Two's first title for the system. Professional basketball game NBA 2K18 is headed to Switch later this month. Publisher 2K Sports recently confirmed that there will not be Amiibo support, but fans can expect the game to reportedly be "identical" to the PS4 and Xbox One editions. For more on Rockstar's L.A. Noire announcements today, check out the stories below:
Rockstar Games, the acclaimed developer and publisher behind titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has announced its first virtual reality game--and it's a version of L.A. Noire. Called LA Noire: The VR Case Files, the intriguing-sounding game is coming to HTC Vive on November 14, alongside new versions of the 1940s-set crime game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The VR Case Files will include seven of LA Noire's cases, "rebuilt specifically for virtual reality." In a press release, Rockstar said fans can expect the game's use of virtual reality allows for an "unprecedented interactive experience" that blends action and detective work from a new perspective.
That's all Rockstar had to say about The VR Case Files today, but the developer said fans can stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details. As of yet, we don't know which studio is developing the game, what it will cost, or if it'll be available on other VR platforms later.
The CEO of Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, has said on multiple occasions that he doubts the appeal of VR. In May this year, Zelnick said with a laugh during an executive briefing, "[VR] is developing exactly as I said it would," referring to sales being lower than some analysts and industry models showed.
"So far there is not a significant entertainment market for VR software," Zenick said. " I think that's a factual statement." At the same time, he acknowledged that if VR became a "meaningful entertainment platform," Take-Two would support it. The company already released a Carnival Games virtual reality game, and it "sold some units," according to Zelnick.
For more on Rockstar's L.A. Noire announcements today, check out the stories below:
Update: Bungie says the issues affecting some Destiny 2 players on PS4 have now been rectified. "Issues causing players on PlayStation 4 to receive an error indicating permissions to access online multiplayer have been resolved," the company said on Twitter. Original story follows.
Destiny 2 is a big, big game with a huge focus on multiplayer and online. Presumably due to the strain of loads of people coming online for launch, the game is running into some issues. Bungie acknowledged one of these issues on Twitter today, saying it's aware of and looking into a problem with the PlayStation 4 edition related to multiplayer permissions. The exact nature of the problem isn't immediately clear, but people are responding to the tweet to voice their displeasure with the state of things.
Here's what Bungie had to say: "We are investigating players on PlayStation 4 receiving errors indicating permissions to access online multiplayer may have changed."
According to the error message posted above by Twitter user @cokelogic, they were booted from Destiny 2's servers because "your permission to access online multiplayer gameplay may have changed." Alternatively, it might have been because "your profile may have been sign in elsewhere." The error message then points to Bungie's support site for further details.
Update: Sony says the PSN issues affecting some users have now been resolved, and that the network is up and running as normal. Bungie, meanwhile, says its Destiny 2 server issues have also been fixed. Original story follows.
It seems PlayStation Network is experiencing issues worldwide for some people right now. At the time of writing, Sony's network status page says, "You may have some difficulty launching games, applications, or online features."
GameSpot was able to sign in to PSN, but reports on NeoGAF state some others are struggling to either sign in or play online games. Sony states, "Our engineers are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible, and we thank you for your patience." Other services, including Account Management, PlayStation Video, and the PlayStation Store, are seemingly working as normal.
It's unclear whether the issues are related to problems some Destiny 2 players were experiencing on PS4 in the past few hours. The huge multiplayer game launched yesterday and will likely be causing an influx of players on to both PSN and Xbox Live. Developer Bungie's latest update reads, "Investigations for this issue are still ongoing."
We'll update this post with new details regarding PSN's own issues as they become available. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
According to Deadline, O'Connor is in final negotiations for the job. He is best known for last year's hit thriller The Accountant, which starred Ben Affleck and made $155 million at the worldwide box office. O'Connor will apparently also co-write Suicide Squad 2's screenplay.
David Ayer directed the first Suicide Squad, and was subsequently attached to an unannounced spinoff called Gotham City Sirens, which was to focus on the female supervillains of the DC universe. However, that movie was not among the titles that DC announced at SDCC, and more recently it was reported that the film had been replaced by a new movie that will focus upon the Joker and Harley Quinn. According to The Tracking Board, Ayer is no longer involved with any projects at DC.
Rainbow Six Siege has just added three new Operators, but developer Ubisoft Montreal isn't planning on stopping any time soon. In an interview with PC Gamer, brand director Alexandre Remy has said the team is hoping to reach over 100 playable characters.
"We are looking at developing the game with 100 Operators," he said. "I'll let you do the math and work out how many years that [will take]. There's no reason for us to stop there." At the current rate of eight new Operators per year, that would take Ubisoft another eight years after the end of the current DLC year to reach 100 Operators.
Ubisoft previously said the minimum number of Operators it wanted in Siege would be 50, after launching with 20 back in 2015. "The moment that we hit 50 Operators, that's the minimum that we actually want," Remy declared in February this year. "The idea is that you actually want enough Operators so that [for] each pick you have a choice. Thermite for a long time was not a choice, everyone had to pick him in a team because he was the only one who could breach into a reinforced wall. Introducing Hibana, all of a sudden the player could perform that task with a choice. At that moment every choice is tough choice for the player and not an obvious one. To come to that moment, you need a minimum of 50. When we have 50, that'll be when the game is at its peak in terms of strategy."
Currently, Siege has 33 Operators, with the most recent additions--Ela, Lesion, and Ying--having just arrived as part of Operation Blood Orchid. A new map, Theme Park, has also been introduced, along with a wide variety of fixes, changes, and improvements. As detailed in the Blood Orchid patch notes, weapons have been rebalanced, lighting has been improved, and facial animations (among many other visual details) have been enhanced. New servers are being implemented that "bring significant improvements to stability, connectivity, FPS, rubberbanding, and overall performance." Additionally, a new physics system will further mitigate rubberbanding, as well as teleporting.
Blood Orchid caps off Operation Health, the series of updates intended to improve nagging issues with the game. Although Operation Health is now over, Ubisoft has vowed to continue addressing problem areas. "In the future, we are still keeping the core pillars to focus on game optimization, top community issues reported by the community, and improving player experience," the company stated. "The groundwork in Operation Health will help us to continue to improve the game for the distant future."
One of Destiny 2's most common and annoying foes is an upgraded version of an old enemy: the Cabal Phalanx. These heavily armored brutes hold a gigantic shield in their off-hand, shooting at you with impunity from the other side. On top of that, in Destiny 2 they've gained the ability to massively increase the size of that shield, extending it on both sides to provide cover for their idiot Cabal friends.
Thankfully, there's something else new about Phalanxes in Destiny 2: their weakness.
In the original Destiny, defeating Phalanxes usually involved either chucking a grenade behind them, or shooting the tiny bit of arm visible sticking outside their shields. In Destiny 2, they've been granted a brand new weak spot, smack in the middle of those shields. Ping that glowing spot with a few shots and the shields retract, stunning the jerks in the process.
If you're new to Destiny this may seem obvious. But returning players might find it a surprise. After three years, it's pretty well ingrained in our brains not to waste ammo shooting the Cabal soldiers' impenetrable shields. And the big glowing spot isn't as clear a tell as you might think, given that the Taken versions of Phalanxes have a similar spot on their shields, which they use as a weapon.
Thankfully, Destiny 2 Phalanxes didn't gain that ability along with their new weakness. Put this one firmly in the "thanks Bungie" category, and happy Cabal hunting, Guardians.
Destiny 2's release is likely to be huge. As such, the influx of players may bring with it something that MMO players are used to seeing at new game or expansion launches: server queues. Players encountered these when servers went online in North America, and it's possible they'll continue to pop up at peak times.
With Destiny 2's servers online and all countries now having access, Bungie has warned that players may not be able to immediately access the game. In order to "regulate player population to provide stable conditions for Destiny gameplay," server queues can pop up in Destiny 2 just as they could in the previous game. In other words, you may have to wait in line before you can play.
A page on Bungie's website notes that these queues are separate from the original Destiny, so don't blame your friend still playing that game if you get stuck in line. Bungie also points out several things you'll want to be aware of--namely, that you shouldn't back out of a queue in an attempt to speed things up, because you'll then start at the back of the line. Here's what Bungie says:
If a player loses connection or is removed from the queue, their placement will not be retained
If a player reaches the front of this queue and is unable to connect to Destiny servers, they will have to re-enter the queue to try again
Queue times may vary, depending on server traffic and concurrent population
The success of Playerunknown's Battlegrounds has been swift and massive. Released on Steam Early Access back in March, the Hunger Games-like PC shooter has reached an astonishing 10 million copies sold since then. The game continues to sell well, and now Playerunknown himself, Brendan Greene, has said it might be possible for the title to reach League of Legends-like success when it comes to player figures.
Riot's massively popular free-to-play MOBA reached 100 million monthly players back in 2016, and Greene said this figure may not be out of reach for Battlegrounds.
"Our sales curves are just going up," he told GamesIndustry.biz. "They're not slowing down. I'm still waiting for that plateau, and it's just not happening yet. When you ask about growth on PC, I just look at League of Legends. 100 million active users a month, I think, something stupid like that? If we play our cards right, maybe we can get to that level of users."
At 10 million copies sold, Battlegrounds, which costs $30, could have brought in as much as $300 million in revenue. Greene also said in the interview that there are no plans to raise the price of Battlegrounds for its official release, when it leaves Early Access. Another popular Early Access game, Ark: Survival Evolved, raised its price from $30 to $60 for its official release, and this generated some of amount of controversy.
For Battlegrounds, there is no plan to raise the price right now, but "that could change," Greene said. "We're happy. $30 is a good price for what you're getting, and this is a game that could last for five or ten years. You're buying into something bigger than just a year-long game," he explained.
Bluehole continues to release new content for the game's PC version. We recently got confirmation that PUBG's desert map will be huge. The map's release is still a long way off, but you can get an early idea of what it looks like in this image here.
With Destiny 2 now available in some parts of the world, players are jumping into the game for the first time. What they won't find in Destiny 2 right now are its Clan features. Bungie confirmed on Twitter that in-game Clan features won't be available until later.
"In-game Destiny 2 Clan Features will be unavailable for the first several days after launch. Stay tuned for announcements of availability," Bungie said.
Destiny 2's Clan features are available through Bungie's website. There, you can create a Clan and do things like invite members, set an emblem, and more.
Also not yet available in Destiny 2 is the first raid, which will unlock on September 13; the first Trials will go live on September 15. You can, however, now try out the Nightfall Strikes, as they are available in the game right now.
In other news, Bungie senior technical artist Nate Hawbaker shared a cool image of what it looked like at the studio when the Destiny 2 servers went live. Check it out above.
Like the first Destiny (and many other games for that matter), the newly released sequel Destiny 2 lets you spend real money on a currency system called Silver. This takes place in Destiny 2's Eververse Trading Company store, which becomes accessible at Level 20. The character Tess Everis operates the store again, and here is a breakdown of the cost.
Destiny 2 Microtransaction Pricing:
500 Silver -- $5
1110 Silver -- $10
2300 Silver -- $20
5800 Silver -- $50
Everis sells Bright Engrams, which are sort of like loot boxes from Overwatch. It works out to 200 Silver for one, three for 500, and five for 800.
Decode them and you'll earn special rewards like Exotic weapon ornaments, a Sparrow, emotes, or something else. As Polygon explains, there is a chance you could get an elemental weapon mod, which can affect gameplay and may be controversial because of that. Weapon stats can be "slightly" enhanced with these mods, and there are also armor mods and one for subclass abilities to make them regenerate faster.
Additionally, you can buy Destiny 2 emotes with Silver--and there are some cool-looking ones. For example, Spicy Ramen shows your character cooking and consumer spicy ramen while Flip Out displays your Guardian flipping a table over. Check out this video from YouTube's DestinyOverwatch to see all the Eververse items you can buy now.
Named "Forthog Orcslayer," he is described as an "unstoppable warrior who saves Mordor's mightiest heroes at their moment of greatest need." WB Games said it would donate $3.50 from every $5 purchase of the character to Forgey's family, through the end of December 31, 2019.
As Kotaku explains, the fine print of the offer said it was good in the US, but not in Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Some people raised the question: where would proceeds go in those selected states or from sales made internationally?
We do not know for sure.
But Warner Bros. said on Twitter in response to the concerns that neither Warner Bros. nor developer Monolith will make a profit on the DLC, no matter where it's sold in the world. Here is the official wording: "Neither WBIE nor Monolith will profit from any sales of the Forthog Orc-Slayer DLC regardless of the territory in which that DLC is sold."
We'll report back with more details if and when they become available.
Previously, Forgey's family launched a YouCaring page, where money was being raised to cover his medical expenses and support his children's future. The campaign raised more than $130,000, though it was short of its $300,000 goaI. n addition to Shadow of Mordor, Forgey worked on the first two Gears of War games, Fable, and Conker.
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