EA has announced the latest batch of games that EA and Origin Access subscribers will soon have free access to. The biggest of the bunch is this year's new entry in the Mass Effect series, Mass Effect: Andromeda.
EA has outlined what members will get for free on Xbox One (with EA Access) and PC (with Origin Access) over the remainder of the year. Both platforms will get the full version of Andromeda "soon," although exact dates were not shared for this or any of the other upcoming Access content. Andromeda was maligned upon its release--at least relative to earlier games in the series--and poor sales have reportedly resulted in changes to its developer and plans for the franchise. While it's still not the game many were hoping for, post-release updates have improved aspects of the game, including its facial animations.
Access members will also receive Play First Trials for two major releases: Star Wars Battlefront II and Need for Speed: Payback. In the case of Battlefront II, EA only says you'll be able to begin playing "before launch day," but it's unclear what you can try and for how long. Payback will be playable ahead of launch for a total of 10 hours, which is fairly standard for these early access trials.
Those on Xbox One also have two additional perks to look forward to in the coming months. Ahead of its launch, EA Access subscribers will be able to try out The Sims 4 through its Play First Trial. Additionally, Dead Space 3 joins the Vault, which EA notes means that the entire Dead Space series is available through EA and Origin Access.
EA and Origin Access are subscription services that provide discounts on digital EA purchases, Play First Trials, and free playable games. Those free games are available for as long as you're a subscriber and entitle you to everything available in the EA / Origin Access Vault, depending on your platform. An equivalent PS4 service is not yet available.
By Anonymous on Oct 12, 2017 12:04 am PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds had more than 2 million people playing online on PC at the same time, making it the first game ever to reach that figure.
Today at the Oculus Connect 4 event, Facebook detailed two new virtual reality headsets. First, it revealed a standalone VR headset called Oculus Go. It doesn't require a PC or smartphone to work since hardware is built into the headset itself. On top of cutting the cord and and hardware requirement, the Oculus Go will carry a $200 price tag. Development kits will be sent out in November, but Oculus Go is said to release in early 2018.
Oculus Go shares many of the same functionalities as the Samsung Gear VR, which is also developed by Oculus. Gear VR apps will be compatible with Oculus Go from day one and uses the same controller.
As for hardware specs, the details are currently a little sparse, but it uses improved lenses. It features WQHD fast-switch displays with reduced glare and the same field of view as Rift. Spatial audio is also built into the Oculus Go headset; there's no requirement for headphones.
The second reveal was an update to Project Santa Cruz, which is a wireless Oculus VR headset with built-in cameras for positional tracking, eliminating the need for external sensors. Along with the new Santa Cruz controllers--which look very similar to the Touch controllers--the new headset will feature full six-degrees of freedom movement. Development kits are said to be available within a year.
Sony has added a new batch of games to PlayStation Now in Europe. Another 14 PS4 titles are now available on the streaming service, which mostly consist of horror games to help you ring in Halloween.
A single PS3 game also joins the PS Now lineup today. This month's addition is, fittingly, Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut, the updated version of the survival horror game. You can see all of this month's new PS Now games at the bottom of this story. To see everything that's playable, check out our full list of PS Now games.
PS Now is available for PS4 and PC. Players who subscribe to the service have unlimited access to over 500 games, which you can stream for as long as you have an active subscription. It costs $20/£13 to subscribe to the service, though those who are curious about trying it can get a seven-day free trial for first-time users.
The price of quality virtual reality headsets continues to drop. As part of its Oculus Connect event today, Oculus announced that the Rift's price has been cut to $399/£399.
This new price is in effect today--you can head over to the Oculus store right now and add it to your cart for that price. $399/£399 gets you the headset itself, two sensors, two Touch controllers, and seven free games for setting everything up: Lucky's Tale, Medium, Toybox, Quill, Dead and Buried, Dragon Front, and Robo Recall.
Of course, this still may not be the option you're looking for. The Rift requires a PC, but Oculus also today revealed a pair of new VR headsets, including a standalone one that's priced at only $200. We'll report back as more details are shared.
In May, the Rift's feature set expanded to include full room-scale capability and improve tracking for setups with three sensors, which is a requirement for room-scale VR. The $399 bundle comes with two sensors; additional sensors are currently available for $60/£60.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is packed with armor sets for Talion to wear, each with their own unique attributes. But if you're looking for the best armor the game has to offer, then seek out the Legendary sets. These special sets can only be unlocked by killing Legendary orcs or completing specific challenges; each offers their own unique set bonuses that can assist you in myriad ways in your adventure. For a quick rundown on where to find each Legendary set, check out the tables below.
The DC Super Hero blockbuster Wonder Woman is out now on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™ and DVD. To celebrate, we've teamed up with Warner Bros. to offer you the chance to win one of three bundles, including a copy of the movie on Blu-ray™, a poster, key chain, and mug.
Wonder Woman saw huge success when it hit cinemas this summer, smashing the box office records. Director Patty Jenkins brought the classic DC hero to screens with Gal Gadot in the lead role, and Chris Pine supporting as Steve Trevor. If you've not seen the film, you're missing out. Here's the synopsis:
Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.
To be in with a chance to win just answer the simple question below. Please use the form to enter the competition, as answers written in the comments section are invalid.
This competition is open to UK residents only. The prize is one bundle including a copy of Wonder Woman on blu ray, a wall poster, a key chain and a morphing mug. There are three prize bundles available.
Terms & Conditions
Competition will close on October 25th at 4pm BST.
Open to UK residents only.
Prize for 3 (three) winners will be 1 (one) prize bundle.
Events may occur that make the awarding of the Prize impractical or inappropriate due to unforeseen circumstances or reasons beyond the control of the Promoter or Warner Bros. In this situation, Warner Bros. may vary or amend the Prize to provide a reasonable alternative as a result of which the Promoter or parties connected to the Promoter shall not be held liable.
If the winner fails to respond within 24 hours of notification, they will be deemed void and an alternative winner will be contacted.
No cash or credit alternative is available and the Prize is not transferable.
Microsoft's new Xbox One X console is set to launch around the world in a little less than a month, but those who are more interested in picking up an Xbox One S have a few new options to choose from. Today, Microsoft announced four new Xbox One S bundles that pack in a white 500 GB console with some great titles or other bonuses.
First is the Minecraft Complete Adventure Bundle, which will be on sale at retailers "in select markets" for $279/£229. Along with the console, the bundle includes a wireless controller, a download code for the popular sandbox game, a code for the complete first season of Minecraft: Story Mode, and a code for the Minecraft Explorer's DLC Pack. Those who pick up this bundle will also get a three-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold and a one-month trial for Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's Netflix-style game streaming service. Microsoft is also still offering a great-looking limited edition Minecraft bundle for $399 that includes a 1 TB Xbox One S with a custom grass block design and other Minecraft extras.
Those who prefer shooters can pick up the Xbox One S Ultimate Halo bundle. It likewise retails for $279 and is exclusive to Walmart stores in the US. Along with the console and controller, the bundle includes digital copies of Halo 5: Guardians and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. On top of that, it comes with a 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial and a one-month Xbox Game Pass membership.
Europe is also receiving its own exclusive bundle in the form of the Rocket League Blast-Off Bundle. It retails for £229 and, along with the console and a wireless controller, includes a download code for Rocket League, a three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription, and a one-month Xbox Game Pass trial.
If none of those pack-in titles appeals to you, Microsoft is also releasing an Xbox One S Starter bundle. Like the other bundles, it retails for $279/£229 and comes with the system, a wireless controller, and three months of both Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass. You can purchase the bundle from Microsoft stores or other retailers.
One of the best aspects of FIFA 18 is how it evolves and updates over the year, and today EA has added a cool feature to Ultimate Team. You can now play with a friend in FUT Online Seasons and Online Draft.
The ability to play local co-op against an online opponent in the two modes was present in FIFA 17 but was removed from FIFA 18 "to create competitive balance for all players." This sparked a substantial negative reaction from the community, who even started a petition in an attempt to convince EA to restore the feature. Thankfully, the publisher has reversed its decision and you can now play with a friend once more.
"We have heard your feedback about guest functionality in FUT Online Seasons and FUT Online Draft and are happy to announce that we have added this functionality back into FIFA 18 PS4 / Xbox One / PC effective immediately," the company said. No update is required to enable the feature as EA was able to implement it on the server side. However, a future patch will add some "on-screen elements" to make things clearer. For now, you just have to press Triangle / Y after you get matched with an opponent and a second player will be added to your team.
This year's edition was also released on Switch, but in our FIFA 18 Nintendo Switch review we said the port is "inferior" in nearly every way when compared to the PS4 and Xbox One versions. For more on this season's soccer games, check out our comparison of FIFA 18 vs PES 2018.
As promised, the latest batch of Destiny 2 server maintenance has brought with it a new update. Despite the fact that it contains only a single fix, it's one that many players will be extremely happy to get their hands on.
Update 1.0.3.2 is out now on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (which refers to the download as update 1.07). It's quite small in size, but it deals with the longstanding issue of crashes when loading into The Tower social space--something that has affected players since launch. Bungie didn't provide any additional commentary regarding the fix beyond what you see in the brief patch notes below. It's possible the issue could persist for some, but any improvement will be welcomed by those who have found themselves having to repeatedly restart the game because of a crash.
Server maintenance for Destiny 2 is ongoing, although that shouldn't impact your ability to play. However, if you were online when update 1.0.3.2 was released, you may need to close out of the game and restart it in order to download the patch.
One issue this patch does not address is the exploit that forced Bungie to delay the Prestige Leviathan Raid. It was slated to release on October 10 but has been pushed back until October 18 because of a bug that "causes the encounters to be stripped of their intended challenge." Given that Prestige is intended to be a harder version of the Raid--and is something teams will race to be the first one to complete--Bungie opted to push back the launch in order to ensure the Raid works properly. Iron Banner is live, however, with a variety of new rewards.
Destiny 2 Hotfix 1.0.3.2 Patch Notes
General
Fixed an issue that was causing crashes while loading into the Tower
By Anonymous on Oct 11, 2017 09:54 pm The Lobby crew discusses the poor ways in which Shadow of War, Battlefront 2, and Forza 7 handle loot crates and microtransactions.
We've seen a number of Destiny 2 maintenance periods take the game's servers offline since its release. Today will see maintenance occur once again, but according to Bungie, it shouldn't impact your ability to play the game. [Update: Bungie has released Destiny 2 update 1.0.3.2, which addresses Tower crashes.]
Server maintenance begins at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 4 PM BST today, October 11 (2 AM AEDT on October 12). It's set to run for six hours, ending at 2 PM PT, but "no downtime is expected," Bungie says. As part of this process, Bungie will roll out a new update, hotfix 1.0.3.2.
Given the version number, this is likely to be a bug-fix patch rather than one that introduces any major new feature. Specific details about what it does have not yet been revealed, but we'll report back as soon as the patch notes are released. We don't know exactly when to expect those, but Bungie says the hotfix itself should be available at around 8:15 AM PT.
It's possible the patch is related to the upcoming Prestige Leviathan Raid. This harder version of the Raid was set to launch on October 10, only for it to be delayed until next week due to an exploit that allowed players to make encounters easier than intended. The Prestige Raid now launches on October 18.
A major update is on the way for Civilization VI. Although we don't yet have the full patch notes, developer Firaxis has provided a rundown on many of the major changes that fans can expect.
Most significantly, the Fall 2017 Update, as it's called, overhauls religion. It adds two new Pantheons and new Founder, Follower, Enhancer, and Worship beliefs. Those can in turn unlock other new things: specifically, two buildings and a combat unit called the Warrior Monk.
"We also heard your requests for a deeper overall experience--and took that to heart with revamped religious combat," Firaxis said on its website. With this update, religious units can receive Flank and Support bonuses during combat, and they can exert Zone of Control. The Guru unit also gains the ability to heal other religious units.
Civilization VI's user interface also sees some improvements, both as it pertains to religion and otherwise. The Religion Lens has been improved for "overall usability and readability," and unit flags gain religion indicators. Additionally, updated Diplomacy screens should now make it easier to find the information you need; Gossip messages have been improved by removing "the least useful" ones, which should allow important ones to be more visible; the Espionage screen shows icons for capitals when choosing a mission; Great People's art "has been updated to feel more 'great;'" and other changes should make menus "more moddable and extensible."
One notable change to how games play out involves the sea. Firaxis has improved the way AI handles building and employing naval units, fleets, and armadas; it should now be smarter about healing naval units and using them to launch coastal assaults.
A release date for the Fall 2017 Update has not been announced, but Firaxis says it's "coming soon." It also teases that more changes are in store for the patch; we'll report back once we have more details.
The first trailer for Pacific Rim Uprising, the upcoming sci-fi sequel to Guillermo Del Toro's 2014 sci-fi action hit, arrived last week. It has now been reported that the property might be expanded into a full cinematic universe.
Director Steven S. DeKnight spoke to Nerdist and was asked about the possibility of more movies. "I'm certainly hoping so," he said. "I think you'll definitely probably get more comics. The plan was always to use this movie as a launching pad. If enough people show up to this, we've already talked about the plot of the third movie, and how the end of the third movie would expand the universe to a Star Wars/Star Trek-style [franchise] where you can go in many, many different directions.
"You can go main canon, you can go spin-offs, you can go one-offs. Yeah, that's the plan. And I would love to see an animated TV show based on this."
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds had more than 2 million people playing online on PC at the same time, making it the first game ever to reach that figure.
Watch the first hour of hard mode in The Evil Within 2 on PC with Erick and Jean-Luc.
The Lobby crew discusses the poor ways in which Shadow of War, Battlefront 2, and Forza 7 handle loot crates and microtransactions.
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