With Black Friday around the corner, Walmart has also released its full flyer for the big shopping day. There are a ton of game deals to take advantage of, particularly for those with a PS4 or Xbox One, with these offers becoming available on Thanksgiving evening (November 23) or Black Friday itself, depending on when your state allows stores to begin opening. Nintendo Switch and 3DS offers are also available, although PC gaming fans unfortunately won't find anything.
In terms of hardware, the offers are similar to what we've seen elsewhere. Switch is in stock, but at a regular price ($299), while there's no sign of Xbox One X or PS4 Pro. However, you can pick up a 1 TB PS4 for $199, or a 500 GB Xbox One S for $189. Neither of these systems comes with any bundled games, although Walmart will also take $50 off "any" Xbox One S, so you'll be able to pick from other bundles that have what you want. Walmart will also be among the retailers to offer the special green Zelda: Ocarina of Time 2DS bundle.
In terms of accessories, DualShock 4 PS4 controllers drop to $39 each, including the Walmart-exclusive Crystal Blue color. Xbox One controllers are also available for $39, including some special edition versions. Third-party, wired Switch controllers will be available for $17, while the Gran Turismo Sport PSVR bundle will be $299. You can also get a wired PS4 or Xbox One headset, the Turtle Beach Recon 50P, for $25.
You'll find a complete rundown of everything on sale--or as much as we can glean from the flyer--below. You can check out the full flyer, and find out when your local store is opening, on Walmart's website. For more, check out our roundup of deals at other retailers:
Black Friday is approaching, and many retailers have announced their deals well in advance of the big day. Best Buy is one such retailer, and it actually offered a select number of sale prices prior to Black Friday. But it's Thanksgiving evening and the day after where the full selection of deals will be available, and we've rounded up everything you can expect to see discounted across PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and 3DS--and even a single, solitary deal for those looking for something new to play on Wii U and Wii.
In terms of hardware deals, there isn't much. Switch will be in stock but at its regular price of $300. Neither the PS4 Pro nor Xbox One X will be on sale, with the sale prices instead coming on the older hardware. A 1 TB PS4 can be had for $200, but that doesn't include any free games. On the Microsoft side, you can get the Madden 18 Xbox One S 500 GB bundle for $230, and as a bonus, you'll receive a free Xbox One controller. A free controller is also available with another bundle, which swaps in Forza Horizon 3 in place of Madden.
Controllers and accessories will also be discounted. The PlayStation VR Gran Turismo Sport bundle drops to $300. All PS4 DualShock 4 controllers will be $40, including the Red Crystal color version that is only available at Best Buy. Xbox One controllers will also be available for $40, although some will cost more--presumably the special edition colors and designs. Those looking for a headset will have several options, including the Turtle Beach XO Three wired headset (which works with Xbox One, PS4, and PC) and Turtle Beach Recon 150 (which also works with those devices) for $40 each. Astro headsets will be up to 25% off, while a handful of Switch accessories (including a Joy-Con charging station) will be $20 each.
Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of everything we could find on sale at Best Buy. Some specific pricing was not shared and the exact time your local store opens will vary. You can check out the full details on Best Buy's website. For more, check out our roundup of the details at other retailers:
Black Friday is right around the corner, and like many other retailers, Target has released its ad well in advance to let people plan ahead. There are quite a few game deals to be had in its sales circular, although the heavy focus is on PS4 and Xbox One; there's nothing for PC gaming fans to take advantage of, and seemingly little for those on Nintendo platforms.
Unlike the Walmart and Best Buy Black Friday ads, Nintendo Switch is not featured at all, even at a regular price. Similarly, there's no sign of PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, although the older iterations of those consoles will be on sale. You can pick up a 1 TB PS4 for $200, while a 500 GB Xbox One S drops to $190 with a bonus $25 Target gift card. Target's ad lists both of these console deals as doorbusters, a term it liberally uses throughout--it even applies to the special green Zelda 2DS. We've designated doorbuster deals as such in the lists below; it's unclear how limited stock will be, but some of these offers may run out shortly after Target stores open their doors.
On the accessory side, the most notable deal is PlayStation VR for $200. This is just the headset itself, meaning you would still need to purchase the PS4's camera in order to use it. Still, that's an attractive option for those uninterested in the camera and bundled game you can get on sale for $300 or $350 elsewhere. Additionally, all PS4 DualShock 4 controllers drop to $40, while a selection of Xbox One controllers will also be $40. The ad states that "all" Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus memberships will be $10 off, but only the $60, 12-month cards are pictured. It's unlikely you'll get $10 off the cheaper, short-term subscription cards.
As for games, there are quite a few on sale. However, it's unclear if certain deals apply to all platforms--for instance, Just Dance 2018 is $30 on Switch, which may or may not also be true of Xbox One and PS4 versions. The ad also states there will be more games available at the various price tiers, so at this point we don't know everything that's discounted.
Below, you'll find the comprehensive list of everything we know will be on sale on Black Friday at Target. Store time openings vary by state, so check with your local store to be sure. You can also check out our in-depth lists of other retailers' Black Friday deals through these links:
2017 has been a big year for Sega's iconic mascot, Sonic. The blue blur starred in two major releases this year, the first of which, Sonic Mania, garnered widespread acclaim from fans and critics for the way it successfully recaptured Sonic's glory days. Sega followed it this month with Sonic Forces, a new 3D installment that blends classic and modern Sonic gameplay and gives players the ability to create their own Sonic characters.
Critics have now weighed in on Sonic's newest adventure, and the reception has been decidedly mixed. GameSpot awarded it a 5/10 in our Sonic Forces review, saying the game "falls short due to frustrating design choices and inconsistent level design."
Other reviews for Sonic Forces are available online as well, and as usual, we've rounded up a sample of them below. For a broader look at what critics are saying about the game, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Sonic Forces
Developer: Sonic Team
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: November 7
Price: US $40 / £35 / AU $60
GameSpot -- 5/10
"For years the Sonic series has come up short in its 3D games. It wasn't until Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations that the series was able to grasp a semblance of quality that could change the perception of the series as a whole for the better. Sonic Forces ultimately fails to advance the mechanics of previously successful 3D Sonic games, or present them in their best light. A mediocre platformer at best, Sonic Forces manages to do nothing more than reinforce long held stereotypes against Sega's beloved blue blur." -- Matt Espineli [Full review]
IGN -- 6.9/10
"On top of the joy of creating and playing as your own character, there's a lot of goofy charm that makes Sonic Forces hard to be too disappointed with. The graphics are colorful and engaging, and the music is a pumping backdrop for extreme team-ups, super-speed cinematics, and lots of ruminations on the power of friendship. There are some really fun levels in the mix, too, and surprisingly strong boss fights make for some unexpected highlights. But Sonic Forces doesn't build on its handful of good ideas as much as it should, and it screeches to a halt just as it seems to hit its stride." -- Heidi Kemps [Full review]
Polygon -- 5/10
"Sonic Forces creators' good intentions and interesting ideas don't amount to much in a game so clumsy and limited in design. It certainly doesn't help that Forces follows right on the heels of Sonic Mania, a game that not only demonstrated a more focused design sensibility but also did a far better job of realizing its creators' ambitions. Forces may have had a larger budget than Mania, but it feels like the poorer creation all around. Unless your dearest dream has always been to play a Sonic game as your own original fan art character, Sonic Forces doesn't have much to offer." -- Jeremy Parish [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 2.5/5
"Sonic Forces has one defense; that it's a great-looking, fan-serving, accessible Sonic for the hedgehog's younger audience. With Sonic Mania pitched as the Sonic for real gamers, that's all it needs to be. Well, that's not good enough. Sonic's younger fans deserve a game with more imagination and more chance to discover, learn and build their Sonic skills, and the Mario series shows it's possible to do this in a game that appeals to fans both young and old. Sonic Forces does not." -- Stuart Andrews [Full review]
Game Informer -- 6.5/10
"Despite my multiple gripes with Sonic Forces, I still enjoyed the adventure. 3D Sonic games still aren't to where they should be after such a long time of iteration and experimentation, but through improved gameplay and level design, Sonic Forces continues the series' evolution in the right direction." -- Brian Shea [Full review]
EGM -- 7/10
"Sonic Forces mashes together everything from Sonic's history, from 2D/3D mechanics to over-the-top action spectacle pieces. The new customizable hero feature breathes fresh life into the franchise, but the 3D gameplay it uses overpowers the game's attempt to combine what has made the different eras of Sonic work." -- Evan Slead [Full review]
Another FIFA 18 update has been released, and although it only appears to introduce a pretty small change, it actually fixes a pretty big exploit. Until now, it was possible to trick AI-controlled opposition into fouling you if you went into the corner and shielded the ball. In FUT, this could be utilized to get enemy players sent off and to hence win easily in Squad Battles and boost your rewards significantly.
Now, EA has fixed the issue. The patch notes for the latest update state the developer has "removed the chance for the CPU AI controlled player to receive a second yellow card when trying to push or pull an opponent, with the exception of an attacker who is through on goal and 1 on 1 with the keeper." This doesn't apply to human controlled players, however.
FIFA isn't quite at that stage yet, but it does have plenty of live content updates throughout the year. A different FIFA 18 patch dropped just a couple of weeks ago, FUT continues to evolve each week, and FIFA 18 for Switch was also updated recently.
In other FIFA news, EA says the US national team's failure to qualify for the men's World Cup for the first time since 1986 will not affect the franchise's sales. "The World Cup is the world's largest sporting event and it is followed by all people around the world who love soccer or football, depending on what they call it where they come from," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said. "Does it heighten their enjoyment if their national team is participating? Of course. But we don't see people stopping watching a World Cup just because their team is not there. As you think about the US in particular, we are a very multicultural country." For more on the popular sports game, check out our feature on FIFA 18 vs PES 2018.
Of all the types of American regions featured in games, the one least explored is the country's vast open rural landscapes. It's one of the intriguing aspects of Far Cry 5's Montana, a sense of anticipation in exploring its diverse terrain as you take on a malicious cult that has claimed the land as their own. Based on our most recent interview with creative director Dan Hay, we learned more about the nuances of rural America as envisioned by Ubisoft Montreal and how this land in conflict promises to deliver a layered experience driven by the allies and enemies you meet.
GameSpot: So from what I've gathered so far, The Father's siblings are managing the map's various regions controlled by the cult. But it seems like you're also giving the player that Far Cry style of freedom of focusing on one region at a time or allowing them just slowly picking away at each one.
Dan Hay: Without going into micro detail, I think the key thing for us was to create story bubbles, and opportunities to discover things. Sometimes when we're authoring a story like this, it seems like all of the characters of the world are cursed with all the knowledge on Earth. You walk to them, you ask them a question, and they seem to know everything that's going on. I like the idea of meeting characters in the world that don't really have a clue what's going on, and they're only aware of what's going on in terms of what they can see in front of them. They can be speaking based on what's going on in the north, but they don't know or they're hearing something else that's going down in the south. What that does is create friction. We want to give fish-hook opportunities to the player. These NPC's friends have been taken from them, they don't know where those people are. They're stuck in the middle of the world. They don't have the knowledge of a lot of what's going on. And yes, you'll have the opportunity to jump between regions controlled by the cult. You can go and meet John, and do everything in John's area. At any time, you can head up to Jacob and Faith's region.
I guess that's one of the drawbacks of a cult. That no matter how organized, they probably don't have the wherewithal or the resources to actually fully control the land. Are they all relying on walkie-talkies?
We did a little bit of work to figure this out. How do these communications tools work? How far would it go? I think it's somewhere in between 12 and 25 miles, depending on what's around you. It's believable for us that if that first moment when things go south, that the cult is getting on CB radios and they're going, "Hey guys. This is what you need to do."
But not everybody knows what's going on at the same time, and that creates an interesting series of events. For a while, this allows you to fly under their radar. Then, once you begin to get this notoriety, you get to build this resistance, and the cult turn their attention more towards you.
Do you think you can probably delay getting The Father's attention if you spread your accomplishments across all the regions evenly?
That's an interesting question. The way that I would answer that is if you decide to go into John's region, and you decide to head directly for the community of resistance fighters, then you go right at the cult, John is going to know who you are really quick. John is going to offer a proportional response against what you do.
If you don't, if you go out into the world and you smack a bit on John's area, then you smack a bit on Faith's, and then go back to Jacob's, there's definitely a period where you can do more and maybe fly under the radar a bit. It's not the intention of the game to be able to provide all those opportunities, but it's something that can happen just as far as the way the game is set up.
It's interesting that this isn't a cult that actually has had multiple generations rooted in the Hope County. Is this approach of buying up cheap land typical?
I don't know if it's typical, but it's valid. We wanted to be able to make it so that the cult went to this place, chosen specifically because it's remote, and because there's an opportunity for them to be able to own it and take over the community. We didn't feel like it needed to be something that had existed for a long time.
I like the idea that The Father had this epiphany when he was younger. It wasn't something that was handed to him from his father. I think if we had made it so that The Father inherited this leadership role, then this isn't really his cause or it's something that's just a belief that's been passed down. Instead, he was once a relatively average person and then he made the conscious effort based off what he was seeing and what he heard. He chose to remove himself from what you considered to be regular society and moved to this place to build a separate community because he believes the end of times is coming. That makes him much more interesting as a person.
Thinking about the resistance factions of the other Far Crys, would you say that this new set of groups is a little bit more unified despite their diverse backgrounds?
It feels like it could be unified. We've created a really interesting set of events where personalities that you meet in Fall's End may not be the personality types that you meet in previous games. Their motivations for how they push back may not be the same. If you head up north, you're going to get a completely different group people who are pushing back against Jacob. They may all end up being unified in terms of what they're doing and how they operate. In terms of what drives them, in terms of how they move, in terms of the resources they have at their disposal, and how prepared they were for this event, they're completely different.
When you knew you were going to set the game in America, was there ever the thought of a more suburban or urban setting?
I think what's interesting about Montana was that it had an interesting flavor of a little bit of both. Did we ever have conversations about that? I vaguely remember us talking about different locations. We very quickly stuck with an idea of being in a rural community and making it feel like small town America.
We wanted to put you in a situation that was different and unique. We've all driven down those dusty roads in wherever it is that we're from. We end up going out in the wilderness, and you feel this sense of "Okay. I'm shedding the tapestry of urban, and I'm moving into the wilderness."
It's really interesting for us to tell the stories of people that have been cut off for a little while and make their own rules.
When you think about the different types of settings in prior Far Crys, Montana is the furthest thing from the islands Far Cry 3 and I doubt that it'll match the verticality of Far Cry 4. What would you say is the one aspect of this new map that sums it up?
Maybe it's a good thing that I'm struggling to come up with just one thing. What's really interesting is when we were making Far Cry Primal, we did those Beast Master quests, and we're like, "Whoa. Okay. Hold on. There's something really cool here." So, that says "You know what? For Far Cry 5, let's explore the relationship with coop AI." And that's what lead to Boomer. And then, let's start talking about guns-for-hire and people that you bring in with their unique personalities and abilities.
What we do is like throwing a rock in the water and see how it ripples and see what we want to make it, and I think that we're evolving through each of these franchises. But I cannot come up with just one thing. When I look back on what I was doing in Far Cry 4, I was doing a lot. I was wingsuiting, sneaking, sniping, and you're right, verticality was a big thing, and it felt like I was always attacking from above or I was stealthily going through the space. There's just a ton of stuff that I can do in Far Cry 5. I've struggled to come up with just one experience.
What is the most inviting aspect of this rural setting that will discourage players from habitually using fast travel as often as possible? I imagine you'll want them to soak in the land, so to speak.
One of the things that we as a team had a conversation about is that when you spend time in the States, there's something magical about getting inside a muscle car and just driving down the road. You feel like a badass. Something as simple as that or getting into a cult vehicle and hearing the sounds of the station that they play and all the hymns that are playing. It's just something about making the world believable. And so, when I get into a classic car, and I drive down the highway in our version of Montana and I just look at the landscape, it feels very real to me.
We had the chance to try Disney's Star Wars Jedi Challenges. It's an augmented reality game compilation, but unlike other AR experiences like Pokemon Go or games built on Apple's ARKit, you have to put on a headset to play it. The headset is designed by Lenovo and is perhaps most similar to Microsoft's HoloLens. Perhaps the biggest distinguishing factor between the two is that Lenovo's solution requires a smartphone.
The device comes with a sleeve for your phone, and you simply need to download the Star Wars Jedi Challenges app before you slot it in. The headset is equipped with a 60Hz screen and uses mirrors to reflect augmented reality projections within your field of view.
Unlike the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets, Lenovo's AR headset doesn't block the environment around you, but merely augments it by projecting additional characters and objects into your room that aren't actually there. The Jedi Challenges package comes with a tracked Lightsaber and a spherical light beacon that you put on the floor so that the headset's two cameras can tell where the ground is. Disney advises using the device indoors away from sunlight so it can work most effectively.
Using these accessories, the first thing we did was whip out our Lightsaber to duel Darth Maul. Turning on the Lightsaber and seeing it woosh out with the infamous sound effect is very satisfying. From here, we could physically hack and slash away at the Sith Lord, who was walking around our studio trying to take us down with his double-sided Lightsaber. The game requires that you block attacks, and highlights where you should position your Lightsaber to do so. Mixed in between your hacking and slashing, these moments can feel very much like quick-time events (QTEs).
Once we brought Darth Maul to his knees, we moved onto a level where we fought a bunch of droids shooting at us from off in the distance. Using our Lightsaber, we could deflect their blasts back at them. As they marched closer, we could slash them apart. Disney asserts that there are many enemies in this mode and that the challenge will progress so that we'll face tougher foes like Kylo Ren and Darth Vader, who have their own unique abilities and attack patterns.
Moving onto the strategy game mode, Jedi Challenges had us looking down at tiny troops on the floor. The ground beneath us was split down the middle with our base on the left and the enemy AI base on the right. It felt like a tower-defense game. We could summon turrets down onto the battlefield below along with additional clone troopers to ward off incoming enemy droids. This game mode employs a timed cooldown mechanic for summoning troops, and towards the end of the battle, we eventually got access to Obi Wan Kenobi. When we plopped the Jedi down onto the battlefield, he wreaked havoc and lead us to victory.
The last mode we played was Dejarik, which is perhaps better known as the Star Wars chess game. Here, we picked three monsters and took turns moving forward to attack the enemy team on the far side of the virtual table. It played like a simple version of a traditional turn-based tactics game. While we only played a few minutes of it, each monster among the 10 or so that were available to choose from featured different strengths and weakness, which suggests some depth to the mode.
The Disney representative we spoke to said that there are plans to incorporate multiplayer between two headsets in the future, and that the company is experimenting with developing additional non-Star Wars games to take advantage of the headset.
All in all, the company says you should expect roughly a dozen hours of gameplay in total. Considering that the entire package is $200, Star Wars Jedi Challenges is not quite in impulse-buy territory, and seems more tailored for Star Wars enthusiasts at the moment.
We've known for some time now that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is getting a new desert map, but publisher Bluehole has revealed few details about it. Thankfully, some very dedicated fans have datamined the new PC 1.0 test servers and found what appears to be the layout of the new map.
Reddit user bizzfarts uploaded the below image showing what the new arena looks like. It should be noted that many of the location names are likely placeholders, to be replaced by final titles when the map eventually arrives. User Art_7s, meanwhile, uncovered images of a new jet ski vehicle, along with a minibus, pickup truck, and what appears to be a new gun. You can take a look at a couple of the images below; click the links to see more on Reddit and Imgur.
Test servers for PC 1.0 were initially slated to go live earlier this month but were delayed as the test build was deemed to be "not stable enough," according to a blog post from the development team. "Right before opening the test servers, we concluded that the test build was not stable enough and decided to postpone the test." The servers are now live however, and their testing period has been extended by one day. "Testing will end Wednesday evening PST, Thursday morning CET," developer PUBG Corp explained.
On top of climbing and vaulting, players will also get to test out PUBG's revamped ballistics, which have been adjusted to improve gameplay balance and make them more realistic. Most notably, the development team has added a drag effect on bullets that affects their trajectory curve. Additionally, weapon accuracy has been tweaked according to their real-life counterparts, resulting in some weapons experiencing a slight accuracy nerf or buff.
PUBG releases in full on PC and on Xbox One via the Game Preview program later this year. For more, check out some official images of the new desert map.
If you didn't pre-order the Deluxe Edition, you can still purchase it and gain access to Battlefront II right now. On console it will cost you US $80 / £80 / AU $120, compared to the standard edition's US $60 / £60 / AU $100, but the Deluxe Edition will also get you instant access to Kylo Ren and Rey, plus a number of upgrade packs containing attachments and abilities for use in multiplayer.
As the game is now available, Star Wars Battlefront II reviews have begun to surface around the web. In our initial verdict, Alessandro Fillari wrote: "While its main narrative feels unresolved, and the general loop of the multiplayer carries a number of issues, Battlefront II still manages to evoke that same sense of joy and excitement found in the core of what the series is all about. But as it stands, the biggest hurdle that Battlefront II will need to overcome--for its simultaneous attempts to balance microtransactions with genuine feeling of accomplishments--is deciding on what type of game it wants to be." Read more in our full Star Wars Battlefront II review-in-progress.
Much of Battlefront II's launch has been overshadowed by the game's handling of microtransactions. EA's response to fan concerns about the title's loot boxes became the most-downvoted Reddit post ever, before the company decided to change the cost of some of Battlefront II's heroes at the last minute. Sadly, EA developers have received death threats in the wake of Battlefront II's loot box and microtransaction controversy.
Mario may be headed to the big screen once again. 24 years after the failure that is the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie, Nintendo is reportedly nearing a deal to make an animated movie based on the hit franchise.
That's according to the Wall Street Journal, which reports that Nintendo is in talks with Illumination Entertainment, a subsidiary of Universal Studios responsible for movies like Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Minions. The WSJ says the two companies have been speaking about the prospect for a year but that a deal is now "close" to being signed. As you'd expect, neither company is talking about the deal publicly just yet.
Nintendo has famously been hesitant to allow its franchises to be adapted into movies. The aforementioned Super Mario Bros., released in 1993, was a critical and commercial failure, although it did leave us with a truly magical cinematic moment. The WSJ notes that Hollywood has long been interested in Nintendo properties, given their worldwide success.
The report states that Nintendo would want to play a creative role in the film, and that series creator Shigeru Miyamoto (now a Representative Director with the company) will potentially serve as a producer. Miyamoto has previously experimented with film, even releasing a series of Pikmin shorts. Last year, Nintendo made it clear it was interested in expanding to films but that it would like to do "more than just license something."
Illumination could make several movies as part of the deal, but a source said that only one is planned for now. We'll report back as we learn more. Separately from this, Nintendo is working with Universal on a theme park.
The next pair of Pokemon games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, launch on 3DS this month, marking the series' final installments for Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. The titles are based on last year's Sun and Moon versions but tell an "alternate" story that revolves around the mysterious Legendary Pokemon Necrozma.
While the core adventure remains the same across both versions, each game has some some distinct elements, so you may be unsure of which to pick up. We break down the biggest differences between the two versions below to help you decide which one to play.
Which Version Should You Get?
We recently had the opportunity to interview the developers of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and one of the topics they weighed in on is which version players should pick up.
"In essence there's no real problem with whichever one you buy, you're going to get a really good experience of Pokemon," said Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon director Kazumasa Iwao. "But one point users might want to consider is that the Pokedex in Pokemon Ultra Sun is based on the Pokedex in Pokemon Sun and the same for Ultra Moon and Moon. So if something the players are really looking for is Pokedex completion, they might find it better to go for the opposite version this time round in order to help complete their Pokedex. So if they bought Pokemon Sun, they might want to choose Pokemon Ultra Moon this time."
However, those who care more about the games' narrative may want to consider sticking with the same version this time. As producer Shigeru Ohmori explained, "[I]f you're looking for a story-based experience then those who played Pokemon Sun may want to go for Ultra Sun as there are some small details that remain consistent throughout the two that might appeal to people looking for a story-based game."
General Differences
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon tell the same story and feature the same cast of major characters, but there are some slight differences between the two titles that will make the experience unique depending on the version you choose to play. As in the original Sun and Moon, the two games are set 12 hours apart. Ultra Sun will reflect the time that is set in your 3DS clock, while Ultra Moon will be 12 hours ahead--meaning if you play during the day, it will be night in the game.
Additionally, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon introduce a mysterious new group called the Ultra Recon Squad. This team arrives in Alola through an Ultra Wormhole and has some sort of connection to the Ultra Beasts; in one trailer, the group can be seen commanding the new Ultra Beast, UB-Adhesive. You'll encounter different members of the Ultra Recon Squad depending on which version you play. In Ultra Sun, players will cross paths with Dulse and Zossie; in Ultra Moon, players will meet Phyco and Soliera.
Ultra Recon Squad, from left to right: Dulse, Zossie, Soliera, and Phyco
Version-Exclusive Pokemon
As with every pair of Pokemon titles, the primary difference between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is the kinds of Pokemon you can encounter in each version. While both games feature most of the same monsters, each one is also home to a handful of exclusive Pokemon that cannot be captured in the other version. Below you'll find a list of all the version-exclusive Pokemon that have been confirmed so far:
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Vulpix
Alolan Ninetales
Houndour
Houndoom
Cranidos
Rampardos
Cottonee
Whimsicott
Tirtouga
Carracosta
Rufflet
Braviary
Lurantis (Totem-sized)
Passimian
Turtonator
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Sandshrew
Alolan Sandslash
Electrike
Manectric
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Petilil
Lilligant
Archen
Archeops
Vullaby
Mandibuzz
Salazzle (Totem-sized)
Oranguru
Drampa
Legendary Pokemon
The Alola region is also home to a diverse array of Legendary Pokemon, and thanks to the appearance of Ultra Wormholes in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, players will be able to encounter Legendaries from past regions, as well. Every single Legendary Pokemon from previous gens returns in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, though as is the case with regular Pokemon, some can only be encountered in a specific version. Here's the list of all the version-exclusive Legendaries that appear in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Legendaries
Ho-oh
Raikou
Groudon
Latios
Dialga
Heatran
Reshiram
Tornadus
Xerneas
Buzzwole
Kartana
Dusk Mane Necrozma
UB-Burst
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Legendaries
Lugia
Entei
Kyogre
Latias
Palkia
Regigigas
Zekrom
Thundurus
Yveltal
Lunala
Pheromosa
Celesteela
Dawn Wings Necrozma
UB-Assembly
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon release for 3DS on November 17. Along with an expanded storyline, the games introduce many new features and characters, including a new surfing game and Team Rainbow Rocket, a villainous supergroup comprised of the leaders from past teams. Players who purchase either title by January 10, 2018 will receive a free gift: a special Rockruff that evolves into the new Dusk Form Lycanroc.
The latest pair of Pokemon games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, arrive for 3DS this week, marking the series' final installments on the dual-screen handheld. Not quite sequels nor remakes, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are more accurately described as the definitive versions of last year's games, Sun and Moon, changing some of their story elements and introducing new features, Pokemon, and characters to make the experience a bit different from their predecessors.
Ahead of their release, reviews for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have begun appearing online, and critics agree that fans of the original games will enjoy this return trip to the Alola region. We've rounded up a sample of reviews and their scores below. For a wider look at what critics think of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic. We've also put together a guide of the differences between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon to help you decide which version is right for you.
Games: Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Developer: Game Freak
Platform: 3DS
Release date: November 17
Price: $40 / £40
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Though they aren't very different from their predecessors, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon make enough changes to stand apart as the definitive version of the seventh generation games. An overly complicated story is offset by charming details that bring even more life to the most vibrant Pokemon region to date, and small fixes iron out the shakier parts of the original journey. If you make it through Alola a second (or even first) time, you'll be rewarded with a fun-filled and uplifting Pokemon adventure with its own share of spoilery surprises in store." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review]
IGN -- 9/10
"I was fine with the lack of of mid-gen Pokemon expansions over the past few years, but I'm glad Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon exist as Pokemon's swan song on the Nintendo 3DS. These upgraded versions not only have everything I enjoyed about Sun and Moon, but augments them in important ways by making small but meaningful changes to the story, expanding the selection of available Pokemon, and even making some small tweaks to the world. Unless you played through both Sun and Moon extensively and have already collected every Legendary Pokemon, it's easy to recommend to any Pokemon fan." -- Casey Defreitas [Full review]
EGM -- 8/10
"Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon serve as the definitive editions of Pokemon Sun and Moon, and that means that if you have strong opinions already about the original games, there's not much in the new ones that will likely sway your mind either way. Systems are a little more convenient, cutscenes a little more polished. A new selection of available Pokemon can make completing your Pokedex that much easier, while a few fun new minigames, plot changes, and the occasional new area to explore leave fun surprises in store for those who have memorized every inch of Alola. Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon don't do much to push the series as a whole forward--but given the giant leaps that the original Sun and Moon already took, maybe they don't need to." -- Emma Schaefer [Full review]
Destructoid -- 9/10
"I already got my fill of Pokemon Sun and Moon, as you can clearly see from my completed 'dex, but that didn't stop me from reliving it all over again with Ultra. Just keep in mind that if you're hoping that the entire 'leveling process' is going to be different this time, and that you'll be entering a completely brave, new world--you're going to be disappointed." -- Chris Carter [Full review]
Destiny 2's latest weekly reset has taken place on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, marking the end of the latest Faction Rally event and kicking off Victory Week, which means there's a new Legendary weapon available for purchase. Bungie has also shifted the Flashpoint to Titan and rotated the selection of items available at Eververse. Most significantly, the weekly reset has introduced the next Nightfall Strike: Savathun's Song. Here's what to expect in terms of Modifiers, Challenges, and rewards.
The first of the two Modifiers is Momentum. This causes health and shields to only regenerate while you're sprinting; standing still is essentially a death sentence; crouching behind an object for cover won't be a viable strategy this week. Luckily, if you do need some extra time, you can get it through the other Modifier, Timewarp: Anomalies. This presents you with objects scattered through the mission that you can destroy to extend the Strike's time limit.
In terms of Challenges, the always-present Speed of Dark is in effect, which requires you to finish the Strike with at least five minutes left on the timer. Unbroken tasks you with dying fewer than three times. And The Best Defense asks you to shoot down 15 projectiles during the final boss fight before finishing off Savathun's Song.
The reward for completing the Nightfall is Powerful gear. This is one of the only ways to obtain such gear, and they're among the best items you can get your hands on. It's also an easy way to increase your Power level past 265, which presents a difficult point to surpass for many players. If you haven't hit 265 yet, you may want to wait until after you've raised your Power level to grab the Nightfall reward. This Nightfall will be available until the next weekly reset, which occurs at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM GMT / 8 PM AEDT on Tuesday, November 21. Keep in mind, Destiny 2's weekly reset time will change with Curse of Osiris's release.
If you still need to unlock the Nightfall, you'll have to complete two Strikes and approach the suggested Power level of 240 before Zavala lets you take part. Traditional matchmaking is not available, but in its place we have Guided Games, providing players with the opportunity to be matched up with members of a clan for the mission (which requires a Nightfall Ticket). Alternatively, clan members can sign up to serve as guides through the Nightfall. Doing so does not require a Ticket. Although they're imperfect for now, changes are on the way for Guided Games.
The second-ever Faction Rally event in Destiny 2 has come to an end, and we have a winner. Following Dead Orbit's win during the first event, New Monarchy has emerged victorious during the second. As a result, The Tower has been decorated appropriately (as you can see below), and Victory Week is officially underway.
Victory Week sees the three factions stick around for one additional week, during which time you can continue to cash in any Tokens you earned (including those acquired through the Faction Token exploit). You can see all of the Faction Rally gear, weapons, and armor up for grabs in our gallery to get a sense of what you might be able to earn. Keep in mind, however, that only the first 30 rewards packages you receive can include gear; after that, you'll only receive shaders.
More significantly, Victory Week also presents you with the opportunity to purchase the winning faction's Powerful weapon. New Monarchy's win is not terribly surprising, given the sword it teased if it won. Honor's Edge is an Adaptive sword whose quick attacks do extra damage immediately after pulling it out. It's available to purchase for 1,000 Glimmer to those who joined New Monarchy during the event, or 50,000 to everyone else.
This Faction Rally event marked the first one on PC, but it was a slightly new experience for everyone. Ahead of its launch, Bungie released a Destiny 2 update that adjusted how Tokens were earned, increasing rewards for some activities and reducing them for others. Most significantly, it did away with the Token rewards for destroying enemy resources in Lost Sectors. Instead, Fireteam members would each earn three for looting the chest at the end of a Lost Sector.
However, this resulted in the aforementioned exploit, which allowed players to partially leave and then re-enter a Lost Sector to loot the chest again without having to earn it. How this might have factored into the final results of the Faction Rally--which determines the winner based on number of rewards packages earned--is unclear. Bungie did not patch the exploit, but all players had the same access to it.
There has been much speculation about Ben Affleck's future as Batman in DC's superhero movies over the past few months. Last week, the star seemed to suggest that his future as the Caped Crusader was in doubt. He has now confirmed that he is looking to leave the DC universe.
Speaking to USA Today, Affleck revealed that the standalone Batman movie that is set to be directed by War for the Planet of the Apes' Matt Reeves is now only "something I'm contemplating." Affleck then went on to state, "You don't do it forever, so I want to find a graceful and cool way to segue out of it."
Affleck's comments are in line with the story that The Hollywood Reporter ran in July, which stated that DC is considering "gracefully" easing Affleck out of the role that he first played in last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Affleck, who appears as Batman in this week's Justice League, was originally set to star in, direct, and co-write the Batman movie. However, he stepped down as director in January and since then the direction of the film has clearly changed. While Reeves has stated that Affleck is still involved, he has also confirmed that the star's script would no longer be used. Although the movie is frequently referred to as The Batman, it does not yet have a confirmed title or release date.
Doom was one of 2016's surprise gaming hits and the thought of being able to take the fast-paced, demon-demolishing title on the go was unheard of. But it's 2017, and Doom on Nintendo's hybrid console, the Switch, is finally here.
You can read our verdict on the game in our full Doom review, but for a wider look at its reception we've taken the time to collect some other reviews from around the web. If you'd like to read some more critic or community reviews, head on over to Metacritic.
Game: Doom
Developer / Publisher: iD Software / Bethesda Softworks
"If you can stand to look at a lesser version of Doom's once captivating world, you'll find that the game plays well enough on Switch so long as you've got a TV in front of you and a Pro Controller in hand. There's nothing else like it on a portable system, but be prepared to face a handful of compromises, especially if you're used to playing on other platforms. It's an impressive port that begs you to consider gameplay over graphics, and it succeeds more often than not." - Peter Brown [Full Review]
The Verge -- No Score
"Doom is an important release for the Switch. On a technical level, it should expand the general perception of what's possible to produce on the system. The original version's 60 fps first design no doubt made it easier to create the Switch port, since halving the frame rate to free up system resources could still produce acceptable results, but it still serves as a useful example of how high-end AAA games could work on Nintendo's low-power console." - Sam Byford [Full Review]
IGN -- 8.5/10
"Doom for Nintendo Switch is a straightforward port that runs well and looks pretty good. Which ultimately, is everything it needed to be. Even though it's a little fuzzy, smashing through a legion of demons with a fun set of weapons and upgrades feels great, and especially when you throw in arcade mode and the much-improved multiplayer arena battles, this is the best mature-themed shooter you can currently get on the Switch." - Filip Muigin [Full Review]
Destructoid -- 8/10
"Bethesda did it -- they ported Doomto a Nintendo console. It might not be the prettiest version, but it works, and it was enough to get me to play it all over again. Nintendo learned a lot from its failure on the Wii U, and its ability to welcome in more mature games on the system is something it hasn't done in quite a while. It's a message for all the prospective first and third parties alike -- keep doing it." - Chris Carter [Full Review]
Hardcore Gamer -- 4/5
"It's clear, beyond the obvious limitation with resolution and frame-rate, that Doom for Switch has had to make some restrictions. Even so, for those who haven't yet experienced one of last year's finest, most surprising releases, Doom even now represents one of the genre's finest moments for some time. Clearly those who already own the game on another platform will have to think long and hard over the novel value of having a game of this caliber on the go. And while the visual blemishes and rough edges do detract on occasion and are clear to spot, playing Doom on the Nintendo Switch still conjures that same jubilant energy that id Software's behemoth has long been praised for. Tainted in its visuals it might be, the heart, soul and demon-crushing ferocity of its gameplay, in the end, shines through regardless." - Jordan Helm [Full Review]
NintendoLife -- 8.8/10
"Doom is an incredible game, flaws and all. Audio issues and frame rate drops were annoying at times, but weren't dramatic enough to deter us from a beautiful, pulse-raising good time - and we imagine that future updates will at least partly solve these problems. Doom is one of the best first-person shooters we've ever played, and is certainly the best in its class on Switch. There's a certain magical quality about having a game this good on the go. Its brilliant campaign is reason enough to pick it up, but Doom's multiplayer will keep you coming back for more for months to come. While it's perhaps not as polished as it is on other formats, having Doom in portable form is a revelation, and developer Panic Button deserves high praise for porting over id Software's classic title so brilliantly." - Steve Bowling [Full Review]
Getting Over It is a game where you play as an at least partially nude man in a giant pot who navigates the world by using a sledgehammer. This is controlled entirely with the mouse, making for a rather curious control scheme as you try to drag or push yourself along. It was developed by the eponymous Bennett Foddy, who's best known for games like QWOP and CLOP and says it's meant as an homage to the 2002 game Sexy Hiking.
But as you can see in the video above, playing it is a maddening, hilarious experience. You're meant to ascend a mountain to find "great mysteries and a wonderful reward," but doing so is much easier said than done. It's easy to lose progress as you fall back down after a mistake--moments which are punctuated with a quote or music intended to troll you, although you can turn that off if it proves to be too frustrating. Frustration is arguably the point, however; as the Steam page states, this is a game designed "for a certain kind of person; to hurt them."
Partway through the video, we adjust the camera so you can see the actual physical inputs that are required to play. It's at this point that our stream affords you the rare opportunity to actually watch a person acquire carpal tunnel in real time.
Getting Over It was released recently as a Humble Original; it was included as part of October's Humble Monthly bundle, which it's now too late to purchase. However, the game will release on platforms like Steam on December 6, should you feel up to the challenge.
As reported by Deadline, Miller has taken Warner to court in his native Australia, alleging that the company reneged on paying him a multimillion-dollar bonus for Fury Road. The director claims that the studio agreed to pay him a $7 million bonus if the movie's budget came in at under $157 million. Although it went overbudget, Miller states that it was decisions by Warner that caused delays and cost overruns.
In a statement to Deadline, a Warner spokesman said, "We disagree and will vigorously defend against these claims." The site also notes that the studio attempted to get the case moved outside of Australia, but the country's Supreme Court last week ruled that it would be litigated there.
Mad Max: Fury Road starred Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, and Nicholas Hoult. It made $378.4 million worldwide and was nominated for ten Oscars, more than any Australian film in history.
In 2015, Miller stated that there were two Mad Max movies in development. "This film was green lit three times and fell over three times over a decade," he said. "We went to shoot with Mel Gibson back in 2001, but then 9/11 happened, and the American dollar collapsed against the Australian dollar close to 30 per cent, so we lost that amount of budget overnight.
"We were then rained out of Australia. The desert rained for the first time in 15 years, and we ended up in South West Africa, Namibia. But in this process, we had dug down deep into the backstory, not only of the characters, but of every vehicle. How the steering wheels became religious artefacts and things like that.
"So we ended up with two scripts, without really trying," Miller added. "We're talking to the studio about it as we speak, but which one of the two stories will happen next, I'm not so sure."
With Spider-Man currently on loan to Marvel, Sony is wasting no time establishing a movie universe of other characters from Spider-Man comics. Venom is currently in production and releases next year, and will be followed by Silver & Black in 2019. It has now been reported that they will be joined by a movie about Morbius: The Living Vampire.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Morbius script has been written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama. Together, the pair most recently penned the screenplay for last year's Power Rangers, and are also known for films such as Dracula Untold, The Last Witch Hunter, and Gods of Egypt. THR notes that the script was submitted to Sony during a "secret development process." No further details about the project are currently known.
Morbius was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, and first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man issue 101 in 1971. This was the first issue of Marvel's flagship Spider-Man title that was not written by Marvel founder and Spidey co-creator Stan Lee. The character is a scientist who suffers from a rare blood disease, and in attempt to cure himself, gives himself the attributes of a vampire.
In related news, Venom is now shooting in Atlanta. The movie stars Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock, a man possessed by the evil alien parasite of the title, alongside Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed. Last week, an on-set video was released, showing Hardy performing some stuntwork.
We're now well into November, and Hulu has shared a full list of new titles coming to its streaming service this month. In addition to new episodes of your favorite TV shows, November will see the debut of some notable Hulu original series and a slew of new movies to watch.
The most notable addition for the month is sure to be the series premiere of Marvel's Runaways, the streamer's first comic book adaptation. From Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the creative duo behind The O.C. and Gossip Girl, Runaways tells the stories of six teenagers who learn their parents are supervillains. It arrives on November 21.
Future Man, from executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, will bring time traveling comedy to Hulu. Josh Hutcherson stars as a janitor that might also be the savior of the universe.
As for movies, popular titles like 13 Going on 30, Ocean's Eleven, and Terminator 2: Judgement Day will become available to stream. Additionally, 21 James Bond films have debuted on Hulu, giving subscribers access to almost every single film starring the famed secret agent, prior to Daniel Craig taking on the role. The only early film that's missing is 1967's Casino Royale.
Netflix has announced what's coming and going in the month of November. As usual with the streaming service, many titles--both original and not--will be added to the service leading throughout the month. One particularly interesting addition is the upcoming documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, which is made up of behind-the-scenes footage of Jim Carrey during production of Man on the Moon--the Andy Kaufman biopic.
Of course, the most anticipated release of the month for Netflix is none other than Marvel's The Punisher. The streamer's first Marvel series after Defenders launches November 17, with Jon Bernthal playing the gun-toting vigilante. November will also see the arrival of new seasons of Lady Dynamite and Broadchurch, along with movies like Chappie, Men in Black, and Piranha.
Leaving Netflix isthe Matrix Trilogy, V for Vendetta, and The Human Centipede: First Sequence, to name a few. On the TV front, the streaming service will also remove all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother, along with four seasons of Jessie.
Black Friday deals may still be a few days away, but retailers are giving some early sneak peeks at their upcoming sales, and Microsoft is offering its lowest price yet on a Xbox One system. Starting November 23, you can buy a Xbox One S bundle for $189, $60 off the existing price.
The Xbox One S bundle includes an Xbox One S 500GB, a free select game of choice, a one-month Xbox Game Pass trial, and a 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial. Microsoft hasn't said what those select games are, but a photo on the deal's website suggests it includes Watch Dogs 2, Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, and Just Dance 2018.
Microsoft is also offering deals of up to 65% off on many games, and an additional 10% off for Xbox Live Gold members. Those gold members can access the deals on November 17, with non-subscribers able to get the discounts starting November 21. Also starting November 21 is a deal on Xbox Design Lab Wireless Controllers. For $65 (plus free shipping), you can personalize your own for $15 off the normal retail price.
There are many other stores currently giving you a glimpse of their Black Friday offerings, including similar deals on the Xbox One S. GameSpot is working to find the best deals, and you can follow our coverage to make sure you don't miss any of them, including current previews from GameStop, Target, Kohl's, Walmart, and Best Buy.
According to Deadline, Amazon has signed a multi-season commitment for a Lord of the Rings show. The show will be produced in cooperation with estate of writer J.R.R. Tolkien, publisher HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema, which is a division of Warner Bros and produced Peter Jackson's blockbuster movie adaptations.
The show will be set before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in Tolkien's trilogy. It is unknown at this stage if it will also take place before Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, the evnts of which also occur earlier than The Lord of the Rings.
The deal, which also includes a potential additional spin-off series, comes with a hefty pice tag. Deadline reports that it cost Amazon an upfront fee of between $200–$250 million purely to secure the rights. This is outside the costs for the development, talent, and production of the series.
In a statement, Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series at Amazon Studios, said, "The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen. We are honored to be working with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins, and New Line on this exciting collaboration for television and are thrilled to be taking The Lord of the Rings fans on a new epic journey in Middle Earth."
In an unusual move, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was reportedly personally involved with the negotiations to secure the rights to the property. Amazon was one of three studios that the Tolkien estate initially approached to produce the show, the others being Warner and HBO.
Jackson's three Lord of the Rings movies were released between 2001 and 2003. Together they made more than $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office, with The Return of the Ring also winning 11 Oscars. They were followed by the three Hobbit movies, also directed by Jackson.
The actor took to Instagram to post a illustrated picture of the character of The Crow, with the caption addressed to director Corin Hardy. It reads, "I've been waiting for sooooo long. @corinhardy let's do this brother." In response, Hardy posted an image of himself and Momoa, with the caption, "Two-headed monster. Craawwk."
The Crow Reborn does not yet have a release date. However, last month creator James O'Barr stated that it would begin pre-production in February 2018, and confirmed Hardy's involvement. Hardy previously made the acclaimed horror movie The Hallow and directed the upcoming Conjuring spin-off, The Nun.
The Crow first appeared on the screen in the 1994 movie, which was adapted from James O'Barr's comic book. The film was a critical and financial hit, but it was overshadowed by the accidental death of star Brandon Lee on set. An unsuccessful sequel, The Crow: City of Angels, was released in 1996.
Ever since it was canceled in 2006, fans of HBO's highly acclaimed western drama Deadwood have been hoping that it will make a return to the screen. There has been talk of a potential movie for many years, and it now looks like it is happening, with new reports that production could start in 2018.
According to TVLine, HBO is looking to start shooting in the fall of next year. However, the site also notes that the project is yet to receive an official green light and that HBO has not formally commented on it.
The Deadwood movie has been picking up some momentum over the past year. During the Television Critics Association press tour this summer, HBO Programming President Casey Bloys spoke about the script that the show's creator David Milch had written for the film. "The one thing that I was concerned about was I wanted a script that would stand on its own [for Deadwood fans and non-fans]," he said, via The Hollywood Reporter. "David totally delivered on that. I think it's a terrific script. If we can do it on a budget that makes sense for us, and if we can get the cast together, we're inclined to do it."
Earlier this year, star Ian McShane, who plays Al Swearengen, spoke about this hopes that the movie would happen. "I would love to do that again, be reunited with David and Tim [Olyphant] and everybody concerned with it," he said, via Den of Geek. "But they better make a deal sooner or later because we're all getting on a bit. It would be great to work with David again. [It] was maybe the best experience I ever had."
The three seasons of Deadwood ran from 2004 to 2006. Although the shows won eight Emmy Awards, HBO decided not to move forward with Season 4. At the time Milch spoke about his plans to make two feature-length TV movies to complete the story. However, in 2007, McShane revealed that the sets for the show were being dismantled and that the movies would not happen.
[UPDATE] The much-anticipated PC update for Call of Duty: WWII has been released, while Sledgehammer has also discussed its efforts to combat cheating.
"Cheaters and hackers create a plethora of issues in-game and ruin the overall experience for everyone," Sledgehammer said in a Steam post. "We are committed to banning those who exploit the game to gain advantage over other players."
Players can report other players by accessing the Social tab and selecting "Report Player."
As for the PC patch, the update fixes a number of technical issues, including a bug that would reset the FOV to 65 every time you boot up the game. There are also weapon buffs and nerfs, while the Laughing emote animation issue should now be fixed. You can see the full patch notes below.
GENERAL UPDATES:
Fixed an issue where the FOV was being reset to 65 every time the user starts Multiplayer
Resolved an issue where FPS is locked to 60 fps when using HDR on 60hz monitors in Windowed (No Border) mode
Fixed a hitching issue when using 144hz monitor in Windowed (Not Border) with Vsync & Freesync enabled
Ranked Play support added for the upcoming Ranked Season in December
Support added for Discord
COD:WWII MULTIPLAYER UPDATES:
Connectivity improvements and optimizations
Leaderboard stability improvements and bug fixes
General UI improvements
Various issues with when the party leader disbands the party
Fixed various issues with parties following the party leader to the HQ
Fixed a rare issue where players are being booted from public lobbies
Fixed a host migration issue when the party leader exits the game via exit to desktop
Fixed issue with kill feed improperly displaying a user has changed their name
Addressed animation issue with Laughing Emote
Addressed glare issues with various Weapon Kits while SSR is set to High
Resolved issue with After Action Report not appearing after Gridiron and Capture the Flag matches
Addressed uncommon issue where HUD would only display for a single player in Hardcore DOM
Espionage Basic Training - Reduced painted time from 10 seconds to 6. Made it so only bullet damage paints you
Addressed issue with Mastery challenges were number of challenges was displaying incorrectly making Challenges impossible to complete
Fixed tank inversion and sensitivity setting for War tank controls
COD:WWII MULTIPLAYER WEAPON UPDATES:
BUFFs
Walther Toggle Action Shotgun - damage increased at extremely close range
Bren LMG - increased damage per shot
LMG Bipod - Sped up ADS time when in bipod stance
NERFs
BAR Rifle - decreased fire rate and widened hip fire spread
STG44 Rifle - widened hip fire spread
FG42 Rifle - increased recoil and widened hip fire spread
Machine Pistol - decreased damage ranges
SNIPER CLASS
Fixed a bug with all Sniper Rifles zooming to exact center when aiming down the sights.
COD:WWII NAZI ZOMBIES UPDATES:
Fixed a crash with host migration while in a public zombies match
Addressed lighting/glare issues with Tesla gun in Zombies when SSR is enabled.
Fixed Klaus pathing
UPCOMING FEATURES/FIXES:
After players prestige once, "WELCOME TO THE HQ" quest pops pack up.
After finishing a game, classes with Heroic weapons get reset
The original story is below.
Sledgehammer Games has updated Call of Duty: WWII players on the current state of the game, following the issues at launch that impacted the online experience. In the wake of the issues, Sledgehammer dropped dedicated servers in favour of a P2P setup.
The good news today is that dedicated servers are back on PlayStation 4 in the US, while Sledgehammer brought them back on Xbox One today, but only for a limited time for the purposes of testing. Additionally, Sledgehammer is now adding a "limited" number of dedicated servers to places throughout Europe before launching elsewhere.
Sledgehammer has also extended Call of Duty: WWII's double XP bonus period for a further 24 hours, now ending at 10 AM PT on Tuesday. The new game update released last night fixed a problem where players could earn triple XP.
Additionally, Sledgehammer announced that an update for the PC version of Call of Duty: WWII is out now, and it addresses "several issues." There will be a bigger update for PC coming later today that does even more.
Unfortunately, Call of Duty: WWII's Headquarters social space is still not operating as intended. It is meant to be a social hub like Destiny's Tower where lots of people come together, Sledgehammer made it a solo experience (though you can manually invite friends) to help improve the overall online experience. This is less than ideal, and thankfully Sledgehammer has said it will return Headquarters to normal as soon as it can.
"Once again, thank you for your continued support," Sledgehammer said in its post on Reddit. "The player experience is improving and we look forward to resolving these issues quickly--we are working tirelessly to get there."
[UPDATE] DICE executive producer John Wasilczyk released a statement on Battlefront II's controversial loot box/microtransaction system today. He explained that change will be a constant for Battlefront II as it pertains to changing the in-game economy, with tweaks coming as DICE considers and responds to player feedback.
Specifically, Wasilczyk said DICE is aware of the feedback that it takes too long to unlock heroes like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. "Unlocking a hero is a great accomplishment in the game, something we want players to have fun earning. We used data from the beta to help set those levels, but it's clear that more changes were needed," he explained.
In response to this, DICE is dropping the number of credits you need to unlock "top heroes" by 75 percent; Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader can now be unlocked at 15,000 credits, while Emperor Palpatine, Chewbacca, and Leia Organa can be unlocked at 10,000 credits. Iden Versio can be unlocked with 5,000 credits under the new system.
"Based on what we've seen in the trial, this amount will make earning these heroes an achievement, but one that will be accessible for all players," Wasilczyk said. "It's a big change, and it's one we can make quickly. It will be live today, with an update that is getting loaded into the game."
However, Wasilczyk made no mention of a refund for people who paid the higher values for the hero unlocks.
He went on to say that DICE is aware of the feedback on Reddit, and promised that the studio will continue to make changes to credit levels for unlocking heroes. There will be a Reddit AMA on Wednesday featuring leads from the development team where they will answer questions about the current state of the game.
The original story is below.
Star Wars: Battlefront II has been generating controversy for a while already regarding its loot box and microtransaction system, and the game isn't even fully released yet. That controversy continues now that the game is out in EA/Origin Access, with players complaining about how the game allows you to essentially pay for the chance to get better items that actually affect your in-game performance.
In response to this, EA released a statement on Reddit--and it didn't go well, reportedly becoming the most-downvoted comment in the history of Reddit with more than 433,000 downvotes. The statement explains that EA is trying to "provide players with a sense of pride and accomplishment for unlocking different heroes."
It adds that EA determined the in-game credit cost of heroes based on data from the open beta and more. You can expect EA to continue to change the credit cost of heroes going forward. "We'll be making constant adjustments to ensure that players have challenges that are compelling, rewarding, and of course attainable via gameplay," EA said.
"We appreciate the candid feedback, and the passion the community has put forth around the current topics here on Reddit, our forums and across numerous social media outlets. Our team will continue to make changes and monitor community feedback and update everyone as soon and as often as we can."
Community manager Mat Everett added in a statement of his own on Twitter that further changes to Battlefront II's loot box system will be announced via a blog post soon.
For lots more on the current state of Battlefront II's loot box system and why we think it's problematic, check out the video above. In it, we provide a comprehensive breakdown of the different currencies, what kind of items and Star Cards are available, and what $90 (or $100, if you don't have the EA/Origin Access discount) puts in your hands. It's a complex system, but one you'll likely want to understand before diving into the game--or deciding whether it's worth a purchase.
"There was the conversation around loot boxes, which is not a Star Wars: Battlefront II-specific conversation but more one that the industry is having with players across the global community," he explained. "And we are engaged in that conversation, engaging with our players on a daily basis as we think about that."
EA developers have received death threats in the wake of Battlefront II's loot box and microtransaction controversy.
Battlefront II officially releases on November 17. The EA/Origin Access trial provides the full multiplayer component and the first three single-player missions, though you're limited to a total of 10 hours of gameplay. Pre-ordering the Deluxe edition gets you complete access on November 14. You can read more in our Battlefront II multiplayer pre-review.
It has been discovered that Star Wars: Battlefront II's Arcade mode has a daily credit cap, which could be yet another element of the game that fans aren't happy about. This cap was discovered weeks ago, but recently gathered more attention after Game Informer's Andrew Reiner tweeted about it.
The credit cap may be annoying to players since it essentially means you can't grind through to get credits, if you wanted to do that. With the cap in place, the game seemingly pushes you toward spending real money to buy loot boxes.
Multiple Call of Duty movies are in the works. We don't know much about the stories they'll tell or who will star in them, but now Activision's Tim Kilpin has shed some light on the company's general approach to making films based on its video games. Kiplin heads up Activision's Consumer Products Group, and he says it's important to carefully consider how to adapt the game for the big screen.
"Anytime you take a franchise as storied as this, with this kind of legacy, and expand it into a new form factor you have to be really careful," Kilpin told MCV. "So frankly, if the script and the story isn't right we won't do it; it's not one of those situations where someone is saying, 'I don't care just get it made!'; that's not what's happening. We do think that if it's done well it has the opportunity to expand the base audience, beyond the traditional foundation that the game appeals to."
Kilpin went on to suggest that a Call of Duty movie may be able to help expand the profile of the already-massive series. The thinking is that Call of Duty is an M-rated game, meaning that theoretically it appeals to a relatively smaller pool of people.
"As an M-rated game, it's a core audience and we do think there's an opportunity to reach a little more broadly than that; if the storytelling is done well, that's the key," he said.
Activision is hoping to create a Marvel-style universe for its Call of Duty movies. Activision Studios executive Nick van Dyk said in a previous interview that fans can expect the Call of Duty films to resemble the games in terms of tone.
"It's going to have the same sort of high-adrenaline, high-energy aesthetic as the game, but it's not a literal adaptation," he said. "It's a much more broad and inclusive, global in scope ... a big, tentpole, Marvel-esque movie."
Also in the MCV interview, Kiplin briefly discussed the possibility of an Overwatch movie. Asked if an Overwatch movie might be possible after the Call of Duty film, Kiplin said, "We would like that very much." That's hardly confirmation of anything at all, but it's still exciting to think about considering how wonderful the Overwatch shorts have been.
The latest weekly lineup of deals on Xbox Live has been revealed. The list of deals for Xbox One and Xbox 360 is not all that extensive, though there are some solid deals to be had.
Some of the discounted Xbox One games include the World War 1 shooter Verdun $10/£8/$13.50 AU), the superhero action game Deadpool ($12.50/£11.25/$15 AU), and one-month subscriptions to DC Universe Online ($11/£9/$15 AU). Additionally, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is discounted to $18.50/£15/$33 AU).
Go to to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of this week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership. The deals are good through November 20.
No comments:
Post a Comment