In a pivotal Star Wars: The Last Jedi scene, one character urges another to "let it all die." The character is talking about relics of past generations: Jedi, Sith, rebels, empires. At times, this movie feels determined to do just that. If 2015's The Force Awakens bent over backward to be like the original movies, The Last Jedi does the same to buck your expectations. It doesn't "let it all die," but it does clear away enough of the old to set the newest Star Wars trilogy on a surprising path toward its conclusion.
The Last Jedi's determination to move forward comes with good and bad consequences. On one hand, there are genuinely shocking moments in this movie. Characters you thought were good have a dark side. Those who should be wise act foolishly, and a single decent act doesn't suddenly make a bad guy good. If you think you know which way this thing will go purely on a narrative level, you're probably wrong. For a Star Wars movie, that unpredictability is refreshing.
But The Last Jedi treats many of the series' vestiges with equal contempt, no matter how distant or relatively near in the past they are. More than one character or plot established in The Force Awakens gets unceremoniously blown up here. After Episode VII, this trilogy's path felt too familiar; now, it might go anywhere, but that's also made the whole endeavor feel shakier, like the plan might change again before it's all over. The plot being unpredictable is refreshing; axing entire storylines from The Force Awakens before they ever had a chance to pay off seems sloppy.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi picks up more or less right where The Force Awakens left off. Rey has traveled to a distant corner of the galaxy to get Luke Skywalker back in the fight, and General Leia's Resistance alternately flees and fights the much more powerful First Order. Without the need to introduce so many new characters, The Last Jedi does what middle trilogy movies do: It lets us spend more time with those already established.
Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is still a hot-headed but skilled Resistance pilot. Finn (John Boyega) is struggling to find his place in the Resistance as a First Order deserter. Rey (Daisy Ridley) has quite a job convincing Luke (Mark Hamill) to come out of exile, while Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)--a.k.a. Ben Solo--battles his inner conflict, not to mention Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson). Leia (Carrie Fisher) leads the Resistance against overwhelming odds. Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is still pointless. Chewbacca chewbaccas. BB-8 is still great.
Add to this already unwieldy cast: Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico, an intensely likable Resistance maintenance worker who gets in above her head; Benicio del Toro's DJ, a thief who toes the line between good and bad; and Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo, an utterly unnecessary addition who takes screen time away from better characters.
What really doesn't help The Last Jedi is how grossly bloated it is with circuitous subplots, narrative cul-de-sacs, and detours that amount to little more than distractions. The movie's main event is actually a drawn out stalemate between Snoke's armada and Leia's pathetic forces, which probably wasn't a smart structural choice for a middle movie that would have threatened to drag even without a lengthy standoff in the middle.
Various characters on both sides give regular reports on the Resistance ships' dwindling fuel supply, which graciously serves to signal to audiences approximately how much more foot-tapping non-action remains before the movie gets good again. There are entire schemes, mutinies, and double-crosses that serve only to tread water while The Last Jedi's many moving pieces all get into place for a finale that is, admittedly, awfully grand.
That sounds grim, but The Last Jedi gets many important things right too. Like The Force Awakens, it's beautiful to behold. It's also just the right amount of funny. Even the Porgs, which drew such a following before the movie had even released, provide the right amount of cute without feeling overused.
Luke Skywalker's decades-long arc pays off in a way that Han Solo's, sadly, did not in The Force Awakens. Yet Luke's scenes never dissolve into pandering or fan service; in fact, his journey provides more surprises than any other plot in the movie. Carrie Fisher's performance comes with surprises too, although the exact details of her plot will surely cause some to wonder how much of the film was changed after the actress's death in late 2016. Regardless of whether we ever find out, The Last Jedi is a beautiful send-off for the iconic character and the actress who played her.
Most importantly, The Last Jedi provides real momentum and growth for its core characters. Poe, Rey, Finn, and Kylo were all right where we left them when the movie started, which made it easy to jump straight into the conflict. By the end, they're in very different places.
Episode VII and, now, Episode VIII have accomplished something as difficult as it is crucial: They've made us care about a new generation of Star Wars heroes. Looking toward the past in these movies has been fun and emotional, but the new trilogy was always going to live or die by what it added to the series, not what it rehashed. And the journeys of characters like Rey and Ben Solo are starting to feel as nuanced and essential as those of Han, Luke, and Leia in the original trilogy. Regardless of where it ends, that's something to admire, and despite its issues, The Last Jedi overall is as enjoyable a Star Wars film as The Force Awakens was before it.
The Good
The Bad
Characters introduced in Force Awakens continue to evolve
Bloated with unnecessary subplots and distractions
Luke and Leia's journeys and payoff
Some new characters add little
Stylistically beautiful and funny
Treads water for much of the middle
Subverts the series' established tropes and provides genuine surprises
GameSpot's Best Games of 2017 has finally kicked off, so join us as we unveil what we thought were the 10 best games released this year. We recently revealed that the #10 spot went to Nier Automata this year. At the coveted #9 spot is What Remains of Edith Finch, which is available on the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Read on to see why we chose it as one of the best for 2017.
While What Remains of Edith Finch might look like a simple walking simulator at first glance, its engrossing story makes it one of the most compelling games of the year. It shouldn't be missed, even by people who don't care for the genre.
You play as titular character Edith Finch as you explore your family's old, mysterious, and larger-than-life estate. The premise is that there may or may not be a curse that ends up killing all members of your lineage in strange and unexpected ways. As you walk through the labyrinthine mansion and explore the rooms of your fallen family members, the game flashes back and allows you to relive your relatives' last moments. You take control of distant cousins, long-lost uncles, and more as you play out the moments leading to their bizarre deaths. What Remains of Edith Finch ends up feeling a bit like "Final Destination" in this regard, but these vignettes are often wonderfully imaginative and haunting, sticking with you long after you've completed the journey.
The narrative can be funny, dark, or heartbreaking, but it's always gripping and well-paced. What Remains of Edith Finch feels like a great page turner of a book that is full of unexpected twists and turns. It's a game that you'll want to recommend to friends as soon as you finish it. Without giving too much away, one of its greatest strengths is that it tells a story that can only effectively be conveyed through a video game. The impact is bolstered by top-notch voice acting and a surreal and magical world that is somehow still rooted in reality. If you decide to give What Remains of Edith Finch a shot, you'll be treated to one of the most surprising and riveting hits of the year.
Ni no Kuni gained a devoted following when it launched back in 2013, and Ni no Kuni II aims to give players even more of its distinctive JRPG gameplay and story. Today, however, Bandai Namco announced that players will have to wait a bit longer for the game, as it's been delayed for two months.
Previously scheduled for release on January 19 on PS4 and PC, Ni No Kuni II has been pushed back until March 23 . According to a press release, this delay is due to developer Level-5 needing more time to ensure that the game meets the studio's standards.
"With innovation and new ideas comes the need to ensure everything works together in a fun and cohesive way," Level-5 President Akihiro Hino said. "This means we'll need a bit more time to make sure the entire Ni no Kuni II experience meets our highest quality standards."
This is the second time that the game has been delayed; the developer originally aimed for a November 10 launch. Alongside this announcement, Bandai Namco also released a new trailer showing off some of the Japanese voice acting. You can watch it above.
The Nintendo Switch continues to sell at a rapid pace. Rather than waiting for its next quarterly earnings report to disclose an updated sales total, Nintendo has announced that Switch has now sold 10 million units worldwide.
That figure is according to Nintendo's internal sales data through the system's first nine months. That would suggest this data accounts for sales through early December, though Nintendo did not provide an exact cut-off date. We've followed up with the company and will report back with any additional information we receive.
This is our first update in more than a month; by Nintendo's previous tally, it had sold 7.63 million Switch units at the end of September. That prompted the company to revise its forecast for the current fiscal year, which runs through March 2018. It now expects to sell 14 million units during the current fiscal year, on top of those it sold during Switch's launch month of March. That puts it on pace to top lifetime sales of Wii U in about a year's time.
During its launch month, Switch sold 2.74 million units worldwide. If it does manage to sell 14 million units by the end of March, that will push its total to 16.74 million units. That brings it close to the lifetime sales of GameCube (21.74 million) but still far behind that of the ultra-successful Wii (101.63 million).
Nintendo celebrated today's announcement with a tweet containing the image above. It references many of its big first-party Switch releases this year, though Arms is sadly forgotten. For a look back at the full year, check out our 2017 Nintendo report card.
Following on the heels of the limited-time Game Awards Flash Sale this past weekend, a new slate of discounts are now available in the PlayStation Store. Ahead of the holidays, Sony has kicked off the first week of its 2017 Holiday Sale, which offers a ton of discounts on PS4, PS3, and Vita titles.
Many of these deals will be available until December 19, while some will be around until just after Christmas, on December 26. As this is only the first week of the PSN Holiday Sale, Sony will presumably add another selection of discounts next week. Until then, you can see all the deals available right now on the PlayStation Store.
Rainbow Six Siege has acquired a dedicated fanbase over the time since its initial release, due in large part to Ubisoft's continuing support and frequent content releases. And the company doesn't plan on stopping any time soon: starting today, you can buy the game's Year 3 content pass for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Like with past DLC passes, this one will get you early access to all of the new content that Ubisoft will release over the coming year. Specifically, the publisher plans on adding eight Operators representing six different countries.
In addition, purchasers can expect a bunch of VIP benefits such as extra credits, customization options, and shop discounts. If you purchase the pass before March 5, you'll also get a special Damascus Steel weapon skin, and if you owned the Year 2 pass, you'll receive an extra 600 credits. The pass is available for $30 / £25 / AU$45 .
We're giving away one-hundred (100) Xbox One codes for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and one (1) Grand Prize Pack, which includes a loot box, cast-iron frying pan, ski-mask, illustrated map of Erangel, and customized Xbox One controller. (Scroll down below to enter.)
Competition ends Thursday, December 14 at 9:00AM PT. One-hundred (100) winners will be emailed. Entry is open worldwide.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
From the makers of the best-selling PC phenomenon, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds drops players into a competitive survival battle where you'll engage in a heart-racing fight to be the last player left alive. Loot supplies, find weapons and gear-up to take on the competition in a solo or team squad match. Emerge the lone survivor in a thrilling game experience full of unexpected, adrenaline-pumping moments.
Game Preview: Game is unfinished and work in progress, may change over time, and may not release as a final product. Game preview information at xbox.com/GamePreview. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately).
Today was set to be a big day for Destiny 2, as it would not only receive a major new update, but it would also mark the debut of the first Faction Rally event of Season 2. While a big patch is still on the way, the Faction Rally has been postponed as Bungie makes changes to what is available to players who don't purchase DLC.
Curse of Osiris's release last week revealed how Bungie would approach gating certain existing content. In short, some activities that were accessible previously now required purchasing the DLC. Some of that changes with today's update 1.1.1.1, and Bungie has said that all limited-time events, including The Dawning, Iron Banner, and Faction Rally, will also be available to everyone.
That adjustment, however, necessitated a delay for the Faction Rally that was scheduled to run this week. Bungie said this was "to ensure all of our players can access the activity and the appropriate rewards." Rewards that were offered through Faction Rally (and Iron Banner) events during Season 1 will continue to be available to everyone. However, there will be new seasonal rewards, including armor ornaments, that only Curse of Osiris owners can acquire.
Bungie did not share a date for when the next Faction Rally will take place. Given that these have always run from one weekly reset to the next (meaning from one Tuesday until the following Tuesday), it seems unlikely that we'll see it before next Tuesday, December 19. With The Dawning event presumably coming soon to coincide with the holidays, though, it's possible the wait for the first Faction Rally of Season 2 may be even further off.
If you never got around to playing Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, then you missed out on what I'd argue is the best Assassin's Creed game in the series. But today's a good day to try it out: It's now available for free on PC.
Ubisoft is holding a promotion this month to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the launch of the first Assassin's Creed: it's giving away PC downloads of Black Flag. From now until December 18, you can get the game through Ubisoft's Uplay service. And once you claim the game, it's yours to keep.
Although this year's entry in the series--Assassin's Creed Origins--is, by all accounts, a good game, Black Flag is still considered by many fans (and myself) a high-water mark of the franchise. Black Flag added a deep naval combat system, giving you a pirate ship and the ability to plunder privateers and other navies. It's well worth checking out, especially since it doesn't cost anything.
Ubisoft also put out a standalone story expansion to Black Flag, called Freedom Cry. It's a great add-on that explores more about the life of Black Flag's side character, Adewale. If you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you may have downloaded Freedom Cry for free on PS4 a few months ago--otherwise, you can buy it for $15 on PC through Steam or Uplay.
The holiday season is here, and that means that you might have some extra time to play games. If you're looking for something to occupy your vacation, GOG's a good place to start: its winter sale begins today, and you can also grab Grim Fandango Remastered for free right now.
GOG is kicking off its big sale by giving away downloads of Grim Fandango Remastered. If you never played the original Grim Fandango when it released in 1998, it's well worth downloading the classic adventure game. It inspired and influenced a lot of game design that came after it, and the Remastered version does a good job of updating the game for modern audiences. You can get it for free until Thursday, December 14.
To download the game, click the "Get for free" button on GOG's homepage. Users have been experiencing trouble claiming the game from the Grim Fandango game page, so for the moment, download it from the homepage.
The storefront has also discounted a ton of great games, as well. Some of the highlights include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for $20 (originally $50), Cuphead for $17 (originally $20), and Absolver for $15 (originally $30). You can see all of the sales here.
GOG has gotten out ahead of other digital storefronts with its winter sale; we'll undoubtedly see Steam's holiday event coming out in the next week or two. According to recent reports, it's likely that Steam's sale will begin on December 21. Meanwhile, GOG will continue changing and updating its discounts until December 26.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Creed 2 has a new director. It has been confirmed that the sequel to the 2015 Rocky spin-off Creed will no longer be directed by Sylvester Stallone. The movie will instead be helmed by Steven Caple Jr., who previously made the acclaimed 2016 indie hit The Land.
In October, Stallone stated that he would direct the movie, which he has co-written and in which he will co-star as Rocky Balboa. However, as Variety reports, after discussion with star Michael B. Jordan and the movie's producers, Stallone decided to hand the reins to another filmmaker. The site notes that Caple Jr. was personally chosen by Stallone, and that Creed director Ryan Coogler is also expected to return as executive producer.
In a statement, Stallone, who created the character of Rocky back in the mid-'70s, said, "The character of Adonis Creed reflects this generation and its challenges," said Stallone. "I believe it's important for the director to also be a part of this generation like I was in mine, to make the story as relatable as possible. We are extremely lucky to have the talented young filmmaker Steven Caple Jr. step up and accept the role of director. I am confident that he and Michael B. Jordan will hit it out of the park!"
In July, Stallone also suggested that fellow action star Dolph Lundgren will reprise his role as Russian heavyweight Ivan Drago, last seen in 1985's Rocky IV. At that time, Stallone posted a series vintage shots of Lundgren from the set of Rocky IV, each one tagged with "CREED 2." Lundgren himself largely confirmed this news when he posted a training video, with the caption, "Getting ready for something big! #creed 2."
Stallone won a Golden Globe for his performance as the aging Rocky in Creed, as well as receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The movie made $173.6 million at the worldwide box office.
In related news, Coogler's Marvel movie Black Panther hits theaters in February. Chadwick Boseman plays the title character, with Jordan in a supporting role. A new international trailer featuring lots of new footage was released this week.
The latest free update for Grand Theft Auto V's GTA Online mode is now available. Beginning today, December 12, PC, PS4, and Xbox One players can all take on The Doomsday Heist, a brand-new online heist for GTA Online and the biggest piece of content Rockstar has rolled out for the mode to date.
Rockstar describes The Doomsday Heist as a "massive new adventure" in which players will team up to thwart "a plan so diabolical it could end life as we know it." The heist spans three acts, each of which "involves negotiating multiple ruthless Freemode prep missions, tactical setup operations, and experimental weapons and vehicles." Rockstar says that all three acts of The Doomsday Heist end in an "over-the-top finale" that will net you a hefty payoff.
In order to participate in the new heist, one of your crew members will need to own "one of the previously undisclosed IAA facilities hidden under Southern San Andreas." That will give you access to the advanced planning room that maps out how to complete each new mission. Players who own the facility also get the option to have either their own Strike Team or Orbital Cannon, a devastating weapon "capable of immolating any patch of ground that incurs your wrath."
In addition to the new heist, today's update introduces "dozens" of new weapons, vehicles, clothing options, and other content to GTA Online, such as your own Mammoth Thruster jetpack and The Avenger, a turreted aircraft capable of vertical take-off. Other new vehicles available in GTA Online now include:
Thruster (Warstock)
Deluxo (Warstock)
Stromberg (Warstock)
RCV (Warstock)
Chernobog (Warstock)
Barrage (Warstock)
Akula (Warstock)
Khanjali (Warstock)
Volatol (Warstock)
Comet Safari (Legendary Motorsport)
Ocelot Pariah (Legendary Motorsport)
Coil Raiden (Legendary Motorsport)
Ubermacht SC1 (Legendary Motorsport)
Vapid Riata (Southern San Andreas Super Autos)
Declasse Yosemite (Southern San Andreas Super Autos)
Finally, Rockstar has added eight new Achievements and Trophies to earn. The developer has brought back Criminal Mastermind challenges for all three acts of The Doomsday Heist, as well. Each finale mission also has Elite Challenge objectives for an even steeper challenge and additional rewards.
The free PlayStation Plus games of December have been available for a while now, but starting today, subscribers get access to another freebie: The Smite PlayStation Plus pack on PS4. It comes with a whole bunch of items, including skins, voices, and announcers.
The pack is available for free to PS Plus subscribers from today until January 9. It contains 31 skins, 20 Gods and Voice Packs, and the Khepri Announcer Pack. In other words, it's a big bundle of cool cosmetics and new playable characters.
2017 marked the second year that VR has been widely available to consumers. Shooting galleries and driving simulators continued to dominate the platform, but the biggest innovation this year was the execution of larger, more robust experiences. You could feel terror playing the entire 10+ hour campaign of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and you could totally immerse yourself in the fantastical world of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR. Despite shortcomings in the platform's design in allowing you to comfortably play for numerous hours, it was still remarkable being able to dive into such experiences in VR. While there's still much work to be done to standardize the platform for casual play across wider audiences, it still yielded plenty of amazing games this year that you couldn't get anywhere else. In no particular order, here are our picks for the best VR games of 2017:
Robo Recall
With the VR medium finding its footing, we're seeing a number of games that have managed to refine their core mechanics compared to earlier titles. Robo Recall is one such game that strikes the right chord when executing its approach to fast-paced action, pulling off slick moves and tricks with weapons, and offering an immersive experience. When it comes to delivering quick and exciting FPS action in VR, Robo Recall is in a class of its own.
Keeping the story to a minimum, you'll have to fight waves of rogue robots that have run amok across a metropolis. With your character dual wielding pistols, shotguns, and possessing some useful close-range combat moves--allowing you to yank off arms and heads of enemy bots--the combat in Robo Recall feels incredibly kinetic. It's also effortlessly smooth and accurate.
The amount of action on display in Robo Recall can be overwhelming, but once you get a handle on the mechanics and feel of the action, mowing down hordes of bots is immensely satisfying. Robo Recall is a standout VR action game, and one of the most refined and well-executed experiences for Oculus Rift.
Project Cars 2
It's of little surprise that games with first-person views naturally translate well to VR. Driving games prove a natural fit and hardcore fans of the genre love to pair their racing wheels with cockpit camera views. As Gran Turismo Sport unfortunately proved with its limited virtual reality options, converting a traditional racing game into a VR experience with all the features intact can be a tall order.
This wasn't an issue for Slightly Mad Studios, developer of Project Cars 2. Aside from improving upon practically every shortcoming of the previous installment, this robust sequel can be fully experienced in VR, with every track and car intact. If you want to take a Honda Civic to Long Beach or test drive a Toyota GT-86 at Fuji Speedway in VR, Project Cars 2 has you covered. In fact, the game provides a strong argument that VR is the ideal way to play any racing game. It brings you closer to the real life sensations of spatial awareness beyond the road in front of you. That includes keeping an eye on your rival by turning your head and using your mirrors as you'd normally would when driving. And while Project Cars 2 doesn't have the most realistic car models, it is impressive to look over your shoulder to appreciate the work that was put into the detailed back seats. Such touches go a long way in making racing in VR convincing and immersive.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
When virtual reality first started to come to fruition a few years ago, for many the dream game was probably something like Skyrim. A massive, fantastical world with hundreds of hours of exploration and discovery. In that respect, Skyrim VR is a resounding success.
Skyrim VR is not a small, simplified Skyrim "experience", but the game in its entirety. Being able to walk from Falkreath to Winterhold, taking in the sights and sounds of the world is something no other VR game has matched yet. And at any point you can detour to enjoy one of Skyrim's many dungeons and quests, or face a massive dragon. The game does allow you to play with a traditional DualShock controller, but the Move controllers provide the most fun, matching your in-game hands. Equipping a sword and shield and mimicking the rhythms of melee combat or firing the perfect shot with a bow gives the game's dated combat a fresh feel. But it's wielding magic that really shines through, with the ability to freely move your hands independent of one another, letting you attack multiple enemies at once with different spells.
Skyrim VR isn't perfect; it's the same buggy RPG we're all used to and seeing unrealistic NPC collisions in VR is both more hilarious and also more disappointing for those wanting a truly immersive experience. But Skyrim VR shows the potential for what the future may hold and seeing Tamriel in this new way is absolutely worth experiencing.
Farpoint
On paper, Farpoint seems like a fairly standard shooter about an unnamed space pilot who crash-lands on an unidentified planet. But since the game uses PlayStation VR, it becomes an exhilarating, immersive experience, and with PlayStation's new Aim Controller, it also includes phenomenal gunplay.
Farpoint's early hours show off all the clever ways the Aim Controller elevates the game beyond a typical VR shooting gallery. Closing one eye to peer down the simulated holographic sight and swapping between weapons by physically reaching over your shoulder are features that make it an engaging experience that can only be appreciated in VR.
Yet, the game's biggest surprise comes in it's overarching plot involving the two scientists who crashed on the planet first. When taking periodic breaks from gunning down aliens to scan holographic memories, you experience a dramatic narrative about hope and survival. You begin to care about the story unfolding all around you, rather than treating the game as just an arcade VR shooter. Learning the fate of your fellow crew members represents a tonal clash from the rest of the game that adds a much-needed emotional hook.
From the Aim Controller's rumble to how you navigate its alien environments, Farpoint gives you a taste of something new for PlayStation VR and also provides a hint as to what the platform can do. Farpoint and the Aim Controller are a proof-of-concept that opens new doors for the future of VR shooters.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7 is special for many reasons but high among them is the fact that it's one of the few games that can be played either traditionally or entirely in VR. What's all the more impressive is neither version feels compromised, and you'll have a fantastic time regardless of how you play. That said, if you own a PSVR, you should absolutely try it in VR.
The game's realistic, and frankly gross, visuals are perfect for virtual reality. You'll want to inspect every element of each room in the Baker Mansion, and taking in the detail of a disgusting dinner feast or rotting corpse up close really sticks with you. After playing a while, the Baker Mansion starts to feel like a real place, and looking at it outside of VR after the fact feels disconnected, like looking at vacation photos.
It'll scare the hell out of you, too. Some of the game's more bombastic scares are even more in-your-face, but it's the many dark claustrophobic hallways that are truly terrifying. The simple act of walking down a staircase into a basement may have been the most nerve-racking experience we've had in years.
Resident Evil 7 in VR is an accomplishment showing how, when well implemented, VR can enhance a game. The fact that it's packaged in the full game and not a separate release makes it a great value, and an absolute must-play game for owners of PSVR.
A new international trailer for Black Panther has landed. The upcoming Marvel movie hits theaters in February and will see Chadwick Boseman reprise his Captain America: Civil War role as T'Challa, the king of Wakanda.
The latest trailer was made for the Japanese market, and it's packed with footage not seen in previous promos. There are new shots of Wakanda, several moments of dialogue from the villainous Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), and tons of amazing-looking action. Check it out above.
The trailer follows the previous ones that were released in June and October. The movie is directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed), and the cast also includes Lupita Nyong'o, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.
Last year, Boseman suggested that the movie will adopt a different tone to many of the other movies in the Marvel universe. "For me, most of the time the darker superhero movies are the ones that I gravitate towards, that I love the most," he said. "I'm glad that the tone of [Black Panther] may be a little grittier.
"I just wanted to establish that from the beginning, that that's what we were doing," he continued, referring to the character's first appearance in this year's Captain America: Civil War. "That that's what I intend to do. I feel like we'll end up in a place that I've always wanted to be when I look at superhero movies. Those are the ones I like the most. It's exciting to do that."
We're now well into December, and this month has brought with it a new batch of free games for PlayStation Plus members. A total of six more games are now available for download to Plus subscribers, including a total of as many as four on PlayStation 4 (or five if you're in Europe).
PS4's lineup is headlined by Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, a remastered version of the 2012 Zelda-esque action game. This version includes all of the original release's DLC along with a variety of technical improvements. It's free this month alongside Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends. A PSVR freebie from November, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, remains free throughout this month, and those in Europe can also pick up That's You for free. Additionally, thanks to Cross-Buy, Forma 8 is available on PS4 in addition to Vita.
The PS3 side features Xblaze: Lost Memories and Syberia Collection, the latter of which is a compilation of the two Syberia adventure games. In addition to the aforementioned Forma 8, Vita owners can download Wanted Corp for free.
All of these games are available now for PS Plus members on the PlayStation Store. They'll be free to download until Tuesday, January 2, when Sony will replace them with the next batch of freebies. Claiming these games allows you to play them as much as you want for as long as you have an active Plus membership.
In addition to the free game downloads, PS Plus subscribers receive some other bonuses this month. Plus members get exclusive access to the Monster Hunter World beta, which runs from December 9-12 on PS4. Later in the month, they'll also receive the PlayStation Plus Pack for free-to-play game Smite, which consists of various characters, skins, and voice packs.
Total War: Warhammer II has a free update coming to PC on December 14 that adds a DLC pack called Skaven Laboratory Mode. The new mode allows you to tweak the game's variable sliders, meaning you can make unit sizes huge, massively increase impact force, or even remove gravity.
We've had the opportunity to play a bit of the new update, and you can see what shenanigans we got up to in the video above. Let's just say there are a lot of catapults, and it's a lot of fun.
The laboratory update expands what was already a great strategy title. In our verdict of the base game, critic Daniel Starkey wrote: "With Warhammer II, Total War doesn't reinvent anything so much as it iterates on the ideas that made the first so special. At its heart there's still the marriage of Total War's big-scale strategy and Warhammer's precise tactical play. But, through a thousand tiny tweaks, they've refined the experience into one of the most intriguing and exciting strategy games ever." Read more in our full Total War: Warhammer 2 review.
This maintenance period will follow a similar pattern to what we've seen in the past. Players are no longer able to sign in to the game as of this writing, but those who were online when this began will be able to stay online for a short while longer. At 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT (3 AM AET on December 13), everyone will be booted offline, and no one will be able to get back on until the process is complete. Bungie expects this to happen at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 10 PM GMT (9 AM AET tomorrow), but as has been the case previously, maintenance could conclude sooner or later than expected.
With server maintenance complete, update 1.1.1.1 will be released. It will make a number of other changes to the game, the most significant of which is the introduction of Masterwork weapons. These are a variant of Legendary weapons that produce Orbs when securing multi-kills, track players' kills, and--most importantly--have stat bonuses that can be re-rolled. In other words, these weapons will not necessarily be identical to each other, as is the case with all existing weapons in Destiny 2.
Ark: Survival Evolved's latest expansion, Aberration, is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, after being delayed from its intended October release date. Developer Studio Wildcard says the DLC pack adds another map, a new storyline, "dozens" of additional creatures, and "more than 50 new items to craft."
The add-on takes place on "a damaged Ark whose internal atmosphere has leaked away." The result of this is a harsh landscape with "a plethora of lush underground biomes containing all-new exotic creatures and items to be acquired." You can see a glimpse of this strange world in the trailer below.
Players who've purchased the game's Explorer's Edition or season pass will receive Aberration at no additional cost; for everyone else, it will set you back $20 (approximately £16 / AU $27). Owners of the Explorer's Edition will also receive a few additional perks in the form of Aberration-themed cosmetic items, such as the Aberration Helmet and Aberration Sword.
Aberration is the second expansion for Ark: Survival Evolved, following the desert-themed Scorched Earth pack that released last year. The base game, meanwhile, launched in August after being playable in early access for two years. Our critic, Brett Todd, said the final game possesses an "outstanding sense of place," but he also thought it "requires a strong level of commitment that is not for everyone." Read more in our full Ark: Survival Evolved review.
With The Last Jedi about to hit theaters, there are currently only two more Star Wars movies scheduled for release--Solo: A Star Wars Story next May, and 2019's currently untitled Episode IX. A new spin-off focusing on Obi-Wan Kenobi has been rumored for several months, and a new report suggests that it might start shooting in just over a year.
According to Omega Underground, the movie is scheduled to begin production at London's Pinewood Studios in January 2019. The site's sources also state that Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry will helm the film. To date, Lucasfilm has not confirmed that Obi-Wan will be the subject of next Star Wars spin-off.
The Obi-Wan movie was first rumored in August this year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Daldry was in talks at that stage, and that he would be involved with the development of the script if he signed on.
It's not known if Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan in the Star Wars prequels, has been in discussion with the studio to reprise the role. However, McGregor has previously expressed an interest in doing so. In 2016 he stated that he believes there should be at least one movie that bridges the gap between Obi-Wan's story in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. In addition, McGregor can be heard very briefly as Obi-Wan in 2015's The Force Awakens.
It's been a few months since we saw any promotional activity for the upcoming movie reboot of Tomb Raider, but now a new poster has arrived. The film is set to hit theaters in March, so it's very likely we will see another trailer soon too.
The poster shows Lara Croft actress Alicia Vikander looking very intense. It's less likely to attract the criticism of the last poster, which many fans felt made her neck look very strange. Check the new poster out below:
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Vikander spoke about taking on the role of Lara Croft and what would set her apart from both the Lara of the games, as well as Angelina Jolie's previous movie portrayal. "She has all the fierce, tough, curious, intelligent traits," she said. "But we've stripped away all of her experience. She hasn't gone on an adventure just yet. She thought she was a stuck up businessperson living in the modern youth culture of suburban London, but then this whole box of information. This is the beginning."
Warner Bros. and developer Jam City say the new game will allow players to "create their own character and experience life as a Hogwarts student" by "progressing through their years" at the school. Along the way, you can participate in magical classes such as Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Duelling Club.
Warner Bros. hasn't revealed anything more about Hogwarts Mystery as yet, except that it's coming to iOS and Android. It will join Wizards Unite, which is also launching on mobile next year. That game will see you roaming the real world collecting power-ups, defending locations, and exploring your environment, much like Pokemon Go. Warner Bros. has also teased that a new Harry Potter game is in the works for consoles, but nothing else is known about that project for now.
Capcom has announced six new characters for Street Fighter V in a surprise reveal at the conclusion of Capcom Cup 2017. The roster of newcomers includes some long-requested fan favourites, as well as two brand-new fighters for the game.
Returning characters include Sakura and Cody--both who made their debuts in the Alpha series--and Sagat and Blanka, who have been around since Street Fighter 2. The two new characters, meanwhile, are G--a presidential-looking bearded man sporting a rather large tophat--and Falke, a new female fighter who looks to be closely connected to Ed.
These six characters make up Season 3 of Street Fighter V's content. The announcement came as quite a surprise, as Capcom has traditionally revealed one character at a time, instead of the complete lineup for a whole season.
Sakura will be available on January 16, 2018, when Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition launches. Along with the character, there will be Story, Battle, and Nostalgia costumes available for her. She also gets her own stage, the Kasugano Residence, which is inspired by her Alpha 2 stage. You see the stage and Sakura in action in the reveal trailer above.
Release dates for the other five characters have not yet been confirmed. Take a look at the slick cinematic video for all of Street Fighter V's Season 3 characters below.
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition is a new version of its Capcom's flagship fighting game and will be available for PlayStation 4 and PC. The updated version will all include post-release content from Season 1 and Season 2 of the game, as well as a number of new gameplay changes.
Online play will be enabled for Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3, and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, allowing players to compete in ranked and casual matches, as well as jump into lobbies and place on leaderboards.
The trailer shown during Capcom Cup touts "arcade perfect gameplay" along with "comprehensive galleries" that contain interactive timelines, concept art, a music archive, and a sprite viewer. A complete list of games included in the package can be found below.
Street Fighter
Street Fighter 2
Street Fighter 2: Champion Edition
Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting
Super Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter 3
Street Fighter 3: Second Impact
Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
In related news, Capcom recently announced Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition, a new version of its flagship fighting game that will be available for PlayStation 4 and PC from January 16, 2018. The updated version will include post-release content from Season 1 and Season 2 of the game, as well as a number of new gameplay changes.
In addition to Reynolds, the Detective Pikachu movie stars The Get Down's Justice Smith and Big Little Lies actress Kathryn Newton. Goosebumps director Rob Letterman is directing the film, which is set to begin production in London this January.
It was previously reported that in addition to Reynolds, the film's producers were looking at Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, and Mark Wahlberg to take on the role of Pikachu. Based on the Japanese video game Great Detective Pikachu, the movie is being written by Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls).
GameSpot News Roundup is back once more with Jess McDonell, but Dan Crowd fans will have to wait keenly in anticipation. Here's what we cover today:
PUBG Xbox One Exact Release Timing Revealed, Controller Setup Detailed
If you're an Xbox One owner you're probably busting to get right into PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Microsoft knows this! They've shared the exact timing of the game's rollout across the globe, and detailed the controller configuration, so start studying!
A Way Out's Online Multiplayer Only Needs One Copy Between Friends
Josef Fares, who instantly gained notoriety during The Game Awards, has been winning over fans of A Way Out with a pretty great initiative. As you can guess, this co-op multiplayer only game will only require one copy between two people to play online. That sounds too good to be true!
Assassin's Creed Origins Gets New Difficulty Options
And finally, everyone's favorite open-world game about Assassins in Ancient Egypt is getting a patch tomorrow, which opens up a couple of new difficulty options, including a Nightmare mode and enemy scaling! It also does a bunch of other stuff, so tune in and find out!
That's all for GameSpot News today, let us know what you thought about today's stories in the comments! See you tomorrow.
The Prestige Nightfall saw its Power level cap requirement increased to a point that non-DLC owners cannot reach, rendering it inaccessible to them. The same is true for the Prestige version of the Leviathan Raid, which means it's not possible to earn the Achievement/Trophy for completing a Prestige Nightfall or Raid. Additionally, Trials of the Nine was affected by the recent DLC launch.
"We've heard from the community that both of these plans aren't working," Bungie said. "The Prestige Raid was a novel experience that players value, even if they don't own Curse of Osiris, and it was a mistake to move that experience out of reach. Throughout the lifetime of the Destiny Franchise, Trials has always required that players owned the latest Expansion. However, for Destiny 2, Trials of The Nine launched as part of the main game, so it's not right for us to remove access to it.
"To make matters worse, our team overlooked the fact that both of these mistakes disabled Trophies and Achievements for Destiny 2. This was an unacceptable lapse on our part, and we can understand the frustration it has created."
To make up for these issues, Bungie is releasing a hotfix this that includes all of the extensive changes listed below. The changes are significant; for example, the Power level for the Prestige Leviathan Raid is coming back down to 300, while Trials of the Nine will be open to everyone, though when it's a Curse of Osiris DLC map, you will of course have to own the content to play it. Due to this update, Bungie is delaying the launch of the new Faction Rally event.
Destiny 2 Hotfix Changes:
The Prestige Leviathan Raid will be brought back down to Power 300, and its rewards will drop down to match the new Power Level. All players will regain access to the Prestige Raid.
This will allow access to "The Prestige" Achievement/Trophy for all players.
This will also allow all players ability to complete the final step for the Legend of Acrius Exotic Shotgun.
Trials of The Nine will only require Curse of Osiris when it features a Curse of Osiris map. For all other weeks, it will be available to all players.
This will allow access to "Lest Ye Be Judged" Achievement/Trophy for all players.
Trials of The Nine rewards that launched with Destiny 2 will still be accessible to all players.
New Seasonal Rewards that launched with Curse of Osiris, such as the new Seasonal Armor Ornaments, will require ownership of Curse of Osiris to acquire.
The Prestige Nightfall will remain a pinnacle activity, at the new 330 Power cap.
This means Prestige Nightfall will require ownership of Curse of Osiris.
Because of this, we will update "The Prestige" Achievement/Trophy to only reference The Prestige Raid.
Moving forward, we are investigating adding a 3rd difficulty to all Prestige activities, so that we can provide both a challenge that stays relevant with each new Expansion, and a Prestige version that is available to all players.
Normal Nightfall will only require Curse of Osiris when it features a Curse of Osiris map. For all other weeks it will be available to all players.
Time limited events – Iron Banner, Faction Rally, and The Dawning, will be made available to all players.
We will be postponing tomorrow's Faction Rally, to ensure all of our players can access the activity and the appropriate rewards.
Iron Banner and Faction Rally rewards that launched with Destiny 2 will still be accessible to all players.
New Seasonal Rewards that launch with Curse of Osiris, such as the new Seasonal Armor Ornaments, will require ownership of Curse of Osiris to acquire.
Destiny 2's servers will be offline tomorrow, December 12, as developer Bungie rolls out the 1.1.1.1 update for everyone on PS4, Xbox One, and PC to install. In a blog post, Bungie confirmed that the server maintenance will begin at 7 AM PT tomorrow, and at this time, you won't be able to log in to the game. At 8 AM PT, everyone who is in an activity will be kicked to the main screen as the maintenance is conducted.
The maintenance is expected to run for a period of six hours, wrapping up at 2 PM PT. You can see a timeline for the Destiny 2 scheduled maintenance in the chart below.
7:00 AM Pacific
1500 UTC
Destiny 2 server maintenance is schedule to begin
Players will no longer be able to log in to Destiny 2
8:00 AM Pacific
1600 UTC
Players still in Destiny 2 activities will be returned to the title screen
2:00 PM Pacific
2200 UTC
Destiny 2 server maintenance is scheduled to end
Destiny 2 Update 1.1.1.1 will be available
The December 12 update for Destiny 2 introduces Masterworks versions of Legendary weapons; these track and display your kills with that weapon (and can be set to show Crucible kills or total kills), create Orbs when securing multi-kills, and have weapon stat bonuses that are "selected randomly from a small pool and are re-rollable."
Additionally, the patch introduces the option to directly purchase Faction armor and weapons for Legendary Shards and Faction Tokens from "most" Faction vendors. The selection will always include each armor slot, while weapons will rotate weekly (for Factions that offer them). These different slots will be unlocked as you claim Engram rewards for each Faction--and any you've earned previously will count toward unlocking these. What's more, Xur will have new items on offer weekly. Fated Engrams can be purchased for Legendary Shards and will decrypt into Exotics that you don't already own, and there will be a new Three of Coins item for purchase with Legendary Shards.
Funcom has announced the official release date for its open-world action game Conan Exiles. The game is already available in Early Access on PC and on Xbox One through the Game Preview program, but the official release will take place on May 8, 2018. Funcom is also bringing the game to PlayStation 4 on that date. Sony's system does not have an Early Access/Game Preview system, so players on that system have had to wait.
Funcom also released a new trailer for Conan Exiles today to celebrate the release date announcement. The video shows off some of the game's sprawling, open-world environments, as well as the otherworldly creatures that players will encounter. Also on display are some of the game's building and construction mechanics.
Conan Exiles will cost $30 on PC when it launches in May; currently, the Steam Early Access version is priced at $30. The Xbox One and PS4 editions will cost $50, which is the same price as the current Game Preview version on Xbox One. If you pre-buy Conan Exiles on Xbox One or PC digitally you'll get the the Conan's Royal Armor in-game item when the game launches; this will also be available for PS4, but not until pre-orders open for that version at a later date.
A physical version of Conan Exiles is also on the way, through a partnership with Saints Row franchise owner Koch Media. You can pre-order the Day One Edition now to get things like a printed, physical game map and Conan's Atlantean Sword for use in the game. What's more, a Conan Exiles collector's edition has been announced.
The centerpiece of this is a six-inch Conan polyresin figure, modeled after his look in the Conan Exiles cinematic trailer. This bundle also comes with a comic book made in partnership with Dark Horse, multiple soundtracks, an artbook, and a world map, along with digital goodies such as the "A Witch Shall Be Born" comic and a 368-page rule book for the Conan pen-and-paper game.
This week is a big one for Xbox One owners. Nine new games arrive for the system this week, including the phenomenally popular battle royale game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which makes its home console debut on December 12.
PUBG arrives in early access on Microsoft's system via the Xbox Game Preview program. While it's officially slated to launch on December 12, some players will have a chance to play it before then due to time zone differences; you can see exactly when the game will be available for you here. PUBG runs for the same price as the PC early access version--$30--and weighs in at a surprisingly small 5.24 GB. Players will also have a chance to purchase special cosmetic item packs that will be exclusive to the Xbox One version.
PUBG isn't the only notable Xbox One game this week. Arriving alongside the title on December 12 is Okami HD, a high-definition port of Capcom's classic Zelda-esque adventure game. The title will be available digitally from the Xbox Store for $20 and supports 4K on Xbox One X. Okami first debuted in 2006 on PS2 and was subsequently ported to Wii and, later, PS3. GameSpot awarded it a 9/10 in our initial Okami review and said the game is "so well crafted from top to bottom that it's bound to impress just about anyone who gives it a chance."
Also out on Xbox One this week is the beautiful and critically acclaimed adventure game Night in the Woods, which arrives on December 13. It's followed by a handful of titles on December 15, including the musical puzzle game Circuits; the retro-style dungeon crawler Hammerwatch; and the bizarre platformer Ultimate Chicken Horse. You can see the full list of this week's Xbox One releases below.
This Week's Xbox One New Releases
December 12
Okami HD
PlayerUnknown's Battleground
December 13
Night in the Woods
December 15
Circuits
Future War: Reborn
Hammerwatch
It's Quiz Time
Lost Grimoires 2: Shard of Mystery
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment