Outside of the Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2 bundles, Nintendo hasn't officially packaged the Switch together with any titles, leaving it up to retailers to offer their own Switch bundles. A number have been available in the past from stores like GameStop, but a new Switch bundle from Newegg is a particularly enticing way to get your hands on the console.
On Ebay, Newegg is selling a new Switch with neon red and blue Joy-Cons and two good games for the system, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Fire Emblem Warriors, for $370. If you're just picking up a Switch, chances are you're already planning to get a game alongside it. Considering that each of these titles typically retails for $60 individually while the system costs $300, this bundle gets you an additional game practically for free.
The Newegg bundle is only available in limited quantities, and shipping is limited within the continental United States, so if you're a prospective Switch owner, you'd better take advantage of the deal while it's still available. You can read more about the bundled titles in our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review and Fire Emblem Warriors review.
The first poster for the upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Venom has been released. The movie stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a man who is taken over by the titular alien symbiote, and it's set to hit theaters in October.
The poster was tweeted by the official Venom account, which also hinted that the first teaser for the movie will arrive tomorrow, February 8. The poster places the distinctive shape of Venom's eyes against a black background--check it out below:
Production on Venom only wrapped last week, and Hardy marked the end of shooting with this Instagram post. The movie releases on October 5, 2018, and also stars Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams, and Woody Harrelson. Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer is directing.
Although Sony made a deal with Disney in 2015 to allow Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the former studio still retains the overall movie rights to characters from the comics. In terms of other Spidey spin-offs, Venom will be followed by Silver & Black. That movie will focus on Silver Sable and the Black Cat and is currently set for a February 8, 2019 release.
Monster Hunter World released for PS4 and Xbox One last month, but one of the biggest incentives to pick the game up on Sony's console is an exclusive set of Horizon Zero Dawn DLC armor. The gear has been available since launch through a limited-time Event Quest, but it won't be around for much longer.
The first round of Monster Hunter World's Horizon collaboration event ends at 3:59 PT / 6:59 ET / 11:59 UTC on February 8, making this your last opportunity to embark on the quest. The mission is called Lessons of the Wild, and it's a five-star quest available to players who've attained a Hunter Rank of 6 or higher. The object is to hunt eight Barnos, which will net you the materials needed to craft the Watcher armor and Felyn Watcher Grinder weapon for your Palico. You can take a look at the gear below.
While the Lessons of the Wild quest sounds simple on paper, you'll also have to contend with a Tzitzi-Ya-Ku during the mission. Once you've defeated the Barnos and gathered the required materials, you can forge the Watcher gear at the Smithy. For more details on how to craft the armor, we've put together a guide on exactly how to get Monster Hunter World's Horizon Palico gear.
The second round of the Horizon event begins at the end of the month, on February 28, and runs until March 5. Capcom hasn't detailed what that quest will entail or what Hunter Rank you'll need to reach in order to accept it, but your reward will be materials to craft Aloy's Bow and armor set. When the latter is equipped, it will change your hunter's appearance to look like the Horizon protagonist.
While the Horizon Zero Dawn gear is exclusive to the PS4 version of Monster Hunter World, all players will be able to get the recently announced Street Fighter V crossover costumes. An upcoming Event Quest will reward players with materials to craft Ryu and Sakura costumes for their hunter. Capcom hasn't announced what date the Event Quest will begin, but PS4 players who have a save file for Street Fighter V on their consoles will be able to embark on the mission before everyone else.
Registration for the beta test of a "major" new PS4 update recently began, and now the beta is officially underway. With the update beginning to roll out to select PS4 users, Sony has announced the details of what to expect from what we now know is system update 5.50.
These changes affect a wide variety of areas on the system. The Library has now been divided into two different areas: One lets you see everything purchased on your account, as normal, while the other only displays what's currently installed on the console. There's also a section where you can see which games you only "own" through PlayStation Plus. If your subscription has lapsed, games on the system will be shown with a lock icon on top of the PS Plus logo. This is meant to let you know you can re-subscribe to regain access to the game in question. Additionally, a new option will allow you to hide "certain" items from the Purchased list, such as demos, trials, and betas.
Custom wallpaper had been implemented to some extent previously, but 5.50 allows you to import any image via USB to apply as your background. A new USB storage device option has been added to the Themes area of the Settings menu. It features some (limited) options for modifying the image you have, such as zooming and cropping.
For those wanting to limit how much a PS4 is used, the new Play Time Management feature has been introduced, which is primarily intended for use with kids. This allows you to track time played and set daily time limits, even from a PC or smartphone. Notifications can be sent to warn the player about the upcoming cutoff, although you can decide whether or not the time limit immediately signs the users out or not.
PS4 Pro owners receive a new supersampling feature that will be of interest to those who have the system connected to a non-4K display. Similar to what's offered through certain games with PS4 Pro enhancements, the new setting allows supersampling to be utilized for more games. This process involves a game being rendered at a higher resolution (up to 4K, in the case of certain PS4 games) and then downscaled to your display's resolution, thereby providing greater clarity. While not everything will necessarily benefit, this complements the existing Boost mode as another optional way to leverage the Pro's power.
Other features in this patch include new Quick Menu improvements (shortcut buttons for volume and Pause/Play when listening to music, faster access to individual friends) and customization options for team pages in Tournaments. You can also now manually delete notifications.
If you signed up to beta test the update, keep an eye on your email for details on accessing it. There's not yet any word on how soon it will launch in full to the public. It's also possible that the full release could include more features.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has made a movie career on doing spectacular things and the trailer for his next film, Skyscraper, shows he's not about to stop. In the 45-second video he's shown scaling the outside of a massive crane, standing atop it, and leaping towards a skyscraper.
The film casts the wrestler turned movie star as Will Ford, a former FBI hostage rescue team leader and war veteran, who now lives life assessing security for skyscrapers. However, things take a turn for the worst when a building in China catches fire and he's blamed as the culprit. If that wasn't bad enough, his family are also trapped in the building. As you can imagine, he's on a mission to rescue his family and clear his name.
Skyscraper is written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, We're the Millers) and produced by Beau Flynn (San Andreas, Baywatch). Neve Campbell, Pablo Schreiber, and Kevin Ranking star alongside Johnson in the film, which will hit screens in the summer.
Super Bowl LII saw the release of a trailer for Fallout--not Bethesda's post-apocalyptic RPG, but the next instalment in the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise. You can watch the trailer above. It opens with the famous lines: "Your mission, should you choose to accept it," as we get slow shots of epic vistas and blood dripping from barbed wire, and continues ominously with "I wonder, did you ever choose not to?"
We discover that the narration is being addressed directly to protagonist Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) with a warning that the end he feared is coming, and blood will be on his hands. Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) is then heard speaking to Hunt as he sets up the premise: Hunt had previously made a difficult choice that put the world at risk.
We're treated to brief glimpses of action, as well as series mainstays Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). We then see Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) warning Hunt that he's in way over his head, and cut to a chase scene in the streets of Paris, a watery predicament, and a rock-climbing escapade gone wrong.
The Mission: Impossible theme song then kicks in to accompany a bathroom brawl and we get more peeks at the film's over-the-top action scenes. Ving Rhames closes the trailer out by exclaiming "Same old Ethan" as we see Tom Cruise perform wild helicopter stunts, jump between buildings, and get into vehicular accidents.
Mission Impossible: Fallout hits theaters on July 27, 2018. We previously got a look at its poster, and a tease of some of the insane stunts we saw in this trailer. Director Christopher McQuarrie already stated that it would be an "emotional journey" for Ethan Hunt, saying " I want an emotional journey for this character, and Tom (Cruise) really embraced it."
You can see more of this year's Super Bowl commercials below.
Universal Pictures revealed the second official trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as part of Super Bowl LII. The trailer, which you can see above, begins with a haunting rendition of the iconic Jurassic Park theme, accompanied by a sinister claw tapping ominously and creeping up on a terrified child in her bedroom.
A voiceover begins to talk about the miracle of seeing dinosaurs for the first time, as we see Chris Pratt's character interact with a baby raptor, a volcano exploding, and Justice Smith's (of The Get Down) character looking up at a bipedal dino getting airlifted off an island.
We then see Bryce Dallas Howard (Spider-Man 3, The Twilight Saga) and Smith encounter a Tyrannosaurus, Pratt taming a raptor, and an explosive chase off the edge of a cliff in a gyrosphere. The voiceover goes to explain that Jurassic Park and the island is in the past, and we're now looking towards the future, while we witness shots of Chris Pratt taking care of what is presumably the same raptor as we previously saw, and the crew running away from explosions and dinosaurs.
We then get a hint of what's to come as we see a silhouette of an unidentified creature, and the crew's now-loyal friendly raptor pouncing at it. More shots of giant dino teeth follow before we see an antagonistic human get charged while trying to hold Pratt's crew.
Back in December we got a few plot details about Fallen Kingdom, discovering that it revolves around Bryce Dallas Howard's character establishing a dinosaur protection group, who enlist the help of Pratt's character to get dinosaurs off the island.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will be released on June 22, and is directed by Spanish director J.A. Bayona, while Jurassic Park director Steven Speilberg serves as an executive producer.
You can see more of this year's Super Bowl commercials below.
A new Pokemon Go update has been released, and it's relatively tame. It makes some improvements to the News section and makes it easier to find Shiny Pokemon on the Collection screen, but it's ultimately not the sort of major update that players are most excited for. However, if the sleuthing done by some fans is correct, it may have set the stage for a new story quest system.
In a post on the subreddit dedicated to Pokemon fan community The Silph Road, the "teardown" of the new update's code has been posted, and it has some interesting findings. Aside from the details that have been highlighted in the update's patch notes, it also points out how quests are potentially being revamped. Whereas the word "quest" was previously used for tracking the daily catch and PokeStop bonuses, it's now attached to a variety of other elements.
While the existence of this doesn't guarantee that any such features will ever actually appear in the game, they do offer a tantalizing tease for what could be on the way. There is seemingly support for quests that require multiple objectives, which can include hatching an egg, winning a Gym battle, leveling up, or completing a Raid battle. There are also references to pre-requisites for quests and new characters, who can have different expressions (either happy or "unset").
Again, none of this is actually available in-game, and there's no telling how soon--if ever--we see any of these features added. But for players who are looking for more to do, or those who have lost interest in the grind, these additions could breathe new life into the game.
Pokemon Go players now have a new update to download. It doesn't introduce any major new features or new Pokemon, but it does have some minor improvements and bug fixes for the popular game that you can now try out--and possibly the building blocks for a new quest system.
Perhaps most notably, the in-game search feature through the Pokemon Collection screen has a new option to look specifically for Shiny Pokemon. That'll save you the trouble of having to manually track them down, assuming you're fortunate enough to have actually captured one. The patch also makes unspecified improvements to the News section located in-game. And, as always, the patch makes "various bug fixes and performance updates," though developer Niantic doesn't highlight any in the official patch notes, which you can see below.
This update is available on both iOS (version 1.61.1) and Android (version 0.91.1). It comes just before the next Pokemon Go Community Days event, which is scheduled for February 24. The first of these took place in January and gave players a chance to capture a special Pikachu that can use Surf. The February event features Dratini with a special move, though just which one it will be has not been announced.
The resurgence of vintage video games is great for many reasons, not the least of which is the availability of new equipment to play old games on modern TVs. Seattle-based Analogue has traditionally stood ahead of the competition by releasing great looking consoles that offer best-in-class video processing and notably nuanced configuration settings, and its latest device, the Super Nt, is no different. It's a beautifully designed, compact console that, at the moment, is the best device for playing original Super Nintendo cartridges on HD and 4K TVs. It's a relatively expensive option at $189, but if you obsess over minute details and strive for authenticity, the Super Nt's price tag is easily justifiable.
In addition to Nintendo's own SNES Classic (which obviously doesn't support cartridges) there are multiple sub-$100, HD-enabled SNES consoles to choose from at present, from manufacturers like Hyperkin and Retro-Bit. While functional, the Retrons and Retro Trios of the world are consoles designed on a budget with constrained feature-sets and outdated tech. In theory, you can grow accustomed to shortcomings like input latency and improper video processing, but accepting these quirks doesn't diminish their existence. Analogue took a decidedly different approach for its console that eliminates these issues from the get-go.
These images are captured directly from the Super Nt at 1080p, with an aspect ratio of 8:7, at 4.5x height.
The Super Nt offers highly configurable video output with resolutions up to 1080p through HDMI, and near-perfect performance thanks to the expertly configured FPGA under the hood. In simple terms, an FPGA chip can mimic components like RAM, video processors, and CPUs simultaneously. In the case of the Super Nt, developer Kevin Horton has created a seemingly complete and accurate Super Nintendo on an FPGA, a feat no one else can claim.
Generally speaking, games played on the Super Nt look and play exactly as they should when upscaled to resolutions beyond the original system's native 240p signal. The Super Nt will output video at 480p, 576p, 720p, or 1080p, with suitable options to cater to the peculiarities of games designed for both NTSC and PAL standards. However, the output resolution is only half of the story. Once that's settled, you can dive into other menus to configure the aspect ratio of the game screen, adjust its position, crop unwanted portions of the image, and manually scale width and height to achieve your desired look.
Simulated scanlines are also available, but rather than apply a static filter over the rendered image, the Super Nt's solution operates on the individual horizontal lines of resolution. So when you enable scanlines in conjunction with a resolution that is not a multiple of 240p--such as 1080p--they lack complete uniformity. Super Nt's scanline options can be adjusted and slightly improved from the default settings, but if you want to play with "proper" scanlines, the best solution is to stick to 480p or 720p.
With over 2,000 SNES games released across multiple territories, it's virtually impossible for anyone to say with absolute certainty that the Super Nt is 100% compatible with all games from start to finish. In testing dozens of cartridges, only two proved troublesome for us: Mortal Kombat 2, and a reproduction cartridge of the unreleased English version of Rendering Ranger R2, known as Targa. Analogue's answer for the Mortal Kombat 2 issue? To fix the bug in less than 48 hours after we brought it to their attention. A new firmware came quickly after Analogue reproduced the glitch on its end, and it's comforting to know that a precedent has been set for addressing and resolving incompatibility issues in short order.
Analogue did a great job of matching the original aesthetic of both the original Super Nintendo and the Super Famicom.
Targa simply wouldn't get past the publisher's slashpage, despite working fine on other aftermarket consoles. This was also the case when trying to play the Japanese version using a flash cart on the Super Nt. Rendering Ranger is known to be a problematic game even for official SNES consoles, but Analogue promises a fix is on the way in the near future.
Of note is the potential (as hinted by Analogue) for an option down the road for users to switch the Super Nt's FPGA--on-the-fly--to match different Super Nintendo hardware revisions. Even among Nintendo's own consoles, these variations in processors and encoders would lead to rare instances of glitches in certain games (such as Rendering Ranger R2), so it's refreshing to know that the Super Nt may have a workaround for end-user troubleshooting at a later date.
While there are obviously a few quirks to keep in mind, the benefits of the Super Nt far outweigh its relatively minor issues.
Aside from those two exceptions, compatibility was otherwise rock-solid during our tests, including games like Star Fox, Mega Man X2, and Street Fighter Alpha 2, which are designed around traditionally troublesome special expansion chips that handle applications like 3D calculations and asset compression. There's also native support for peripheral carts like Game Genie and Super Game Boy--including streaming audio, which most SNES clone consoles struggle with. The only accessory you can count on not working is the Super Scope, a light gun designed for (and only compatible with) CRT TVs. Analogue is currently developing a digital-to-analog attachment for the Super Nt to support CRT TVs, though the performance, release date, and cost of the DAC remains to be seen.
On the hardware side, the Super Nt is straightforward: a Micro USB port for power, an HDMI port for A/V output, an SD card slot for firmware updates, and two SNES controller ports. Traditional SNES controllers work exactly as expected, and as Analogue suggests, you can also use wireless controllers made by 8Bitdo, which now come in colors designed to match the four color variants of the Super Nt.
The Super Nt's scanlines work best at 720p, as seen in this screenshot of Konami's Cybernator.
The 8Bitdo SN30 Bluetooth controllers are convenient to connect and charge, are very responsive, and feel almost like a Nintendo-made controller. The one minor issue is the d-pad, which will occasionally move your character on screen left or right when pressing down, should you inadvertently tilt your thumb. Though not perfect, we like the 8Bitdo controllers a lot, and only wish that the Super Nt came bundled with one.
It should be noted that even though you won't normally have to tinker with the 8Bitdo wireless transmitter once you've started playing a game, removing or adding transmitters during gameplay can cause the Super Nt to crash, forcing you to power the console off and on. According to Analogue, this is due to related power demands coming from the transmitter, and the system detecting and protecting the FPGA from potential harm. Thankfully, wired controllers can be connected and disconnected during gameplay without risk of crashing the system.
While there are obviously a few quirks to keep in mind, the benefits of the Super Nt far outweigh its relatively minor issues. There is simply no other console that can play actual SNES cartridges at 1080p without relying on expensive video gear. And looking beyond resolution, the number of settings at your fingertips makes it easy to dial in the look you want for your SNES games in a matter of seconds. The Super Nt is impressive both inside and out, and a smart solution for anyone who strives to see their favorite 16-bit Nintendo games in their best light.
Editor's note: Analogue provided GameSpot the Super Nt consoles and 8bitdo controllers used in this review.
Monster Hunter World is a challenging game. Once you've acquired some better gear, the early monsters don't present much of a threat, but difficult enemies still await players toward the end of the game--specifically, the vaunted Elder Dragons.
Elder Dragons are a recurring aspect of the Monster Hunter series, and they're present once again in World. The game's box features a new addition to the Elder Dragon ranks, Nergigante, but it isn't the only such foe you'll face over the course of the game. In the video above, some of our die-hard Monster Hunter fans take on three Elder Dragons you'll need to face toward the end of World. It should give you a good idea of what to expect from some of the game's most difficult encounters (or provide a glimpse if you don't think you'll make it that far yourself). We've also got a more detailed breakdown of what to expect from Monster Hunter World's endgame.
The full trailer for the second season of Jessica Jones has been released. The Marvel Netflix show sees Kristen Ritter return as the troubled, hard-drinking private detective, who is forced to deal with consequences of her traumatic experiences in Season 1. Check it out above.
Jessica Jones Season 2 hits Netflix on March 8. The show also stars Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, and Leah Gibson. David Tennant is set to make a return as the villainous Kilgrave too, although given his fate in Season 1, it's not yet clear how exactly.
Last year, Jessica Jones showrunner Melissa Rosenberg spoke about her plans for Season 2 and revealed that her time on the acclaimed serial killer drama Dexter was influencing her approach. "I learned from working on Dexter that you can advance the character, but you never want to cure the character," she said. "With Dexter, the moment he felt guilt or accepted that he was 'bad,' the show's over. He's no longer a sociopath.
"The equivalent for us would be if Jessica somehow recovered from the damage that had been done to her. People don't just heal, you don't go through that just to say, 'Oh, he got arrested, he's in jail, I'm OK now.' That trauma is a huge part of who she is now. She was kind of messed up even before Kilgrave came along, and so in Season 2 we can explore what's possible for her moving forward."
Since its Xbox One debut in December, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been one of the platform's most popular titles, recently surpassing 4 million players on the console alone. Microsoft bundled the battle royale game together with its new Xbox One X console for a limited time last holiday season, and now the publisher is doing the same with Xbox One S.
Beginning February 20, prospective Xbox owners around the world will be able to pick up the Xbox One S PUBG bundle. It retails for $300 and includes a 1 TB console, an Xbox One controller, and a full download of PUBG, which is currently only available in Xbox Game Preview for $30. You can take a look at the packaging below.
In addition to the game and hardware, the Xbox One S PUBG bundle includes a one-month trial for Xbox Live Gold, as well as a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass. The former is required to play PUBG online against other players, while the latter is Microsoft's Netflix-like game streaming service, which gives players unlimited access to a select library of Xbox One and 360 titles for as long as they have an active subscription. Microsoft recently announced that the Game Pass service will soon receive all first-party Xbox One exclusives on the same day they launch, beginning with Sea of Thieves.
Developer PUBG Corp. recently rolled out a new update for PUBG on Xbox One. That patch focused primarily on the amount of damage vehicles can inflict and receive, on top of an assortment of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks. To celebrate surpassing 4 million players, PUBG Corp. is also offering players a gift of 30,000 Battle Points to use on in-game cosmetic items this month.
Following yesterday's Flashdance-inspired poster, a new promo for Deadpool 2 has arrived. It's not quite a trailer, but given the inventive marketing campaign so far, it might be as near as we get. It puts the spotlight on time-travelling cyber-mercenary Cable, played by Josh Brolin.
The video kicks off like a generic superhero trailer, giving us a bit of Cable's backstory, before Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) steps in and recreates the rest with dolls while the movie's VFX crew finish off their work on Cable's robotic arm. We then get a quickly cut montage of action from the movie, including the first proper footage of Domino (Zazie Beetz). There's also a hilarious reference to the problems caused by Superman's infamous mustache in Justice League. Check it out above.
Deadpool 2 also stars Morena Baccarin, TJ Miller, and Brianna Hildebrand. David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) is directing, replacing Tim Miller, who reportedly clashed with Reynolds over the direction of the movie.
In related news, the troubled and much-delayed X-Men spin-off Gambit has now been removed entirely from the studio's schedule. The movie lost director Gore Verbinski last month; he is the third director to quit the project over the past couple of years. The Channing Tatum-starring film was due to start production this year ahead of a June 2019 release, but it is now unknown if or when this will happen.
Fortnite's recent Battle Royale mode, Sniper Shootout, may now be over, but a new limited-time event has begun on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Epic Games has kicked off Shooting Test #1 on all platforms, though this limited-time mode is a little different from previous ones.
Rather than introducing a unique game type, as was the case with the recent Sniper Shootout and 50 vs. 50 events, Shooting Test #1 serves as way for Epic to test a new shooting model for Battle Royale. The general experience is largely the same as the game's current build, but Epic has adjusted some mechanics, most notably giving weapons first-shot accuracy. Additionally, the developer has reduced headshot critical hits and introduced damage fall-off to certain guns.
You can see the full list of gameplay adjustments in the Shooting Test #1 event, courtesy of Epic's official website, below. Epic hasn't announced an end date for the event yet, but the studio says it plans to run "multiple shooting tests" in order to gauge the changes it is making to Fortnite: Battle Royale before implementing them in the live game.
Disney launches its streaming service in 2019, and as well as making many of its movies and TV shows available, the studio is planning to develop new shows exclusively for the service. Inevitably one of these is to be a Star Wars live-action series. Disney boss Bob Iger has now revealed that the studio is in fact developing more than one Star Wars show.
During Disney's quarterly investors call, Iger stated that it won't be long before we get more details about the studio's plans. "We are developing not just one, but a few Star Wars series specifically for the Disney direct to consumer app," he said, via Collider. "We've mentioned that and we are close to being able to reveal at least one of the entities that is developing that for us. Because the deal isn't completely closed, we can't be specific about that, [but] I think you'll find the level of talent on the television front will be rather significant as well."
A Star Wars live-action show was in development for several years prior to Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. Star Wars creator George Lucas was planning a series called Underworld, that was to take place between Episode III and Episode IV, and reportedly 50 scripts were written before the Disney deal canceled the project.
In related news, it was also announced this week that Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will write and produce a new series of Star Wars movies. Disney confirmed that these films will be separate from the current Skywalker saga and the trilogy of movies that Star Wars: The Last Jedidirector Rian Johnson is working on. "David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting."
In this age of generic trailers and bland movies posters, we should all be thankful for the team behind Deadpool and its upcoming sequel. Both movies featuring the unconventional superhero have had equally unconventional marketing campaigns, and the latest poster for Deadpool 2 is no different.
In related news, the troubled and much-delayed X-Men spin-off Gambit has now been removed entirely from the studio's schedule. The movie lost director Gore Verbinski last month; he is the third director to quit the project over the past couple of years. The Channing Tatum-starring film was due to start production this year ahead of a June 2019 release, but it is now unknown if and when this will happen.
When Suicide Squad was in production in 2015, the cast and crew bonded by getting tattoos, many courtesy of Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie. The tattoos were all supposed to read "SKWAD," but last year Robbie revealed that she made a spelling mistake on her first attempt. Now co-star Joel Kinnaman has revealed that he regrets getting the tattoo at all--and blames Will Smith for giving it to him.
Kinnaman appeared on Watch What Happens Live and explained that his tattoo artist wife Cleo Wattenström would have done a much better job. "That was a horrible idea," he admitted, via MTV. "You know, don't let a 47-year-old man without his reading glasses tattoo you. That is the life lesson. Especially when you have a very talented wife. It's supposed to be a sh**ty tattoo, so that's what it is."
Here's the image of Smith working his "magic" on Kinnaman, posted on Instagram by the actor in August 2015:
In November last year, there was a rumor that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson might make his DC debut as anti-hero Black Adam in Suicide Squad 2. Sources for The Wrap stated that the movie's plot will revolve around "members of Suicide Squad [who are] tasked with tracking down a weapon of mass destruction." That weapon is apparenty Black Adam. Johnson himself teased a surprise introduction for the character earlier this year, when he told Fandango: "We have a really cool surprise for Black Adam that I can't reveal, in terms of where we will see Black Adam being introduced."
As director David F. Sandberg revealed last week, DC's superhero adventure Shazam is now in production. The movie stars Thor actor Zachary Levi in the title role, Asher Angel as his young alter ego Billy Batson, and Mark Strong as the evil Doctor Sivana. It's set to hit theaters in April next year, and Warner has now released an official synopsis for the movie.
As Sandberg hinted last year, the synopsis confirms that the movie will have a more lighthearted tone than many of DC's movies. As in the comic books, the story will focus on teenage Billy, who becomes an adult superhero by saying a single word.
The synopsis reads: "We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word--SHAZAM!--this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam, courtesy of an ancient wizard.
"Still a kid at heart--inside a ripped, godlike body--Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Doctor Thaddeus Sivana."
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was previously announced in the role of Shazam's nemesis Black Adam, but it was subsequently confirmed that he will not feature in Shazam. However, he is still set to appear in a spin-off movie.
Shazam first appeared in 1939, when he was known by the name Captain Marvel. The character was bought by DC in 1971, when he was renamed, due to Marvel's ownership of the name Captain Marvel. A live action Shazam TV show was broadcast in the mid-'70s, while an animated show followed in 1981.
Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege, the excellent team-based tactical shooter, will be free to play next weekend as part of a limited-time event. Everyone on PS4, Xbox One, and PC can play completely free from February 15 through February 20.
If you decide to buy the game after the free play weekend wraps up, you might be happy to know that all of your progress will carry forward. Another nice thing is that Siege is currently marked down on all platforms, so you won't have to pay full price, either.
In other Siege news, the game's Year 3 Season 1 content, called Operation Chimera, will launch on PC starting on February 19 through the testing realm. It will later roll out to all players on all platforms on March 6. Additionally, the co-op mode Outbreak launches on Siege's test server on February 20 before coming to all systems for a limited time from March 6 through April 3.
Ubisoft will announce more details on Operation Chimera and the Outbreak mode will be shared during Siege's professional tournament later this month in Montreal. Also during this broadcast, Ubisoft will share more details on upcoming Operator characters.
According to Ubisoft, Siege has more than 25 million registered players, so, despite the game having launched back in December 2015, you should still be able to find people to play with.
Update: In the same LinkedIn bio, the developer claims it's working on Ridge Racer 8, a game which has so far not been announced. The bio describes the title as a "drift-based high speed car racing [game] exclusive to the Nintendo Switch." Original story follows.
It looks like Japanese publisher Bandai Namco is working on a new first-person shooter/adventure game that will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. A developer at Bandai Namco's Singapore studio posted on their LinkedIn page that they are working on an "Unannounced IP (First Person Shooter/Adventure Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch)."
It's intriguing to think about Bandai Namco, which hasn't done all that much in the FPS space, making a game in the genre that is exclusive to Switch. The company published the shooter Get Even in 2017, though it is perhaps best known for its non-FPS franchises like Dragon Ball, Dark Souls, and Tekken.
A scene from Bandai Namco's Get Even
During a Bandai Namco earnings briefing in November last year, management talked about how the company is adding more resources to Switch game development. President Mitsuaki Taguchi said, according to the Wall Street Journal, "It's a shame, but we didn't think the Switch [would] be accepted this fast."
Bandai Namco Singapore's jobs page shows at least five open positions. However, none of the listings say what kind of game the candidate would be working on. The job ads call for people with experience working on AAA games. We have contacted Bandai Namco in an attempt to get more details. We'll report back with more details as they come to light.
One high-profile upcoming Switch release from Bandai Namco is Dark Souls: Remastered, which is due out in May. It will include the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, along with a better frame rate and improved resolution.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life isn't out for a couple more months, but we managed to get an early copy of the game, which we streamed for 90 minutes. Staying relatively light on spoilers, we showed off many features of this PlayStation 4 exclusive, devoting most of our playthrough by focusing on minigames and combat.
As the swan song to Kazuma Kiryu's series-long story arc, this 90-minute stream gave a preview of his last planned game, at least as a main character. It also showcased Sega's new Dragon Engine, which will be used for Ryu Ga Gotoku Kiwami 2, Shin Ryu Ga Gotoku, and presumably other franchise games for the foreseeable future. Yakuza fans should notice a host of visual upgrades like more defined character models and quality of life improvements. There's auto-saving, marking pins on the map, and easy task management through Kiryu's smartphone. In addition, you can also run from battle encounters and take the fight into convenient stores and restaurants, much to the disappointment of the businesses' cashiers.
We also previewed Kiryu's exploits in Onomichi, a real life locale within the Hiroshima prefecture. This charming small town offered its share of side content including spearfishing and the new clan battle strategy game. You'll also catch Kiryu in rare daddy form as he carries a mystery baby around town, trying out different ways to calm down the little tyke.
Those who want to a headstart on Yakuza 6 will get to play it on February 27 thanks to a demo. Better yet, this demo's save will be compatible with the full game when it releases on April 17.
Blizzard has shared more details on Overwatch's upcoming Year of the Dog seasonal event. In a developer video today, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan started off by announcing that a new map, set in Thailand, is coming to Overwatch in the event.
He said the unnamed map is "absolutely gorgeous." One side has a more ancient feel to it, featuring a temple. The other side is "bright and beautiful" and more modern, Kaplan explained. Perhaps more notably, this is the first map Blizzard has ever made specifically for Capture the Flag, a mode that is returning in the Year of the Dog event.
Based on feedback from fans, Blizzard is making changes to how Capture the Flag plays this time around. Starting off, there will no longer be ties. Kaplan said players voiced their discontent for draws, adding that they can feel "anti-climatic." So Blizzard is getting rid of ties altogether. Instead, matches will go to sudden death if the sides are tied at the end of a match. For sudden death, each team's flag will be moved closer to the center of the map. So when the match restarts, team's will have far less ground to cover to score.
Additionally, flag pick-up rules are changing. You'll now pick up the flag immediately. On top of that, some abilities involving mobility and invulnerability will cause you to drop the flag. For example, Winston's leap/jump pack ability will cause him to drop the flag.
With some abilities restricted, Blizzard found, presumably through internal testing, this leads to more flag captures overall and games that are generally more "action-packed" and offensive-minded. Kaplan added that with these restrictions, games rarely go to sudden death.
Additionally, Blizzard is launching a four-week competitive season for Overwatch's new Capture the Flag mode. Those who place in the top 500 will earn a special spray and icon. And for the Year of the Dog event overall, there will be six legendary skins; Mercy and Genji are among the heroes getting new legendary skins, though they have not been shown off yet. Additionally, there will be a new highlight intro for one of the game's heroes, though Kaplan did not say which hero it will be.
Overwatch's Year of the Dog event kicks off on February 8 across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Keep checking back with more details about this event, as we're expecting a lot of new skins and other seasonal items as well.
According to E3's registration page, the first 1,000 tickets will be available for $150. After those are gone (and they went quickly last year), the ESA will sell the rest for $250. In 2017, the ESA made 15,000 public tickets available, but it is not clear how many are up for grabs this year.
In 2017, tickets got you access to the show floor, panel discussions, and other events from Tuesday through Thursday of E3 week. It also included access to games media veteran Geoff Keighley's Coliseum event, which featured interviews and more. Keighley confirmed today that the Coliseum is returning this year, and if you can't make it in person, the coverage will be streamed online. More details on the "amazing lineup of guests" for this show will be announced soon.
E3 2018 runs June 12-14 in Los Angeles. However, the major press conferences from company's such as Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, EA, Ubisoft, Bethesda, and others are expected to take place earlier in the week.
E3 is now just about four months away, so we're expecting to start hearing the first rumblings of what to expect in the weeks and months ahead. For its part, Microsoft confirmed in January that it had already started planning for its E3 briefing this year, which the company says will include some "positive changes" compared to past years.
Few knew what to expect when Nintendo teased a new "experience" for Switch last month, but no one could have predicted that project would turn out to be Nintendo Labo, a DIY game/toy line coming to the hybrid console this spring. Nintendo certainly hasn't been shy about packaging peripherals with titles in the past to offer a unique kind of gameplay experience, but Labo differs from any game the company has ever released by requiring players to construct their own accessories. The title is bundled together with sheets of cardboard that can be fashioned into various objects known as Toy-Cons, which are then used to interact with the Labo software.
The most surprising aspect of Nintendo Labo, however, is just how well it all works. It's difficult to appreciate the sheer ingenuity behind the project without experiencing it firsthand, but assembling your own Toy-Cons--which are actually quite intricate constructions that can take upwards of several hours to put together--fills you with a sense of accomplishment, and then seeing that object you created work with the Switch in a variety of clever ways feels like magic. The fact that you can fold a piece of cardboard into the shape of a car and drive it across a table simply by attaching your Joy-Cons to it almost beggars belief, and the moment you discover that makeshift RC car also uses the Joy-Con's IR camera to stream a night vision and infrared view of where it's heading opens your eyes to the seemingly endless possibilities Labo affords.
At launch, Labo will be available in two "kits," each containing a separate game card and assortment of cardboard sheets, string, rubber bands, and other materials with which to construct the corresponding Toy-Cons. Despite the complexity of the Toy-Cons, the actual process of assembling them is impressively intuitive. Rather than laying out the instructions in a booklet (as is the case with Lego sets and other construction toys), each step of the process is displayed on the Switch, and you're able to zoom, rotate, and view previous steps simply by pinching, tapping, or sliding your finger on the console's touch screen. The cardboard sheets are also clearly labeled and perforated, making even the most intricate Toy-Cons easy to put together, although you'll need to punch the pieces out delicately to avoid tearing them, as the cardboard is fairly thin.
Once your Toy-Con has been assembled, you're able to use it to play a corresponding mini-game on the Switch. Each of the cardboard peripherals houses the left and right Joy-Cons, which are what enable it to interact with the Labo software. The RC Car, for instance, features slots on each of its sides for the Joy-Cons, while the Switch itself acts as a remote for the car. By pressing buttons on the Switch screen, the car drives around using the Joy-Cons' HD Rumble vibrations. Conversely, the keys on the Piano Toy-Con are affixed with IR tape, which the right Joy-Con's IR camera reads to determine which note to play when that key is pressed. The House Toy-Con features a slot in its center for the Switch console; when the system is inserted into the peripheral, its screen displays the "interior" of the house and the fluffy creature living inside. You can interact with the creature indirectly by plugging different cardboard knobs into the sides or bottom of the Toy-Con; one acts like a switch, allowing you to turn the lights in the house on and off, while another makes a faucet appear, filling the house with water when twisted.
While the Toy-Cons are ostensibly a way to demonstrate Labo's mini-games, they turn out to be more satisfying to build than to actually play with due to the games' simplicity. Each mini-game works as intended and shows off a unique use for the Switch hardware, though they appear to lack the depth needed to be anything more than an amusing diversion. Of the five activities featured in the Labo Variety Kit, Motorbike and Fishing Rod are the most enjoyable. The former's Toy-Con resembles a set of handlebars. You accelerate by twisting the right handlebar and turn the Toy-Con left and right to steer your character around a racetrack on the Switch screen, competing against a handful of AI opponents to place in first. It's a surprisingly responsive setup that feels fun to use. Likewise, rotating the reel on the Fishing Rod Toy-Con feels good and elevates Labo's simple fishing game into one of the best activities in the package.
Far and away the most complex peripheral is Robot, which Nintendo is releasing as its own Labo kit. This Toy-Con comes in the form a backpack that houses an intricate pulley system; when worn, it allows you to control a robot on the television, your punches and stomps translating to the same motions on the screen. The sheer range of actions the Robot Toy-Con is capable of reading is truly amazing; crouch down and your on-screen robot will transform into a vehicle, while spreading your arms out allows it to fly through the air. The Toy-Con also comes with an accompanying cardboard visor; when lowered over your eyes, the on-screen display instantly shifts to a first-person perspective. As impressive as this is, however, the corresponding Robot mini-game was perhaps the least enjoyable of the entire lineup. Maneuvering your robot about the city felt cumbersome, and your objective simply amounted to breaking as many objects as you could within the time limit.
It remains to be seen whether or not Labo will be able to sustain its appeal once its initial novelty has worn off. The mini-games we got to try were fairly rudimentary despite the unique ways in which they used the Switch hardware, but I still came away from my time with Labo enamored by the entire concept behind it. Labo's mini-games are secondary to the actual act of assembling its peripherals, and the appeal of the title stems not from the software itself, but from witnessing the surprising things your humble cardboard creations can do. Labo may be a technological sleight of hand, but the first time you see it in action will make you believe it's capable of anything.
We teamed up with RESPAWN Products to give away three of their Respawn-205 series gaming chairs, with the winners' choice of Blue, Green, Red, or Gray. (List Price: $224.99, scroll down below to enter.)
Competition ends Monday, February 19 at 11:00AM PT. Three (3) winners will be chosen. Entry is open to USA residents only. No purchase necessary.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
The RESPAWN-205 series is a reclining gaming chair defined by its innovative mesh-backing, which provides a comfortably flexible yet supportive experience. With an adjustable headrest and lumbar support, this chair provides top tier comfort whether used during intense scrims or MMO marathons. Crafted for ergonomics and priced affordably, RESPAWN lets you game longer, game better, and game without compromise.
Rockstar has announced everything that's that new in GTA Online this week--and there's quite a lot, spanning a new vehicle, a free t-shirt, and double RP opportunities.
The new car this week is the Canis Kamacho. It's described by Rockstar as a "throwback to the glory days of the American 4X4," and it sure does fit the bill. "With a rock solid chassis and the suitably Spartan interior of a real off-roader, look down on your friends from on high in the Canis Kamacho," reads a line from Rockstar's description.
CANIS KAMACHO
A throwback to the glory days of the American 4X4 – delivering the reliability of a pickup and the resilience of a small battleship.
You can get the Canis Kamacho right now through the Super Autos store in Southern San Andreas.
Also new to GTA Online this week is the black Ammu-Nation t-shirt, which you can get for free simply by logging in by February 27. It's free as part of "Battle Week," which is the name that Rockstar gave to this week of new content and specials.
You can earn double RP and GTA$ in the Motor Wars mode this week. This is GTA Online's PUBG-style mode where players parachute in and fight until only one team is left standing. Also paying double RP and GTA$ this week are the modes Hardest Target, Slashes, and Occupy.
In terms of sales, GTA Online is offer sales on weaponised vehicles, guns, upgrades, and more. You can see a full rundown of this week's discounts below; they are good through February 12.
Warstock Cache & Carry Discounts
Mammoth Avenger - 25% off
HVY Chernobog (Weaponized) - 25% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Bravado Half-Track (Weaponized) - 40% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Vom Feuer Anti-Aircraft Trailer (Weaponized) - 35% off (Buy it Now & Trade Price)
Weaponized Declasse Tampa (Weaponized) - 40% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Mk II Discounts
Mk II Upgrades - 30% off (cost to upgrade to Mk II weapon)
Mk II Ammo (all types) - 50% off
Mk II Magazines - 25% off
Mk II Scopes - 25% off
Mk II Muzzles - 25% off
Mk II Weapon Liveries - 25% off
Ammu-Nation Discounts
Ammo - 50% off
Assault Rifles - 30% off
Sniper Rifles - 30% off
Melee Weapons - 30% off
Body Armor - 30% off
RPG - 30% off
Other
30% off all Aircraft weapons in your Hangar Workshop
25% off Security Room upgrade in your Facility
Finally, this week's Premium Race is "Bumblebee" with the Rocket Voltic vehicle, while the Time Trial is "Route 68." As usual, the top three finishers in the Premium Race get GTA$ while everyone earns triple RP. For the Time Trial, beating the par time earns you an allotment of GTA$ and RP. Go to Rockstar's Newswire to see a full rundown of what's new in GTA Online this week.
Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, will report earnings for the latest quarter tomorrow. The company is expected to talk about GTA V and other projects, so keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
Sony's new Jumanji movie, Welcome to the Jungle, is proving to be a smash hit for the film company and one of the stars, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The movie has now made more than $353.3 million in the United States alone, pushing it past Furious 7's $353 million to become The Rock's highest-grossing movie ever in the United States. These numbers come by way of the newest box office report from Deadline.
Furious 7 made a further $1.16 billion from international markets to boost its worldwide total to around $1.5 billion. By comparison, Welcome to the Jungle has pulled in $505 million from foreign markets for a total of $858 million globally.
According to Deadline, Sony has decided to move forward with a sequel to Welcome to the Jungle, which is one of the film company's highest-grossing movies outside of the Spider-Man series. The report states Sony is speaking with Welcome to the Jungle writers Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner to return for the sequel. Stars The Rock, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, and other cast members are also expected back.
Additionally, director Jake Kasdan is expected to come back to helm the untitled, undated, and officially unannounced sequel. Given that Welcome to the Jungle made more than $850 million (against a reported budget of $100 million), it makes sense that Sony will move forward with a sequel.
GameSpot reviewer Michael Rougeau quite enjoyed Welcome to the Jungle. It came some 22 years after the original Jumanji, which starred Robin Williams. That movie was based on the Chris Van Allsburg book of the same name.
As always, Activision will release a new entry in the Call of Duty series this year. And, although details are scant on exactly what to expect, a new report states that it will be the latest entry in the Black Ops sub-series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Following a recent tweet from games writer Marcus Sellars saying as much, Eurogamer reports that multiple sources have confirmed Black Ops 4 is indeed this year's Call of Duty title. The game is being developed by Treyarch, which has been responsible for previous Black Ops titles. It will also reportedly have fewer sci-fi elements following the reception to 2016's futuristic Infinite Warfare.
That we're seeing another Black Ops game is little surprise. The Black Ops series has proven to be the most popular of the various recurring Call of Duty brands and has represented the bulk of developer Treyarch's output over the past eight years.
The timing also makes sense; Black Ops III was released in 2015, so the inevitable fall 2018 release would come after three years. Activision shifted to a three-year development cycle for Call of Duty games, rotating between releases from Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and Infinity Ward.
New Call of Duty games traditionally aren't announced until well into spring, so it could easily be two or more months before we hear anything official from Activision. The company reports its earnings for the final quarter of 2017 later this week; we'll report back with anything it has to share then.
GameStop has a new CEO. Michael Mauler, who has been with the video game and technology retailer for 16 years, is stepping into the role of chief executive, effective immediately, GameStop announced in a press release. Mauler, who is 56, also joins GameStop's Board of Directors as part of this appointment.
Previously, Mauler was GameStop's executive vice president and the president of GameStop's international business. Before that, he worked as GameStop's senior vice president for Supply Chain and International Support. Going further back in time, Mauler was the vice president for logistics at EB before it merged with GameStop.
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