If you're an avid user of Xbox One's games streaming service Xbox Games Pass, get ready to say goodbye to a significant amount of 360 titles. On May 31, 21 titles are leaving the service's catalog.
Out of the 21 titles on the way out, one two are Xbox One titles, and the rest are from 360. We're not sure why these titles in particular are leaving the service, but we do know that third-party titles aren't permanent additions--though this cut is probably the largest the service has seen so far. Some bigger titles on the chopping block are Bioshock, Bioshock 2, and Bioshock Infinite, as well as Borderlands.
Each of these titles will be available on the service until the end of the month. If you don't have time to play them all, you can snag your favorites for 20 percent off.
June's entire list of incoming games hasn't been released quite yet, but we do know that Xbox One exclusive title State of Decay 2 will be hitting the service as soon as it launches on May 22. All members will have immediate access to the game with the service, as well as Sea of Thieves, Gears of War 4, and many, many others. Check out the full list of Xbox Games Pass titles here.
Summer movie season may be starting in May, but Netflix is going out of its way to make sure you stayed glued to your couch. We're now well into the new month, and the streaming service has released the full list of additions for May. That features a variety of new movies, TV shows, and originals to keep you busy for the foreseeable future--and there's some good stuff on tap.
Firstly, Disney/Pixar's Coco will be added on May 29. If you somehow missed one of the studio's best animated films ever, this will be your chance to watch and cry in the privacy of your own home. That's always a better option than publicly weeping in a theater, right?
On the TV side, the latest seasons of some of the CW's biggest shows will be added in April. Riverdale, Arrow, The Flash, Supernatural, and Dynasty will all end their current seasons, with them becoming available to stream a week later. Additionally, a new season of Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, along with a slew of other originals, will arrive throughout the month. Of note, the second half of The Toys That Made Us Season 1, the documentary series about famous toy lines, released on May 25.
To get an idea of everything coming on Netflix in May, take a look at the list below, and make sure you see what's leaving the service. Additionally, if you missed what the streamer was up to in April, you can check that out.
Arriving on Netflix in May
May 1
27: Gone Too Soon
A Life of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana
Amelie
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures: Season 1
Beautiful Girls
Darc
God's Own Country
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous Live at Radio City (Netflix Original)
Mr. Woodcock
My Perfect Romance
Pocoyo & Cars
Pocoyo & The Space Circus
Queens of Comedy: Season 1
Reasonable Doubt
Red Dragon
Scream 2
Shrek
Simon: Season 1
Sliding Doors
Sometimes (Netflix Original)
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Carter Effect
The Clapper
The Reaping
The Strange Name Movie
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V: Season 2
May 2
Jailbreak
A Little Help with Carol Burnett (Netflix Original)
Anon (Netflix Original)
Busted!: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Dear White People: Volume 2 (Netflix Original)
End Game (Netflix Original)
Forgive Us Our Debts (Netflix Original)
Kong: King of the Apes: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo
Manhunt (Netflix Original)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Tina Fey (Netflix Original)
No Estoy Loca
The Rain: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
May 5
Faces Places
May 6
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (Netflix Original)
May 8
Desolation
Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives (Netflix Original)
May 9
Dirty Girl
May 11
Bill Nye Saves the World: Season 3 (Netflix Original)
Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist (Netflix Original)
Spirit Riding Free: Season 5 (Netflix Original)
The Kissing Booth (Netflix Original)
The Who Was? Show: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
May 13
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife (Netflix Original)
May 14
The Phantom of the Opera
May 15
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce: Season 4
Grand Designs: Seasons 13–14
Only God Forgives
The Game 365: Seasons 15–16
May 16
89
Mamma Mia!
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The Kingdom
Wanted
May 18
Cargo (Netflix Original)
Catching Feelings (Netflix Original)
Inspector Gadget: Season 4 (Netflix Original)
May 19
Bridge to Terabithia
Disney's Scandal: Season 7
Small Town Crime
May 20
Some Kind of Beautiful
May 21
Señora Acero: Season 4
May 22
Mob Psycho 100: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Shooter: Season 2
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 2 (Netflix Original)
Tig Notaro: Happy To Be Here (Netflix Original)
May 23
Explained (Netflix Original)
May 24
Fauda: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Survivors Guide to Prison
May 25
Ibiza (Netflix Original)
Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (Netflix Original)
The Toys That Made Us: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Trollhunters: Part 3 (Netflix Original)
May 26
Sara's Notebook (Netflix Original)
May 27
The Break with Michelle Wolf (Netflix Original)
May 29
Coco
May 30
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4 (Netflix Original)
May 31
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Howard Stern (Netflix Original)
Also arriving in April
Arrow: Season 6
Dynasty: Season 1
Riverdale: Season 2
Supernatural: Season 1
The Flash: Season 4
Leaving Netflix in May
May 1
Bridget Jones's Diary
Casper
Chappie
Charlotte's Web
Field of Dreams
GoodFellas
Ocean's Eleven
Sahara
Silent Hill
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Hurt Locker
To Rome With Love
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
May 2
12 Dates of Christmas
Beauty & the Briefcase
Cadet Kelly
Camp Rock
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Cow Belles
Cyberbully
Disney's The Cheetah Girls
Disney's The Cheetah Girls 2
Disney's The Cheetah Girls: One World
Frenemies
Geek Charming
Good Luck Charlie: It's Christmas
Hello Sister, Goodbye Life
High School Musical
High School Musical 2
Jump In!
Lemonade Mouth
Little Einsteins: Seasons 1–2
My Fake Fiancé
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
Phineas and Ferb: Seasons 1–4
Princess Protection Program
Princess: A Modern Fairytale
Read It and Weep
Revenge of the Bridesmaids
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure
Special Agent Oso: Seasons 1–2
StarStruck
Teen Spirit
The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Seasons 1–5
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is getting its own 8-bit style companion piece from Inti Creates. The retro platformer specialists promised a smaller prequel game as a stretch goal during the Kickstarter campaign, and now the studio has announced the first details. It will be called Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, and it's coming on May 24.
Curse of the Moon features four playable characters familiar to fans of its Castlevania inspirations: Zangetsu, who uses a sword; Miriam, with a whip; Alfred, the alchemist; and Gebel, a shapeshifter who can turn into a bat. You start as Zangetsu and gain more allies as you progress, and you can swap between them at will. The more allies you have, the more versatility in combat, and you can keep progressing through a stage even if you die as long as another character remains. Stages will also have areas that only particular characters can access.
A code will be sent for free to Kickstarter backers who contributed above the requisite amount during the campaign, and it will be available for everyone else as a standalone purchase for Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, 3DS, and Vita for $10.
It's a pretty clear throwback to Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse, a clever thematic way to make a prequel for Ritual of the Night, which is inspired by Symphony of the Night. That game, meanwhile, is still planned for release sometime this year. We're likely to hear more about exactly when at E3 2018.
Update: Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been saved. After Netflix and Hulu reportedly passed on the opportunity to bring the show back, NBC has taken the plunge and renewed the acclaimed comedy for Season 6. The news was shared by numerous people involved with the show on Twitter, all of whom seemed quite excited about the news.
NBC being the one to save the show actually makes sense, given that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is produced by Universal Television--a branch of NBC itself. There's not yet a premiere date for Season 6 or any further details, but just knowing that the show's final episode won't be the upcoming season finale is more than enough good news for now.
Hey everyone, just wanted to say no big deal but.... NBC JUST PICKED #BROOKLYN99 UP FOR SEASON 6!!! Thanks in no small part to you, the best fans in the history of the world!
Original Story: Surprising and angering fans, Fox this week announced the cancelation of the cult comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but the show may live again.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that, just hours after Fox announced the show's cancellation, multiple networks reached out to producers Universal Television. According to the site, Netflix, Hulu, TBS, and NBC all made calls, though these might have been only exploratory in nature. It would in fact be more surprising and noteworthy if no networks came calling. We don't know anything about what might have been said or discussed on the phone calls, but it seems encouraging for the show to have other networks take some kind of interest.
Universal Television company declined to comment on THR's report. The other two shows that Fox canceled this week, The Mick and The Last Man on Earth, are also in discussions with new homes to potentially come back, THR's sources said. Go to THR to see the full report.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which stars SNL veteran Andy Samberg, premiered in 2013. According to Deadline, the show failed to find a substantial audience in part because it moved back and forth between Sunday and Tuesday. The show was created by Parks and Recreation creators Dan Goor and Michael Schur.
We're nearly halfway through May, which means the first batch of this month's free Games with Gold on Xbox One won't be available for much longer. Xbox Live Gold members only have a few more days to grab a couple of titles at no charge before they return to their regular price.
From now until May 15, Gold members can download the first of this month's two free Xbox 360 games: the Sega classic Streets of Rage. Like all other Games with Gold, it is also playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility. Additionally, one holdover from April's Games with Gold lineup--Assassin's Creed Syndicate--will also return to its regular price on May 15.
Those two will be replaced by a new pair of titles beginning May 16. On the Xbox One side, Gold members will be able to grab the last mainline installment in the Metal Gear Solid series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, while Platinum Games' cult favorite shooter Vanquish will be the second free 360 title available this month.
Both Metal Gear Solid V and Vanquish will be free to download through the end of May, and the latter is likewise also playable on Xbox One thanks to backwards compatibility. Gold members can also still grab the newly released Super Mega Baseball 2 for free until May 31. You can see the full list of this month's free Games with Gold below.
May 2018 Games With Gold
Xbox One
Super Mega Baseball 2 (May 1-31)
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (May 16-June 15)
Deadpool's back, and this time he's bringing friends--a whole team of them actually, even though we all know just how much he loves to talk big about being above all that superheroic nonsense. They're called the X-Force, and they're making their way to the big screen in Deadpool 2, as Wade comes up against Cable for the first time in his improbable live action career.
As you probably could have guessed, there's a little more to the history and the roster of the X-Force than just a bunch of people brought together by Wade Wilson putting out help wanted ads. They're a team that actually has close to 30 years of comic book history, and in that time they've been through their fair share of remixes and reinventions.
The original X-Force was a product of the early '90s revolution in comics, where everything was becoming more and more xxxtreme and over the top. Like Deadpool himself, the team was conceived by creators Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, who made them as a more modern replacement for another X-Men offshoot called the New Mutants. With top to bottom pouch-strapped costumes, weirdly rendered bionic anatomy, and more mullets than you can shake a stick at, the original X-Force was composed of mutants like Boom Boom, Warpath, Shatterstar, and Cable, with Deadpool popping in and out of the lineup as it suited him (though he didn't actually get an official position in the team until 2010.)
Over time, the X-Force grew into the more "black ops" division of the X-Men who deal with potential threats proactively and before they get out of hand. In keeping with their '90s-extreme origin, this often made them the more violent and morally ambiguous branch of Marvel's myriad mutants. It also meant that they had a relatively high turnaround as far as team roster was concerned, as various members would either fall out with one another or quit altogether when their missions pushed them too far outside of their comfort zones.
In Deadpool 2, however, it looks like the X-Force will be given an overhauled origin and mission statement that's considerably less dark. From the trailers, we can see that the team is brought together by Wade posting flyers (because why not, right?) and basically accepting all comers--including a totally non-powered, sweater vest wearing human named Peter who was, unsurprisingly, invented for the movie. The rest of Deadpool's X-Force lineup actually does have their roots in the comics in one way or another.
First up, we have Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose mutant ability is the manipulation of luck (it's a lot more useful than it sounds). Essentially, Domino's presence affects chance-based outcomes in her favor, meaning that she's really lucky while the people around her are extremely unlucky. Domino was actually introduced in X-Force #8 all the way back in 1992, so she's been around nearly from the very start. She's also got some on-again-off-again history working with Deadpool as a partner, which may make or an interesting dynamic between her and Wade's live action love interest, Vanessa.
Next up is Bedlam (Terry Crews) who has abilities relating to "bio-emps" or organic electromagnetic fields. Bedlam is able to short circuit mechanical systems and even disrupt human brains to produce fear reactions, pain, and even sleep just by being near. He was introduced in X-Force #82 in 1998.
Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgard) has an extremely unappealing mutation which allows him to vomit acid at will. He's not a character who shows up all too frequently in the comics (probably because it's hard to make acid puke look good under any circumstance, even if it's being used for superheroics) and was first introduced in X-Force #116 in 2001. From trailers and set photos, it looks like Zeitgeist's live action costume includes a plastic mouthguard, making it entirely possible that his vomit reaction may not be totally within his control just yet. So basically, brace for a lot of barf jokes in the theater.
Shatterstar (Lewis Tan) can be seen in trailers rocking a full blown 90s accurate costume complete with his maroon mullet. Introduced in New Mutants #100 back in 1991, Shatterstar is actually a genetically engineered superhuman from a place called Mojoworld--an extra dimensional plane of existence that verges on the Lovecraftian (no, really, it's a whole situation). The actual specifics of Shatterstar's powers are still kind of up in the air, but he's been shown to have enhanced strength, speed, durability, and the ability to generate concussive blasts through his swords.
Finally, we have the returning Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) rounding out the roster. We've already seen just how well they work with Wade in the first movie, so we probably won't be in for too many surprises on that front--though we'll have to see how much this new team influences Colossus's mission to get Wade to join the X-Men proper.
On top of that confirmed roster, there's also actress Shiori Kutsuna, whose unnamed character can be seen in trailers wielding what looks like an electrically charged chain. The best guess for her character is the mutant Surge, who was introduced in the early-2000s New Mutants revival in issue #8. Surge, like her name implies, has the ability to manipulate and generate electricity--similar to Bedlam, but a bit more traditional; less biotic fields and more literally shooting lightning from her hands.
Cable himself (Josh Brolin) is being set up as the main antagonist for the film, but he too has a pretty heavy comic book history both working directly with Deadpool and with the X-Force--he was one of the founding members of the original team, after all, so it's pretty likely we'll see some developments on that front before the movie is over.
Of course, all this comics history is going going to get you so far in this very specific context. Your best bet walking into the theater is going to be expecting Deadpool 2's X-Force to play a bit fast and loose with the team's actual history and source material. When it comes to the Merc with a Mouth, isn't that kind of the point?
After the amazing gaming year that was 2017, you have to wonder how 2018 will compare. But if 2018's current roster of releases is anything to go by, we might be in for another fantastic year. It seems primed to impress with a slew of hotly anticipated new games, including big-budget games like Super Smash Bros., Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Crackdown 3, and a whole lot more. To help you keep track of all the games coming out, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2018 so far.
Be sure to check back often as we update this article with more release dates or any potential changes to any of the dates below. And if you're eager to figure out the release dates from games last year, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2017.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime this year. There are also games listed that we expect to launch in 2018. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
A lot of us might still be playing God of War, but it's a new month, and that means new games are coming! There's a good mix for May, from highly anticipated ports to anime games, RPGs, and more. This includes Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Switch at the beginning of the month and Dark Souls Remastered on PS4, Xbox One, and PC at the end. David Cage's PS4-exclusive narrative game, Detroit: Become Human, also comes out this month along with Destiny 2's latest DLC, Warmind.
Below, you'll find all the big games coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in May. For a full look at all of the major games coming to each platform throughout the rest of the year, check out our comprehensive 2018 game release date list.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch) -- May 4
One of the first games coming in May is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which first released in 2014 for the Wii U. The side-scrolling platformer delivers the Donkey Kong Country gameplay many have come to love, and the Switch version adds a new character: Funky Kong! Tropical Freeze is Retro Studios' second Donkey Kong Country game and gives you six worlds to explore.
Dark Souls Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- May 25
Though it's been delayed on Nintendo Switch, Dark Souls Remastered is still coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on May 25! Publisher Bandai Namco has said that on PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and PC, the game runs in upscaled 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It also makes some quality-of-life changes that both experienced players and newcomers may find helpful.
Another of May's biggest games is Detroit: Become Human, the latest from David Cage (Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls). In it, androids walk and work alongside humans, though many humans aren't happy about it. You switch between three different android characters, encountering difficult and emotional situations like abuse, murder, and discrimination.
Ubisoft has shared some more details on what awaits in Rainbow Six Siege's upcoming Operation Para Bellum update. The update kicks off the second season of Year 3, and along with introducing two new Operators and other features, it makes two major balance changes to the game.
First, Echo will receive a significant buff following the update. Specifically, Ubisoft is giving him a second Yokai drone. The max charge for each of his drones has also been decreased, from 3 to 2, while the recharge time between shots has been increased to 20 seconds.
"Our original intention was to have an anchor that would be active throughout the whole round," Ubisoft said of Echo. "We decided several months ago to give Echo a second Yokai. The goal is to encourage him to take more risks with them throughout the round."
Other Operators are also receiving some tweaks in Season 2. Operators with three Speed will be "slightly slower" following the update, while those with one Speed will move a little faster. Additionally, movement speed with a handgun will receive a "small increase."
"One of the foundations of the speed vs. armor system is the balancing act between the two. However, we have seen that speed was stronger than armor in almost all situations," Ubisoft said. "To refine that balance, we will bring both ends of the spectrum closer to the middle. The intention of this change to the speeds is to make high armor Operators more viable."
Finally, Ubisoft shared a new trailer that provides our first look at Season 2's new map: Villa. As its name implies, the new map is based around a huge mansion in the Italian countryside, which fits along with the two new Italian Operators being introduced in Operation Para Bellum.
You can read more details about the upcoming Operation Para Bellum update on the Rainbow Six Siege website. The update will be officially revealed during the Rainbox Six Siege Pro League Finals, which takes place on May 19-20. You'll be able to watch the reveal on the game's Twitch channel.
Bethesda only began hosting its own E3 showcases a few years ago, and the company has already become known for packing them with surprise announcements. As E3 2018 approaches, company marketing VP Pete Hines says this year's could end up being the longest they've ever done.
"Bethesda Showcase is in one month. I'm starting to get excited," Hines said in a tweet. "We have a lot to show you this year. Might be our longest E3 Showcase ever? Not sure, but it's packed."
As a strategy, Bethesda tends to keep its announcements very close to release. Often a look at E3 is the first we've seen of a game before its release in the fall, with an unusually low occurrence of leaks. That appears to be different this year, as Rage 2 from Bethesda was one of the games seemingly outed by Walmart Canada. Rather than deny it or go radio silent, though, both the official Rage 2 account and Hines have made tweets all but confirming it, and recent teaser images have pointed to an announcement coming soon--possibly as soon as Monday.
Bethesda's conference will take place Sunday, June 10 at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET. Other conferences are spread throughout the weekend and Monday, including presentations from Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Check out the full schedule for more details.
The week may be young, but we're already knee-deep in sales on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch games. You can even find decent discounts on hardware like the Xbox One X and Nintendo 2DS XL. So if you're in the market for a new game or a new system, check out the sales below, because there's a fairly good chance you can find a deal on what you're after.
Multiplatform
Fortnite players with Twitch Prime accounts can now pick up their free Fortnite skin and items in Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack #2. PS4 and Xbox One owners who want to explore the open world of Hope County and shoot cult members in Far Cry 5 can do so for $40 thanks to a promotion going on now at Newegg. If you're looking for a different big game at a steeply discounted price, check out GameFly's used game sale. It has titles like Battlefield 1 and Injustice 2 on sale for a fraction of their normal prices. And GameStop's weekly sale is now live, including discounts on everything from the Destiny 2 Expansion Pass (which includes Warmind) and Fingerlings. Yes, Fingerlings.
Sony has refreshed its weekly PlayStation Store sale with a whole bunch of new discounts on big games like Ghost Recon Wildlands and indie games like The Witness. And if you're in the market for a new DualShock 4 PS4 controller, you can get $11-$15 off of various colors at Newegg.
This week, Amazon is running a massive sale on digital Xbox One games and expansions. It features big savings on tons of newer games, some of which don't often go on sale. Over at Best Buy, you can save money on Xbox One X-enhanced games with the purchase of an Xbox One X. Or, with this deal at Newegg, you can effectively save $60 when you buy an Xbox One X. Or, if you want to try your luck, you can enter to win one of five limited-edition Black Panther Xbox One X consoles.
Want to save $20 on a Nintendo Switch? How about saving $15 on a Nintendo Labo kit? Newegg can help you out in either case. And if you've had your eye on a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, you can get one at Best Buy this week at a discount. Nintendo 3DS owners can save money at Target this week as well. Most of the best 3DS games currently in stock are part of a buy one, get one half off promotion, including recent Pokemon games and lots of Mario titles.
If you like free games, you'll want to pay attention. Right now you can get Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee and Yet Another Zombie Defense for free from Steam. You can also snag the excellent The Flame in the Flood for free from the Humble Store. Steam also has an appealing selection of games for up to 80% off during this week-long sale. Of particular note are the Far Cry games, on sale for 60% off, and the Mass Effect series.
We can't play games all the time. Sometimes it's necessary and healthy to set down the controller and pick up a bowl of popcorn--because it's movie time. Best Buy is running a fine sale on Blu-rays, 4K UHDs, DVDs, and digital movies. Also, if you pre-order a Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook version of Black Panther, you'll get a great add-on that's worth $20. And if you're in the market for a 4K TV, Best Buy has a great one for $100 off, but it's Saturday, May 12 only.
If you're on the lookout for a new TV, you'll want to check out this deal at Best Buy. For one day only--Saturday, May 12--you can get a 55-inch 4K TCL television for $100 off, bringing the price down to $500. The deal is available both online and at brick-and-mortar Best Buy stores, but it's only live for one day.
The TV comes with all the must-have features you can get in a sub-$1,000 TV in 2018. It offers 4K resolution and Dolby Vision HDR, which increases the contrast and offers brighter, more accurate colors. Newer models of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can take advantage of those features.
It comes with three HDMI inputs, a cable connection, and an antenna port for anyone who gets content over the air. It's also a Roku Smart TV, with built-in access to tons of streaming content and services, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Video, as well as Spotify and Pandora. It comes with a free 30-day trial for Sling TV as well, which might help you cut the cord (and the cable bill) if you decide to keep it.
And if you're in the market for a game console to see what kind of visuals this TV is capable of producing, you can get an Xbox One X and a $50 gift card for $490 from Newegg. That effectively saves you $60--which just so happens to be the price of a new game.
For other money-saving sales going on this weekend, check out our roundup of all the week's best deals on games, hardware, and movies.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Another limited-time event is now underway in Fortnite: Battle Royale. In addition to the ongoing Avengers-inspired Infinity Gauntlet Mashup event, where you can play as Thanos, Epic has brought back 50v50 mode for a third run on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS.
What's particularly notable about 50v50's return is that it marks the first time that two limited-time modes are running concurrently in Fortnite. Previously, Epic would only host one limited-time event at a time, which would rotate out after about a week and be replaced by a different mode. Whether or not this will become the norm moving forward remains to be seen, but it gives Fortnite fans yet another incentive to keep coming back to the game.
This iteration of the mode is the same as the 50v50 version 2 event that ran back in April. Players are divided up into two teams of 50, with each team flying to the island from opposite directions on their own Battle Bus. The final storm circle is visible from the start of the match, and players have 10 minutes to loot the map as the storm closes in on the circle.
On top of that, supply drops in 50v50 mode fall every two minutes in batches of three to six, and they only land within the final storm circle. Items also spawn at different rates than usual. Floor loot is 15% more likely to spawn in 50v50. Floor loot also spawns double ammo, while chests spawn double ammo and consumables. You can read more details about 50v50 v2 here.
Meanwhile, Fortnite's Infinity Gauntlet Mashup event is still underway for a little more time. Epic hasn't announced an exact end date for the mode, although as previously mentioned, limited-time events typically only run for about a week. In this mode, the Infinity Gauntlet will fall somewhere on the map by meteor. The first player who is able to find and equip the Gauntlet will transform into the Avengers villain Thanos.
Naturally, Thanos is incredibly powerful--so much so that he has received two tweaks since the mode first began earlier this week. He is able to fire an energy blast at other players, leap high into the air, and destroy structures with a punch. Despite his overwhelming power, Epic says he's a bit easier to kill following the recent adjustments he's received, and when he dies he'll drop the Infinity Gauntlet, giving other players a chance to pick it up and turn into the Mad Titan.
Avengers: Infinity Waris finally here. The arrival of "destiny" as promised by Thanos, after ten long years of waiting and 18 movies, the moment we've been waiting for has come. It brought with it a whole bunch of questions, most importantly: what do we do now? With the movie's post-credits scene, that becomes just a tiny bit more clear.
The end of Infinity War is very literally an end--the actual, genuine annihilation of half the universe at the hands of Thanos, armed with a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet. Not exactly the feel good, heroic, triumphant superhero vibe of Avengers past. Thanos has won, and from where we're sitting, it looks like his victory is absolute.
But all hope isn't lost. Though Infinity War deviates from Marvel's post-credits formula slightly by including only one stinger, rather than what's become the customary two, the movie's final moments give us the briefest glimpse of what's on the horizon.
Here's the scene: Nick Fury and Maria Hill speed through a New York City that is slowly descending into chaos. As Fury notes that something big is happening in Wakanda, he tells Hill to get in touch with someone named Klein, likely this guy from Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron--which may point to more progress in Fury's somewhat forgotten efforts to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D in the wake of its official Hydra-fueled destruction.
But the effects of Thanos's finger-snap are reverberating across the galaxy and, one by one, people are disappearing at random. This means literally anyone--pilots, drivers, pedestrians--vanishing into thin air, no matter what they may have been in the middle of. So naturally, as more and more people crumble, helicopters are crashing, cars are veering off the road--you get the idea. The world is not in a great place, and Fury and Hill are left trying to puzzle through what's happening.
Unfortunately, even their time is limited. As they scramble out of their car, Hill begins to crumble and abruptly vanishes, leaving Fury on his own. He pulls out a device--something that looks almost like a beeper--and dials out just as he himself begins to disintegrate.
This guy might turn out important?
As Fury blows away in the wind, the device he was holding clatters to the ground and we're left staring at what we can only assume is the transmission of a distress signal. Though there is no text on the screen to give an official destination, a symbol or logo soon appears--the blue, red and gold emblem associated with none other than Captain Marvel.
We've known for some time that a Captain Marvel movie is coming--set photos of Brie Larson in costume have been filtering in since filming kicked off--but her role in the still unnamed Avengers 4 remains shrouded in mystery, just like the rest of the film. We do know, however, that her solo movie will be released in March of next year (two months prior to the next Avengers, due in May) and be set in the '90s, which leaves her in an interesting position considering Infinity War's very present day ending.
Just how long has Fury known about Captain Marvel? Where has she been all this time? Is the distress signal actually going to Carol Danvers or is it going to someone like, say, her mentor Captain Mar-Vell instead?
Perhaps more importantly: what exactly can Captain Marvel do in the face of a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet?
Carol Danvers traditionally gets her powers from her Kree heritage, making her similar to what we might expect from an Asgardian in the MCU, with a few twists. In the books she has enhanced durability, strength and speed, as well as the ability to fly and shoot energy projectiles from her hands. She also has an abundance of military and tactical training both on Earth and with the Kree army, making her a formidable force both in the heat of battle and in any war room--so it's not that she's incapable, by any means.
But all the training and superpowers in the universe seem dwarfed by the force of the Infinity Stones, even with the Infinity Gauntlet in the damaged state that the movie leaves it in, so it's unlikely that she'll be able to show up on Earth without some sort of back up and expect to make a difference. Luckily, there are a few other cosmic Marvel heroes who have been alluded to in the past who just might be able to lend a hand. We saw the Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy, which paves the way for Nova to get involved, especially if Thanos destroyed the entire Corps when he nabbed the Power Stone from them, which would fit with Nova's origin in the comics. And don't forget Adam Warlock, who was referenced in the Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 post-credits scene.
The third round of testing for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds's new Sanhok map (formerly known as Codename: Savage) is now underway on PC. For the next few days, everyone who's purchased PUBG on Steam will be able to try the smaller island map, which boasts a number of changes for this test.
As developer PUBG Corp. detailed in the patch notes for the third Sanhok test, the map now features four new areas: Cave, Tambang, Lakawi, Na Kham. To go along with the map's new name, PUBG Corp. has also renamed all of the existing areas on Sanhok, and several of them have received "various improvements" since the last round of testing.
Additionally, PUBG Corp. has adjusted how the red zone operates. Now, the developer says the red zone will "generally" no longer appear appear within the safe zone. However, this won't always be the case, in particular when the blue circle is near the white one, but PUBG Corp. says this change will make it generally riskier to play outside of the safe zone.
On top of implementing the sweeping balance tweaks it made to weapons recently, PUBG Corp. has also adjusted the spawn rates for certain items on Sanhok. In particular, AR-type weapons should now be more plentiful. The spawn ratio of the M16A4 and AKM have been increased, while the M416 has been slightly decreased--although PUBG Corp. says "the total amount spawned will remain similar to before."
You can read the full list of changes on Steam. The third Sanhok test runs from now until May 14, and as previously mentioned, is open to everyone who has purchased PUBG on Steam. To get into the test, you'll need to download the Experimental Test Server client from your Steam Library. The same client can be used to access future Sanhok tests. You can find the exact start and end times for this round of testing below.
Retro video game company SNK is releasing its own mini console: the Neo Geo Mini. The system resembles a miniature version of the classic Neo Geo arcade cabinet and houses its own 3.5" screen, meaning it can be played without having to be connected to a television, as is typically the case with other mini consoles.
The Neo Geo Mini comes pre-loaded with 40 classic titles. SNK has yet to reveal the full line-up of included games, but the console itself is adorned with artwork for Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown II, and The King of Fighters '97, suggesting they'll be among the pre-loaded titles. The system also comes with a power supply cable and features ports for HDMI, headphones, and two controllers, although an AC adapter is not included. You can see some images of the console below.
The Neo Geo Mini will be released in two color variants. In Japan, the system will come in a black, white, and red design that replicates the classic Neo Geo arcade cabinet, while the international version will sport a more "modern" black, white, and blue color scheme. SNK says that pricing and release details will be announced at a later date.
A new SNK fighting game, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, is also on the way this year. That title launches for Switch and digitally on PS4 on September 7 and features an all-female cast drawn from past SNK titles, including Kula Diamond, Mai Shiranui, Shermie, and the two most recently revealed fighters: Zarina and Sylvie. The game also boasts a two-on-two tag system in which both of your characters share a single health bar.
A new distribution is now underway for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. From May 4-27, players will be able to add one of the Legendary Pokemon from the Kalos region, Xerneas and Yveltal, to their teams via a free download code.
To claim the download code, players will need to head to a participating retailer and pick one up near the register. In the US, the code will be available from GameStop; UK and Ireland residents can get one from Game stores; and players in Canada and Australia will find the code at EB Games.
The download code can be used in any seventh generation Pokemon title. To redeem it, select Mystery Gift from the games' main menu, then choose the option to receive your gift via a code/password. Input the code and the game will begin downloading your Legendary. You can then pick it up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center.
The Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing. Those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get the Dark/Flying-type Yveltal, while players with Moon or Ultra Moon will get the Fairy-type Xerneas. If you redeem the code in either of the Ultra games, the Legendary will also come equipped with a Gold Bottle Cap, which can be exchanged to Hyper Train a Pokemon.
Additionally, the Legendaries will come at a higher level if you redeem the code in either of the Ultra games. They'll also know a different moveset depending on the version you're playing. You can take a look at the attacks they'll come with in each game below.
Pokemon Ultra Sun
Yveltal -- Level 100
Oblivion Wing
Dark Pulse
Heat Wave
Tailwind
Pokemon Sun
Yveltal -- Level 60
Oblivion Wing
Dark Pulse
Phantom Force
Psychic
Pokemon Ultra Moon
Xerneas -- Level 100
Geomancy
Focus Blast
Grass Knot
Moonblast
Pokemon Moon
Xerneas -- Level 60
Geomancy
Horn Leech
Night Slash
Moonblast
The Pokemon Company is giving away different Legendaries every month in 2018 as part of its Year of Legendary Pokemon promotion. In June, players will be able to get another Legendary from Pokemon X and Y: Zygarde. What makes this Pokemon special is that it will be its shiny variant. Until then, you can see all of the free Pokemon up for grabs right now.
A new batch of games is now available for Nintendo Switch. This week is fairly light in terms of releases, with only 13 titles arriving the Eshop. And while none are quite as big as last week's major release, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, they include a few gems that are worth a look if you need something new to play on Nintendo's hybrid console.
Headlining this week's Switch releases is WayForward's well-received platformer, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition. This version of the game packages the base adventure together will all of its DLC costumes and expansions. Also available on Switch this week is One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition, the Dynasty Warriors-style action game set in the One Piece universe. This edition likewise packs the base game together with all of its DLC missions and costumes.
Other notable releases this week include the atmospheric side-scrolling adventure game, The Fall; the pixel co-op zombie survival game, Death Road to Canada; the not-nearly-as-grim-as-it-sounds puzzle-adventure game, Suicide Guy; the affecting interactive story Three Fourths Home; and the retro-style top-down shooter, Hyper Sentinel. You can find the full list of this week's Switch releases below.
On top of the aforementioned titles, Nintendo has added a free demo of its Switch fighting game Arms to the Eshop. Unlike the previous Arms Global Testpunch demo, which effectively served as a network beta as it could only be accessed during certain times and let players compete against each other in online matches, the new demo can be played any time and features a selection of stages from the single-player mode.
Sony has detailed some of the games it will focus on during its E3 2018 press conference. Speaking on the PlayStation Blogcast, chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios Shawn Layden indicated that PlayStation won't have a traditional press conference, and will instead feature "exclusive looks and deep dives on four" upcoming titles: Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part II.
Beyond these titles, there will be announcements with third-party publishing partners and games from indie developers will also be given time in the spotlight. When asked about the possibility of a hardware at E3, Layden confirmed "there will be no new hardware announcements at E3" from PlayStation.
For Death Stranding, Layden said Sony has a "complete new report for everybody about what is happening around that title," while Ghost of Tsushima will also have a "deep dive." For Spider-Man there will be "a new drop," which is likely to be a new trailer. Finally, The Last of Us Part 2 will have "a full new scope and treatment to show progress on the game and give people a better understanding of where we're going with Part 2."
Sony's E3 2018 press conference is set for June 11 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET / 2 AM (June 12) BST. It will be streamed on Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and PlayStation's website. Of course, GameSpot will also be at hand to provide in-depth coverage of the PlayStation press conference, as well as the other showcases and E3 as a whole. You can take a look at the full E3 2018 press conference schedule for more information on everything happening during that week.
Epic Games is updating Fortnite again to make changes to the limited-time Avengers: Infinity War mode, Infinity Gauntlet, which features the mega-powerful Thanos. Specifically, the update will change his attributes to make him more powerful, but also somewhat easier to kill.
Starting off, Thanos' Beam is now deadlier; it does 20 damage instead of 12. Additionally, punch damage is increased from 80 to 100. Balancing this out somewhat is the fact that Thanos' health now stands at 500 instead of 800. Regarding these changes, Epic said in a post on Reddit, "Our goal is to allow more folks to truly experience the power of Thanos, while also making you feel powerful when wielding the gauntlet."
Today's update also addresses loot drops in the Infinity Gauntlet mode. With the update, only Rare, Epic, and Legendary-level weapons will spawn, which in turn should give players more firepower to help take down Thanos.
The new Fortnite update also makes some general changes, including lowering the height of the battle bus and a bigger storm circle at the start of matches. These moves are intended to provide more players with a fair shot at playing as Thanos. A strategy for acquiring the Infinity Gauntlet involved jumping out of the battle bus at the last moment and hovering in the air until the comet carrying the gauntlet crashed into the island.
Additionally, the spawn rate for med kits, chug jugs, and big shields are increased. You can see the full patch notes below. Infinity Gauntlet launched earlier this week. Thanos was too strong at the start, and Epic nerfed the character right away.
Fortnite Patch Notes:
Thanos Changes
Increased Beam from 12 to 20 damage on players.
Increased Punch damage from 80 to 100.
Decreased health from 800 to 500.
General Mode Changes
Reduced height of the Bus when dropping
Bigger initial storm circle
Less storm damage early game (first 3 storms from 5%/5%/10% per tick to 1%/2.5%/5%)
Initial Gauntlet spawn time changed from bus ride plus 30-45s to bus ride plus 120-135s
Increased spawn rate of Med Kits, Chug Jugs and Big Shields.
The first reactions to Solo: A Star Wars Story are in! The much-anticipated Star Wars spin-off hits theaters later this month, and although full reviews won't appear until next week, critics have had plenty of say about the film on Twitter.
The movie has had something of a troubled history. Original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were replaced by veteran filmmaker Ron Howard during production, with shooting stretching on for several months while Howard reportedly reshot much of their footage. As a result, many critics were a bit more cautious about what the end result would be like.
For the most part, the reaction is very positive, if not quite the overwhelming advance praise that December's The Last Jedi received. Several critics commented that the movie is fairly slow to start--Uproxx's Mike Ryan described the first act as "hit and miss clunky," while IndieWire's Kate Erbland said it "takes a bit for it to find its feet."
It does take a bit to get used to Alden as Han, but after 30 minutes or so your brain adjusts. (Also I've now finally seen Clint Howard in a Star Wars movie.) #soloastarwarsstory
#SoloAStarWarsStory: It takes a bit for it to find its feet and for AE to turn on enough charm to make you forget he's not HF. But once it kicks into its hey-let's-make-a-crew and yes-also-do-a-heist stuff, it totally flies.
However, once the film gets going, there was lots of praise for its mix of action, comedy, and drama. Gizmodo's Germain Lussier described it as "a non-stop adventure packed with way more emotion than you're expecting." Michelle Buchman of Nerdist agreed, stating that Solo was "a western [and a] caper. Funny with so much heart. It's got so much surprises that fans are going to love."
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a goddamn delight. It's a non-stop adventure packed with way more emotion than your expecting. You'll have a smile on your face the whole time and leave eager for more. pic.twitter.com/fOsF7Tr95L
I loved #SoloAStarWarsStory so much. It's a western. A caper. Funny with so much heart. It's got so much surprises that fans are going to love. Donald Glover is charming x1000. Alden Ehrenreich is a great #HanSolo and just know I've been saying this for years! Fave new #StarWars.
The movie's cast also received many positive reports. Star Alden Ehrenreich has the unenviable task of playing a role forever associated with Harrison Ford, but for the most part, critics agreed that he did a great job. Yahoo's Kevin Polowy descibed Ehrenreich as "super impressive," while Joel Meares from Rotten Tomatoes commented that the actor "has swagger to match, and spare."
#SoloAStarWarsStory is reaaaaalllly good. Fun as hell. It's a straight intergalactic heist movie, kind of refreshing to see a Star Wars movie w/o a Death Star or the rebellion's fate at stake. Alden Ehrenreich is super impressive as Han, but L3 might be my favorite new character.
Wow. Just come out of #SoloAStarWarsStory and can confirm it's kinda a blast. @donaldglover was as perfect as expected, but Alden Ehrenreich has swagger to match, and spare.
However, not everyone was a big fan. While no one seemed to really dislike Solo, several critics were clearly a bit underwhelmed, and found the movie's references to other Star Wars films a bit grating. Wendy Lee Szany from TheMovieCouple said that some scenes "were a bit too on the nose for me." CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg agreed, stating that the movie "has the occasional prequel problem answering questions I didn't need answers to, but also some fun references. Overall I liked it, didn't love it"
Solo: A Star Wars Story has a light tone and has some great action sequences. There were great moments but some were a bit too on the nose for me. The Chewie/Han bromance is the thing to watch for.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is... fine. It's slow to find its footing, but picks up in the second act, and it's definitely fun. Has the occasional prequel problem answering questions I didn't need answers to, but also some fun references. Overall I liked it, didn't love it pic.twitter.com/dV02yRYueA
YouTube Red has delivered a serious leg sweep with its newest original program, Cobra Kai. The series, which follows up on the movie The Karate Kid nearly 35 years later, just debuted on the streaming service and has already been renewed.
In a press release touting the renewal, executive producers Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg say, "Continuing the Karate Kid saga with YouTube Red has been a dream come true. We are grateful to all our creative partners for giving us the freedom to revisit and expand the LaRusso/Lawrence rivalry. And we are truly exhilarated by the tidal wave of support from fans of this story, both old and new."
At this point, a release date for the new season has yet to be announced. However, YouTube Red is spilling quite a few details on what to expect from Cobra Kai when it returns.
When can you expect it?
While a specific date has not been revealed, YouTube Red says the new season will arrive in 2019. Production on the series resumes this fall.
How many episodes will be in Season 2?
As with Season 1, the next batch will include 10 half-hour episodes.
Who is returning?
Naturally, William Zabka, and Ralph Macchio will be back as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, respectively. Also signed on to return are Xolo Mariduena (Miguel Diaz), Tanner Buchanan (Robby Keane), Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso), and Courtney Henggeler (Amanda LaRusso). There's no word yet on recurring stars like Nichole Brown (Aisha) and Jacob Bertrand (Hawk), but it's hard to imagine the new Cobra Kai Dojo without them.
What will it be about?
This is where we're getting into spoiler territory. If you've yet to watch the show, stop reading now. But also, what are you waiting for? As GameSpot's Cobra Kai review will tell you, this is not a show to be missed.
The first season ended with the new Cobra Kai Dojo having won the All-Valley Karate Tournament after Miguel showed no mercy against Robby in the finals. However, the regret on Johnny's face was clear after realizing the way he trained his students brought pain and defeat to his own son, Robby.
Clearly, Season 2 will continue to deal with the incredibly strained relationship between Johnny and Robby, as the former also likely reevaluates the lessons he learned from his days as a Cobra Kai student. However, complicating matters was the return of Johnny's sensei John Kreese (Martin Cove) in the season's final moments.
Johnny previously claimed his sensei was dead. However, he's very much alive and seems pleased with the dojo's rise to greatness once again. Could Season 2 lead to a showdown between the student and his teacher? That's a question that won't be answered until 2019.
The first trailer for the much-anticipatedThe Predator is here. The movie is the latest entry in the long-running sci-fi action franchise that started with the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic Predator in 1987, and it hits theaters in September.
The trailer opens with a kid playing with some alien tech he finds in a box, which seems to be controlling a Predator ship, causing it to crash on the Earth. We then see an army specialist played by Boyd Holbrook being interrogated about what he saw on a jungle mission, followed by warnings from Olivia Munn's scientist character about the danger posed by the "upgraded" Predators. There's also plenty of action and a few glimpses of the Predator itself, killing some unfortunate victims. Check it out above.
The Predator is directed by Shane Black, who previously helmed Iron Man 3 and the crime comedy The Nice Guys, as well as writing the original Lethal Weapon. It also stars Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight), Keegan-Michael Key (Keanu, Key & Peele), Sterling K. Brown (The People v. OJ Simpson), Thomas Jane (The Expanse), and Jacob Tremblay (Room). It releases on September 14.
Black himself acted in the original Predator, and in a recent interview with Pure Grain Audio, spoke about his approach to tackling a movie in such an established franchise. "The key to Predator has always been the group that goes up against the Predator," he said. "The trick is to get yourself inside the mindset of a group of men and women, mostly guys in those movies, sometimes with a female protagonist as well. Mostly in the [Alien vs. Predator movies] as well, and Predators.
"You wanna find a balance. It's not so much addressing the emotions of the characters or finding the fear in the horror film as much as finding what interests me about a horror film. Figuring out why I am the audience member I am for them."
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