Epic has shared a few more details about the upcoming Android release of Fortnite. After launching on iOS back in April, the phenomenally popular battle royale game is coming to Android devices this summer, and the developer has now revealed that the game won't be available through the Google Play store like most other games for the platform. That allows Epic to make more money on each purchase in the free-to-play game, but it means that users will have to go through a somewhat unconventional process to download and install it.
Epic confirmed to GameSpot that Android users will not be able to download Fortnite on their devices from Google's digital store, but rather through its own service. According to the developer, this decision was made in part to bypass the 30% "store tax" that would normally be applied to purchases made on Google Play.
"It's a high cost in a world where game developers' 70 per cent must cover all the cost of developing, operating, and supporting their games," Epic said. "And it's disproportionate to the cost of the services these stores perform, such as payment processing, download bandwidth, and customer service."
This stands in contrast to the iOS version of Fortnite, which is available to download right from Apple's App Store. According to Epic, it would have likewise offered Fortnite for iOS through its own website if it were able to, but the closed nature of Apple's ecosystem prevented that.
The other benefit of offering Fortnite through its own platform, Epic says, is that it allows the studio to "bring its games directly to customers." Once it rolls out for Android, users will be able to go to Epic's website and download the game from there. However, if you're hoping to play the game on Android, you'll need to have a newer handset, as Epic says the game requires a "recent high-end Android smartphone."
The iOS version of Fortnite has been a major success for Epic since it arrived on the platform back in spring. It has reportedly crossed 100 million downloads on iOS alone and rakes in $2 million per day. While Epic hasn't shared any footage of the Android version in action yet, you can take a look at how the game runs on iOS in the video above.
It was recently discovered that Madden NFL 19, which is available now for EA and Origin Access subscribers before its public release, removed Colin Kaepernick's name in the YG song "Big Bank" featured on the game's soundtrack. The line is supposed to be "You boys all cap, I'm more Colin Kaepernick." However, his name was scrubbed from the verse sung by Big Sean, leading to a really strange edit that caught the attention of pre-release players.
EA has now explained that it was an "unfortunate mistake." According to EA, some of its developers did not believe they had the rights to Kaepernick's name, so that's why it was censored out of the song. EA indeed does not have the rights to Kaepernick, as he's not signed to any NFL roster, but this doesn't apply to the soundtrack.
"We messed up, and the edit should never have happened," EA Sports said.
Kaepernick's name will be added back with an update due out on August 6. "We meant no disrespect, and we apologise to Colin, to YG and Big Sean, to the NFL, to all their fans, and our players for this mistake."
JUST IN: EA Sports says it didn't mean to omit Colin Kaepernick's name in YG's song it licensed for use in Madden '19. Will add his name back in update. pic.twitter.com/ck8UhxI1fu
Kaepernick made international headlines in 2016 when, as the QB for the San Francisco 49ers, he sat during the national anthem. He told NFL media at the time that he did this in protest over the treatment of black people and people of color in the US.
Madden 19 officially launches on August 10, but EA/Origin Access subscribers can play a 10-hour trial right now. The premium edition then unlocks on August 7, while everyone can start playing on August 10. For more, check out GameSpot's Madden 19 Review in Progress.
Grand Theft Auto V, which was released four years and 10 months ago, is still doing huge business for Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive.
The company announced today that GTA V has now shipped almost 100 million units. This is up fro the 95 million figure that Take-Two announced back in May. The game "outperformed" Take-Two's expectations during the quarter. Indeed, it continues to be a massive hit so long after launch, as it was the No. 3 best-selling game in the United States during June, outselling the new release The Crew 2 and other titles.
Not only is GTA V the base game doing well, but its GTA Online mode also did better than Take-Two expected. "Grand Theft Auto Online continued to exceed our expectations in the first quarter, as it has in every period since its release," Take-Two said.
Part of the reason why GTA Online has been and continues to be so successful is that Rockstar releases new content for it very frequently. The latest substantial update was GTA Online: After Hours, which Take-Two said "had a bigger week-one audience than last December's Doomsday Heist, which went on to be a record-breaking update."
Looking ahead, Take-Two said Rockstar plans to launch "much more innovative content" for the game in the weeks and months to come.
A big part of GTA Online is its microtransactions, and these have been performing extremely well. During an earnings call, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said "recurrent consumer spending" i.e. microtransactions performed better-than-expected this quarter.
The next big release from Rockstar is Red Dead Redemption 2, which launches in October.
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Summer Games is returning to Overwatch again this year. The annual summer event will return August 9 and continue to August 30.
Summer Games first came to Overwatch in 2016 in celebration of the Olympics. The event unlocks content drops of exclusive summer-themed hero skins, as well as Lucioball--a Rocket League-type game mode. Lucioball returns for Summer Games 2018, and promo images seem to suggest the mode's arenas are moving to Busan, South Korea.
You'll get a kick out of this! ⚽ Team up with your friends for Summer Games on August 9. pic.twitter.com/VSyxMDTrc3
Also this summer, Blizzard is teaming up with Twitch Prime to bring players several in-game rewards for Overwatch. To unlock them, link your Blizzard and Twitch Prime accounts. The first set of rewards are available right now. Until September 3, all Twitch Prime members can claim two loot boxes that each contain four random items for Overwatch's newest hero: Wrecking Ball.
Starting in September, Twitch Prime members can also unlock a Golden Loot Box. Another Golden Loot Box will be available for Twitch Prime members in October. None of the boxes contain a fixed set of items, and they don't unlock season event items either.
With the release of the No Man's Sky Next update, thousands of players are jumping back into the game to explore its massive procedurally-generated universe. As you'd expect, there are going to be plenty of fun discoveries; players have found oddly colored planets, goofy alien creatures, and an abundance of new elemental resources. But there are those who travel even deeper into the galaxy's farthest reaches to uncover bizarre stuff quite unlike anything we've seen in No Man's Sky before. The Next update has proven to be a substantial offering that keeps rewarding folks with a wealth of intriguing discoveries and surprises.
Much of what has been found are the weird results of the game's procedural generation. But there are other discoveries that seem to have been intentionally inserted into the game--parts that had not existed prior to the update. Chief among these additions are what the game calls "Biological Horrors." From just one look at these hideous creatures, it's obvious they're a nod by developer Hello Games to the iconic Xenomorph from the Alien franchise.
Aside from surprising new wildlife, there are even unexpected remnants of the game's past that you can find, which should prove intriguing enough for both newcomers and returning players to explore. But we won't spoil too much of what lies ahead, so be sure to click ahead to some of the weirdest discoveries in No Man's Sky so far.
If you're curious to know more about all the major changes brought to No Man's Sky, you can read out in-depth explainer. Also, if you're a returning player, chances are you're wondering if you should start a new save or simply continue your old save. Luckily, we've compiled a helpful feature to help you answer that very question.
In the meantime, what weird discoveries have you made in No Man's Sky? How did you find them? Give us the whole story in the comments below!
The Xenomor...err "Biological Horrors"
The Next update introduces a variety of new creatures--some docile, some hostile. But perhaps the most terrifying addition to the mix are what the game refers to as Biological Horrors. As recounted by Twitter user Xalavier Nelson Jr., this creature is basically the Xenomorph from the Alien film franchise, and it's out to kill. There are even eggs in the game that strongly resemble the iconic ones the Xenomorphs emerge from. If you land on a planet with these creatures roaming about, approach with extreme caution.
Dead Space-Stations
Space stations have been completely redesigned in No Man's Sky Next to feature completely new layouts. However, a few of the old stations still exist in the galaxy, and they're seemingly abandoned. You'll occasionally encounter these vacant space stations in your travels, and what's great is that their layouts are exactly the same as they were before the Next update. If you ever happen upon one of these stations, be sure to explore it. There's not much in the way of resources to obtain within, but you'll be rewarded with one heck of a creepy little jaunt through some moodily lit hallways and chambers.
Donut Island
There's an abundance of fascinating creatures and landmasses to discover across the myriad planets you chart. Every once in a while, you'll find an intriguing oddity, but Reddit member Lunitari696 found something more: an island surrounded by endless ocean that straight-up looks like a chocolate-dipped donut. It's nothing mind blowing, but it sure is one of the weirder discoveries. Plus, it looks delicious. It makes us wonder if there's a landmass resembling a Simpsons-esque sprinkled donut somewhere else in the galaxy.
A Frigate of Hungry Ghosts
It's possible to purchase a frigate by closing in on one and calling them on the radio. You can then inspect their stats and see if it's one you'd like to buy. Some frigates have crews staffed by particular alien species, but according to Reddit user phoisgood495, some are staffed by ghosts. Yes, ghosts. To make matters more interesting, it appears they're hungry ghosts? If that isn't an instant purchase, then we don't know what is.
Drab Planets
The planets in No Man's Sky have been made to be more diverse visually and geographically. But there are some planets that are a tad different--but still very much striking. We encountered a planet that's literally devoid of color, almost to the point of being monochromatic. It's admittedly bizarre; though, we have to wonder what living on a planet such as this would be like. It would probably result in some sort of permanent eye damage. It's as if the visible color spectrum has been impacted, because even your ship appears monochromatic.
A Giant Honey Pot
If you were all about the chocolate donut island from earlier, then this giant honey pot discovered by Reddit user ezeekiel will most likely tickle your fancy. While we understand this isn't an actual honey pot, it sure as heck strongly resembles one. It seems like there's another in the distance as well. We're sure that if Winnie the Pooh saw this, he'd likely stop everything he's doing and get on a spaceship to see all these honey pots.
This Flying Tentacle Insect
We've managed to meet more than a few odd-looking creatures during our travels. Some have been horrifying (like the aforementioned Biological Horrors) while others have been cuddly and cute. But much like the classic Brachiosaurus scene from Jurassic Park, we've also found creatures that humble us and make us feel like only a speck in the game's expansive universe. One of the most memorable creatures we've discovered was this flying tentacle insect creature. It made us cautious when we first saw it; after all, a weird-looking creature like this has to be a threat of some kind, right? Fortunately, it was in no way hostile, instead appearing content floating around without much concern for our presence.
A Spaceship-Stealing Alien
It's one thing for an alien to try to kill you, but it's another thing entirely when it legitimately tries to steal your stuff. A tall, slender-limbed alien with horns seemingly grabbed Reddit user Seek87's spaceship and started running away with it. We hope Seek87 was able to put an end to this alien's unexpected thievery. After all, no one should have to endure being stranded on a planet without a ship.
The Pink Panther
As you know, the Traveller race's appearance varies greatly. Some look bug-like or cat-like, but others appear amphibious or entirely alien. Twitter user kimisaru happened upon a more cat-like Traveller who strongly resembles the iconic Pink Panther. Was this intentional or simply a goofy coincidence on part of the procedural-generation? Who knows! All that matters is now the Pink Panther theme song is most likely playing in your head.
The Pokemon Company has shared some more footage of Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee, the upcoming Pokemon RPGs for Nintendo Switch. Five brief clips of the games have been posted on the official Japanese Pokemon YouTube channel (as pointed out by Pokemon fansite Serebii), and they give fans a look at some more Pokemon running around on the overworld.
Just as in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver for the DS, players can have any Pokemon follow along outside of their Poke Ball while they explore in the Let's Go titles. As previous trailers for the games have showcased, each Pokemon has its own distinctive way of maneuvering about; small Pokemon like Nidoran trot behind the trainer, while larger monsters like Charizard and Onix can ferry players on their backs.
The aforementioned clips show off some Pokemon we haven't previously seen following around on the overworld, such as Golem and Electrode, who both roll like a ball. Caterpie, bless its little heart, does its best to keep up by crawling slowly behind. But perhaps the most surprising is Venusaur. While you might expect the heavy Grass-type to trundle along thanks to its squat stature, the clip reveals that Venusaur actually hops like a giant toad. You can take a look below.
Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee are based on the classic Pokemon Yellow version, and just as in that game, players' starter Pokemon (Pikachu or Eevee, depending on which version you choose) will also keep you company outside of its Poke Ball. This time, players are able to pet and dress their partner Pokemon up in various costumes, as well as give them different hairstyles.
Fortnite's battle royale mode might get more attention these days, but PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is still going strong. To help PUBG compete with its free competitor, a number of retailers have been putting it on sale in recent months. But right now the Microsoft Store is selling the Xbox One version of this Early Access game for the cheapest price we've seen yet: $12. You can buy it here. Considering that it normally retails for $30, that's a killer deal for the game that first pushed the battle royale genre into widespread popularity.
Much like Fortnite, PUBG has 100 players parachute onto an island, scavenge for weapons and equipment, and set out to kill each other. A deadly storm closes in as they do, herding everyone to a single spot on the map until only one player or team is left standing.
Unlike Fortnite, PUBG comes with more than one map. It has the original map, Erangel, plus a desert map called Miramar that was added in May. A third map called Sanhok is already live in the PC version of the game, and is coming to the Xbox One version later this summer. A fourth map is also in the works.
From GameSpot's 8/10 PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds review: "PUBG's technical shortcomings can undermine its broader achievements on rare occasions, but they don't override your desire to continue playing. Each phase of a match presents a different type of tension that is equal parts thrilling and terrifying, driven by the insatiable desire to be the last person (or squad) standing."
So if you've been considering picking up PUBG on Xbox One, now is the time to do so.
The Defenders, including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil, got a mini-series last year, and several have gotten new seasons of their solo shows this year. Since three out of four Defenders will have gotten a second season by the end of the year, many were wondering whether Daredevil would as well, but now it's been confirmed that Season 3 will premiere before the year is out.
Many had initially thought that the third season of Daredevil wouldn't be premiering until 2019, precisely because the other Defenders were all getting new seasons this year, but Netflix had something to say about that.
Ted Sarantos, CEO of the streaming service, spoke about the its upcoming release slate during Netflix's Q2 earnings video, saying, "In the short term, we've got new seasons coming up, in the second half of this year, of Orange is the New Black, Ozark, Iron Fist, Daredevil, Narcos, the finale of House of Cards, the follow-up series to Making a Murderer."
This announcement is a definitive confirmation that Daredevil Season 3 is scheduled to premiere this year. There is no release date for the season yet, but there are a few promo photos out. Iron Fist Season 2 is also coming out on September 7, and a trailer has been released for the new season.
By Anonymous on Aug 03, 2018 11:24 pm Take-Two says Red Dead Redemption 2 will change gaming as we know it on PS4 and Xbox One, while Middle-earth: Shadow of War gets a shiny new Definitive Edition.
Rockstar has announced another cross-promotion weapon--the Stone Hatchet--that's unlockable in both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. The weapon was originally uncovered by the Guru Team, who discovered the weapon while datamining in GTA 5. If you want the Stone Hatchet in RDR2, you'll have to earn it by playing GTA Online.
The Stone Hatchet is unlocked in GTA Online after completing a series of bounties for Maude Eccles. The next time you jump into GTA Online, be on the lookout for a text message from Maude. Retrieve all the bounties--dead or alive, it doesn't matter--and you'll earn the Stone Hatchet, along with a new Kills Challenge. Completing the challenge nets you a $250,000 in-game bonus and unlocks the Stone Hatchet in RDR2.
If you missed out on unlocking the Double-Action Revolver in GTA Online last year, you have another chance coming up. According to Rockstar, an in-game email that describes how to unlock the weapon "will soon reappear" in GTA Online. Once you do earn the Double-Action Revolver, completing its Headshot Challenge nabs you a $250,000 in-game bonus and unlocks the firearm in RDR2.
GTA Online is the online multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto 5, which is available for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, and PC. Red Dead Redemption 2 is launching for Xbox One and PS4 on October 26.
A new event called Sanhok Forty-Fivers has started for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds on PC. The event only lasts a week--ending August 5 at 7:00 PM PST / August 6 at 4:00 AM CEST / August 6 at 11:00 AM KST--so if you want to participate, grab some friends and get online.
Sanhok Forty-Fivers pits 20 teams against one another on Sanhok. Each team is typically composed of a four-person squad for a maximum of 80 players on the battleground, but playing in a full squad isn't mandatory. The safe zone is visible from the beginning and starts out pretty small so players land close together. Both Red Zones and Killer Spectating are disabled, weather is perpetually set to overcast, and it's impossible to kill your teammates.
The only weapons in Sanhok Forty-Fivers are throwables and firearms that take .45 ammo. Tommy Guns, Win94s, R45s, and P1911s spawn on the map, while Vectors drop in care packages. Care packages also carry 0.45 ACP rounds, level three gear, and other items that players might find useful.
The full details of Sanhok Forty-Fives can be read on Steam.
The test server for PUBG on PC is currently live. The new updates on the server tweak inventory management for weapon attachments and makes changes to the Erangel and Miramar maps--even adding entire new clusters of buildings. Weather effects have also been added so players occasionally parachute through cloudy skies that eventually roll over into rain or fog during the match. Bullets also penetrate through arms and hands to strike targets beyond enemy players.
This is not an instant win. Winners will be selected at random and receive an email with the code. Codes are for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Multiplayer Beta only and do not give access to the full game when it launches officially.
Here are the official Beta dates:
Multiplayer Beta Weekend 1:
Friday, August 3 at 10:00am PT to Monday, August 6 at 10:00am PT (PlayStation 4 only)
Multiplayer Beta Weekend 2:
Friday, August 10 at 10:00am PT to Monday, August 13 at 10:00am PT (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Saturday, August 11, 10 am PT – 10 am PT Monday, August 13 (PC Only Open Beta)
The series which has become the most played in Call of Duty history, as well as a cultural phenomenon around the globe returns October 12th with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, a gritty, grounded, all-out combat experience. Black Ops 4 raises the bar for Multiplayer mode that increases tactical gameplay and player choice, along with the biggest Zombies offering ever with three full experiences at launch, and Blackout, where the Black Ops universe comes to life in a massive battle royale experience featuring iconic characters and locations from all four Black Ops games in a one-of-a-kind offering that is uniquely Black Ops. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 transforms the established universe played by hundreds of millions of fans with the largest gameplay experience ever created in the series.
Sony isn't messing around this week when it comes to sales. Not only is the PlayStation Store running a Totally Digital sale on downloadable games and a Double Discounts sale that gives PS Plus members two times the savings, but now it's doing a surprise Flash Sale. This weekend, you can save money on even more PS4 games.
Ubisoft has a strong presence in the Flash Sale, with many of its recent popular games getting discounts. The most recent one is The Crew 2, on sale for $42. Having just come out in June, this game lets you race across the U.S., swapping between cars, planes, and boats instantly.
The Montana-set open-world shooter Far Cry 5 is down to $39. If you like the look of the three DLC expansions--a sci-fi themed one set on Mars came out recently--you can get the Gold Edition for $59. That version also comes with a copy of Far Cry 3 Classic Edition (which is also available on sale separately for $21).
If you're feeling antsy for October 5 to arrive so you can play Assassin's Creed Odyssey, you can pick up an installment there's a good chance you haven't played: Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered. It's on sale for $18. And South Park fans can pick up South Park: The Video Game Collection, which contains both The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole, for $32.
The final moments of Avengers: Infinity War were shocking and emotional for the characters on the screen and those watching in the theater. It left a lot of us with questions about the antagonist's decisions, which rocked the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Well, thanks to the audio commentary track for the movie, fans have some answers they've been searching for. Warning: Avengers: Infinity War spoilers ahead.
As a quick refresher, towards the end of film, Thanos had collected all the Infinity Stones and then used the power to eliminate half the sentient life in the universe. This included many of the Avengers. During the audio commentary for the movie, director Joe Russo shed some insight on why Thanos didn't just double the resources rather than killing everyone.
"People have asked us why Thanos didn't just use the Stones to double the resources in the universe," Russo said. "Clearly, he is not... he was told 'no' to an idea that he had, that he felt was the only solution, and then was proved right to himself when that solution was not acted upon. So his messianic complex, he is now committed to following through on the idea he had many, many years ago. He's not a stable--although he appears stable at times--he is not a stable individual."
That's not the only thing the audio commentary taught us about the movie. Screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus skipped over Thanos getting the Power Stone from Xandar to avoid repetition in storytelling. Additionally, we learned about Sir Kenneth Branagh's cameo early on in the film.
Infinity War is available digitally now, and it will get a physical release on Tuesday, August 14. The movie has a ton of special features, and if you're looking for all the spoilers, find out what we learned from the home release special features and the audio commentary.
It's been over a year since Fargo Season 3 ended. With creator Noah Hawley hard at work on Legion, it wasn't clear exactly when the next installment of the anthology series would come. Finally, though, there's some news--and it's big.
FX announced at the TCA press tour that Season 4 of Fargo will go into production in 2019 and star legendary stand-up comedian Chris Rock. According to a press release, the new season will be set in 1950 Kansas City, as two criminal families--one African American, the other Italian--work together to control organized crime. As part of their alliance, though, they've agreed to trade their eldest sons.
The actor's joining the series marks his first series regular role since being the voice of the narrator on Everybody Hates Chris, a show he also created. In Fargo, he plays "the head of one family, a man who--in order to prosper--has surrendered his oldest boy to his enemy, and who must, in turn, raise his son's enemy as his own," the release says. "It's an uneasy peace, but profitable. And then the head of the Kansas City mafia goes into the hospital for routine surgery and dies. And everything changes."
As usual, it sounds like the next season of Fargo is going to be a wild ride, and it's one that cannot come soon enough. Of course, given that it won't go into production until sometime next year, there's no telling when it will actually be released. Perhaps the third season of Legion, which was ordered by FX in June, will film and be released first.
No other casting details about the new season have been announced.
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Take-Two says Red Dead Redemption 2 will change gaming as we know it on PS4 and Xbox One, while Middle-earth: Shadow of War gets a shiny new Definitive Edition.
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