Here's some good news for fans of retro gaming: Sony has announced it will release a miniature original PlayStation console that comes pre-loaded with 20 PS1 titles. Similar to Nintendo's throwback NES and SNES consoles, it's significantly smaller than the original (about 45% smaller), but the included replica controllers will be full size. The PlayStation Classic, as it's called, is set to release on December 3, exactly 24 years after the original system launched in Japan. It will cost $100 / $130 CAN.
The unit will ship with an HDMI cable, USB cable, and two wired controllers. Notably, it does not come with an AC adapter. Also, it ships with replicas of the original PS1 controller, which doesn't have analog sticks. In 1997, Sony released the DualShock controller for PS1, which many people regard as a significant improvement, thanks to its two analog sticks and vibration function. There's no word yet on whether Sony will release DualShock controllers for the PlayStation Classic.
Pre-Order PlayStation Classic
It's unclear how many PlayStation Classic units Sony will make available at launch. But since the NES and SNES Classic consoles were notoriously difficulty to find early on, it's probably wise to pre-order the PS Classic if you're interested in picking one up at launch. Here's where you can place a pre-order.
Rockstar has taken the wraps off of its plans for Red Dead Redemption 2's online mode, named simply Red Dead Online. The mode is planned for launch in November 2018--after Redemption 2's October release date--and will start as a public beta. Access will be free to owners of RDR2, and the announcement doesn't specify any plans to make it available separately.
"Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players," the announcement states.
But in a moment of expectations-setting, the announcement also warns that players who hop on immediately are likely to experience some growing pains. Specifically, the studio says it expects turbulence at launch, and to work with the community to overcome "teething problems" and develop Red Dead Online over time.
That roadmap makes it sound very similar to Grand Theft Online, which was fairly rough when it first launched a few weeks after the launch of Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar has been treating it as a live service since then, though, and has continuously added new features, modes, and cosmetic items over the course of years. Red Dead Online is likely to get a similar treatment given the phenomenal long-term success of GTA V.
The November launch target also sets it apart from the release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 itself, which is set to release on October 26. For more details, check out our wrap-up of everything we know so far.
Fortnite's otherworldly cube continues to trudge along on its journey of destruction. But what does it all mean? The fans have passionately followed the exploits of the cube, and while its eventual Season 6 implications are still shrouded in mystery, the community is pretty sure it's nailed down where it's going.
A thread on the Fortnite subreddit has been tracking the cube's movements, and even predicting them with some success. The cube, affectionately nicknamed "Kevin" and sometimes referred to as a "he," has been sporadically changing its movement intervals and direction. Fans quickly realized that the runes it was "printing" in select spots on the map drew an image of a 3D cube. Kevin is very body-positive about his shape, apparently.
Tracking the path from that, fans ascertained that it was headed for the new Tilted Towers building. Sure enough, the cube plopped itself on top of the building and wrecked half of it. Now as it continues its movements, fans believe it's heading towards the lake. Given its movements, it appears primed to reach that area around 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET today, Wednesday, September 19.
What happens when it reaches the lake is anybody's guess. It could fall into the lake and begin the next phase of this slow world event. It could go straight down the middle of the dock and destroy more buildings on the way. Or it could even turn back to fake out the fans and head off somewhere else. Fans have speculated that it could drain or otherwise terraform the lake to reveal a new area entirely.
Whatever the cube has in store, it appears to be setting the stage for the next season. Season 5 is set to wrap up next week, on September 25. Epic tends to roll straight from one season into the next, so we're likely to see Season 6 kick off then. While we wait for the cube to make its move, you may want to catch up on Season 5's Challenges while you still can.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate means another round of Amiibo figurines to collect and train, and Best Buy has announced it has an exclusive on one of the collectibles. The new reprint of the Pac-Man figure will only be available at Best Buy when it launches on October 19.
This version of Pac-Man was first released in 2015 to pair with Super Smash Bros. Melee. Like a lot of Amiibo figures, though, it became difficult to find. If you've had trouble snagging one over the last few years, Best Buy looks like your best bet. Alongside the release of Ultimate on December 7, a few more reprints will become available only at Best Buy: Captain Falcon, Marth, and Ganondorf.
Of course, Smash Bros. Ultimate is also introducing a slew of new characters, who are also getting their own brand-new Amiibo figurines. These include Ridley, Star Wolf, the Inklings, Simon and Richter Belmont, King K. Rool, Chrom, and Dark Samus. No word yet on if the newest addition to the roster, Isabelle, will get her own new figurine as well. She already had one released in conjunction with Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.
The Smash Bros. Ultimate roster is massive, promising the return of every character who has ever been playable in any Smash Bros. game--plus some brand new additions like the ones above. It launches on December 7. For more details check out our pre-order guide.
Streaming platform Hulu has announced everything that's coming to and leaving the service in September, which we're now nearly halfway through. Starting with what's arriving, there are a lot of high-profile movies being added to Hulu throughout the month, including There Will Be Blood, Any Given Sunday, Jerry Maguire, Unbreakable, City of God, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, all of which debuted on September 1, meaning you can stream them right now.
New episodes of the Hulu original show I Love You, America, premiere on September 6, while the Season 22 premiere of South Park comes out on September 27. The full season of American Horror Story: Cult hits on September 18, while premiere episodes for a number of other series returning (or debuting) this fall arrive toward the end of September. Those include This Is Us, Lethal Weapon, and The Gifted.
As for what's leaving, the Christian Bale thriller American Psycho, the 1989 feel-good baseball movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Smith's Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and the Star Wars spoof Spaceballs all left on September 1.
Are you running out of things to watch on Amazon Prime? September is here to remedy that with a slew of new TV shows, movies, and Prime Originals for you to binge in your free time this week and beyond. Here is what you have to look forward to throughout this month.
For new movies coming to the service that you may have missed in theaters, September 29 marks the arrival of the horror movie Jigsaw, which is part of the gruesome Saw franchise. There is also Escape Plan 2--which wasn't in theaters--and while the movie's focus isn't on Sylvester Stallone as much as we'd thought it would be, it's still a solid action movie.
If you're looking something from the past, Amazon has a ton of movies you'll want to rewatch including Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, arriving on September 1. If you're getting ready a bit early for Halloween, there a few horror movies as well, including Pumpkinhead, Poltergeist II, the original The Amityville Horror, and the 1989 Adam Sandler movie Going Overboard, which may be the scariest of them all. Check out the complete list of everything coming to Amazon Prime in September below.
Everything Coming To Amazon Prime In September 2018
September 1
Asylum, Season 1
The Blue Rose, Season 1
The Broker's Man, Seasons 1-2
The Field of Blood, Seasons 1-2
Golden, Season 1
The Kevin Bishop Show, Season 2
London Irish, Season 1
The Palace, Season 1
Parents, Season 1
Rocket's Island, Seasons 1-3
Sam's Game, Season 1
Texas Rising, Season 1
The Triangle, Season 1
Trust, Season 1
Westside, Seasons 1-3
Wild at Heart, Seasons 1-8
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
A Field in England (2013)
A Good Woman (2006)
A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
A Murder of Crows (1999)
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (2010)
A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise (2012)
All You Can Eat Buddha (2017)
Bandits (2001)
Beowulf (2007)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Blow Out (1981)
Bolero (1984)
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police (2012)
We're beginning to approach the end of September, and while that might mean you're back into your school routine, there's still plenty to watch in your free time. Netflix is introducing a load of new movies, TV shows, and original series for when you have time for some weekend binge sessions. Here's the full rundown on what's new and leaving in September 2018.
The big addition in September is Black Panther, the Marvel superhero movie that took the world by storm this past February. If you happened to miss out on this celebration of African culture--which we described as "a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody" in our Black Panther review--then now's your chance. Other film highlights coming in September are Groundhog Day, Scarface, Bruce Almighty, The Breakfast Club, Lilo & Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Netflix exclusive Next Gen.
The list of new TV shows isn't as impressively large, but there are a few stellar options being added. Both Bojack Horseman and Stranger Things are getting new seasons. If you like staying appraised of everything going on in the MCU, Iron Fist is also returning another season.
If animation is your thing, new anime series Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan--about a rookie air force pilot who finds herself being chosen as the destined rider for an actual dragon--and animated series The Dragon Prince--which is created by the same folks behind Avatar: The Last Airbender--debut on Netflix this September.
Of the movies and TV shows being removed, Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are the two noticeable standouts. They've unfortunately left the service already, but you can get a look at what you still have time to watch below.
Arriving in September
September 1
Unforgiven
10,000 B.C.
Another Cinderella Story
Assassins
August Rush
Bruce Almighty
Delirium
Fair Game
Groundhog Day
King Kong
La Catedral del Mar
Martian Child
Monkey Twins
Mr. Sunshine
Nacho Libre
Pearl Harbor
Scarface
Sisters
Spider-Man 3
Stephanie
Summer Catch
Sydney White
The Ant Bully
The Breakfast Club
The Cider House Rules
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Keeping Hours
The River Wild
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Two Weeks Notice
September 2
Lilo & Stitch
The Emperor's New Groove
Maynard
Quantico: Season 3
September 3
A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities
September 4
Black Panther
September 5
Van Helsing: Season 2
Wentworth: Season 6
September 6
Once Upon a Time: Season 7
September 7
Atypical: Season 2
Cable Girls: Season 3
City of Joy
Click
First and Last
Iron Fist: Season 2
Next Gen
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser
Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters: Season 2
The Most Assassinated Woman in the World
September 10
Call the Midwife: Series 7
September 11
Daniel Sloss: Live Shows
The Resistance Banker
September 12
Blacklist: Season 5
Life
On My Skin
September 14
American Vandal: Season 2
Bleach
Boca Juniors Confidential
BoJack Horseman: Season 5
Car Masters: Rust to Riches
Ingobernable: Season 2
Last Hope
Norm Macdonald has a Show
Super Monsters Monster Party: Songs
The Angel
The Dragon Prince
The Land of Steady Habits
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 2 Part A
September 15
Inside The Freemasons: Season 1
September 16
Role Models
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
September 17
The VVitch
September 18
American Horror Story: Cult
D.L. Hughley: Contrarian
September 21
Battlefish
Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan
Hilda
Maniac: Limited Series
Nappily Ever After
Quincy
The Good Cop
September 23
The Walking Dead: Season 8
September 25
A Wrinkle in Time
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
September 26
Norsemen: Season 2
The Hurricane Heist
September 28
Chef's Table: Volume 5
El Marginal: Season 2
Forest of Piano
Hold the Dark
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 2
Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane
Rockstar Games has released a series of new screenshots from Red Dead Redemption 2 that show off some of the numerous and varied places you'll explore in the open world (and in the newly announced Red Dead Online).
The gorgeous-looking and highly detailed images come from the game's newly updated website that reveals some of the game's locations such as bayous, snowy mountains, busy cities, and more. Click through each image in the gallery below to see it in full size.
Red Dead Redemption 2 stars Arthur Morgan, who is a member of the Van der Linde gang in a story that sees the gang on the run across America. The game is set 12 years before the first Red Dead Redemption, which came out in 2010.
Looking for something to play this weekend and don't want to spend any money? Ubisoft's open-world action game Ghost Recon: Wildlands will be free this weekend on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but only for a limited time.
From September 20-23, Ubisoft will offer the full game, as well as some of its PvP and PvE missions, to everyone on all platforms for free. Presumably the progress you make during the free weekend will carry forward to the full game should you decide to pick it up.
And if you do want to purchase the game, Ubisoft just announced two new versions of the game, including the Year 2 Gold Edition ($80) and the Ultimate Edition ($120). The Ultimate Edition features the Year 1 season pass that comes with the expansions Narco Road and Fallen Ghosts. It also includes the Year 2 season pass, as well as a variety of in-game extras
The Year 2 Gold Edition, meanwhile, comes with the base game and the Year 2 season pass.
In other news, Wildlands got a new update this week, Update 16, that added a new "mood" matchmaking system that allows players to select a particular "mood" for the match they are looking for. The update also adds other quality of life updates and features.
For more on Wildlands, you can check out GameSpot's feature in the video embed above in which we talk about giving the game a second chance.
Disney's new streaming service will include brand-new TV shows based on "beloved superheroes" who haven't received their own movies. That's according to a report from Variety, whose sources said there will be shows for Loki and Scarlet Witch, both of whom have appeared in numerous Marvel films, but haven't had their own movies as of yet.
Intriguingly, Variety reports that Disney is looking for the movie actors to play the same roles in the TV shows, instead of going for a different cast. That means Tom Hiddleston is lined up to play Loki and Elizabeth Olsen tapped to play Scarlet Witch.
Each show will be 6-8 episodes and be made using a sizable budget, according to the report. They will be produced by Marvel Studios, and studio boss Kevin Feige is reportedly going to have a "hands-on" role in them.
Another important note from the report is that the new shows will focus on "second-tier" MCU characters, not topline ones like Captain America and Iron Man who have previously have their own movies. No story details for the new shows were referenced in the report. You can read Variety's full story here.
Disney's upcoming streaming service is poised to be a rival of sorts to Netflix. It is reportedly due to launch at the end of 2019; details on subscription pricing has yet be announced.
The rumoured new superhero shows join the previously confirmed Season 7 for Star Wars: The Clone Wars for the Disney streaming service. What's more, there will be a live-action Star Wars series on the new service, which will be set seven years after Return of the Jedi.
2K Sports has announced the soundtrack for WWE 2K19, and it includes some very big names from across a number of different genres. Some of the artists featured on the soundtrack include Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Metallica, Slipknot, Rancid, and Post Malone.
The songs were chosen by WWE athletes like The Miz, Elias, Triple H, and Daniel Bryan, among others. The songs are apparently some of their favourite songs to listen to when getting ready for a match or chilling at home (and they're also the songs that 2K was able to get the licenses for). You can se the full soundtrack below.
While WWE 2K19 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One in early October. It is skipping out on a Switch edition this year. The regular edition launches on October 9, but the more expensive Deluxe "Woo" Edition lets you play four days early.
Nintendo's NES-style Joy-Con controllers for Switch are available for pre-order. However, there are a few considerations to think about before you decide to buy one.
To pre-order these controllers, you need to have a subscription to Nintendo's new Switch Online service. You can't sign up for the free seven-day trial and pre-order the controllers; you need to be paying for a subscription. The subscriptions cost $4 / £3.50 for one month, $8 / £7 for three months, and $20 / £18 for 12 months--which you can pay for with My Nintendo points if you prefer.
These NES controllers also don't work like regular Joy-Cons. They can only be used to play Switch Online's exclusive library of classic NES games, such as Metroid, Super Mario Bros., and The Legend of Zelda. The NES controllers cannot be used while playing in handheld mode either, so your Switch will need to be in kickstand mode or docked and connected to a TV. The NES controllers do at least charge when connected to the Switch in handheld mode.
The NES controllers are sold in pairs of two and cost $60 / £50. You'll be able to use both controllers to play couch co-op in most of the NES games that come included in Switch Online. For some of the single-player games that don't support cooperative play, the second person can point out enemies, hidden areas, and items for their partner.
The NES Switch controllers will start shipping out in mid-December 2018.
Destiny 2's Forsaken expansion has been out for a few weeks and the Raid is live, but that doesn't mean Bungie is done trying to entice people to play the game. This weekend, between September 21-23, anyone with Destiny 2 (which is free this month for PlayStation Plus members) has a chance to try out Gambit mode for free.
In Gambit, two teams of four face off against separate waves of enemies. Fallen enemies drop "motes," which you can collect and deposit into a bank in the center of the map. Once a team has deposited 75 motes, a "primeval" boss appears. The first team to kill its boss wins the round.
That would make for an enjoyable PvE race, but a few additional rules apply, ratcheting up the excitement of each Gambit match. Banking a group of motes all at once temporarily removes your opposing team's mote bank, while a mini-boss appears in its place. Also, at various points during the match, a portal will open up, letting one player travel to the opponents' side, where they can attack and kill players, causing additional setbacks.
The free trial includes all four Gambit maps. It's an exciting mode, and one anybody who's interested in Destiny 2 should give a shot. The trial begins at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET) September 21 and ends at the same time on September 23. For tips to help you win, be sure to check out our Gambit guide and, for the love of all that's good, use Sleeper Simulant if you have it.
The Dragon Prince has some serious talent behind it, including Avatar: The Last Airbender writer, Aaron Ehasz. Clearly, Netflix is hoping to recreate the magic that captured fans of Nickelodeon's epic from 2005. That said, it has some serious standards to live up to as well. Though there are some missteps along the way, The Dragon Prince succeeds in creating a lush, engaging new world, a mostly likable trio of new heroes, and at least for now, some interest in seeing what happens in Season 2.
The Dragon Prince's world borrows heavily from Avatar; you can even replace some words in Avatar's iconic intro, and it describes The Dragon Prince pretty well: Sun. Moon. Stars. Earth. Sky. Ocean. Long ago, the two nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the humans attacked. Only the Dragon Prince, raised by both Humans and Elves, could bring balance to the world. See?
But thankfully, the setup is unique enough to set itself apart for a whole new tale. In The Dragon Prince, there are six Primal Sources of magic based on the elements. One day, a human Mage discovers a seventh source of dark magic that drains the life from magical creatures to draw strength, so the elves banish humans to the western half of the continent, where there is no magic to take. Finding themselves caught in the middle are two human princes, Callum and Ezran, as well as their half-bulldog, half-frog, Bait. They eventually team up with an Elven Assassin, Rayla, and endeavor to return a lost dragon egg to where it belongs, which will supposedly end the war.
Predisposed to distrust each other, they don't have the immediate chemistry of Avatar's Aang, Sokka, and Katara, but they're given just enough time in the spotlight for us to root for them.
Callum begins his journey much like Sokka began his (he's even voiced by the same actor, Jack De Sena) in that he's unsure of his abilities, and lacks confidence. He makes up for it with his empathy towards others, and his protectiveness over his little brother Ezran. However, we quickly learn that Ezran (voiced by Sasha Rojen) doesn't always need that protection, as he's generally a step ahead of everyone thanks to his good intuition. Rayla (Paula Burrows) is the sarcastic and quippy elf--rightfully so, because she's the only one with any initial competency in defending them from danger, but is burdened by her pacifism clashing with who she was raised to be.
All three voice actors suit their characters well and have some great chemistry together in some of the more humorous scenes with Rayla's authoritative Scottish dialect perfectly juxtaposing Callum's aloofness. There are some genuine moments between the three in their early adventures, although their eventual friendship does feel a tad forced, considering how few episodes they were given to adjust to this reluctant camaraderie.
In addition to our main characters, there's a strong supporting group. Fleshing out the cast are two siblings who are tasked with tracking down the princes: Claudia, a ditzy yet maniacal wielder of magic, and her brother Soren, a brawler who can't stand the stuff. There's also Aunt Amaya, who despite speaking entirely through sign language has a dominating presence whenever she's in a scene (though the same can't be said for her translator, Glen--all he's done so far is yell and get thrown in a dungeon). A few standouts show up in the journey later on who could potentially join the main trio, so I'm hopeful to see whether or not they end up as important as characters from Avatar like Toph, Zuko, and Suki.
Even if that doesn't end up being the case, The Dragon Prince's beautiful settings make up for any potential lack of meaningful side characters. The world of The Dragon Prince is absolutely gorgeous. Like, I wanted to pause the video on my laptop and hang the screen to the wall like a picture frame kind of gorgeous. From the very first shot of a dragon soaring through the clouds, to the mountains doused in the fleeting light of sunset, nearly every frame of animation is a privilege to watch. Nestled snug within the blurred lines of the Impressionism-influenced The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, The Dragon Prince perfectly uses visuals to emphasize its themes of finding a connection with nature through the elements.
While I could sit staring at a single frame from the show all day, the fight scenes choreographed here are equally impressive. One thing I never anticipated was that two characters with swords could ever compare to the agility and creativity of the element-infused duels from Avatar. Rayla is nimbler on her feet than even Aang (which is notable, considering one of Aang's nicknames in Avatar was Twinkle Toes), and with her twin blades, she can climb up surfaces, dancing around her often larger opponents. It was amazing to see how much use they got out of a fighter with just a bow and arrow, or a fighter with a grappling hook, or a big sword, or a little sword, or even just a dagger. Don't get me wrong, nothing here is as impressive as Zuko's Agni Kai against Azula from the finale of The Last Airbender, but give it time--it could happen.
All that said, as much as I enjoy the spectacle of this world and its animation (except the random choppiness in character movement at the beginning of episode 5--what the hell happened?), The Dragon Prince is constantly reminding me I'm watching something that wasn't made for me. I'm not the teenager I was when Avatar: The Last Airbender was released and some of its jokes and shortcuts in storytelling fall flat because of it. It still has that great, sometimes clever, sometimes absurdist humor that I loved back then, but it's occasionally forced because characters break the fourth wall and talk like edgy teens using memes to make fun of their parents who "just don't get it".
On the other side of the issue, Ezran hardly says anything at all these first nine episodes. One could perhaps chalk it up to him being more on the introverted side, but even when he does speak, his lines don't give us insight into his personality or motivations. The writers more often than not use him to ask follow up questions as an excuse to relay exposition, or to add a one-liner about the problem they're currently facing. As one of the three main characters, he feels underdeveloped given how much time he's on screen.
In addition to characters not pulling their weight in personality, some of them are too overt in foreshadowing their eventual allegiances. Several plot twists can be seen coming from a mile away. Even after the first four episodes, you'll have a general idea of entire character arcs in terms of enemies becoming allies (or vice versa), and the eventual key confrontations they'll face.
If you're on the younger side or plan on watching with your kids, The Dragon Prince has started off well, but that's the thing--it barely feels like it's started at all. With only nine episodes at roughly 25 minutes each, we've spent very little time with these characters, and while they succeeded in getting me invested, it was just barely. Just as the story starts to take off and the characters begin to effectively work together, the season ends and we're left in this uneasy middle ground between anticipating more, and forgetting that it even happened. Because it doesn't necessarily end on a cliffhanger, it felt like if I waited another ten seconds, another episode would auto-play and the story would continue. In that sense, The Dragon Prince Season 1 feels less like an entire season than a half season.
If you're curious about The Dragon Prince and want to tap into another grand animated adventure, you should. It begins more confident in its worldbuilding, tone, and themes than Avatar did, but when The Last Airbender finished its first 20 episodes, I was hooked. With The Dragon Prince, I'll have to see more to know whether I'll fall completely in love with this world.
The Pokemon Company has shared another new trailer for Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee. While the last video focused on Celadon City and some of the new attacks your partner Pokemon can learn, the one above provides another look at the Go Park--the facility where you'll transfer monsters from Pokemon Go--as well as the Legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
As hinted at in a previous trailer, while the Let's Go games don't feature wild Pokemon battles, you will be able to fight the Legendary birds. Just as in Pokemon Go, however, you'll only earn a chance to capture them if you first defeat them in battle. There appears to be another caveat; in the screenshot below, you can see a timer in the upper lefthand corner of the screen, suggesting you'll only have a set amount of time to defeat the Legendary birds.
The trailer also shows off more of the Go Park. As previously revealed, this facility replaces the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. Any Pokemon you transfer over from Pokemon Go will appear here, and you'll be able to recapture them and add them to your team. If you store 25 of a particular species in the Park, you'll also be able to play a minigame that rewards you with Candies, which you can then use to power up your Pokemon.
Finally, the trailer provides our first look at Alolan forms in Let's Go. These are tropical variants of familiar Pokemon native to the Alola region in Sun and Moon, meaning they can't be found in the wild in Kanto. However, you can transfer any Alolan forms that you've obtained in Pokemon Go to Let's Go. The Pokemon Company says you will also be able to trade for the Alolan variants with certain NPCs you'll encounter on your adventure.
Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee launch on Nintendo Switch on November 16. That same day, Nintendo will also release Pikachu and Eevee-themed Switch console bundles, which come with a digital copy of the game, the Poke Ball Plus, Pikachu and Eevee-colored Joy-Cons, and a Switch dock with Pikachu and Eevee designs.
Rockstar Games is selling a Red Dead Redemption 2 blanket and it's available for purchase right now. The blanket costs $200, and only ships to U.S. addresses. Rockstar has a few RDR2-themed candles for sale too if you want to create a bit more ambience when you're playing the game this October (though you won't get Red Dead Online until November).
The RDR2 blanket is 68 x 39 inches, which is about the size of a single bed mattress. The blanket is felt bound and made from 82% pure virgin wool and 18% cotton. It depicts the game's Van der Linde gang riding against a red background. You can pre-order the blanket right now from GameStop, and it will ship out the same day as RDR2's release.
You can also pre-order the candles from GameStop, and they'll ship the same day. If you want one, you've got three options. The Black Glass, Dynamite, and Barrel candles are each appropriately shaped like the item they're named after, and cost $50, $80, and $100 respectfully. Every candle is labeled with the RDR2 logo, and smells like a mixture of blood orange, incense, amber, rockrose, smoked cedar, sandalwood, violet leaf, and juniper. Rockstar has plenty of other physical goodies on the way, if you want to buy even more merchandise.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is launching on October 26 for Xbox One and PS4. Here's everything we know about the game so far. We also have a pre-order guide for the game's many editions if you're looking for the best deal.
Netflix gains several more TV series, Originals, and movies this week. Although the number of new things to watch isn't as high as the past two weeks, there are quite a few quality titles in the mix.
You can certainly tell that it's almost October, as we're beginning to see more horror and thrillers with every subsequent week. The Witch is already out on Netflix, the 2015 supernatural horror film about a 17th century Puritan family who accidentally moves their home next to a forest that's inhabited by witches. Split's Anya Taylor-Joy stars in The Witch as the eldest daughter in the family, Thomasin, who's transition into womanhood is scarred by the terrors her family must face.
On September 18, another spooky delight, American Horror Story: Cult arrives on Netflix. Cult is the seventh season of American Horror Story, and it dives straight into the political divide that erupted in the United States after the 2016 presidential election. The series stars Ocean's 8's Sarah Paulson, X-Men: Days of Future Past's Evan Peters, 30 Rock's Cheyenne Jackson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Billie Lourd, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World's Alison Phil. Even if it's not scary, it's worth noting that Scott Pilgrim was also added to Netflix.
It's also a very good week if you love animation. On September 21, both Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan and Hilda come to Netflix. Dragon Pilot is an adorably humorous anime that follows the story of a young woman who's chosen to join a secret air force team where pilots train to fly dragons that are disguised as fighter jets. Hilda is an animated series based on the famous Luke Pearson comic of the same name, that's about a small 20th century Scandinavian girl who balances her ordinary responsibilities at home and school with her desire to adventure with the trolls, giants, elves, and spirits that are her friends.
The full list of television series, movies, and Netflix Originals coming to Netflix this week can be found below. You can also check out our list of everything that's coming to Netflix in September.
Netflix U.S. Releases (September 16 - September 22)
Avengers 4 is now only seven months from release, but the movie's title is yet to be revealed. While we were told that it wouldn't be announced until Avengers: Infinity War was released so as not to spoil that movie, four months have gone by since Infinity War hit theaters. However, co-director Joe Russo has now taken to Twitter with a mysterious image that might potentially hold some clues.
The picture show Russo sitting alone on an empty soundstage, looking at his laptop. The caption simply reads "look hard," and it does seem there might be four As--as in Avengers 4--hidden in the picture, using the various objects in the room to make the letters. Check out the original image below, and then this tweet to see the possible clues.
Of course, some fans think they might have seen even more within the image. The title Avengers: End Game was rumored a few months back, when cinematographer Trent Opaloch included it on his website, and some of Russo's followers believe they can see that title within the image.
In any case, we know that Avengers 4 hits theaters on May 3, 2019. Joe Russo and his brother Anthony appeared at San Diego Comic-Con in July, and spoke about how they were approaching the follow-up to the phenomenally successful Infinity War. "I think ultimately Avengers 4 may be our best work for Marvel. I think we've grown with every movie that we've made there," he said. "You know, it's always an agenda of ours to block out the outside noise because it can lead you to make some bad choices with the material. We've learned over the years just to listen to ourselves, and it's great that there's two of us that we can have conversations with each other."
In related news, the first trailer for Captain Marvelwas released this week. The movie hits theaters in March, and is the first of three films within the MCU set for release in 2019, with Spider-Man: Far From Home arriving in July.
Sony has announced its own mini classic console. The company today announced the PlayStation Classic, a mini version of the original PlayStation. It comes with 20 "generation-defining" games, including Final Fantasy VII and Wild Arms, and it launches in December.
The PlayStation Classic arrives on December 3, and that's a notable date. It's the day that the original PlayStation launched in 1994. The mini version is 45 percent smaller than the original PlayStation, and as you can see in the video, it captures the look of the system is based on, including its controllers.
It comes with an HDMI cable, a USB cable to power it (the AC adapter is sold separately), and two controllers. The system costs $100 USD, $130 CAD, and 9,980 yen.
It's no surprise that Sony is getting into the "Classic" category of plug-and-play mini retro consoles. Nintendo is currently dominating the market, and overall, sales of plug-and-play consoles are up 400 percent year to date in the US. With Nintendo leading the way with its NES and SNES Classic devices, Sony wants a piece of the category.
Before the release of WWE 2K19, developer 2K has revealed its DLC plans for this year's installment of the game. The purchasable additions for 2K19 are nothing new. It's the same fare, but what is exciting is the list of new superstars being added to the roster.
Per usual, the Accelerator--which allows you to unlock all the in-game purchasables all at once--is available, as well as the MyPlayer KickStart--which allows players to boost the ratings of their created wrestler for MyCareer mode. The Accelerator will be available for $5 and the MyPlayer KickStart for $10.
What is new are the actual WWE superstars that are playable in this year's DLC. There is the Rising Stars Pack, which adds seven characters to the roster and will include Lio Rush, Dakota Kai, and Mike and Maria Kanellis. This expansion will primarily consist of NXT superstars. The second round of DLC will be the Titans Pack adding four new superstars: Bobby Lashley, EC3, and The War Raiders. Both of these packs will cost $10 each.
Additionally, there is a Season Pass available for $30, which will contain everything listed below. There is no specific date for the release of the DLC. Some of it will begin releasing in late 2018 and the rest of it in early 2019.
WWE 2K19's roster will be massive, with over 200 playable superstars confirmed for the new game, and that's not including the multiple variations of certain characters, like Daniel Bryan, who is the star of the returning Showcase Mode. For those looking to go all in on this year's game, there is a $130 deluxe edition featuring some Ric Flair memorabilia. Additionally, you get some exclusive characters, like Ronda Rousey, and get to play the game four days early.
Accelerator
Players will gain access to all unlockable content available at launch in the game's VC Purchasable section (excluding downloadable content);
Players can also decide the overall rankings and attribute levels for all playable characters throughout the life of the product;
The Accelerator will be available for $4.99.
MyPlayer KickStart
Players will gain access to unlock and boost MyPlayer ratings and attributes made available at launch as part of the game's MyCareer mode;
Players can also unlock all clothing made available at launch that provides attribute boosts in MyCareer;
MyPlayer KickStart will be available for $9.99.
New Moves Pack
Explore more than 50 in-game moves, including the Atomic Drop into Double Leg Combo (made popular by WWE Superstar Jeff Hardy); the Exploder vs. Opponent on the Apron (made popular by NXT Superstar Tyler Bate); the Slingshot X-Factor (made popular by 205 Live Superstar Mustafa Ali); and the Assisted Twist of Fate, Avalanche Splash & Side Effect Combo and the Senton & Leg Drop Combo (made popular by WWE Superstars Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt);
The New Moves Pack will be available for $3.99.
Rising Stars Pack
Playable WWE, NXT and 205 Live Superstars: Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Lacey Evans, Lio Rush, Maria Kanellis, Mike Kanellis and Ricochet;
The Rising Stars Pack will be available for $9.99.
Titans Pack
Playable WWE and NXT Superstars: Bobby Lashley, EC3 and War Raiders (Rowe and Hanson);
One of the best additions in Destiny 2's Forsaken DLC is Gambit, a new mode that blends PvP and PvE. Two teams of four are separated into their own arenas to fight AI-controlled enemies, but periodically one person can invade the other side, killing enemy players. If you've played Gambit for any length of time, you've undoubtedly seen the weapon of choice for a huge portion of invaders: Sleeper Simulant. It's used so often not just because it's fun to use, but because it's incredibly effective--and Bungie is finally ready to do something about its popularity.
The Exotic linear fusion rifle, which was introduced in the Curse of Osiris DLC, has long been an excellent weapon. It's effective in both PvE and PvP, but whereas a few deaths to it can be brushed off in Crucible, its use in Gambit can be devastating. It features a perk that allows it to overpenetrate enemies and refract off hard surfaces, but a single hit with it, even at long ranges, is enough to wipe out a target. Carrying a few rounds of ammo and timing your invasion well can mean wiping out an entire enemy team, causing them to lose a great deal of progress.
Your feelings about Sleeper Simulant may depend on whether or not you have access to one. Whatever the case, there has been no shortage of complaints about the weapon dating back to the Gambit trial that took place just before Forsaken's release. Bungie has now finally spoken up about it, indicating some kind of change or nerf is on the way.
"We're aware of reports that Sleeper Simulant feels too strong in Gambit," Bungie said on Twitter. "The Sandbox team is looking at potential changes to address this. Our goal is to retain the strength of the weapon, but tune it so it doesn't feel to be the only viable power weapon in Gambit. Stay tuned."
This was followed up by another tweet from design lead Josh Hamrick: "Sandbox has been operating with the goal of not employing nerfs when there are other methods of tweaking the game so that there isn't just 1 correct choice. That said, nerfs will still be needed from time to time. We promise to be judicious when & where we choose to employ them."
At this point, we have no idea how the gun will be changed or how other linear fusion rifles won't step right up in its place if it's nerfed. In the meantime, a new Destiny 2 update is out now that addresses some other bugs and complaints, including the relocation of Petra to a much more convenient location in the Dreaming City. Iron Banner is also now live--don't be surprised to see Sleeper Simulant show up prominently there, too.
As previously revealed, the upcoming Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee games for Nintendo Switch will feature connectivity with Pokemon Go. You'll be able to send any Kanto Pokemon caught in the mobile game--including their Alolan variants--over to the Switch titles, where they can then be recaptured at the Go Park, a new facility that replaces the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. The Pokemon Company has now shared more details on how this process will work.
According to the official Let's Go website, the Go Park is actually comprised of 20 parks, each of which can house 50 Pokemon, meaning you can store up to 1,000 monsters total at the facility. To bring the Pokemon over, you'll need to follow the onscreen prompts at the Go Park's main desk to link your Switch game with Pokemon Go. However, this is a one-way process; any Pokemon you transfer to Let's Go cannot be brought back to Pokemon Go. You also aren't restricted to your own Pokemon Go account; The Pokemon Company says there's "no limit" to the number of accounts you can transfer monsters from.
Once the Pokemon have been brought over to the Go Park, you'll be able to capture them again and add them to your party. If you transfer 25 of the same species of Pokemon to the Go Park, you can also play a minigame in its Play Yard, which will involve leading all of the Pokemon to the goal before time expires. If you beat the minigame, you'll be rewarded with various Candies. As in Pokemon Go, you can feed these to your Pokemon to power them up. However, in Let's Go, there are stat-specific Candies in addition to some species-specific ones; for instance, feed your Pokemon a Quick Candy and its Speed stat will increase. You'll also earn Candies by sending Pokemon to Professor Oak.
The aforementioned Alolan forms won't be readily available in the wild in Let's Go, so the easiest way to get them is to transfer the ones that you've obtained in Pokemon Go. If you haven't gotten your hands on any in the mobile game, however, there will still be a way to obtain them in Let's Go. According to the games' website, you'll be able to trade for the Alolan forms with certain NPC trainers around the Kanto region.
Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee launch for Nintendo Switch on November 16. The games will release alongside a Poke Ball-shaped controller called the Poke Ball Plus. It retails for $50 and comes with the Mythical Pokemon Mew. If you want to pick up everything in one handy package, Nintendo is also releasing Pikachu and Eevee-themed Switch consoles on November 16.
Sure, we've known about Captain Marvel's imminent arrival in the MCU--the movie has a release date of March 8, 2019--for a while now. But if you're anything like us, the whole thing didn't start feeling real until very recently. With our first official look at Carol and her crew of cohorts, both alien and human alike, we've finally been able to nail down and definitely confirm a number of rumored roles and character appearances that have been swirling around the internet for what feels like forever.
We've also got more info on the plot than ever before. In case you need a refresher, it goes like this. Carol Danvers is a human who, in the comics (and we can assume in the movie as well) had her genes spliced with the genes of the superpowered alien race, the Kree, which in turn gave her an incredible array of superpowers. Now, according to Entertainment Weekly's cover story, Captain Marvel will be picking up with this process (or whatever the live-action adaptation of it winds up being) already over and done with. Carol's already left Earth, embraced her newfound Kree heritage, and has been training with the Kree military outfit known as the Starforce under an "enigmatic commander" played by Jude Law. In all likelihood, Law will be playing the Kree hero, Captain Mar-Vell, but we'll get to that in a second.
EW reported that the movie will pick up with Carol returning to Earth only to find herself beset upon by another alien society, this time in the form of the Skrulls, a race of powerful shapeshifters known to infiltrate and destabilize planets by impersonating their inhabitants.
Oh, right, and all of this is set in the 1990s, an almost entirely unexplored era of the MCU, home to only a small handful of flashbacks and oblique on-screen references which leaves plenty of room for Carol to work. We also know that we're going to be seeing the 1990s version of SHIELD (complete with a digitally de-aged, two-eyed Samuel L. Jackson), meaning there's a pretty strong chance for whatever happens in Captain Marvel to dramatically and forever alter the way we see the MCU in the modern day. Expect a lot of dot-connecting and circling back to all those little moments in the last ten years worth of movies that are about to be put in an entirely new light.
Now that we've got some more information (and some official confirmation), here is the list of exactly who is playing who in Captain Marvel. You can check out the first Captain Marvel trailer and our breakdown for more.
Brie Larson -- Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers
An airforce pilot turned superhero, Carol has spent some time away from Earth as a member of the Kree military unit the Starforce. As the most powerful superhero in the Marvel Universe, Carol represents the ultimate bridge between cosmic and terrestrial--and she's returning to earth to prove it as she faces off against a secret Skrull invasion in the 1990s. You might recognize Larson from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Room.
Jude Law -- "Enigmatic Kree Commander" (Mar-Vell? Yon-Rogg?)
We have yet to officially confirm just who Law's character actually is, but it's long been assumed he would be playing Mar-Vell, a Kree soldier who wound up with a soft spot for Earth after he was eventually exiled from his homeworld. Alternatively, Law could be playing Yon-Rogg, a Kree zealot and commander in the military. Law has previously appeared in big budget franchises like Sherlock Holmes and The Young Pope.
Ben Mendelsohn -- Talos
Previously, it had been assumed Mendelsohn joined the cast as Yon-Rogg, but EW's first look has confirmed his role as Talos, a powerful Skrull commander and leader of the invasion on Earth. Mendelsohn recently appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ready Player One.
Lee Pace -- Ronan the Accuser
We've actually met Pace's Ronan before, back in Guardians of the Galaxy where he was working with Thanos to hunt down the Infinity Stones. Now we're going to see him in a brand new light, hopefully stripped of his genocidal urges, working as a Kree judge. Pace is reprising the role, but you'll also recognize him from the TV show Halt and Catch Fire.
Gemma Chan -- Minn-Erva
A Kree geneticist and member of the Starforce who became obsessed with modifying and purifying the Kree genetic code, Minn-Erva wanted desperately to advance her race by any means necessary, even if it meant crossing some serious ethical lines. Chan recently appeared in Crazy Rich Asians.
Samuel L. Jackson -- Nick Fury
You don't have to be an MCU fan to know exactly who Nick Fury is anymore--he's been a part of this whole thing from the very start. Finally making a major return after his post-credits-only appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, Jackson will be digitally de-aged to look like his 1990s self for this movie.
Clark Gregg -- Phil Coulson
One of the breakaway fan favorites of the MCU, Coulson hasn't actually been in the big screen universe for a while now, having made the transition to the small screen Agents of SHIELD TV show. That's about to change, however, with Coulson set to pop in, digitally de-aged like Jackson, to work in 1990s SHIELD.
Lashana Lynch -- Maria Rambeau
Rumors of Lynch's role have been swirling since her casting announcement with most fans assuming she would be playing Monica Rambeau, another woman to hold the superhero codename Captain Marvel for a time. It turns out this was partially correct--Lynch will actually be playing Maria, Monica's mother, who uses the air force call sign "Photon," another one of Monica's heroic code names. Lynch can be found in the TV shows Still Star-Crossed and Bulletproof.
The first full trailer for Captain Marvel will be released on Tuesday, September 18. Star Brie Larson will appear on the morning show GMA to present the trailer, apparently. GMA airs on ABC, whose parent company is Disney, so it all checks out. [Update: The Captain Marvel trailer has arrived; you can check out our breakdown for all the details.]
Larson will presumably be on hand to give an interview about Captain Marvel, so check back soon with GameSpot to see the trailer and get all the other new details.
The first official trailer for the upcoming Captain Marvel movie is finally here, and it covers a lot of the history behind the cosmic Avenger. However, one of the scenes from the trailer--where Captain Marvel punches an elderly woman in the face for no apparent reason--has plenty of people questioning the hero's moral compass. There is a good reason for it though.
A major part of Carol Danvers history as Ms. Marvel--before her transformation into Captain Marvel--is the war between the alien Kree and Skrull races. Carol Danvers actually gains her super powers from a Kree military captain who's named Mar-Vell and spying on the human race to see if Earth is a worthy ally in the fight against the Skrulls. We've already seen the Kree in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the blue-skinned Ronan, from the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, is a Kree. As far as we know, we haven't seen a Skrull in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet because they are a race of shape-shifters. When the Kree and Skrull's war comes to Earth, many of the Skrulls try to take over the world by disguising themselves as humans.
So when Carol Danvers punches out the old lady, she's probably seen through a Skrull's disguise. Captain Marvel is one of the few Avengers who's specific power-set makes her perfect for taking on the Skrull. After her physiology is affected by Captain Mar-Vell's DNA, Carol Danvers gains nearly a dozen superpowers. One of those powers is a limited precognitive sixth sense. It's a lot like Spider-Man's spider sense, but instead of simply alerting her to danger, Captain Marvel can see a few seconds into the future when a threat presents itself. Perhaps the Skrull on the train is supposed to get the jump on Captain Marvel, but she senses the attack coming before it happens and decides to strike out first.
Captain Marvel's first official trailer details Carol Danver's transformation into Ms. Marvel, her ascendence to Captain Marvel, and her hand in putting a stop to the Kree/Skrull war on Earth. We've got a full trailer breakdown if you want to know about everything that's going on.
The first trailer for Captain Marvel has finally arrived after what seems like forever. At long last, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have gotten a look at Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in action as the superhero--along with a peek at the aliens she'll be fighting.
For who that don't follow the comics closely, though, you might be wondering what kind of powers Captain Marvel has. As can be seen in the opening seconds of the trailer, she is clearly impervious to most damage. Falling from space through a Blockbuster Video would kill any normal human.
In the comics, Carol has not only superhuman durability, but the strength and stamina to match--think Captain America, but even more powerful. As for weaponry, she has the ability to fire photon blasts from her hands, which can be seen in the trailer. She's also capable of absorbing massive amounts of energy.
One power from the comics not seen in the trailer is flight. Given that Carol Danvers was a highly-regarded pilot before becoming Captain Marvel, there's something wonderful about flight being one of her powers. Since the movie has given her a similar backstory, chances are that particular power will be on display in the film.
Whatever the case, it's clear that Captain Marvel is one of the most exciting additions to the MCU yet. It's no wonder she's who Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) paged at the end of Avengers: Infinity War.
The first trailer for Captain Marvel has finally arrived, and it's a good one. Brie Larson stars in the upcoming Marvel movie, which is set for release in March 2019. She is the first female superhero to headline a film within the MCU and is joined by Jude Law, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn.
The trailer opens with Captain Marvel--aka Carol Danvers--falling to Earth, straight into a Blockbuster rental store, which is keeping with the movie's '90s setting. We see flashes of her intergalactic life as part of Starforce, and then how she comes to terms with a new life on Earth--which includes punching an old lady. The trailer doesn't really give much away in terms of plot, but we do see some of her powers and the main characters, including Mar-Vell (Law) and a younger, eyepatch-free Nick Fury (Jackson). Check it out above.
This trailer follows the first batch of images that were released earlier this month. Captain Marvel is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and the cast also includes DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It), Gemma Chan (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them), Lee Pace (Halt and Catch Fire), and Clark Gregg, who is making his return to the MCU as SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson.
Earlier this month, Larson told Entertainment Weekly what we can expect from her character. "She can't help but be herself," she said. "She can be aggressive, and she can have a temper, and she can be a little invasive and in your face. She's also quick to jump to things, which makes her amazing in battle because she's the first one out there and doesn't always wait for orders. But the [not] waiting for orders is, to some, a character flaw."
Marvel fans had much to celebrate recently, with the debut of the first trailer for the upcoming Captain Marvel and a brand-new poster. With so much happening in the trailer, it's understandable if you didn't spend long looking at the poster. But eagle-eyed fans might have spotted something to the left of the image hidden in the shadows. Is that a cat?
The feline infiltrator was spotted by io9's Jill Pantozzi, who adjusted the brightness of the poster image to reveal the back-end of what seems to be a cat, disappearing off the side of the image. You can check out the original tweet here, and look at a highlighted version below.
Of course, there would need to be a reason for a cat to appear on the poster, and there's every suggestion that this is in fact Chewie, Captain Marvel's faithful pet. Chewie was first introduced in Marvel comic books in 2006 when Carol Danvers left Earth to go exploring the galaxy, and she gave Chewie that name because she reminded her of Chewbacca from Star Wars.
During a subsequent encounter with the Guardians of the Galaxy, it was revealed that Chewie isn't in fact a cat at all, but an alien species known as a Flerken. Flerkens are dangerous animals with scary inter-dimensional powers, leading Rocket Racoon to attempt to kill Chewie. Luckily she escaped, but not before laying 117 eggs which soon hatched into an ridiculously large brood. How much of Chewie's powers we'll see in the movie remains to be seen, but it's a great touch to include her on the poster.
Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 6, 2019. Its cast includes Brie Larson as Carol Danvers and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, plus Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, DeWanda Wise, Gemma Chan, and Clark Gregg. For more check out our guide to everything we know so far about Captain Marvel.
Fortnite's Season 5 is starting to draw to a close, which means another big world event is just around the corner to usher in a new reality for players. Whatever is coming is likely tied to the mysterious cube that's been rolling its way across the map, and it's still going.
The glowing cube first appeared after a massive lightning storm in the desert. The rift closed but the cube remained. Standing near it recharges shields, and shooting at it bounces back and hits you instead. It has been moving every one hour and 43 minutes. Players have theorized that the symbols along the sides are an encoded message, but no one has deciphered it so far.
Season 5 is set to end next week, on Tuesday, September 25. Epic tends to begin the new season just as the old one sunsets, so that may be the date of the Season 6 launch. The cube appears to be this season's version of the rifts--a large and odd in-world even that sets the stage for the next season's shenanigans. This time, though, it's a lot less clear what it could be signaling.
Nintendo fans have had it good for a long, long time. Unlike Xbox and PlayStation owners, they've never had to pay to play their games online. This free period, like all good things, has come to an end. With the launch of Nintendo Switch Online--which is now live with the 6.0 system update--Nintendo has begun charging for online play, although there is a free seven-day trial available to sample it first.
As with Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus, anyone who wants to get the most out of their Switch will all but have to subscribe. (Note: this doesn't affect Wii U or Nintendo 3DS owners; online service for those systems will remain free). And while it's not ideal having to pay for something you used to get for nothing, you won't have much of a choice.
Here's a look at everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch Online.
Pricing
First, some good news: Nintendo Switch Online costs significantly less than the competition. While you have to pay $60 for a year's subscription to Sony and Microsoft's services, Nintendo only charges $20. You can order a subscription here. Here's the breakdown of pricing for a single account holder.
One month -- $4
Three months -- $8
One year -- $20
If you have multiple people in your house who want their own accounts, you'll need to spring for the family plan. It costs $35 per year and allows up to eight people to play online.
Now let's take a look at what you get for your money.
If you look at the Eshop page for online first-party games like Mario Tennis Aces, you'll see Nintendo has added a disclaimer warning that online play will require a subscription. Free games like Fortnite don't have the disclaimer and can continued to be played online for free.
Nintendo Switch Online App
Some games, like Fortnite, have voice chat built in. Unfortunately, many games--including Nintendo's first-party titles--don't. And while voice chat is a standard built-in feature for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live, that's not the case with Nintendo Switch Online.
This feature is already in place, but to talk with other players while playing online, you need to download the Nintendo Switch Online app (you can grab it here: iOS, Android). Yes, you'll need two separate devices to play and talk to people online.
Save Data Cloud Backup
If you were to lose your Nintendo Switch and buy a new one, all of your save data would be gone forever. But with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, most of your save data is backed up on Nintendo's servers.
Unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and cool breezes when it comes to Nintendo's cloud saves. Some games don't support online save data, and if you let your subscription lapse, you could lose your saves.
Access to Classic NES Games
PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscribers get free games each month they can download and play on their respective systems. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will get a similar benefit, but with much older games.
When Nintendo Switch Online launches, subscribers will get access to a selection of 20 classic NES titles. The games will also have added online play, so you won't need your second player to be in the same room with you. Here's the launch lineup of NES games.
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Donkey Kong
Double Dragon
Dr. Mario
Excitebike
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
The Legend of Zelda
Mario Bros.
Pro Wrestling
River City Ransom
Soccer
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Soccer
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
Yoshi
Nintendo has also announced what games are coming to the service through the end of the year. In October, we'll get Solomon's Key, NES Open, and Super Dodge Ball. November will bring Metroid, Mighty Bomb Jack, and Twinbee. In December, Nintendo will add Wario's Woods, Ninja Gaiden, and Adventures of Lolo.
Special Offers
Nintendo will also offer exclusive special deals and offers to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. So far, the company has detailed two of these offers. One is a download code for exclusive in-game Splatoon 2 gear that will be available for anyone with a 12-month membership. The other is the ability to purchase the Switch-compatible NES controllers seen above.
That's all we know so far about Nintendo Switch Online. Presumably, more information will be available as the release date nears.
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