What Time Does Microsoft's Press Conference Livestream Start?
The Xbox showcase kicks off on Sunday, June 9. For those in the United States, that's 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. For UK gamers, that's 9 PM BST, while Australian fans will need to wake up a little early to watch the conference at 6 AM AET on June 10.
Where To Watch
You'll have a variety of options for watching Microsoft's E3 2019 briefing. The broadcast will air online on the company's Twitch, YouTube, and Mixer channels. GameSpot will also host a stream of the conference, so you can tune in right here to see all of Microsoft's announcements, or through our social media and streaming platforms below. Additionally, Xbox One owners can watch the briefing on their console using the Mixer app.
As for what's going to be shown, details are thin on the ground as yet. It's likely we'll get some form of update on Gears 5 and Halo Infinite, while Gears Pop and the new Battletoads game are possibilities. There are also rumors that Ninja Theory will be announcing a new sci-fi game scheduled for 2020 called Bleeding Edge, a fourth Fable game will be announced to be released in 2021, Ori and the Will of the Wisps will get a final trailer and release date, The Outer Worlds will get a new gameplay trailer and launch window (which has seemingly been confirmed via an Obsidian tweet), and Gears Tactics will get a new trailer and 2019 release date. Additionally, Microsoft is rumored to be revealing its new Xbox console, Scarlett.
For a second year, Square Enix is hosting its own E3 press conference. In Sony's absence--as the company chose to withdraw its traditional press conference from E3 2019--Square Enix is taking the final slot on Monday, June 10. The publisher hasn't revealed every game it plans on showcasing this year, only teasing that it will be "another exciting lineup of titles."
However, we do know of a few Square Enix games confirmed for E3 this year, so it stands to reason that they will be shown off during the company's press conference. Those list of games can be found below.
What Time Does Square Enix's Press Conference Livestream Start?
Square Enix has scheduled its E3 2019 press conference for Monday, June 10. If you're in the US, you can watch the conference's livestream at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. Unfortunately, if you're in the UK, you'll have to stay up fairly late to watch the stream because that translates to 2 AM BST the following day, June 11. Australian folks get to watch the stream in the middle of the day, at 11 AM AEST on June 11.
How To Watch
Square Enix's E3 presentation will be broadcast live from the company's website, as well as several social media channels. We'll be streaming it too. Below, we've outlined the list of places you'll be able to find Square Enix's E3 presentation.
Where To Watch The Square Enix E3 2019 Press Conference
Square Enix has confirmed only one game for its E3 press conference: Dying Light 2. However, a couple of Square Enix games have already been confirmed to appear at E3, so it's plausible we see most (if not all) during the company's press conference. Of the games confirmed, Marvel's Avengers is most likely the heavy hitter. Aside from some leaked details, there's been very little news about the game since its announcement trailer, which was released in January 2017. Square Enix has confirmed its superhero game will be at E3, and the leaks imply we'll see both single- and multiplayer gameplay during the show.
Of course, Marvel's Avengers could be easily upstaged by Final Fantasy VII, the remake of the 1997 RPG of the same name. Square Enix has not confirmed the long-awaited remake will be at E3, but the latest PlayStation State of Play did tease more news about the game would be coming in June 2019. We assume that means E3, but, once again, it hasn't been confirmed.
It's been almost four years since the release of Halo 5: Guardians in 2015, so Halo fans are understandably eager to learn more about Halo Infinite. Thankfully, it's expected that Microsoft is going to showcase the Xbox One and PC game during the Xbox E3 2019 briefing on June 10.
Besides Minecraft, Halo is arguably Microsoft's biggest and best-known franchise. It has millions of dedicated fans and it is steeped in history and evolution. But it isn't a stretch to say it's fallen out of prominence and mindshare in the gaming world.
Franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, along with newcomers Fortnite and Apex Legends, generate consistent buzz. Halo, on the other hand, is currently most prominently represented by Halo: The Master Chief Collection, a game that sputtered at launch and has left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Microsoft's commitment to supporting and improving upon the franchise's "black eye," as 343 has called it, has been impressive to see, but fans are interested in what's next for the series.
Ahead of E3 2019, we're looking back at what we know so far about Halo Infinite and examining what the game must do to reinvigorate the franchise. If there is anything that Halo's campaigns have taught us over the years, it's that you should never bet against Master Chief.
As fans may recall, Halo 5 split up time between Master Chief and a new character named Agent Locke (voiced nicely by Mike Colter). Instead of splintering off to tell the stories of different side characters, re-focusing on Master Chief with Halo Infinite could be what the franchise needs to get back on track. Ross has described Halo Infinite as a "spiritual reboot" of the franchise. That wording suggests Halo Infinite could be akin to 2018's God of War. That game didn't tell an origin story for Kratos but it managed to retain the franchise's core tenets while also going deeper or wider in some brand-new narrative and gameplay areas.
The Halo universe is a sprawling, rich tapestry on which to tell all kinds of different stories, and 343 needs to weave something unique and compelling with Halo Infinite after Halo 5's meandering and incoherent narrative. Microsoft no longer numbers its mainline Halo games, but even so, the company tells fans to think of Halo Infinite as Halo 6. That's important because at one point Microsoft said Halo 4,5, and 6 were part of the Reclaimer Trilogy. It's easier to understand why Halo 5's story was such a letdown because it had the tough task of being a bridge story that was actually good. However, Microsoft later canceled its plans for a strictly defined three-game trilogy. Now, the company wants fans to think of Master Chief's story as an ongoing "saga" that is not limited to any specific number of games. This gives Microsoft the freedom to redeem itself and, ahem, reclaim its former glory with a story that puts the focus back on Master Chief in new and interesting ways.
Surprise Us With New Multiplayer Innovations
Halo 5 pushed the Halo multiplayer scene forward with its ambitious MOBA-style Warzone mode. Halo's multiplayer battlefield had never been so expansive, multi-layered, and engaging. It was a genuinely exciting and fresh take on the familiar Halo multiplayer formula. It felt like a bonafide strong step forward for the series, which has always been renowned for its multiplayer in particular. Microsoft needs to deliver a similarly novel multiplayer experience with Halo Infinite.
There has been much discussion about Halo Infinite mimicing Call of Duty and Battlefield with a battle royale mode of its own, but 343 has said that may not happen (even if the game's engine is technically capable of delivering it). This may be for the best, as it would be more exciting to see Halo Infinite blaze its own trail rather than follow in the footsteps and trace the formula of an already-saturated battle royale market.
Warzone was fantastic, but it always felt to me like more of a foundation or canvas that could support something bigger and more exciting. In addition to whatever advancements Microsoft makes with Halo 5 in terms of a large-scale multiplayer experience, the game would also do well to ensure the hardcore Team Arena fans are satisfied as well.
Halo 5's Team Arena also pushed things forward with a multitude of new abilities and weaponry, while the simple addition of clambering really changed how you could move around the map. The white-knuckle, fast-paced action of Halo Arena is where the series shines the brightest. Halo Infinite needs to keep this trend going and deliver something that pro players (Halo has a big competitive gaming scene) and the average player will enjoy in similar measure.
Show Off What The Slipspace Engine Can Do
The first trailer for Halo Infinite that was released at E3 2018 was actually for the game's engine, Slipspace, not the game itself. Slipspace is Halo's next-generation engine, and it was reportedly developed at no small expense. According to one Microsoft insider, careers will be made or broken based on the success of Halo Infinite due in part to its reported $500 million budget spanning game development and engine costs. For its part, Microsoft declined to comment on the reports of Halo Infinite's budget. Whatever the case, a new game engine can unlock new gameplay opportunities, and it's exciting to think about what a new set of development tools might allow 343 to do in terms of gameplay and Halo Infinite's overall depth and fidelity. The Slipspace engine trailer showed off a sprawling landscape that invites players to imagine what could be possible. At E3, Microsoft needs to answer that question.
Bringing The Game To PC Is A Big Deal
For the first time since 2004's Halo 2, the mainline Halo series is returning to PC with Halo Infinite. This is a big deal because it opens up the Halo franchise to a much wider audience, including those who have never played Halo before (and people who will inevitably double-dip). Fans have been calling on Microsoft to bring Halo back to PC for years now, so it's good to see Microsoft listen to that feedback and take action. Microsoft is already laying the groundwork with Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to PC beginning this month with Halo: Reach, and it'll have a multitude of PC features like custom frame rates, FOV slider, button-mapping, and more. But Halo Infinite will be the first main series game on PC in more than 15 years, and Microsoft needs to make sure it's a best-in-class, native PC game that doesn't feel like a port.
Showcase Forge's Next Evolution
Halo's Forge mode is a treat, and it's gotten bigger and better with each new Halo game. Already a robust map and mode-making tool, Forge could up the ante further in Halo Infinite with a tool suite and functionality that allows creative people to do even more. Halo 5's Forge mode led to creations developed with a level of sophistication and depth that few could have imagined. I was never creative or capable enough to make the most out of Forge's toolset, but I appreciated the community's creations and I spent my fair share of time playing Halo: Beer Pong and Toilet Bowl Zombies. Forge was never better than it was in Halo 5, but the game doesn't make it exactly easy to find custom game modes and maps, and the matchmaking system for custom games left a lot to be desired. Forge could help Halo Infinite become a truly "infinite" game with endless gameplay opportunities, but it needs better, more user-friendly systems and functionality to truly shine.
Split-Screen Is Back, And That's Good News
It seems like a simple thing, but Halo Infinite bringing back local split-screen is incredibly significant. Split-screen is one of the core pillars of Halo. Some of my fondest childhood memories are playing Halo with my friends and siblings after school. I am not alone in my appreciation for local split-screen; just look at the reaction to Halo 5's decision to drop the feature. Microsoft was roundly criticized. Microsoft's data may have indeed shown that fewer and fewer people play local co-op, but removing the feature entirely from Halo 5 was a bad look all the same.
Split-screen always needed to return in Halo Infinite, and I'm happy it is. It may not be a feature that people make use of as often as they once did, but having the option to play split-screen is essential.
Have A Responsible Microtransaction Plan
Halo Infinite is a big new AAA game, so it comes as no surprise that it will have microtransactions. Microsoft confirmed as much a long time ago. Given that Halo 5's microtransactions proved to be so lucrative, it is no surprise the business practice is coming back for the new game. For Halo Infinite, Microsoft needs to communicate a microtransaction solution that doesn't come across as aggressive or anywhere near what could be considered pay-to-win. Microsoft would have surely seen what happened with Star Wars: Battlefront II and other recent examples of microtransactions gone wrong. Microsoft would do well to get ahead of the discussion and explain clearly and upfront how Halo Infinite will handle microtransactions. Until they do, fans may assume the worst. If Halo Infinite's microtransaction plan edges too close to "icky," fans can and should be encouraged to voice their concerns and leave feedback with Microsoft.
Use Halo Infinite To Show Off The Power Of The Next Xbox
With 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft took a bold risk and demonstrated how well an FPS could work on console. It was a tremendous success. Halo played a pivotal role in getting Microsoft's fledgling Xbox business off the ground, and the Halo series has pushed every new Xbox console since, the latest example being Halo 5's massive-scale MOBA-style Warzone mode. With Microsoft also expected to announce a next-generation console (or two) at E3 this year, Microsoft again has the chance to showcase the next evolution of what Halo can be. With a name like "Infinite," Microsoft needs to deliver something special. To sell a new console, Microsoft needs to demonstrate the hardware's new and impressive capabilities. Combining that announcement with a technical showcase of Halo Infinite could be a jaw-dropper at E3.
After several teases on social media from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon, new gameplay has finally been revealed showing returning antagonist Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11. As the first character for the upcoming Kombat Pack, the soul-stealing sorcerer will be available early for current owners of the DLC on June 18 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition to the new character, Kombat Pack owners will also get early access to Klassic Skins for Scorpion, Noob-Saibot, and Sub-Zero.
As the original antagonist for the Mortal Kombat series, before quickly being brushed aside in favor of big-bads Shao Khan and Shinnok, the sorcerer has gone through many changes throughout the series. However, his combat style has always focused on his abilities to steal men's souls and use their talents against them. In addition to copying his opponent's appearances and skills, the warlock also harnesses the souls of returning ninjas Rain, Smoke, and Ermac--who are interestingly enough found dead in MK11's Krypt. During the battle, he's able to call upon their abilities in mid-combo, allowing him to use Smoke's teleports, Ermac's telekinesis, and Rain's...water-based skills. His fatality, however, features his most gruesome callback, with the MKII mid-boss Kintaro making an unexpected and violent return.
For those who've already played Mortal Kombat 11, you'll know that Shang Tsung is presently in the game as a guide for MK11's Krypt. In the Krypt, you're able to explore his island fortress and uncover its secrets, with him taunting you for any untimely deaths that occur during your journey. Now that he's playable, the soul-stealing warlock looks right at home in Mortal Kombat 11's gruesome battles. For fans of the original live-action film, you'll notice that Shang Tsung is performed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa--the same actor from the movie.
The new trailer was all about Shang Tsung. However, it also teased what was to come. Towards the end, three other characters were briefly referenced--which included returning characters Nightwolf and Sindel, both of whom made their first appearances in Mortal Kombat 3. However, the last character to get a shoutout was Image Comics' Spawn--who is the first guest character to make it to MK11. This news will likely be no surprise to those who have been keeping up with certain leaks from the last month, which hinted at the return of these characters, along with Sheeva from MK3 and Ash Williams from the Evil Dead.
In total, the Kombat Pack--which is priced at $39.99--gives you access to six new characters and 19 additional skins for the roster. Just like the current characters, each new fighter will have their own suite of gear and skins to unlock. In 2015, Mortal Kombat X's roster expanded significantly with the influx of DLC fighters, so it'll be interesting to see how much MK11 will change over the course of its post-launch period. Curiously, though, mentions of the Switch version weren't present in the trailer. So it may seem likely that the Switch will receive its own release of the characters from the Kombat Pack at a later time.
For more on Mortal Kombat 11, along with details on when you can expect to learn more about the other characters, be sure to check back with GameSpot.
Wizards, dogs and a Pop-Tart mission? Sign me up! Super Cane Magic ZERO is a co-op comedy action RPG from popular Italian comic artist Sio, developer Studio Evil, and publisher Intragames. We joined forces with them to celebrate its release for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC.
But let's talk about what you can win. The grand prize is a Nintendo Switch console, three additional controllers, Pop-Tarts, and a digital code to download the game. Five runner-ups will also get a digital code to download the game.
To enter the giveaway you must fill out the form below after reading and accepting our terms and conditions. Remember that you have the option of getting extra entries by following across social or visiting our site.
If you are having trouble seeing the form please use this link. Good luck, everyone!
At long last, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has arrived at California's Disneyland--and it's coming soon to Florida's Walt Disney World in August. The new area takes up 14 acres at the theme park as it attempts to completely immerse visitors in the world of Star Was on a new planet called Batuu. But does it deliver on the hype?? The answer is: Yes--but there are some caveats.
GameSpot had the chance to visit Galaxy's Edge and experience everything the new Star Wars land had to offer two days before it officially opened during a press preview event. From the new Millennium Falcon ride to a variety of eateries and shops, there's plenty to keep you occupied if you managed to grab a reservation to its first month of operation.
Still, given how packed Disneyland is likely to be for the next couple of years, you might be wondering if it's worth making the trip to Anaheim--or Orlando, after August 21--to experience the park for yourself. Let's take a look at what Galaxy's Edge has to offer before you book your travel.
How immersive is it?
That's the big question I had when walking into Black Spire Outpost for the first time. Anyone who's visited Disneyland knows that music is piped in throughout the park and regardless of where you are, chances are you can see a different land with another theme, which can break the illusion that you're visiting another world. However, Galaxy's Edge designers took great care in making sure no other piece of Disneyland can be seen or heard from within Galaxy's Edge. Using walls, rocks, trees, and other scenery elements, the land is completely secluded from the outside world. It also has a unique musical score, which helps with the feeling that you're living your own Star Wars story--an idea we heard from multiple people involved in the creation of Galaxy's Edge.
How do you live your own story?
This is where Galaxy's Edge is unlike pretty much anything else I can think of, when it comes to theme park experiences, as not even the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Pandora: The World of Avatar goes to the same lengths. And it all starts with the land's setting.
The planet Batuu is in the middle of a civil war, in many ways. The First Order has arrived to take control of Black Spire Outpost--which is massive--while a Resistance camp in the forest is full of rebels that are covertly trying to defeat the bad guys. Whose side you're on is up to you, but both First Order troops and rebels will interact with you throughout the land, to varying degrees.
For example, during the grand opening celebration, rebel spies were teaching guests secret handshakes and phrases to help identify other rebels, while Stormtroopers were walking around and questioning people.
There are also plenty of story elements that come into play thanks to the Play Disney Parks smartphone app. In the app, you can access a datapad user interface that allows you to hack various things within Galaxy's Edge, like droids, vehicles, and signage. I hacked the Millennium Falcon and was shocked when it seemingly opened an exhaust port, and the massive spacecraft started making noises.
The app also tracks the progress you make on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride, which we'll get into detail about below. Following your time on the ride, you receive a score based on your team's performance. That score is translated into credits, which then impact your reputation in the land. It's possible characters within Black Spire Outpost will approach you or interact with you to discuss your performance.
It was noted during the media preview that bartenders in Oga's Cantina might even make reference to you crashing the Millennium Falcon, if you weren't so great at piloting it, or completing your mission if you were.
One bartender I spoke to revealed that the various booths in the Cantina could also connect to the app and a series of lights on the walls tip off cast members about the reputation you've built on Batuu so far.
Just how deep this will go, especially with so many people populating the land, remains to be seen. If you try hard enough, though, it sounds like you can have a unique experience each time you visit.
So let's talk about the ride.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the only ride attraction open at the Galaxy's Edge launch. It's also, honestly, the only real downside of the land. It's a fun-enough ride, but it's a motion simulator with screens in the various windows. It's sort of an advanced version of Star Tours--a Disneyland staple--with buttons to press.
Don't get me wrong, flying in the Millennium Falcon is a dream. The execution of this particular ride, though, misses the mark a bit. Each Falcon cabin seats six riders, and each rider is given a job--two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers. If you're a pilot, get ready for an exciting ride--though it makes the design of the Falcon seem kind of silly. One pilot controls vertical steering and hyperspace, while the other controls horizontal. That means you'd better be communicating with your co-pilot or you're going to crash into many, many things. Don't worry, though. Crashing doesn't end the ride. Instead, the cabin will shake violently while the engineers have to spring into action.
For gunners, there are two options. The automatic controls mean you push a single button to fire weapons at whatever is in the Falcon's way. It's good for an introduction, but too simplistic for those that will want a challenge. The manual controls offer more variety and give gunners more buttons to press, but it's still not like the operation of the Falcon's guns as seen in Star Wars movies.
The engineers' role in the mission is probably the least exciting. You're essentially playing Simon. When the ship takes a hit, a button or switch will light up, and you'll hit or toggle it. It's pretty simple, and if you spend the entire ride simply mashing all of the buttons, you'll be just fine. It should be noted, though, that while this job gives you the least to do, it also gives you the most opportunity to watch what's happening on-screen.
That all said, there is a lot of excitement in the lead-up to the ride. The queue is exciting to walk through and spot Easter eggs in and manages to include some different angles of the massive Millennium Falcon that sits in front of it. And the waiting room to enter the ride itself is where you'll find an animatronic of Hondo Ohnaka, a Weequay alien character who first appeared on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Now, Hondo runs a shipping company that has borrowed the Falcon to get supplies and the animatronic is so incredibly lifelike you'll have to look twice or more to determine whether or not it's someone in a costume.
After you meet Hondo, you get a chance to hang out in the lounge section of the Falcon. You can sit at the Dejarik board (where R2-D2 faced off against Chewbacca) or wander around and see what else you can find stashed in the area.
Smugglers Run will remain the only ride in Galaxy's Edge for a few months. However, it will eventually be joined by what sounds like Disney's most impressive ride to date. Rise of the Resistance is seemingly a massive dark ride, which will take guests on an adventure that includes imprisonment by the First Order, a battle between the two sides, and some of the biggest set pieces in any theme park in the world.
While I can't wait for that ride to open, it not being available at the launch of Galaxy's Edge seems like a missed opportunity. That's especially the case when it comes to the Resistance camp in the forest, which is also where the entrance to Rise of the Resistance is. Without the ride, there's little else to do in the camp besides checking out the full-size X-wing and A-wing replicas on display. That's exciting for photo purposes but other than that, the rebel camp doesn't feel like a must-see at this point.
The food is good, though.
Chances are you're not just going to Galaxy's Edge for the rides. Given that it's an immersive experience, there's so much more to take into account--like the food. Thankfully, the Disneyland Resort chefs have created a menu of food that seems normal on the surface but is just alien enough to make it feel at home in a Star Wars story.
For instance, the land's version of fried chicken is fried Endorian Yip-Tip. It's a breaded and fried piece of meat in a rectangular shape that comes with a mashed potato that also features carrots and peas. It's a simple-enough meal. However, an interesting tweak has been made. The mashed potatoes are dairy free, with the milk being swapped out for olive oil.
There are also a couple of plant-based items, which Disneyland Resort executive chef Jason Martin told GameSpot is a move made in response to visitor feedback. "We listen to what our guests are saying. And they're looking for, once again, plant-based, [which] is big now," he explained. "And it's just good for the environment, so we're looking towards that. That's why you have two plant-based items on this menu."
One of those items is the Felucian Garden Spread, which includes herb hummus, pita, a tomato-cucumber relish, and plant-based Kefta "meatballs." These meatballs were downright delicious, and it was hard to believe it was all plant-based protein.
There are also a few theme park staples that have been given a Star Wars spin. Smoked Kaadu Ribs, which are quite tasty, are very sticky pork ribs and come with a blueberry corn muffin. The meat is incredibly tender and falls right off the bone, while the muffin adds a fun texture to the meal.
If you head to Ronto Roasters, which is a food stand where meats are cooked using a podracer engine--it looks as cool as it sounds--you can snag a Ronto Wrap, which is essentially a space hotdog. It's a grilled sausage wrapped in pita. What sets it apart though is a tangy slaw it's topped with, which adds a crunch and some good flavor to what would otherwise be a pretty pedestrian dish.
There's also no end to the snacks, breakfasts, and several other menu items for you to try during a visit to Galaxy's Edge. If you leave the land hungry, clearly you've done something wrong.
Now let's talk about the drinks.
This is where adult Star Wars fans are likely going to be excited. Yes, you can purchase alcoholic cocktails at the Cantina in Galaxy's Edge. What's more, there are even breakfast cocktails--for those that want coffee with a little rum or a Bloody Rancor, which is the Oga's Cantina version of a Bloody Mary.
During normal daytime hours, though, there are eight different themed cocktails, along with a selection of beer and wine available exclusively within Galaxy's Edge. During the opening celebration, the Yub Nub--a rum concoction--was the only drink available to sample. It was was a sweet treat that made me want to try them all at least once.
There are also plenty of non-alcoholic options. There's even blue and green milk, as seen in the movies. Interestingly, both are non-dairy. Instead of traditional milk, they're made with a blend of rice and coconut milks, with other flavors added. The blue milk, which I enjoyed in its frozen form, has a light tropical taste and, thanks to the lack of dairy, it's both creamy and light. Green milk swaps out the tropical taste for a floral one.
For those looking for a more familiar drink, there are also Coca-Cola products for sale, though they certainly look different than those normally found on Earth. In Galaxy's Edge, they've been given unique bottles shaped to look like decommissioned thermal detonators. It's a nice touch.
And finally, the merch.
You didn't think you could go to a Star Wars land and not spend all of your money, did you? Of course, there are all kinds of new stuff to buy--and all of it is in-world, so don't expect to buy Star Wars-branded items.
There's a wide range of souvenirs, with prices that start at $9 and go up to $25,000. So if you're on a budget but want a keepsake, you should be able to find something reasonably priced. That said, there are so many options for those looking to spend more.
For $100, you can build a remote-controlled droid. Currently, R-series (like R2-D2) and BB-series (like BB-8) units are available for purchase. There are also tons of pre-built droids, which start at under $10 and go up in price depending on size and features. Many of the droids can also be augmented with personality chips and customizable parts.
In Savi's Workshop, you get the opportunity to build your own custom lightsaber using a variety of parts, though constructing the heavy-duty plastic weapon will set you back $200. If you prefer a metal lightsaber replica, though, you can pick those up on Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities--a shop that is stuffed full of Easter eggs. These lightsabers range in price but are cheaper than those built in Savi's Workshop, where you're paying a premium for the experience.
Beyond things like droids and lightsabers, there's a never-ending supply of toys, games, clothing, and other items to buy--including plenty of touristy items to commemorate a trip to Batuu, from coffee cups to keychains.
Let's wrap it up.
It's hard to look at Galaxy's Edge as anything other than a massive achievement. The land is so big and filled with so many things to interact with that it isn't hard to see yourself as visiting a distant planet in a galaxy far, far away. I could easily lose hours just exploring the various corners of the 14-acre land, looking for hidden Easter eggs and ways to dive even deeper into the story of Batuu. Throw all of the dining and shopping experiences on top of that, and it's a recipe for a thrilling time at Disneyland.
Still, it's not perfect. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is exciting at first, but doesn't seem like something that will retain its excitement the more you ride it--especially if you're put in any role other than that of pilot. That said, it's a fun motion simulator, and I would be shocked if the creative team behind the ride didn't have plans for alternate missions, much like the various trips you can take on Star Tours.
Even if Smugglers Run isn't Disney's best, though, the land itself is beyond impressive. Sure, it's filled with things for you to waste money on--this is a theme park, after all--but it's also possible to simply exist in the world of Batuu and experience whatever story you find yourself in the middle of.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is unlike any other theme park attraction you're going to find. It's so big and filled with interactive elements and beautiful architecture that it will be hard to rival. That said, raising the bar of theme park entertainment this much only means things are going to get better in the future. So I'm expecting big things from the Marvel land currently under construction at Disney California Adventure.
Until we can check that out, enjoy your trip to Batuu. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is open now at Disneyland and will open at the Walt Disney World Resort on August 29.
The Season of Opulence is poised to kick off in Destiny 2 on June 4, bringing with it a new raid and a new six-player activity. As with all the content drops in the Year Two annual pass, this one is also full of new loot to chase and new secrets for players to unlock along the way.
Bungie outlined new details about the Season of Opulence in its latest blog post, which explains some key ins and outs of the Menagerie, the new six-player matchmade activity at the heart of the season. The thing that sets the activity apart from others in Destiny 2 is the new Chalice of Opulence, an item you'll use to determine which gear you receive upon completing a Menagerie run. According to Bungie, as you play through the Menagerie, you'll earn items called runes you can plug into your chalice. Which runes you use will determine the gear you get, and more crucially, what its stats are.
The thing about the runes is you won't know what combinations do what until you experiment (or more likely, until the Destiny community experiments and posts it all on Reddit). Adding certain runes to your chalice can help you chase down specific versions of the new Opulence weapon set, including what boosts you get when you turn those weapons into Masterworks. That's a significant change: usually, weapons' stats are randomized, forcing players to fight through an activity over and over, hoping to get the best versions of certain guns. Masterworks offer bonus stats to guns as well, but again, which stat gets a boost is usually randomized.
You'll also be able to upgrade the chalice itself, which will give you more control over the gear you get from the Menagerie, while also allowing you to earn more runes of specific types. Players will have to put in the work to upgrade the chalice for greater customization, though, and it doesn't sound like it'll be particularly easy.
Bungie also detailed the new Pinnacle weapons that come with the season. These are high-powered, specially designed guns you can only get by completing arduous tasks in specific activities, like the competitive Crucible, the cooperative Vanguard Strikes, or Gambit, which mixes the two play types.
The Crucible weapon is a sniper rifle called Revoker, which sounds a lot like the popular Icebreaker Exotic sniper rifle from Destiny 1. It encourages you to take every shot by returning missed shots to your magazine after a short time--which means you can't go crazy unloading your sniper rifle, but you do get an incentive to open fire a little more often. Earning the Revoker will be easier than past Crucible Pinnacle guns, also; it requires racking up 3,500 points in the Glory playlist, but doesn't penalize you if you lose. Past Pinnacles have required players to fight through Glory to the Fabled rank--but you only gain points when you win matches. Losing sets you back, making earning the guns very tough for many players.
The Vanguard Pinnacle is the Wendigo-GL3 grenade launcher, which gets more powerful when you pick up Orbs of Light generated by teammates. Orbs give the launcher's grenades more damage and a bigger blast radius, so it'll pay to stick close to teammates and work together when using the weapon. For Gambit players, there's Hush, a combat bow that rewards you for shooting from the hip, rather than aiming down its sights. Landing hip fire precision kills with the bow speeds up its draw time significantly, allowing you to fire deadly arrows much more quickly.
Bungie also followed up an announcement that it would be weakening some fan-favorite guns with the new season by outlining a few weapons that are getting boosts. Fusion Rifles, in particular, should be more useful thanks to damage increases against AI-controlled enemies. Swords are also being amped up a bit, with damage increases and ammo rebalancing.
The announcements about the Season of Opulence also came with a teaser from Bungie that it'll be outlining the "next chapter" for Destiny 2 on Thursday, June 6--two days after the launch of the season. Players are speculating the delay is because Bungie is waiting for the first teams of players to complete Crown of Sorrows, the Season of Opulence's new raid, which will give away some new story information about where the game is headed. Whatever Bungie has planned for Destiny 2 going forward, it'll be the first content the developer has created without former publishing partner Activision.
The way we play games changes by the year, but there's something particularly special about 2019: the advent of cloud-based streaming. Google is leading the charge with Stadia, which is a hardware-less gaming platform that relegates all graphical processing to remote data centers. Through an internet connection, you'll be able to stream games directly to any capable device using the power of high-end machines housed elsewhere. So, it doesn't matter what your actual local hardware is; as long as you can run a Chrome browser and have a sufficient internet connection, you can play any game available on Stadia.
Stadia was first unveiled at the Game Developers' Conference 2019 with a keynote presentation outlining the first details of this new platform. We were given a breakdown of how the tech works, a few on-stage demonstrations, some of its unique capabilities, and a tease of which studios would be contributing to Stadia. And we even got hands on with Stadia itself on the GDC show floor. With E3 2019 right around the corner, we expect Google to make another push with new announcements and more information since the company said it'll have more to share in the summer. This could encompass Stadia's business model, upcoming game library, and possible release date--it's set to launch sometime this year in the US, UK, and "most of Europe" after all, and E3 is as good a time as any to go big.
What We Know So Far
The unveiling of Stadia at GDC 2019 gave us plenty of details about the platform. Aside from the fact that it's entirely based in the cloud, making it accessible on multiple devices, we know about its technical specifications. At launch, Stadia users will have the power of a custom multi-core hyper-threading CPU clocked at 2.7 GHz, 16GB of RAM, cloud SSD storage, and most notably a brand-new AMD GPU rated at 10.7 TFLOPs--for comparison, the Xbox One X (the current powerhouse for consoles) is rated at 6.0 TFLOPs. Stadia will be able to play games at 4K resolution at 60 frames-per-second, though that may vary depending on games, optimization, and your own internet connection. There are plans to gradually upgrade Stadia's specs over time, and Google is aiming to support 8K and 120 FPS in the future. But Stadia's capabilities aren't bound by a simple TFLOP number, since cloud-based tech can account for much more.
You won't have to wait around for game downloads, and updates or patches since Stadia is pulling from a cloud-based version whichever game you're playing. Google is also going to great lengths for YouTube integration, and we've seen it in action, like being able to jump into specific parts of a game based on a video, which is called State Share. Streamers can also let viewers join their multiplayer games instantly through what's called Crowd Play. Google Voice Assistant will be featured as well, and could have significant implications for guides and instant access to information for games you're playing.
When it comes to cloud-based services, bandwidth is always a huge concern as this could be a deal-breaker depending on ISP conditions and data caps. Google stated that 20 to 25 mbps is necessary for a proper 1080p 60FPS experience and around 30 mbps for 4K. As for input lag, Google VP Phil Harrison said in response to whether or not he's confident in Stadia's performance will satisfy players, "Absolutely, unequivocally, yes." He cited the expectations that id Software has for Doom Eternal and how Stadia has been able to meet those expectations with its responsiveness in gameplay.
What's Confirmed For E3
Nothing has been confirmed for E3 2019 on Google's behalf, yet. However, the GDC reveal was capped off by saying that there would be more details to come in the Summer. Well, E3 is in June, and June is in the Summer, so it's fair to think that Google would insert itself into (or at least around) the biggest convention for the gaming industry. Whether it's officially part of E3 proper isn't likely. We may see some publisher/developer booths with Stadia running certain games, but we don't expect to Google to have an official presence at the show since it is not part of the ESA.
What We Hope To See At E3
As much as we know about Google Stadia, there are still plenty of questions that need answering and finer details that need explaining. Most importantly, what does the Stadia pricing model look like? Will it be a subscription based service, or is it simply a platform where you purchase access to specific games, or will there be options for incremental play time? Maybe it's a hybrid of all these? It's a mystery at this point, but Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot predicted that it would blend several purchase options. Back in April, Google stated that it already decided on a pricing model but planned on sharing details at a later date. Well, Stadia launches this year and the coming days would be as good a time as any to make the announcement.
Up to now, we've seen Assassin's Creed Odyssey and the upcoming shooter Doom Eternal (see above) running on Stadia live. While those are some big names, that's only two games, one of which has been out for months already. Google has boasted wide ranging partnerships with notable developers and publishers like Ubisoft, Bethesda, and 2K Games, and introduced its own first-party studio led by former EA and Ubisoft head Jade Raymond. With this in mind, we'd expect to see more games running on Stadia. A tentative launch lineup would also be nice to drum up hype for the platform, but to also get a better idea of what we can expect to play on it.
While Stadia's key selling point is the elimination of a hardware requirement, Google is still going to offer its own controller specifically designed to give you convenient access to the platform's unique tools. The Stadia controller was on display at GDC 2019 when the platform was first announced, but attendees couldn't actually get their hands on it. We'd hope to get a feel for how it works and how its ergonomics compare to the DualShock and Xbox controllers, gamepads we've been using for years now.
We're covering cloud-based game streaming from all angles as this is a big shift in the gaming industry, and you can keep up with all the Google Stadia news and details here on GameSpot.
Nintendo has narrowed down the release window for Cadence of Hyrule, the upcoming Zelda-themed Crypt of the NecroDancer game for Switch. During its recent Indie World 2019 broadcast, the company announced the title will launch sometime in June.
On top of confirming its release window, Nintendo showcased roughly a minute of new footage of Cadence of Hyrule, which you can watch below. The segment begins around the 6:57 mark and shows Link and Zelda--both of whom are playable in the upcoming game--navigating a handful of environments inspired by A Link to the Past and battling classic enemies like Bokoblins and Darknuts.
Nintendo had previously announced Cadence of Hyrule would be launching sometime this spring, although the company hadn't specified when. There was speculation the game would surprise release this week, after eagle-eyed fans discovered a line that reads, "Release date: May 30, 2019" in the source code of Nintendo's website. However, that has since been changed to say June 20, although whether that is the game's actual release date or merely placeholder text remains to be seen.
Cadence of Hyrule was first announced back in March, during the Nindies Spring Showcase 2019 presentation. The game is being developed by Brace Yourself--the studio behind the original Crypt of the NecroDancer--and blends CotND's signature rhythm-based combat with music, characters, and environments from the Legend of Zelda series. Nintendo says the game boasts 25 remixed Zelda songs, as well as a randomly generated overworld and dungeons.
Cadence of Hyrule isn't the only 2D Zelda game coming to Switch this year. Nintendo is also releasing a remake of the series' classic Game Boy installment, Link's Awakening, for the hybrid console sometime in 2019. We will likely hear more about that game during Nintendo's E3 2019 Direct presentation, which takes place on Tuesday, June 11, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST.
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