Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The latest News from GameSpot News On 02/23/2017

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The latest News from GameSpot

In the 02/23/2017 edition:

Mass Effect Expansion Coming To Cards Against Humanity

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 23, 2017 12:29 am

In today's weirdest crossover, there's now a Mass Effect-themed Cards Against Humanity pack.

Fourteen cards are included in the expansion, which costs just $1. Stock is apparently limited, however: "Once we are sold out on the site, we are done forever," CAH's Trin Garritano told Polygon.

Cards Against Humanity produced the pack in conjunction with Mass Effect developer BioWare. Three writers from the studio were involved with the scripting process, which apparently started the same night as the initial meeting at San Diego Comic-Con a couple of years back.

Credit: Jenn Bane/Cards Against Humanity
Credit: Jenn Bane/Cards Against Humanity

Garritano said more than 700 cards were drafted, but "all but 14 of them were bad."

"Whenever we'd look at the list of cards their team preferred, it was only cards about f*****g," Garritano explained. "We had to push through a few non-sex cards just to widen the appeal of the deck. It was an incredible problem to have and I am still absolutely tickled by this."

That doesn't mean the remaining cards aren't lewd, however; the remaining cards don't shy away from some blue topics, as should be expected from Cards Against Humanity. Take a look at a selection over at Polygon.

The card pack comes at an opportune time, with the series' latest game, Mass Effect: Andromeda, just around the corner. A new video shows off the game's combat, weapons, abilities, and more--check it out here.

In other news about Andromeda, BioWare has stressed that the game is not open-world in its structure but is more of an "exploration-based game." Additionally, BioWare recently discussed the game's sidequests and how they may be inspired by those from The Witcher series.

Andromeda launches on March 21 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, though some people will get to play it a week early. Keep an eye on GameSpot for all the latest on the sci-fi epic.


Titanfall 2's Big Live Fire Update Launches This Week

By Chris Pereira on Feb 23, 2017 12:13 am

Titanfall 2's next update launches tomorrow, February 23, developer Respawn has announced.

Respawn has already detailed this update in full. Its primary feature is a new game mode called Live Fire, which pits two teams of six against one another in a series of 60-second rounds. The two teams compete to either eliminate all their foes or to be the team holding a neutral flag at the end of those 60 seconds.

To go along with this mode, the update adds two new maps that are specific to Live Fire. Stacks and Meadow are described as "tight, enclosed death boxes designed specifically for the fast-paced, intense nature of the mode." You can see them in the video above.

This update also introduces a new map for Coliseum mode, a Pilot execution, and a wide variety of balance changes. These include improvements for the holographic decoy and adjustments to specific guns and Titans. You can read more about those changes in the full patch notes.

Respawn recently outlined upcoming content for Titanfall 2, including the return of a Titanfall 1 map in March. Support will continue after that, although any plans for a sequel remain unknown in light of lower-than-expected sales.


Here's How Pokemon Go Is Celebrating Pokemon Day

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 23, 2017 12:08 am

To celebrate Pokemon Day next week, Niantic will hold an event inside of Pokemon Go. Starting on February 26, every Pikachu that players encounter in the game will be wearing a "festive party hat."

If you catch Pikachu during the event, you will get to keep its party hat forever, The Pokemon Company announced on its website. The event ends on March 6. Unfortunately, The Pokemon Company did not share a picture of Pikachu's hat; we'll add it to this story if it's made available.

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Pokemon Day is February 27. That is the 21st anniversary of the series, which debuted in Japan in 1996.

This is not the first time that Niantic has given Pikachu a special hat as part of a limited-time event. Last year's Pokemon Go holiday event let players catch a version of Pikachu that wears a festive hat. The Christmas Pikachu could be evolved into a hat-wearing version of Raichu, though it remains to be seen if that can happen with the new party hat.

For more on Pokemon Day 2017 and how it will be celebrated, check out this roundup on the Pokemon website.

Last year's 20th anniversary Pokemon Day celebrations included a Super Bowl commercial and a party with actress Drew Barrymore.


Amazon Discounts $50+ Orders Today (But Not Games)

By Chris Pereira on Feb 22, 2017 11:31 pm

Celebrating the positive findings of a new survey about the company, Amazon is taking $8.63 off orders of $50 or more today.

There are, however, some exceptions to this offer: Most notably for us, it doesn't include games or digital content. That doesn't mean it's entirely useless when it comes to getting a discount on games-related items: Nintendo eShop cards, for example, do apply, so long as you order physical cards (and not digital codes). You can pick up $50 of eShop credit for $41.37, which is essentially just getting you free money if you plan on spending $50 on the eShop.

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You can also use this toward any combination of books, movies, or TV shows. You could, for instance, get three copies of the excellent 4K John Wick Blu-ray for $44.92 if you were so inclined. Or perhaps you've had your eye on that super-expensive, 30-disc Lord of the Rings/Hobbit Blu-ray collection, which is down to $401--or about $392 with this offer.

To make use of the offer, which runs until 11:59 PM PT today, February 22, you just need to add at least $50's worth of qualifying items to your cart and enter the promo code BIGTHANKS at checkout. You can see the full list of terms and conditions here; put simply, digital content, games, and Amazon gift cards are not included, and things like tax and shipping don't contribute toward the $50 minimum. The promo code can only be used once per account.


BioWare Boss Congratulates Horizon Zero Dawn Dev, Says New IP Is Important

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 10:48 pm

BioWare GM Aaryn Flynn has spoken out to praise Guerrilla Games on its soon-to-launch action-RPG, Horizon Zero Dawn, which comes out for PlayStation 4 on February 28.

"Making new IP is hard, but so important for our industry. Can't wait to play," Flynn said.

Guerrilla created the Killzone series, with Zero Dawn being its first brand-new major series in a long time.

BioWare has a new IP of its own in development. During an Electronic Art earnings call earlier this year, the company confirmed that the unannounced game will launch by April 2018.

"In 2012, we began crafting a new universe full of new characters, stories, and gameplay. Our ambition is simple: Draw upon 20-plus years of development knowledge and lessons to create something fun and new for you to enjoy with your friends," Flynn said in January. "There's nothing quite as exciting as building a new IP from scratch, and it will be even more thrilling for us to share more with you in the future."

EA CEO Andrew Wilson said about BioWare's new IP: "This game has the potential to fundamentally disrupt the way people think about an action title, bringing friends together to play in an exhilarating new way. We're very excited about the future of this new franchise and its ability to attract a large, global audience."

Going back to Horizon Zero Dawn, reviews have already come online, and the game is receiving a lot of praise. GameSpot's review scored it a 9/10.

Last week, Sony talked about how Zero Dawn has the potential to become a new franchise for the company. Additionally, Sony believes main character Aloy, who is inspired by the Game of Thrones character Ygritte, could become a "PlayStation icon of the future."

In other news, Guerrilla Games has announced everything that's in Horizon Zero Dawn's day one update. For more on the game, read all of GameSpot's previous stories and watch every video here.


Some Of Star Wars: The Last Jedi's "Key" Scenes Were Filmed With IMAX Cameras

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 10:31 pm

J.J. Abrams used IMAX cameras to shoot parts of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and now it's been confirmed that director Rian Johnson has done the same with this year's Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Below is a picture of one of the IMAX cameras that was used to film The Last Jedi on location. According to a press release, Johnson used the high-resolution cameras for "key sequences" in the film, though no specifics were provided.

Photo credit: Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm
Photo credit: Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm

Additionally, Disney and IMAX have announced an "extended slate deal" for more IMAX shooting through 2019 and across its film divisions such as Marvel, Pixar, and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The deal covers the upcoming Indiana Jones film and the Han Solo movie, as well as Star Wars: Episode IX, Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War, and its untitled sequel. What's more, the new agreement covers Beauty and the Beast, A Wrinkle in Time, Mulan, The Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4.

"The Walt Disney Studios strives to bring great stories from visionary filmmakers to life for audiences around the world, leveraging the best technology available to create exceptional theatrical experiences," Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman said in a statement. "That's what IMAX brings to the table, and we look forward to continuing to work with the IMAX team on the unparalleled upcoming slate of films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm."

The Last Jedi opens in December this year. After that will be the Han Solo movie in 2018. The movie officially started production this week and a new cast photo was released.


Dragon Quest Heroes 2 PC Version Announced, New Trailer Released To Celebrate

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 22, 2017 10:15 pm

Publisher Square Enix has announced a PC version of popular action-RPG Dragon Quest Heroes 2. The port will launch on the same day as the PS4 edition's North American release date, April 25.

In addition, the company revealed the game's Explorers Edition, which includes a reversible cover to make the box resemble the in-game Adventurers Logbook. The Explorers Edition also comes with 15 free DLC weapons. For more information, check out the announcement blog.

To celebrate the news, Square Enix has unveiled a new trailer giving an overview of the game's plot. Check it out below.

Dragon Quest Heroes is also coming to PS4 on April 25 (April 28 in Europe). It's also launching on Nintendo Switch, along with its predecessor, Dragon Quest Heroes. The file size of the Switch bundle that includes both those games was recently revealed, and it's pretty big: 32 GB.

Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is developed by Omega Force, the team behind the Dynasty Warriors series and spinoffs such as Hyrule Warriors, One Piece: Pirate Warriors, and Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom. It launched in Japan in May 2016.

The first game in the series earned an 8/10 from GameSpot. In our Dragon Quest Heroes review, Miguel Concepcion said it "makes for an essential experience for any Dragon Quest fan, even if you haven't played a hack-and-slasher in ages."


Dead Rising 4 Coming To Steam Very Soon

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 10:10 pm

After launching on PC through the Windows Store in 2016, Capcom's Dead Rising 4 will be released on Steam next month, the publisher announced today. The zombie game comes to the PC gaming juggernaut on March 14.

A Steam announcement trailer has been released and can be seen above. The video jokes about PC-specific features like "coagulated blood shaders" that make blood look so realistic that the ESRB "actually called the cops" and "high dynamic range selfies."

Dead Rising 4's Steam release is not a total surprise, as Xbox boss Phil Spencer said last year that you can expect more Microsoft-published games to come to the digital store.

If you're planning to pick up Dead Rising 4 on Steam for PC, bear in mind that the Steam version does not include Xbox Play Anywhere benefits.

Some other Microsoft-published games that are available on Steam include Age of Empires II HD and Ori and the Blind Forest.

In other news about Dead Rising 4, Capcom management recently acknowledged the game's mixed critical reaction. "Compared to the series up to now, this game was made more approachable in order to allow a wider audience to enjoy it," the company said. "However, there was a wider range of opinions for the new game."

GameSpot's Dead Rising 4 review scored the game a 7/10.

"Dead Rising's zombie-slaughtering formula has started to wear a bit thin after all these years, especially since its combat remains largely routine," reviewer Scott Butterworth said. "The surprisingly well-crafted story, wild new combo weapons, and expansive open world elements, however, turn Dead Rising 4 into an over-the-top piece of popcorn entertainment that captures the series' best elements."

Dead Rising 4 originally launched in December 2016 for Xbox One and PC. Capcom is expecting the game to ship 2 million units by the end of March, though no sales figures have been divulged as of yet.

The newest DLC for Dead Rising 4 came out at the end of January in the form of Street Fighter-inspired outfits. Christmas-themed DLC for the game came out in December, while expansions headed to the game this year include Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf and Frank Rising.


Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Free Updates And Features Detailed

By Chris Pereira on Feb 22, 2017 10:09 pm

We know plenty of paid DLC is on the way, and Infinity Ward has now shared new details on some of the free new content and features coming to Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in the near future.

As part of its February community update, Infinity Ward revealed that it will have some new customization options out before the end of the month. Specifically, you'll be able to rotate your rig a full 360 degrees, letting you better see how it looks. The post-game Winner's Circle will also be changed so that your rig is carrying the last weapon you used in the match, so as to let you better show off your customized setup.

Infinite Warfare's emblem editor had been previously scheduled to also launch by the end of the month, but that's no longer the case. Additional testing is now needed, with a new tentative release date of mid-March.

Infinity Ward also promised it plans to introduce "new content on a regular basis to keep gameplay fresh," though it didn't offer any specifics. "Be sure to visit the Quartermaster regularly to see what new items your robot friend has to offer," it added.

Also on the way, but without any specific launch window, is a new mission team that offers its new equipment and gear. Prestige levels will be increased, and we'll see "some new new features for scorestreaks, the Quartermaster, and more, such as a community poll giving you a say in picking the upcoming weeklong, featured game mode."

Infinite Warfare has proven to be a huge seller--it was the top-selling game in the US last year, and Call of Duty was the top-selling console franchise. However, the game saw a steep decline as compared with the previous year's Black Ops III and failed to meet publisher Activision's expectations. The company recently admitted the futuristic setting didn't "resonate" with a portion of the Call of Duty audience. It hopes that won't be the case again with this year's game, which is described as going back to the franchise's "roots."


The Afterlife Exists In This New Netflix Movie; Watch The Latest Trailer Here

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 09:49 pm

A new trailer for the Netflix original movie The Discovery starring Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, and Robert Redford has come online. A romantic sci-fi movie, The Discovery takes place one year after the existence of afterlife is scientifically proven to exist.

Millions of people commit suicide in an effort to find out what comes next. As this is going on, a man (Segel) and a woman (Mara) fall in love "while coming to terms with their own tragic pasts and the true nature of the afterlife." Here's the trailer:

The Discovery was directed by Charlie McDowell (The One I Love, Silicon Valley). It premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival and premieres on Netflix on March 31.

You can see a collection of samples from reviews here at GameSpot sister site Metacritic.


Free Xbox One/360 Games With Gold For March 2017 Revealed

By Chris Pereira on Feb 22, 2017 09:48 pm

With March drawing near, Microsoft has announced the lineup of free games that Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download beginning next week.

On Xbox One, the month starts out with Layers of Fear, which only released just last week. Later in the month, it will be joined by co-op shooter Evolve, which was developed by Turtle Rock, the studio behind Left 4 Dead. Evolve was turned into a free-to-play game on PC last year and was potentially going to see the same change on consoles, but Turtle Rock has since ceased work on the game.

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Those on Xbox 360 can pick up Borderlands 2 during the first half of March, with Heavy Weapon following it during the latter half. These games are also both playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.

Some of February's freebies remain available until next week. The first of March's games arrive on Wednesday, March 1. You can see the full schedule for the month below.

Xbox One

  • Layers of Fear (March 1-31)
  • Evolve (March 16 - April 15)

Xbox 360

  • Borderlands 2 (March 1-15)
  • Heavy Weapon (March 16-31)

First Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind Gameplay Footage Revealed

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 09:24 pm

Bethesda today released the first gameplay trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online's upcoming Morrowind expansion. The video provides a first look at what the island of Vvardenfell looks like in the MMO. New screenshots have also been released; we'll add those here as soon as possible.

As announced previously, existing players will be able to immediately travel to Vvardenfell and enjoy level-appropriate content as soon as the expansion launches. New players will be able to choose to create fresh characters on Vvardenfell, even without completing any previous ESO content.

ESO: Morrowind will include the first new class since the game originally launched, called the Warden. Wielding a combination of melee weapons and nature-based magic, the Warden will also be supported by a new combat ally, the war bear.

For those that prefer player-vs-player combat, a new battlegrounds mode will be included in the Morrowind expansion, pitting teams against one another in arena-like environments.

The Morrowind expansion launches around the world on June 6 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

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For more on ESO: Morrowind, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.


"Limited Supply" Of Nintendo Switch Units Will Be Available At GameStop On Launch Day

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 09:20 pm

Looking for a Nintendo Switch? Retailer GameStop announced today that it will have a "limited supply" of the hard-to-find systems available to buy at its US stores on launch day, March 3.

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"We will have a limited supply of the Nintendo Switch systems on launch day for walk-in customers," GameStop's Bub Puzon said in a statement. "Our teams made this happen.

"I would strongly suggest customers plan on attending one of our midnight launch events for a shot at securing one of these extra units. They will go fast!"

The Switch sells for $300 and does not include any pack-in games.

GameStop has created its own Switch bundles, the first of which comes with the console, a Pro controller, and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for $430. The second bundle includes all of that, in addition to Breath of the Wild's strategy guide, for $455.

You can visit GameStop's Switch landing page to learn more.

In other Switch news, Nintendo today posted an unboxing video for the console that shows off everything it comes with.


Check Out This Nintendo Switch Official Unboxing

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 22, 2017 09:16 pm

Nintendo has released an official unboxing of its new Switch console.

The video, which you can see below, shows everything that comes in the Switch box. That includes: a power adapter, an HDMI cable, the Switch's dock, the Joy-Con Grip (the device which forms the Joy-Cons into a standard gamepad configuration), two Joy-Con wrist straps, the left and right Joy-Cons themselves, and--of course--the Nintendo Switch console.

The video goes on to discuss the nitty gritty of the console itself, like its MicroSD card slot, and the different controller setups you can play with. We also get a glimpse of the sliding action of the Joy-Cons onto and off of the Switch's screen.

The Pro Controller is not included in the box. It is available separately for US $70 / £60 / AU $100, though it has been selling out pretty fast. No games are packed in with the console, either--Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime hinted that the company wanted to keep the price down.

We'll have our own unboxing video coming very soon. Until then, you can check out our hands-on impressions of the console here. The console's game file sizes were recently revealed, and they're pretty small (mostly).

Nintendo Switch launches on March 3, priced at US $300/£280/AU $470. The console's touchscreen was recently shown off for the first time, using Skylanders Imaginators. The toys-to-life game is one of 9 confirmed Switch launch titles. The other nine are: 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I Am Setsuna, Human Resource Machine, Little Inferno, World of Goo, and Super Bomberman R. A tenth title, The Binding of Isaac Afterbirth+, was meant to launch on March 3 for the system, but that was recently delayed.

For all the games confirmed to be coming to Switch--but not necessarily at launch--take a look at our roundup.


Netflix Buys New Gangster Movie From Acclaimed Director Martin Scorsese

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 08:49 pm

Here's some big news for Netflix. The streaming service has acquired Martin Scorsese's next movie, a gangster film starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci called The Irishman. This is according to a report from IndieWire.

The Irishman is due out in 2019. According to GameSpot sister site CNET, the movie is based on the Charles Brandt crime novel "I Heard You Paint Houses." It follows hitman Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran.

De Niro in Goodfellas
De Niro in Goodfellas

"As well as a colorful background in whacking, offing, and being a general good fella, Sheeran claims to have been involved in the mysterious disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa," CNET reported.

The Irishman is rumored to use CGI to make some of its stars look younger.

According to IndieWire, The Irishman is a $100 million film. It was going to be financed by Paramount, but that did not materialize, apparently.

The Irishman will be the ninth movie from Scorsese to feature De Niro, following Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and Casino.


New Kong: Skull Island Videos Show Off The Terrifying And Beautiful World

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 08:40 pm

After releasing a monster-battle clip last week, Warner Bros. has now published a pair of new featurettes for Kong: Skull Island. In the videos, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and some of the main cast, including Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson, talk about what they think will make the movie stand out against those that came before it.

The version of King Kong shown in Skull Island will be the biggest in the history of the series. About the beast, Hiddleston says, "He is truly monstrous; in size, and scale, and scope." Vogt-Roberts adds that he hopes people see Kong as a larger-than-life force. "When people step foot on the island, their first visceral response is to look at that thing and say, 'That's a god.'"

Skull Island comes out on March 10. In addition to Hiddleston and Larson, it features Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, Corey Hawkins, and John Goodman.

The movie is part of an ongoing monster movie series that kicked off with 2014's Godzilla. The next entry will be Godzilla: King of Monsters, which is expected in 2019. Last month, Krampus director Michael Dougherty was confirmed as director, with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown reported to be part of the cast.

In other news, Skull Island director Vogt-Roberts recently confirmed that his Metal Gear movie is still in the works.


New Ghost In The Shell Posters Are Seriously Stylish

By Dan Auty on Feb 22, 2017 08:39 pm

Two stylish new posters for the upcoming anime adaptation Ghost in the Shell have been released. One shows the movie's creepy geisha robot, while the other features star Scarlett Johansson in action. Check them out below:

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These posters follow a new trailer, which was released earlier this month. It provided more plot details than previous teasers, and gave us a first look at the villainous Kuze. Check it out here.

Ghost in the Shell stars Johansson as the cyborg cop Major, who leads a futuristic anti-terrorist taskforce known as Section 9. It also features Game of Thrones' Pilou Asbæk as the Major's partner Batou, plus Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, and Michael Pitt.

The movie has been the subject of some controversy due to the casting of Johansson as the lead character, leading to accusations that the filmmakers were "whitewashing" a role that was Japanese in the original manga and anime. In a recent interview, Johansson addressed this criticism.

"I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person," she said. "Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.

"Also, having a franchise with a female protagonist driving it is such a rare opportunity. Certainly, I feel the enormous pressure of that--the weight of such a big property on my shoulders."

Ghost in the Shell was one of the key anime films to break through to a western audience in the '90s. It was based on Masamune Shirow's manga, and was followed by three more movies, plus a number of video games.

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.


Total War: Warhammer Getting Big Free DLC Pack Next Week, Here's What's Included

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 22, 2017 08:21 pm

Total War: Warhammer's latest free DLC pack lands very soon, publisher Sega has announced. The update, which launches for PC on February 28, brings a bunch of new features, most notably a new race.

The new faction is Bretonnia, a feudal society built upon nobility and chivalry. Also included are three new powerful Legendary Lords (one from Bretonnia, one from Bordeleaux, and one from Carcassonne), some new units, and "unique features." Take a look at the Bretonnians in the trailer below.

Bretonnia apparently offers a very different experience to existing races. Much of your success, says Sega, is based on how chivalrous your actions are. Performing actions like winning tough battles and completing quests will fill your chivalry meter, which in turn will help keep your society's peasants under control and grant your units bonus experience. Keep your chivalry high enough and you'll gain access to a new endgame objective built around the Bretonnians called The Errantry War.

Members of Total War Access, a new signing-in system for the Total War forums, can access the content a day early, on February 27, by logging into their accounts on that day. For full details about the add-on, check out its Steam listing here.

Total War: Warhammer released in 2016 to critical acclaim. In our review, critic Daniel Starkey said the game "approaches perfection" at times. We awarded it a 9/10--read our full Total War: Warhammer review to find out more. We also put the title in our top 25 games of 2016--find out why here.


Nintendo Of America Cofounder Passes Away At 71

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 07:50 pm

Nintendo of America cofounder Alan "Al" Stone has passed away. Gamasutra and Intergame report that Stone left us on Friday, February 17 due to cancer. He was 71.

Stone cofounded Nintendo of America in 1981. He played a major role in helping to bring Nintendo's coin-operated games such as Donkey Kong and Radar Scope to the United States.

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"He had bravely fought that terrible disease, yet throughout all maintained his dignity and humor," a friend said, as reported by Intergame. "He was a businessman with the highest integrity and the finest business ethic."

After his time at Nintendo, Stone moved on to Sega, where he served as president and CEO of the company's arcade division, Sega Enterprises. Most recently, Stone was a member of the board of directors at Nonotech Media.

You can watch this video to see Stone talk about his life and accomplishments.


New Horizon Zero Dawn Trailer Talks About No Loading Screens And More

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 07:48 pm

With less than a week to go before the launch of Sony's next big PlayStation 4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn, the company today released a new trailer for the highly anticipated action-RPG.

In the new video, developers from Guerrilla Games talk about their ambitions for Horizon Zero Dawn and how they went about creating the game world. Also discussed are things like the new strides the team made in terms of facial animation, as well as advances to the studio's engine so that there are no loading screens at all once the game is booted up. Take a look at the full video above.

Horizon Zero Dawn launches on February 28 in North America and March 1 in Europe. Reviews have already come online, and the game is receiving a lot of praise. GameSpot's review scored it a 9/10.

Last week, Sony talked about how Zero Dawn has the potential to become a new franchise for the company. Additionally, Sony believes main character Aloy, who is inspired by the Game of Thrones character Ygritte, could become a "PlayStation icon of the future."

In other news, Guerrilla Games has announced everything that's in Horizon Zero Dawn's day one update. For more on the game, read all of GameSpot's previous stories and watch every video here.


AMD Unveils Ryzen 7 CPU Line With The 1800X, 1700X, And 1700

By Michael Higham on Feb 22, 2017 07:30 pm

Processor chip manufacturer AMD officially unveiled details of its new line of CPUs on Tuesday at its Tech Day event in San Francisco, CA. CEO and President Lisa Su gave a keynote speech to show off the Ryzen 7 series processors, an eight-core 16-thread family of CPUs that will feature three SKUs: the 1800X, 1700X, and 1700.

The Ryzen 7 1800X is poised to be AMD's fastest central processing unit to date. It comes with a 3.6GHz stock clock speed and boosts up to 4.0GHz. According to AMD's benchmark results, the 1800X outperforms Intel's eight-core i7-6900K by nine percent in Cinebench R15 nT and performs identically in Cinebench R15 1T. While the i7-6900K retails for $1,049 USD, the Ryzen 7 1800X will launch at $499, making it a much more cost-effective eight-core CPU.

At $399 USD, AMD will offer the Ryzen 7 1700X which sports a 3.4GHz base clock and 3.8GHz boost clock. AMD claims it is able to outperform the Intel Core i7-6800K by 39 percent and the i7-6900K by four percent in Cinebench R15 nT. Both the 1700X and 1800X will have a 95-watt TDP, which are more power-efficient than Intel's Broadwell-E eight-core CPUs that have a 140-watt TDP.

The most affordable new CPU that AMD revealed is the Ryzen 7 1700, priced at $329 USD. It's still equipped with eight cores but requires less power at 65-watts. It also has a more modest 3.0GHz base clock speed and 3.7GHz boost speed. It's priced competitively with the newly released four-core Intel Core i7-7700K and, according to AMD, bested the i7 by 46 percent in Cinebench R15 nT, mainly due to the additional cores and threads.

AMD Ryzen 7 pricing revealed.
AMD Ryzen 7 pricing revealed.

It's worth emphasizing that Cinebench R15 is a benchmark tool that simulates 3D rendering and animation and takes advantage of extra CPU cores. Further benchmark results are not available at this time, so the public will have to wait to see how AMD's new processors fare against their Intel competitors in other applications.

AMD's Ryzen CPU line is based on their "Zen" architecture, which was said to be four years in the making. The company set a goal to achieve 40-percent more instructions per clock (IPC) compared to the previous "Excavator" architecture, but AMD tells us it outdid its goal with 52 percent more IPC based on an aggregate of internal testing.

Pre-orders for the three CPUs start today, and will be released worldwide March 2nd. Further details on the Ryzen CPU line will be made available at a later date. We will conduct our own benchmarks here at GameSpot, many of which will be gaming-focused, so stay tuned for our review.


Futurama: Worlds Of Tomorrow Coming To Mobile

By Jason Imms on Feb 22, 2017 07:30 pm

TinyCo and Fox Interactive announced today that Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is currently under development for mobile platforms.

Original content for the game has been produced by the team behind the TV show, alongside Futurama creators Matt Groening, and David X. Cohen. TinyCo is also working with Rough Draft Studios--Futurama's original animators--to ensure the game stays true to the source material.

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"I love this game because it feels just like Futurama," said Matt Groening in the announcement press release. "Except now you get to jab the characters in the face."

But what kind of game is it, Mr. Groening? We have no idea at this stage. No information on what form the game will take was included in the announcement, aside from the fact that it's a mobile title. It's possible the game will be in a similar vein to TinyCo's previous licensed mobile title, Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, which was a free-to-play city management game that saw players earning in-game currency and spending it on creating their own version of the town of Quahog.

It seems we'll have to wait patiently for more information on Futurama: World of Tomorrow to be announced soon; not unlike a certain canine pal, right outside Panucci's Pizza.

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New Video Shows Harrison Ford's Airplane Incident Where He Flew Over A Passenger Plane

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 06:55 pm

Last week, actor Harrison Ford was involved in an airplane incident when the plane he was piloting narrowly missed a passenger jet carrying more than 100 people. This happened at John Wayne Airport in southern California, and now some dramatic video of the event has emerged.

As you can see in the animated GIF below and in full here at GameSpot sister site CBS News, Ford's single-engine Aviat Husky flew over a Boeing 737 that was preparing to depart for Dallas. Air traffic controllers cleared Ford to land on a runway, but he put the plane down on a taxiway instead, flying over the passenger jet.

Ford reportedly asked air traffic controllers, "Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?" He reportedly had no co-pilot. Thankfully, no one was injured.

"This is a pretty big mistake. It would be almost like you and I entering the freeway the wrong way," a retired airline captain CBS News. "This could have been very bad. If he had actually struck that aircraft, it would have been a major disaster."

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Ford could be hit with a warning letter, or he could have his pilot's license suspended, among other possibilities.

Ford, 74, is an experienced pilot with thousands of hours in the sky. According to the retired airline captain cited by CBS News, Ford does not usually fly with a co-pilot.

This isn't the first airplane incident that Ford has been involved in. In 2015, he was flying a World War II-era plane and the engine gave out. He crash-landed on a golf course and broke his arm.

This story has been updated.


Xbox Exec On PS4 Competition, Nintendo Switch, And Why Microsoft Hasn't Made A Handheld

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 06:47 pm

Xbox executive Phil Spencer has had a busy week on Twitter. After answering questions about Project Scorpio and backwards compatibility, he weighed in on Horizon Zero Dawn and the health of the Xbox ecosystem. Now, he's commented on the console sales race, why Microsoft hasn't made a dedicated handheld gaming device, and more.

On the subject of competition with the PlayStation 4 (a recent report claimed the PS4 is outselling the Xbox One 2:1), Spencer said gaming is "not [a] race between two consoles." Here is the full tweet, which Spencer sent as part of a continuation of his comments about the Xbox brand having its best console generation ever right now with Xbox One:

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Why Microsoft Never Made Its Own Dedicated Gaming Device

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On The Nintendo Switch:

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On Microsoft Universal Windows Platform Games:

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More PC-To-Xbox One Games Could Come:

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The Next Bond Movie Might Start Filming In Croatia This Year

By Dan Auty on Feb 22, 2017 06:42 pm

Very little is known about the next James Bond movie--no star, director, title, or release date have been announced. However, news has emerged that suggests that the movie may start shooting in Croatia later this year.

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As reported by the 007 fansite MI6, Andro Vlahusic, the mayor of the Croatian city Dubrovnik, stated that negotiations with Bond producers EON to film there were "in an advanced stage."

It was first reported that producers were looking at filming in Dubrovnik almost a year ago. It has become a popular location for Hollywood recently, with the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi shooting in the city in 2016, and Robin Hood: Origins currently in production there.

The biggest question about the next Bond movie is whether Daniel Craig will play 007 once more. There has been much speculation that Craig might be done with the franchise--the star himself has veered from calling it "the best job in the world", to saying "I'd rather break this glass and slash my wrists" than make another movie, soon after wrapping 2015's Spectre.

Director Sam Mendes, who made Skyfall and Spectre, has already confirmed he won't make the next Bond film. Last month, actor Tom Hardy weighed in on the subject, stating that he'd love to see Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan tackle the series.

"What a fantastic director for a Bond movie," he said. "I wonder what the next installment of that franchise would become, and I think when you mention someone like Christopher Nolan, that's a very powerful figure to bring into that world who could bring something new and create something profound."


This Idea For A Mario Game May Not Be What You'd Expect

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 06:26 pm

If game developer Goichi Suda, the creator of No More Heroes and Let It Die, ever got to make a Mario game, it might be very different than what fans have come to expect from Nintendo's series.

Asked by IGN how he would go about making a Mario game, Suda AKA Suda51, said Mario would go on an adventure to rescue his brother Luigi instead of Peach.

"So this really bad guy's captured Luigi, so Mario and Koopa become friends and they go together," he said. "It's like a road movie in a car. So they go from the south to the north and just go through it, like through America. I think it'd be great to make a Mario game like that."

Some of the games from Suda's studio, Grosshopper Manufacture, are over-the-top, violent, and bloody. Suda joked that he might "tone down the blood a little bit" if he made a Mario game.

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Though this game may never happen, it's fun to think about what kind of new ideas and approaches Nintendo may take with the Mario series as it relates to story and gameplay. The next major Mario game, Super Mario Odyssey, launches later this year for the Switch--and it looks pretty cool.

Grasshopper's latest title is Let It Die, which recently surpassed 2 million downloads.


Star Wars: Han Solo Movie's New Chewbacca Is A Finnish Basketball Player

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 22, 2017 06:18 pm

Star Wars' untitled Han Solo movie has a new Chewbacca actor--and he's a Finnish basketball player.

Joonas Suotamo will replace series stalwart Peter Mayhew to play the Wookiee in the upcoming film. He actually already stood in for Mayhew in Star Wars: The Force Awakens' action scenes, but will now perform the role full-time. Before Episode VII, Suotamo was best known for playing basketball for Penn State Nittany Lions in the USA.

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After being revealed as the new Chewbacca in a recent cast photo, the actor write a heartfelt tribute to Mayhew and Chewbacca on Instagram. "Chewbacca is one of the most iconic characters in the history of film," he said. "Peter's guidance and kindness have been invaluable gifts which warmed my spirit and prepared me for this journey. I aspire to make Peter proud and bring Star Wars fans the Chewie they know and love."

Suotamo finished his post by saying, "See you in a galaxy far, far away…"

In other Star Wars news, the untitled Han Solo spinoff recently added Woody Harrelson to the cast, which also includes Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo himself.

The film takes place during the "early scoundrel days" of Solo and Calrissian, before 1977's A New Hope. It is due out in 2018.

The newest Star Wars movie is Rogue One, which came out in December 2016. The next entry in the series is this December's Star Wars: The Last Jedi.


Final Fantasy 15's Retro-Themed Beat-Em-Up Will Be Free For Everyone Soon

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 05:54 pm

A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV, a retro-inspired beat-em-up spinoff, will be free for everyone to download on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One starting on March 1, according to DualShockers.

The game was one of the many preorder-exclusive bonuses that Square Enix offered for Final Fantasy. People who preordered that game at GameStop and EB Games received a free copy of A King's Tale.

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A King's Tale takes place in an alternate version of 30 years before the events of Final Fantasy XV. As you can see in the image above, the game has a retro look to it, while the combat is described as "fast-paced" and being influenced by "modern gaming."

We'll report back on March 1 with download links for A King's Tale on PS4 and Xbox One. The game will be free for everyone, not just people who bought Final Fantasy XV.

In other news about Final Fantasy XV, a new PS4 Pro patch came out this week, but it has been criticized for potentially making the game look worse.


See What's In Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Limited Edition In This Unboxing Video

By Eddie Makuch on Feb 22, 2017 05:34 pm

With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's release coming up soon, Nintendo has now posted an unboxing video for the RPG's $130 limited edition.

In the video, series producer Eiji Aonuma shows off everything in the premium bundle. The centerpiece is the Master Sword of Resurrection, which you'll notice has an "old and battered" look to it. Additionally, there is a flower next to it called the Silent Princess. Why is the sword battered and what is the significance of the flower? You'll find out after playing Breath of the Wild, Aonuma teased.

The Breath of the Wild limited edition also comes with the game's soundtrack and other bonuses. Watch the full video to see a complete rundown of what's included (via DualShockers).

Breath of the Wild comes out on March 3 as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch. The game is also coming to Wii U that day--and it could be the last first-party game Nintendo releases for it.

In other news, Nintendo has defended the RPG's $20 DLC Pass. For lots more on Breath of the Wild, you can read all our written coverage and watch every video here.


Check Out Battlefield 1 DLC's New Weapons

By Oscar Dayus on Feb 22, 2017 05:33 pm

A bunch of new weapons will be making their way to Battlefield 1 soon in the game's upcoming DLC pack, They Shall Not Pass. As part of the title's community test environment (CTE), the guns have already gone live for some players--check them out below.

A total of 11 new firearms have been shown off so far, though some of those are simply variants of other guns--for example, both the Infantry and Sniper versions of the Lebel Model 1886 are included. Three melee weapons are also highlighted: the gruesome-looking Nail Knife, Trench Fleur, and Cogwheel Club.

You don't unlock these armaments straight away--you have to perform challenges to earn them. These tasks mostly consist of grabbing a number of kills with different guns, but you'll also have to do things like revive or resupply your teammates.

The weapons, which will be included in the game's upcoming DLC expansion in March, have come to light as part of Battlefield 1's newest CTE update. The CTE is a testing server where features and balance changes are trialed before being made available to all players. Battlefield 1's CTE is only available on PC (for now at least) and you must own the $50/£40 Battlefield Premium pass to get in. You can find out more on how to register for the CTE here.

In other Battlefield 1 news, the game's big Winter update went live last week, introducing a higher level cap for each class, along with a number of bug fixes.

If you're just getting into Battlefield 1, meanwhile, check out our guide for beginners.


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