Not content with the extremely successful core entries in the Fast and the Furious series, Universal is reportedly considering a spinoff film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Statham.
That's according to Deadline, which reports the concept is still in the "early stages." It would be written by Chris Morgan, who's served as a writer for the bulk of the series. The basic concept would be for the two actors' characters to form an "unlikely alliance" in a film, which would bridge the gap until the next Fast movie is released, whenever that might be.
Statham and, in particular, Johnson have become mainstays in the series since their introductions in Fast & Furious 6 and Fast Five, respectively. Johnson and series star/producer Vin Diesel reportedly clashed during the production of the most recent film, The Fate of the Furious. But with that movie breaking global box office records, the two are rumored to have settled their issues and are prepared to work together again on a future entry in the series.
With the launch of Dark Souls III's final expansion, The Ringed City, last month, the complete game is now out in the wild. While no more content will come for the threequel, publisher Bandai Namco has released a new version that includes all previously released DLC. Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition is out now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and you can take a look at the launch trailer below.
The collection contains the base game in addition to all the season pass content--so the Ashes of Ariandel and Ringed City expansions are included in the US $50 / £40 / AU $90 price tag. The Fire Fades Edition is available both physically and digitally in the UK and Australia, though it is unclear if the PC version is coming to the US. PC players can, however, purchase the previously released Dark Souls III Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game and the season pass for $85.
In our Ashes of Ariendel review, critic Miguel Concepcion said the expansion "is ultimately a safe addition to Dark Souls III," but he did call it a "fitting extension" with an "impressive final boss." Our Ringed City review, meanwhile, called what could be the final chapter in the Dark Souls story "a worthy conclusion to a storied franchise."
In addition to announcing new DLC, Konami today released a free update for Nintendo Switch launch game Super Bomberman R that dramatically improves its frame rate and adds new content.
While the patch notes remain fairly vague, stating only that the "frame rate of the entire game has been improved," players (including one at Destructoid) have reported a marked improvement in performance. It's unclear at this point if it now runs at 60 FPS, but whatever the case, you should be able to now enjoy a much smoother experience.
That also applies to online play; in matches where everyone has a good connection, latency has been reduced--or, as the patch notes put it, "less lags are likelier to happen."
Other changes include control improvements, lowering the difficulty of the Beginner and Normal settings, and removing the Gem cost after continuing in Story mode a "certain number of times." The shop also now has new accessories and four new Versus stages (pictured above), but you'll need a fair amount of in-game currency to unlock them. The full patch notes follow at the bottom of this story.
Konami has also announced new content is on the way themed around some of its other games, Famitsu reports. Characters based on Castlevania's Simon Belmont, Silent Hill's Pyramid Head, and Gradius's Vic Viper are all coming to Super Bomberman R, although a release date or possible price for these wasn't shared. We did, however, get the images above (via Destructoid) that provide some idea of what they may look like.
Super Bomberman R 1.3 Update Patch Notes
Four new VS stages have been added to the shop (White Cross, Lagoon, Max Speed, Power Zone).
Two new series of accessories have been added to the shop (Crowns, Bombs).
The frame rate of the entire game has been improved. We also made slight adjustments and improved the controls as well.
Less lags are likelier to happen when every participant in the Online Battle have good network connection.
If you want to find opponents with good connection, set Other > Basic Settings > Network Settings to the very left.
Made it possible to press L/R to change the inclination of he map in the Story Mode. Other > Basing Settings will also allow you to fix the camera position as well.
You can now choose the strength of the COM on the Multiplayer Battle Mode.
The strength of the Five Dastardly Bombers on the Story Mode have been adjusted.
The difficulties of Beginner and Normal have been reduced, making it easier to beat them.
Adjusted the heights and slopes on some maps to improve the visibility.
If you continue a certain number of times in the Story Mode, you will be able to continue without paying anymore gems.
Changed the BP (Battle Point) increase/decrease rate for the League Battle.
Call of Duty: WWII has been confirmed for later this year.
Following WWII rumors at the end of March, developer Sledgehammer Games has officially revealed the title and setting of its upcoming shooter. Alongside the announcement, Activision has provided a first look at art for the game, which you can see below. A full reveal livestream is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET/6 PM BST.
The livestream will reveal "more details" and give fans "a first look at Call of Duty: WWII" as well as "intel on the studio's vision for the game."
Sledgehammer is one of three developers working on Call of Duty games in rotation; the team previously worked on Advanced Warfare.
We'll have more on Call of Duty: WWII when the worldwide reveal stream goes live on Wednesday. Setting aside the rumors, today's news doesn't come as a surprise, as Activision previously stated that Call of Duty would be "going back to its roots" in 2017.
It was reported earlier this week that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2will have no fewer than five post-credit scenes. Nevertheless, there is still footage that has been cut from the movie, as Firefly star Nathan Fillion revealed with a new post on Instagram. Check the image out below:
. @NathanFillion was Simon Williams in some movie POSTERS in a scene cut from the movie. It was a way to have fun with one of my best pals. https://t.co/aueWcm88zb
Fillion has worked with Gunn several times in the past. He starred in the director's 2008 horror comedy Slither, and also cameoed in the first Guardians movie.
Gunn has also confirmed that he will return to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. "My love for [the characters] goes deeper than you guys can possibly imagine," he wrote on Facebook."I feel they have more adventures to go on and things to learn about themselves and the wonderful and sometimes terrifying universe we all inhabit. And like in both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, we will work on creating the story that goes beyond what you expect."
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Sandala, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, and Kurt Russell. It hits theaters on May 5; you can check out a trailer here. In addition, Telltale has now released the first episode of its adventure game series--click here to read GameSpot's review.
We've now rounded up all the freebies into lists, which you can see below. We will update this post in the days, weeks, and years ahead when more games are added. EA has vowed never to remove any games from the "Vault" of freebies. "I think one of the key things is that once a game goes into the Vault it stays there, it's not going to be taken out, that's a commitment we've made," Peter Moore said.
In addition to free games, EA/Origin Access members can play some games (but not all) ahead of launch; most of the time, subscribers get a five-day headstart. Another benefit is that subscribers save 10 percent on all EA digital content, which knocks down the price of a $60 game to $54.
The service costs $5/month or $30/year.
EA Access Free Games (As of April 21, 2017)
New and upcoming games are bolded
Battlefield 3 (released on January 20)
Battlefield 4
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (released on January 20)
Dawn of War III, the latest game in the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, launches April 27, but fans will have a chance to try it out for free this weekend.
An open beta starts today, April 21, at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET/6 PM BST, ending at the same time on Monday, April 24. Included in the beta is access to all three of the game's factions--Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks--and a limited selection of elite heroes for each. The trial is multiplayer only, and you'll have access to three maps and all three match sizes: 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3.
Additionally, you'll be able to try out six doctrines per faction. Doctrines allow you to give your army abilities such as a health regeneration or taunts, altering the way it fights.
You can sign up to the open beta here, or take a look at a full match of gameplay here. Developer Relic Entertainment warns that any progress made in the beta will not carry over into the final game.
Relic has also released a new trailer to celebrate the game's upcoming launch--check it out above.
Reviews for the new strategy title recently went live, and the reception from critics has been positive. In our review, we said the RTS game "builds and maintains an organic tension that yields huge pay-offs ... there's nothing else quite like it." Take a look at our full Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III review for more.
With May just over a week away, Microsoft has announced the lineup of games that Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free during the month.
On Xbox One, the month starts out with the director's cut version of platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dream. It's then followed by co-op action game Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris.
With May bringing with it the usual May 4 Star Wars Day celebration, both Xbox 360 games hail from the franchise. The first half of the month offers up Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, while the second half brings Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. As always, both games are also playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
The stellar platformer N++ is getting a major upgrade, and it's coming for free.
N++ Ultimate Edition launches today for PC and is coming "soon" for PS4. It's a free upgrade for the game that introduces a wealth of new content--most significantly, a huge number of new levels. According to developer Metanet Software, Ultimate Edition features 4,340 levels, twice as many as the existing version of N++.
Ultimate Edition also introduces new headband options, secrets, and 60 color schemes for customizing the look of the game. It'll still have some phenomenal music, too, judging by the trailer above.
Finally, Ultimate Edition adds something called Hardcore mode. Few details were shared, with Metanet describing it as a solo-oriented mode that is "all about skill." It also "changes the rules of the game and lets the player see Solo in a whole new light."
To celebrate today's release, the game will be half-price on Steam for 48 hours starting today at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, dropping it in price to $7.50.
The computer version of RPG Two Worlds II will soon receive a new expansion, more than six years after the game's first release.
Publisher TopWare Interactive today shared new details about Call of the Tenebrae, which was actually first announced last year, when Two Worlds III was confirmed. Tenebrae was expected to be out by no later than June of last year but is only now approaching its release.
Tenebrae is described as a "10+ hour adventure that is nearly a full sized release." It will be released both as DLC for Two Worlds II (for $10) and as a standalone expansion ($15) that anyone will be able to purchase and play. Either way, the game will feature a "major HD engine update" and new areas, enemies, weapons, and achievements.
Here's the official synopsis: "Two Worlds II: Call of the Tenebrae plunges the hero into a decades-old mystery and a battle against a hideous, ancient evil known as The Tenebrae. The stakes have never been higher, but our hero won't face this threat alone. Friends and foes both new and old await you, as you fight to discover the truth behind a powerful secret that will shake the Two Worlds universe to its core."
If you're looking for even more Two Worlds II content, a season pass will also be sold. This comes with Tenebrae, another DLC expansion called Shattered Embrace (slated for a release between October and December), two multiplayer map packs, and other digital content. A price for it was not shared.
Call of the Tenebrae is due out on May 25 for PC, Mac, Linux, and SteamOS.
EA and Origin Access subscribers can now download football phenomenon FIFA 17 on Xbox One and PC. Subscribers can play the full version of the game for as long as their subscription remains active.
The title is not the first in the series to join the EA Access Vault: FIFA 14, FIFA 15, and 16 are also available for those who subscribe. We enjoyed the latest in the franchise when it launched in September 2016--critic Nathan Ditum awarded it a 9/10. Read his thoughts in our full FIFA 17 review.
In addition to free games, EA/Origin Access members can play some games (but not all) ahead of launch; most of the time, subscribers get a five-day headstart. Another benefit is that subscribers save 10% on all EA digital content, which knocks down the price of a $60 game to $54. The service costs $5/month or $30/year.
Valve has released a new update for Dota 2 which it says is focused on "improving the matchmaking experience" in the popular multiplayer game. One of the major new changes is a requirement that asks players to register a phone number to play in ranked online multiplayer matches.
"Players using multiple accounts create a negative matchmaking experience at all skill brackets, so our goal is to add just enough friction to this process that the number of players doing this will be noticeably reduced," it explained in a blog post. "Having more players using their primary accounts will have a positive effect on both Ranked and Unranked Matchmaking."
From April 20, players have two weeks to register their mobile phone number. However, from May 4, accounts that do not have a phone number linked to it will no longer be able to participate in ranked play.
Phone numbers can be unlinked from an account so that a new one can be swapped in, but there is a three-month waiting period before the original number can be tied to a new account. This, Valve says, "is to prevent using the same number on multiple accounts." Valve adds that "online services that provide phone numbers are not allowed."
The update also brings back the Solo Queue, so players in ranked matchmaking can opt to only be matched up with other solo players. "Any player who selects this option will be placed into matches where all ten players are queuing solo," Valve explained.
Tweaks have also been made to the way undesirable behaviour is dealt with in matchmaking.
"Being marked for low-priority matches now results in a duration-based ban from the Ranked queue, in addition to the current game-count-based low priority requirement. The ban will start at a low threshold of a few hours, and increase up to four days for players who are very frequently in low priority."
Valve has also improved detection for "clear cases of intentional feeding," which involves players sacrificing themselves to the enemy so the opposing hero can accrue experience and power quicker. Additionally, bot detection has been improved.
Finally, Valve has made ranked matchmaking unavailable in South Africa, India, and Dubai because their "low populations made them prime targets for various Ranked Matchmaking abuses."
"For the time being, players in these regions will need to join Ranked Matchmaking queues in one of the other nearby supported servers. ... We will update these servers as the unranked populations in these regions grow to the critical mass needed to be able to support splitting the user base into Ranked and Unranked queues."
In December 2016 Dota 2 received a massive overhaul that reworked the game's HUD, refined the map, hero console, top bar, and shop. The Monkey King, who is based on Sun Wukong, was also introduced in this patch. Dota 2 continues to be one of the most popular titles on Steam and currently has the most number of active players.
The X-Files is coming back. It has been confirmed that the hugely popular sci-fi mystery show has been renewed for another season, which will premiere later this year.
The show's renewal was announced by Fox TV boss David Madden, who confirmed that stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson would be back, along with the show's creator Chris Carter. "Iconic characters, rich storytelling, bold creators--these are the hallmarks of great TV shows. And they are some of the reasons why The X-Files has had such a profound impact on millions of fans worldwide," Madden said in a statement.
"Chris's creativity, along with the brilliant work of David and Gillian, continue to propel this pop culture phenomenon, and we can't wait to see what fresh mysteries Mulder and Scully uncover in this next chapter."
The X-Files originally ran for nine years, and clocked up 202 episodes between 1993 and 2002. By the time the last of those original seasons had ended, it had become the longest-running consecutive sci-fi series ever on US broadcast TV. There were also two spinoff movies: 1998's The X-Files: Fight the Future, and The X-Files: I Want to Believe in 2008.
Alien: Covenant's cast and crew have been promising for some time that the latest movie in the sci-fi horror franchise would be a scary ride. Some new images have arrived via Empire, and they certainly suggest this, including one particularly gruesome still of the movie's new creature, known as a Neomorph. Check out two pictures below, and one with a potential spoiler at the end of this story:
These new images follow a series of promotional teasers that were released earlier this week. They took the form of video messages left by crew members for their families back home--you can check the first two out here, while the subsequent ones are here and here.
"There will be another one before we kind of literally and logically, clockwise, back into the rear back head of [the original] Alien," he said. "It will go Prometheus, Awakening, Covenant. There will be more after this. If this is successful, and then the next one, and then there will definitely be three more."
Alien: Covenant arrives in theaters on May 19 in the US and May 12 in the UK.
Popular city-building game Cities: Skylines is now available on Xbox One, two years after its initial PC launch.
The port costs US $40 / £32 / AU $52.45, and it includes both the base game and its night-based expansion After Dark. It does not include any of the game's other DLC, and it's unclear if those add-ons--Snowfall, Natural Disasters, and the upcoming Mass Transit--will ever come to Xbox One. The game is also available physically in Europe, but other markets are only getting a digital release.
Here at GameSpot, we enjoyed the original PC version. In our Cities: Skylines review, real-life mayor Brett Todd said, "There is no better way to take a peek at life as a mayor without filing your papers to run for office in the real world."
Jonathan Blow, the creator of acclaimed titles Braid and The Witness, has shown off a very early version of his next game, which as of yet has not been officially announced.
The unnamed game briefly appeared during a presentation at the Reboot Develop conference in Croatia, where Blow delivered a talk on making game programming a little easier. During this, he showcased a grid-based game where a character is able to push around a block.
You can see the game at the 5:32:45 mark below.
Blow emphasised that the game was in a very early stage of development as he had instead been focusing efforts on making the in-game editor and engine. This engine, Blow said, will be given away for free for other developers to use.
The game itself is currently at "25+ hours of single-player gameplay," but it is "not polished yet" and most of the levels look "like programmer art slabs." He didn't want to show more of the game because there wasn't enough time and he didn't want to officially announce it.
Blow's last game, The Witness, began full development in 2008 and was released in 2016. In GameSpot's The Witness review, Mike Mahardy awarded it a 9/10, saying that it "molds its world, puzzles, and themes into such a layered, cohesive whole that, if we look hard enough, we'll keep finding new ways to perceive it."
Sony is bringing back its "Road to Greatness" event, which sees the company fill a tractor trailer with PlayStation games and more for a nationwide tour.
The tour kicks off this weekend (April 21-23) at the Silicon Valley Comic-Con, with other stops including Sun Fest (May 3-7) in West Palm Beach, Florida; Summefest (June 29-July 2) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the MLB All-Star Game Fan Fest (July 7-11) in Miami, Florida; and the GameStop Expo (August 27) in Las Vegas, Nevada, just to name a few. You can see the full list of tour stops here.
Some of the games that attendees can play include Disc Jam, Injustice 2, Madden NFL 17, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Gang Beasts, and Farpoint. People can also purchase PlayStation items such as t-shirts and hats, while the #75 PlayStation Collectible Card will be available. This was previously only available to people who attended PlayStation Experience 2015.
Also coming in the update is the ability to magnify the subtitles and menu screen size. That's not all the update does, either. Here is more from the Nova Crystalis report (via NeoGAF):
"Additionally, subtitles and menu screen size can now be magnified. Timed quests will also start up again, along with a ranking system. Extravagant weapons can be obtained from them. Furthermore, a new sticker has been added for Regalia customization, along with new music for the music player."
This new Final Fantasy XV update launches on April 27, presumably for all PS4 and Xbox One.
Australian Snooker champion Neil Robertson has opened up on his former video game habits and how playing games like League of Legends and World of Warcraft affected his professional career.
Speaking to EuroSport (via Kotaku), the Australian-born Robertson said games like League of Legends are designed to "to over your life."
"You find yourself sitting in front of the computer screen for six, seven or eight hours straight. Which is obviously not healthy," he said.
Robertson stressed that his time spent playing video games didn't necessarily stop him from winning more tournaments, but at the same time, he acknowledged, " I think I would have given myself more opportunities to go further in other events."
Probably my most honest interview and talk about some truths I'm not proud about. Hitting the practice table hard can make up for it😃💪 https://t.co/AFwZUKjEZt
He also talked about how he became "addicted like hell" to FIFA 14, which cut into his practice time while managing his son's schedule as well.
"I was obsessed with winning the title against other players. I'd get up in the morning to take [his son Alexander] to school then turn on the Xbox, thinking, 'I'll just have one game with a cup of coffee to wake myself up,'" he said. "Before you know it, it is 2 PM in the afternoon. It is then too late to go to the club to practice because I've got to pick Alexander up from school."
Additionally, Robertson said he was part of a WoW raid group and how he didn't want to miss his team's raid even when he was in China for a Snooker event.
"When I got out there, the connection was so bad that I couldn't get access. I was furious for four or five days," he said. "All I was thinking about was getting back home for a connection from China. I lost my spot on the team, and all of a sudden that became more important than the snooker which is absolutely crazy."
The full interview is packed with more insight and strong quotes--read it here. On Twitter, Robertson said it was probably the "most honest" interview he's ever done.
He is now "hitting the [Snooker] practice table hard" to make up for his time away.
Curious about the action-RPG Portal Knights? A free trial version of the game is out now on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in US and EMEA regions, letting you get a taste of the game before its release.
The trial contains the game's first location, Squire's Knoll, with support for single-player and multiplayer with offline co-op via two-player split-screen At the start, you can choose your character class and customize your avatar before going to battle. The trial also lets you sample the game's crafting system; you find resources and can use them to make equipment and armor.
All progress from the Portal Knights free trial will carry forward to the full game when it comes out.
Portal Knights launches on May 23 in the US for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while the game will leave Early Access on Steam at that time. People in EMEA regions can play beginning on May 19.
You can download the console demo right now using the links below.
If that name sounds familiar, it's because the Variety Map Pack was released in 2008 for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It adds the same four maps from that expansion, Broadcast, Chinatown, Creek, and Killhouse, but with updated graphics.
The expansion costs $15. It also comes with 10 "Rare" supply drops, which contain cosmetic items. These are normally unlocked through gameplay or by spending real money.
All Call of Duty DLC now launches first on PlayStation as part of a timed-exclusivity deal between Activision and Sony.
Modern Warfare Remastered is only available through Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's Legacy Edition. The package launched at $80, but you can find it for a lot less right now. It remains to be seen if Activision will ever release Modern Warfare Remastered on its own.
In other Call of Duty news, this year's entry is coming from Advanced Warfare studio Sledgehammer Games. It's been described as a title that returns to the "roots" of the series. Reports have suggested the title is set in World War II, but this has not been confirmed.
Following Star Wars: Battlefront II's official announcement last week, even more details about the anticipated sci-fi shooter have now come to light from developer tweets (via GamesRadar).
First, associate design director Dennis Brannvall confirmed on Twitter that, like the 2015 game, Battlefront II will make use of dedicated servers for multiplayer. He also said that the new class system for Battlefront II will not offer the same level of "freedom" as the Star Card system in the 2015 title. However, Brannvall stressed that, "You can definitely customize your trooper class quite drastically to suit your playstyle."
Additionally, he touched on the reloading system for Battlefront II. Without giving away specifics, he said it will be a combination of cooldown and reloading, "kind of [sic]."
"We're doing some improvements and we'll have more details later," he said.
We also learn from game designer Christian Johannesen that Battlefront II's $80 Elite Trooper Deluxe Edition content--at least some of it--can be unlocked through normal gameplay. As announced previously, some of this content includes "upgraded" abilities for every Trooper class: Officer, Assault, Heavy, and Specialist.
Battlefront II launches on November 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. For more on the game, check out all of GameSpot's written and video content here.
The new update fixes some serious-sounding issues, including one Crucible problem where the round timer for Elimination matches stopped indefinitely in some circumstances. The patch also addresses an issue where players could stand outside of the playable space on the Rusted Lands map.
There are also fixes for Destiny's raids, the Eververse store, vendors, and quests. You can see the full patch notes below, as posted on Bungie's website.
This patch arrives just before Destiny's Trials of Osiris event returns tomorrow, April 21. The playlist goes live at 10 AM PT and runs until Tuesday at 2 AM PT. You can read more about the activity here on Bungie's website.
As for Destiny 2, the highly anticipated game arrives in September for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as PC for the first time in the franchise. You can read more about Destiny 2 here.
Destiny 2.6.0.2 Patch Notes
Raids
Fixed a crash when respawning with Knuckles of Eao active
Crucible
Fixed an issue where the Elimination round timer was stopping indefinitely when a Guardian was killed immediately after being revived in high-latency matches
Fixed an issue where some Flawless Trials of Osiris runs prior to the Rise of Iron Release were not being counted in the Record Book
Added invisible physics to prevent players from standing outside the intended playable space on Rusted Lands
Eververse
Fixed an issue where Treasures of Ages earned from completing Activities each week were previously not stacking
Fixed an issue causing some Sterling Treasures to not drop Desolate Armor
Added change that prevents duplicate rewards of the new Ships in the Treasure of Ages
Vendors
Fixed an issue where Eris was not selling Runes for Court of Oryx
Quests
Fixed an issue where the Weekly Heroic Story Playlist was not progressing the Pushing Back the Darkness quest step of the "A Tale of Two Guardians" quest
Miscellaneous
Fixed an issue where viewing characters on Bungie.net or in 3rd party tools could cause some Record Book objectives to change state incorrectly, often resulting in a notification
There have been a lot of impressive Halo 5 Forge creations already, including Halo spins on Quidditch and Star Wars podracing, while a working Rubik's cube has also been made in the game. Now comes another very awesome Halo 5 Forge creation in the form of a Rube Goldberg Machine.
Created and shown off in the YouTube video below from Unsorted Gaming (via Halo Waypoint), the incredible contraption involves all manner of items such as red Solo cups and tube systems. It's pretty incredible to watch. However, it doesn't always work, Unsorted Gaming. If that happens, there is a reset function that starts the process again. Check out the video below.
Additionally, Halo 5 is one of the games that will be featured in the Xbox Game Pass service, which is due to launch this spring--maybe soon. And right now, you can pick up the Halo Wars Definitive Edition, which is finally available as a standalone game.
Microsoft had planned to launch the next Halo Wars 2 DLC leader, Colony, this week--but that didn't happen. In Microsoft's latest weekly blog post today, developer 343 Industries said "a few lingering pesky bugs" contributed to a situation that meant that Colony would need to be delayed.
"As much as we hate to let down players and fall through on a promise, holding the DLC to make sure these issues get addressed is the right, albeit painful, call to make," the studio said.
343 went on to say that the bug in question was of the "game-breaking" variety. Here is how 343 summed up the serious-sounding issue:
"Initially the real show-stopper had to do with the new Skitterer units, which are basically little symbiotes that can be attached to any friendly unit that acts as a mini self-targeting turret and healer. During a final test pass, the team found something disturbing--it turned out that once an attached Skitterer started firing on a target, it could continue doing with so with zero regard to range or line of sight," the studio said.
"Imagine equipping a few fast moving Banshees with Skitterers, flying up to your opponent's base and taking a few quick shots, and then retreating across the map as your friendly Skitterers continue to fire away at their target from miles away. Some may call that awesome but alas it's also a cheap exploit that would immediately result in some really bad game experiences and whole lot of salt from players on the receiving end."
The good news for Halo Wars 2 fans is that Colony is now "on track" to launch sometime next week. In addition to the new leader, the Colony DLC adds two more achievements to unlock. These are:
Hunter/Hunted - User Hunter Captain's Taunt ability 50 times
Turrets Everywhere - Attach 50 Skitterers to squads
The fifth annual BitSummit, a Japanese indie game-focused event, is just a month away, and we now have many of the details about what it has in store for attendees.
Taking place May 20-21 in Japan, BitSummit--which gets a different name and theme each year--has been dubbed A 5th of BitSummit. Platinum Games veteran Atsushi Inaba will deliver the keynote, while both Nintendo and Twitch will serve as the event's main sponsors.
This year's event will again be located at the Miyako Messe in Kyoto, Japan. It's open to the public, with a two-day pass for adults being priced at only 2,000 yen (about $20).
GameSpot and Five Star Games are very excited to give readers the opportunity to win a copy of the very limited Dawn of War III Collector's Edition. We recently reviewed the game and said: "Dawn of War III builds and maintains an organic tension that yields huge pay-offs, and there's nothing else quite like it."
One lucky GameSpot reader will get this limited collector's edition which features the following:
Gabriel Angelos' iconic "Godsplitter Daemon Hammer" replica (14.2" x 4.2")
3 cloth faction banners mounted on wooden poles with custom artwork and slogans (25" x 15.2")
Premium Disc Book
Official game soundtrack with 18 epic tracks composed by Paul-Leonard Morgan
Lenticular Art Card which rotates between the 3 race masks (5.7" x 6.7")
Additionally, three runners-up will receive a copy of Dawn of War III Limited Edition, which contains Dawn of War III, the official game soundtrack, a premium disc book, and lenticular art card.
To enter, simply fill in the form below and provide an answer to the following hypothetical question:
"Pretend you're an orphan. Which Warhammer 40K race or clan would you want to adopt you, and why?"
GameSpot staff will hand-pick the winners based on the creativity and/or humour your answers. This competition will close on Thursday, April 27 at 9:00am AEST.
This competition is only open to residents of Australia. All entrants must be over 18 years of age.
Please use the form to enter the competition, answers written in the comments section are invalid.
In New Zealand, Wildlands was also No. 1 for the week, though the top five looks different. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare comes in at No. 2, with Horizon: Zero Dawn, Battlefield 1, and Far Cry Primal rounding out the top five in that order.
Best-Selling Physical Games For Australia And New Zealand (Week Ended April 16):
Ubisoft today announced the next downloadable content for its extreme sports game Steep. Titled "Winterfest," the expansion lets players take part in the "craziest in-game snow sports festival ever organized." A big part of the expansion is the arrival of a new mode of traversal: a Winter Sled.
There are also 21 "wacky" new challenges to attempt, 10 more costumes to collect (banana and dinosaur suits are shown in the video), more customization items, and new bosses. All of the content is set in the Alps, not the Alaska region that was introduced earlier this year as DLC.
Winterfest launches on March 3 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It's included with Steep's $20 season pass and $80 gold edition (which contains the season pass) or it can be purchased by itself for $12.
The NPD Group today released its report for March 2017, revealing the top 10 best-selling games of the month for the United States and other key industry facts.
You can see all of the top-seller lists NPD shared below. As is now the case every month, these lists are ranked by US dollar sales and combine physical sales with digital sales from select publishers (absences include Nintendo and Sony). All figures in this post do not cover the entire industry spend.
Overall, total video game spending--across hardware, software, and accessories--improved year-over-year, rising 24 percent to over $1.3 billion. In a statement, NPD Group analyst Sam Naji said the launch of the Nintendo Switch on March 3 and a number of big-name games helped spending improve.
This uptick in sales is notable, as total physical sales had previously declined every month for the past year months.
"March 2017 will go down in history books as the month Nintendo broke records," Naji explained. "The Nintendo Switch had the biggest hardware launch for a Nintendo platform and the second biggest launch for any video game platform since 1995, the time NPD began tracking this category."
The Switch sold 906,000 units in the US during March, which is 31,000 more than Nintendo's previous record-holder for first-month sales--the Game Boy Advance back in 2001.
Specifically, the Switch's Gray model was the best-selling console of March 2017, followed by the Neon Red/Blue version.
As Nintendo itself announced, Breath of the Wild sales have reached 1.3 million units across Switch and Wii U. The Switch version sold over 900,000 physical copies, giving the game an attach rate of 99 percent for Switch hardware. "This is the highest attach rate for any non-bundled title for a new gaming platform since NPD began tracking in 1995," Naji said.
As for the month's best-selling game, Wildlands, it had the best launch of any Ghost Recon game ever, Naji said. It's not the best start for a Tom Clancy game, however, as that distinction goes to The Division.
The highly anticipated Andromeda, which finished March in the No. 3 position, failed to eclipse Mass Effect 3, which continues to hold the record for best launch, according to the NPD. And as for Horizon: Zero Dawn, the month's fourth best-selling game, it was developer Guerrilla's "best launch ever," Naji said, noting it sold "twice as much" as PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall, the previous record-holder.
Horizon Zero Dawn was the fourth best-selling title for the month. Developed by Guerrilla Games, this was the developer's best launch ever, selling twice as much as its next best title, Killzone Shadow Fall.
March 2017 Top 10 Games
Titles marked with an asterisk do not include digital sales
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Horizon: Zero Dawn*
MLB The Show 17*
Grand Theft Auto V
For Honor
NBA 2K17
Nier: Automata
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
March 2017 Top 10 PS4 Games
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Horizon: Zero Dawn*
Mass Effect: Andromeda
MLB The Show 17*
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
Nier Automata
Grand Theft Auto V
NBA 2K17
For Honor
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
March 2017 Top 10 Xbox One Games
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Mass Effect: Andromeda
For Honor
NBA 2K17
Grand Theft Auto V
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Battlefield 1
Halo Wars 2
Overwatch
Forza Horizon 3
March 2017 Top Nintendo Switch Games
Only six were listed
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
1-2 Switch*
Super Bomberman R*
Just Dance 2017*
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth*
Skylanders: Imaginators*
March 2017 Top Wii U Games
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD*
Super Smash Bros.*
Minecraft*
Paper Mario: Color Smash*
Pokken Tournament*
New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U*
Super Mario Maker*
Yoshi's Wooly World*
Splatoon*
March 2017 Top 10 Portable Titles
Pokemon Sun*
Pokemon Moon*
Super Mario Maker*
Poochy and Yoshi's Wooly World*
Mario Sports Superstars*
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns*
Super Smash Bros.*
Mario Kart 7*
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D*
New Super Mario Bros. 2*
2017 Top Games
These are the top-selling games year-to-date based on dollar sales.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
For Honor
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Resident Evil 7
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Grand Theft Auto V
Horizon: Zero Dawn*
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
NBA 2K17
Battlefield 1
12 Months Rolling Through March 2017
These are the best-selling games (again, in terms of dollar sales) for the 12 months rolling through March 2017.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Battlefield 1
NBA 2K17
Madden NFL 17
Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch (Battle.net sales not included)
FIFA 17
Final Fantasy XV
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Dark Souls III
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