Shadow Wars is a series of missions available after the game's main story ends (when you've conquered all of Mordor). Sauron's army launches a counter assault against Talion--attacking different regions to re-conquer the fortresses you've won. Eurogamer says the assaults are split into stages and the assaults will get progressively tougher to beat.
Unlike the main campaign in the video above, where players must assault and conquer fortresses, Shadow Wars tasks you with holding capture points until all the attacking warchiefs have been conquered or killed. If you succeed, you get to hold onto your fortress, but if you fail, Sauron gains control and you'll have to retake it. You also may need to embark on a rescue mission to save the orc follower who was acting as Overlord. When players beat all of the stages of Shadow Wars, the game's final ending will play.
Eurogamer also reports this ending will tie Shadow of War's plot directly into Lord of the Rings. It didn't share any details beyond this, so players may have to wait until the game launches on October 10 to see how the stories intertwine. You can read Eurogamer's full article here.
Last week, Warner Bros. and developer Monolith revealed new details about Shadow of War's microtransaction store called the Market, where players can purchase things like loot chests, war chests, XP boosts, and bundles. Monolith has also shared more details about the game's multiplayer, where players can invade each other's captured fortresses and defend their own from similar assaults.
Snapchat is frequently used by companies to promote their products, offering themed lenses that highlight the release of a new movie by turning your head into a Transformer or something of the sort. The Pokemon Company is the latest company to go this route, letting you turn yourself into the most iconic of Pokemon (no, not Mr. Mime).
Yes, you can turn your very own face (or that of unsuspecting loved ones) into a Pikachu'd version, complete with ears, nose, and red cheeks. Opening your mouth will cause Pikachu to appear and start hollering and firing electricity all over the screen. Naturally, we couldn't help but take a bunch of photos of ourselves.
The Pokemon Company didn't say how long the lens will be available, but you can check it out now if you have Snapchat installed on your phone with the latest update. It doesn't appear to be meant to promote any specific new release.
In honor of Game Of Thrones Season 7 Episode 5, we're giving away a Jon Snow Funko Pop! One (1) winner will be chosen after the giveaway closes on Friday, August 18th at 12:00PM PT.
Open to US residents only, void where prohibited. If you do not win this time, you'll be automatically entered in the next giveaway.
By Anonymous on Aug 14, 2017 11:11 pm Lucy, Dave, and Tamoor discuss Gilly's revelation, Dickon's Goomba doppelgänger, and the reunion we've all been waiting for. Beware spoilers! Enter our Jon Snow Funko Pop giveaway! (US only): https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-thrones-season-7-episode-5-giveaway/1100-6452407/ Check out Mike's article on Jaime's chances: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-thrones-an-actual-armorer-weighs-in-on-jai/1100-6452332/
Call of Duty: WWII's multiplayer beta launches later this month, and we now have a better idea of what to expect from it.
The beta will feature the Pointe Du Hoc, Ardennes, and Gibraltar maps. Developer Sledgehammer notes there will be "at least three" multiplayer maps included, suggesting more could be added before the beta wraps up. Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint will all be playable, as will War, the new mode that we think helps to make WWII feel fresh. Specifically, you'll be able to check out Operation Breakout, described as the "first War mode experience."
Beta testers will also have the opportunity to experience Divisions, which serve as the replacement for the Pick 10 customization system that Call of Duty games have been using for years. The Infantry, Expeditionary, Airborne, Armored, and Mountain Divisions will all be available; however, progression will be limited, allowing access to only a selection of weapons and other unlockables.
"This test of the Private Multiplayer Beta will feature an introduction to a portion of the player's soldier progression and the underlying foundation of Divisions, and we can't wait to hear your thoughts on it," Sledgehammer said. "The final design of this new feature will continue to be fine-tuned as development continues from now through launch."
You can see a preview of all of this in the new trailer above. In addition to sharing what will be in the beta, the company also noted what will not be in there--namely, Headquarters (the new social space), supply drops, and esports functionality.
Sledgehammer described the beta as "a critical test of our core gameplay, our game systems, as well as a stress test of our online infrastructure at scale." It also made a call for feedback to the beta, saying it will help to "finalize features, optimize gameplay balance, and refine the remaining development roadmap to launch."
Call of Duty: WWII's beta will be private and runs August 25-28 on PS4. A second private beta will follow September 1-4 on both PS4 and Xbox One. You can guarantee yourself access to the betas by pre-ordering the game, which launches on November 3. Participating will get you some rewards in the full game.
By Anonymous on Aug 14, 2017 10:30 pm Nick and Jean-Luc sub in for our Playerunknown's Battlegrounds Monday. Join them for their hunt for chicken dinners.
By Anonymous on Aug 14, 2017 10:30 pm In this gameplay clip of the cyberpunk thriller, Observer, we tap into the memories of a dying man to reconstruct his version of the events that led to his death.
After Blade Runner implanted itself into the minds of moviegoers back in 1982, elements of its cyberpunk world and story would echo throughout pop culture for decades to come. Despite writers, filmmakers and game designers telling stories in similar worlds with outstanding results, the familiar dark rainy streets, grimy neon lights, and cautionary tales of body augmentations remained seemingly steadfast. With that in mind, it's a small revelation to see Polish studio Bloober Team take early cues from these influences and use them as a springboard to create something new and exciting with Observer.
Set in the year 2084, Observer tells the story of Daniel Lazarski (played by Blade Runner's Rutger Hauer), a detective who works the despair-ridden streets of Krakow under the direction of the leading corporation of the Fifth Polish Republic, Chiron. The world at large has gone to ruin. A digital plague killed thousands of augmented people and a colossal war wiped out any previous global superpowers. Thanks to this all-consuming conflict, Chiron rose from the ashes and became the leading authority and manufacturer of basically everything. Lazarski takes jobs from his contact at Chiron and using his body tech, is able to violently jack into the minds and memories of people (alive or dead) to track clues and solve crimes. Hence his official job title: Observer.
Lazarski gets called to a slum in the worst part of Krakow and this is where the majority of the game takes place. Citizens are divided into classes and this bleak Class C district is bursting at the seams with desperate, frightened people hiding in their rancid apartments and whose only escape from the absolute hell of their daily lives is drugs--chemical or technological.
Essentially a detective story, Observer almost immediately becomes more than the sum of its parts. Talking to residents, examining crime scenes and deciphering clues make up a lot of the gameplay here but it is all housed inside gorgeously detailed environments, the twisted memories of deranged strangers, and one of the most intriguing cyberpunk narratives in years. There's a constant sense of the towering dark skyline of the city but you're too focused on putting your hands in the muck to feel like you're missing out on anything greater. The society that has been carved out in this apartment building is all that matters and it's here that Observer starts to pull away from its influences and blaze its own unique trail.
Told from a first-person perspective, Lazarski slowly unravels events with his augmented technology by scanning crime scenes for either biological or electronic evidence (either of which can reveal different clues). He also makes use of his "Dream Eater" augmentation, which is designed to observe people's minds. Throughout the course of the game, it is these extraordinary sequences that present the horrific story beats in psychedelic, surreal ways.
From terrifying nightmare worlds, low-tech video game holograms and game designs that border on mad genius, both you and Lazarski emerge from these sections mentally exhausted but also instantly compelled to push forward to find out what happens next. Exploration, discovery and human interaction drive the narrative forward. In these bloody crime scenes and filthy apartments, the ability to open a door inches at a time adds another sense of sweat-soaked tension. Being in the moment is all that matters and every movement you make, whether it's scanning ID tags on illegal body mods or sneaking a look at the tenant list before the janitor comes back, pushes you deeper into Observer's illusion.
Another key feature that helps this universe emerge fully formed is the outstanding sound design. Hallways creak as you stalk from door to door, listening to bizarre noises rising from each apartment. The crackle of terrified residents through speakers, broken video screens blasting static and the cacophony of rainstorms envelope you in an uncomfortable tale. Mixed with the truly disturbing sounds coming from somewhere in the basement and Arkadiusz Reikowski's ominous industrial music and Observer's clutches become almost impossible to escape.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of moments that are frustratingly jarring. More than once, you are forced to engage in some instant-fail cat-and-mouse sequences that really don't fit with the rest of what Observer is trying to achieve. However, they are brief and are over within a few minutes. Problems like this are quickly forgotten when you're lost in a discussion with a tenant telling you about his religious order which rejects body modifications or slowly discovering the oppressive extent of Chiron's reach, from desktop computers to picture frames. Everything is covered in a film of grime. Random neon lights sputter in and out of life in the hallways and obsolete technology is bolted onto apartment doors making it clear that nobody of importance cares about this corner of the city.
That's why Observer succeeds as well as it does. Every scene adds a meaningful piece of the puzzle to a world and a story that you want to immediately know more about. It consistently presents surreal moments and surprises that would seem like, on paper, the work of lunatics. However, in this grimy and hopeless corner of Krakow, they feel completely at home. The writing for even the most fleeting of characters (even dead ones) feels genuine. Every person here, from crappy parents yelling at their kids while talking to you through a grimy video screen to abstract constructs of lost souls trapped in their own minds, has a convincing life of their own and that commitment to detail make Lazarski's descent into this future hell, and his own personal demons, all that more compelling.
Cyberpunk is a reflection of where we're headed as a society, an oddly alluring reality where we've allowed impressive technology into our lives at the cost of our humanity. This is a niche genre that needs new revisions and new pioneers so it can keep evolving as we inch closer to seeing its fictional warnings play out in real life, and Observer adds to the familiar parables in fascinating and unexpected ways. In that respect, and on so many other levels, Observer is a haunting and remarkable achievement.
Another Legendary is on the way to Pokemon Go. Players will soon have the opportunity to catch Mewtwo, but doing so won't be quite as simple as with previous Legendaries.
Mewtwo was unlocked following its successful capture at a Pokemon Go Stadium event in Japan. It's now coming to the game around the world as part of a new feature called Exclusive Raid Battles. These will "periodically appear" at Gyms and play out like the Raids that are already available, except you'll now need an invitation in order to take part.
To get your hands on an invite, you'll need to have completed a Raid "recently" at the same location where the Exclusive Raid Battle is being held. It's unclear exactly how much time will elapse between the end of a standard Raid and the launch of an Exclusive, but developer Niantic says the victors will have "advance warning." This is meant to provide "ample time to coordinate with other trainers."
Mewtwo will launch through Exclusive Raids in the "coming weeks," but "other powerful Pokemon" may hatch from Raid Eggs in the near future, too, Niantic teased. There's no word yet on which ones they might be; the game has recently seen the debut of several Legendary birds, including Zapdos most recently. Players in Japan are also able to find the game's first Shiny Pokemon.
If you've yet to catch one or simply missed out on what you were looking for, all four Legendaries released so far--Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Lugia--will be available again. They'll be catchable through Raid Battles from today through August 31.
Ongoing support for The Division continues, with the next big patch now just a day away. Ubisoft has announced the details of update 1.7, which overhauls existing systems and introduces a new activity type.
The new trailer above offers a brief overview of the update. Most significant are Global Events, which are limited-time events with special gameplay modifiers that pay out exclusive rewards. These events will begin "regularly" and provide the option "to activate additional modifiers for some missions and incursions, adding an extra layer of challenge that gives them a chance to yield more rewards." The first of these events begins just after the patch drops, running from August 15 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST until August 22. It will feature "new enemy behavior due to the severity of a virus outbreak."
Update 1.7 overhauls Feats and renames them as Commendations. These will now be tied into an integrated achievement system that gives players new tasks (and accompanying rewards).
New gear is also of course on the way, including reworked versions of existing gear sets called Classified gear sets. These offer better primary stat rolls, new recalibration options, and new five- and six-piece set bonuses. There will also be new face masks to help customize your look.
Survival mode has been improved and should allow players to reach higher scores. Rewards are also said to be better, and Ubisoft claims the "time investment is more on par with other activities."
Finally, there are encrypted caches, which hold a type of loot box with random customization items and emotes. These are opened with keys that can be found through regular gameplay or by purchasing them with real-world money.
Update 1.7 launches for free tomorrow, August 15. It's one of the two big updates due out during the game's second year on the market.
Unfortunately for European PlayStation players, PlayStation Plus is getting a price increase soon. However, before that happens, you can grab a 15-month subscription at the current price for 12 months in Europe.
This is a nice gesture from Sony, which recently announced that the normal price of the service will be bumped up £10 / €10 to £50 / €60 per year. Right now, you can buy 15 months for just £40 / €50, meaning that you get three months free. The price hike goes into effect on August 31.
Sony stated that the increase is due to "various market conditions" and the new price "enabl[es] us to continue providing exceptional value to our members." Sony told GameSpot that "there is nothing to announce" at this time about a possible price increase in the US. PS Plus memberships increased in North America in September 2016, now costing $60 for 12 months and $25 for three months in the US.
The Defenders is the latest Marvel series, and it unites the four heroes of previous Netflix shows--Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. The final trailer has now been released--check it out below:
The show stars Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), and Finn Jones (Iron Fist). They will be joined by a variety of characters from the individual Netflix shows, including Daredevil's Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll), Jessica Jones's Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss), and Luke Cage's Misty Knight, played by Simone Missick.
In a recent interview with the Independent, Cox spoke about his part in the team, an explained that there was no one "leader" of The Defenders. "These are four people with equally strong opinions who are forced together against their will to work together," he said. "Whether one person emerges as a leader from that group is yet to be seen. It's more interesting that it is an ensemble, and it is about each of them recognising what the others bring to the table and the group."
In related news, production is underway on more Marvel Netflix shows. Jessica Jones Season 2 is currently shooting, and it was reported last month that the second season of Luke Cage will feature some iconic Marvel villains.
Mewtwo isn't the only Legendary Pokemon on the way to Pokemon Go. Developer Niantic has announced that the game's previous four Legendaries--Lugia, Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos--will also be returning throughout the rest of the month.
Beginning today, players will have another chance to add all four of the Legendary birds to their collections. As before, the Pokemon will appear at Gyms as Raid Battle bosses. Players will have to team up with other trainers to battle the powerful Pokemon; once defeated, players will have an opportunity to capture the Legendaries.
Niantic first introduced Legendary Pokemon to the popular game last month, following the Pokemon Go Fest event that took place in Chicago. Up until now, however, players had very brief windows of time to capture the Pokemon; the first two, Lugia and Articuno, were only available the week following Pokemon Go Fest, while the most recent Legendary, Zapdos, appeared from August 8-14. Players will now be able to encounter the four Pokemon in Raid Battles until August 31.
As for the game's newest Legendary, Mewtwo, players will begin encountering the powerful Psychic-type "soon," after it was successfully captured at a Pokemon Go Stadium event in Japan. Unlike the aforementioned Legendaries, however, Mewtwo will only be available in Exclusive Raid Battles--a new form of Raid Battles that require an invitation in order to participate. Pokemon Go's first Shiny Pokemon also started appearing in Japan recently, though there is currently no word on when Shiny Pokemon will be available in other parts of the world.
GOG has launched a new sale that's a bit different than usual, and it's also giving away a free game for a very limited time.
The freebie is Deadlight, the 2012 side-scroller developed by Rime and The Sexy Brutale studio Tequila Works. You specifically get the Director's Cut edition for free, which includes a new mode, improved controls, and enhanced visuals. It's free from now until August 16 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM BST; grab it here.
As for the sale, it's unusual in that you don't actually know what you're buying. Piñata Madness offers up $3/£2.39 "piñatas," which are essentially mystery boxes. After purchasing one, you open it to find a game that carries a regular price of anywhere from $6 to $45. These are all full games, and not DLC or other things of the sort.
Piñata Madness runs until August 21. More games will be introduced to the pool between now and then, and you'll have until August 28 to open any of your purchases. Unopened piñatas will be opened and the games included added to your library automatically.
By Anonymous on Aug 14, 2017 08:30 pm Seeeegaaaa!! Joey is back to unbox the Sonic Mania: Collector's Edition, and is joined by "#1 Sonic Fan Chastity Vicencio" to open it up and have a look at all the goodies inside.
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Lucy, Dave, and Tamoor discuss Gilly's revelation, Dickon's Goomba doppelgänger, and the reunion we've all been waiting for. Beware spoilers! Enter our Jon Snow Funko Pop giveaway! (US only): https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-thrones-season-7-episode-5-giveaway/1100-6452407/ Check out Mike's article on Jaime's chances: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-thrones-an-actual-armorer-weighs-in-on-jai/1100-6452332/
Nick and Jean-Luc sub in for our Playerunknown's Battlegrounds Monday. Join them for their hunt for chicken dinners.
In this gameplay clip of the cyberpunk thriller, Observer, we tap into the memories of a dying man to reconstruct his version of the events that led to his death.
Seeeegaaaa!! Joey is back to unbox the Sonic Mania: Collector's Edition, and is joined by "#1 Sonic Fan Chastity Vicencio" to open it up and have a look at all the goodies inside.
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