Destiny 2 is right around the corner, and so Destiny 1 is winding down: the game's final Iron Banner begins today, so jump on this week to win some last-minute loot.
The Iron Banner competition has been a staple of Destiny since soon after its launch. The event usually lasts about a week, and there's always a bunch of good gear that players can win.
In Iron Banner, as opposed to normal Destiny competitive multiplayer, players' Light level matters. Your level and the power of your gear is reflected in Iron Banner matches, so it's important to bring the most powerful weapons and armor you own into the competition.
The final Iron Banner focuses on the Control mode. To gain Iron Banner levels and get access to better loot, you need to both win matches and complete event-specific bounties. You can get these bounties from Lady Efrideet in the Iron Temple.
Destiny 1's other mainstay event, Trials of Osiris, comes back one last time on August 11. So if you want to get to the Lighthouse, this is your final shot. Of course, Destiny 1 isn't going offline anytime soon--it just won't be getting these limited-time events anymore.
Destiny 2, meanwhile, launches on September 6 for PS4 and Xbox One, and on October 24 for PC. Console players were able to check the game out in July during its beta test, and PC players will get a beta in late August.
The next Legendary Pokemon has begun appearing in Pokemon Go. For a limited time, players around the globe will be able to battle and potentially capture Team Valor's mascot, Moltres.
As was the case with the previous two Legendary Pokemon, Lugia and Articuno, Moltres will appear in Raid Battles. Players will have to team up to take down the powerful Fire-type, and only once it's defeated will they have an opportunity to capture it.
Those hoping to add Moltres to their teams will have to act fast, as the Pokemon will only be available in the game from now until August 7. The next Legendary monster, Zapdos, will start appearing in Raid Battles from August 7-14. Ho-Oh is also expected to arrive in the future, though developer Niantic hasn't confirmed when it will begin showing up.
Dota 2 is notorious for having a steep learning curve and a community that's not always welcoming to newcomers. Recently, however, developer Valve released an update that is designed to help beginners have a better and more encouraging experience learning the game.
The update's biggest change is to the matchmaking system. The previous system didn't attempt to avoid certain discouraging situations, such as those where beginners would be matched with players who don't react well to playing with newcomers. In the update, Valve tweaked the system to make sure that it matches newcomers with players that have consistently high behavior scores.
"It is especially important for a new player to have a good social experience while they are first trying to learn the game," Valve explained in a blog post. "The matchmaking system will now ensure that new players will play with and against appropriately skilled players that also have a track record of good behavior."
The second change Valve made was to character selection. Now, beginners will be restricted to just 20 heroes until they've completed 25 games. Valve has curated the group of heroes to include only those characters who "are very successful in helping new players learn and enjoy the game," the studio stated.
In other Dota 2 news, The International is coming up next week and features a massive prize pool. If you're not familiar with Dota 2, or even just starting out playing, Valve holds a Newcomer Stream of the tournament that is hosted by commentators who explain the way the game works.
A new firmware update for Nintendo Switch is now live. Along with the usual stability and performance improvements, update 3.0.1 primarily addresses an issue some users have experienced with the console's battery charge indicator.
Specifically, some Switch users have reported that their console no longer displays its remaining battery life accurately following the system's previous firmware update, 3.0.0. According to those who've experienced the issue, the system's battery life indicator would either not update while the console was charging or would display the incorrect percentage when the system was fully charged.
While today's update is aimed at resolving the issue, Nintendo notes on its support website that it may not fix the problem immediately for all users. In the event that the battery charge indicator still displays incorrectly following the update, Nintendo has outlined a way to manually resolve the issue--though it's a rather time-consuming and convoluted process that involves charging the console fully, letting it sit for an hour, then draining the battery until it's about to die and repeating the entire process up to six times.
The brief notes for today's update are below. You can find the step-by-step instructions for how to improve the system's battery life indicator on Nintendo's website.
Nintendo Switch 3.0.1 Update Notes:
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience, including:
Addressed an issue in which the remaining battery charge can't be displayed accurately
Last week, developer Bluehole announced that it is adding a "crate-and-key" cosmetic DLC system to Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. Although two crates will be free to open, one will require you to purchase a special key. This announcement drew a lot of controversy among fans, many of whom objected to an Early Access game getting paid cosmetic DLC. Today, Bluehole responded, explaining that it needs to test the system ahead of PUBG's official launch.
In a post on Steam, Brendan "Playerunknown" Greene addressed the criticisms directly, saying that he understands fans' concerns about such a system of microtransactions. However, he also stated that this early test of a paid crate-and-key model is necessary for developing a stable in-game economy in the future.
"The idea of testing, prior to full implementation, is at the heart of adding every new game feature in our game, and this includes the crate-and-key system which we believe will serve as the foundation of a healthy economy after launch," Green wrote. "This is an economy that would and should benefit all players--both who are willing to pay and who are not willing to pay for vanity items. It is important that all our players are able to enjoy the various items that will be provided for customization, and it is even more crucial that we have a stable self-sustaining economy that maintains the value of the items you have purchased or gained."
He went on to reiterate that this is an entirely optional system, and the items that will be sold are only "vanity" items. Anyone who owns a copy will still get access to the rest of the game. He apologized, though, for confusion caused by the original announcement of the system.
"I must admit that our messaging wasn't very clear, so I extend my sincere apologies for the confusion caused. The process of communicating our intentions precisely to our fans and communities should have been done in a more careful and prudent manner. I've learned a lot, and we'll try to communicate better moving forward."
This explanation lines up with the reasoning that he gave in early June when he sat down with GameSpot, well before the announcement of the DLC. You can read our interview with him here.
The first paid DLC will include a bunch of skins inspired by Battle Royale. You can buy the crate using in-game currency, but you must purchase a key for $2.50 to unlock it. The proceeds from this crate will go partly toward funding PUBG's first big esports tournament happening later this month at Gamescom, and partly to charity.
The other two new crates can be purchased using in-game currency, as well, but they will be free to open. Greene revealed what they'll include in the post, and you can see a gallery of the cosmetics below. The crates launch on August 3.
Following some recent teases, the latest Injustice 2 update has brought with it a new Premier skin. This one is for Superman, and it takes things a bit further than usual.
The Bizarro skin gives Superman the look of his doppelganger and flips the patented S on his suit and cape. Perhaps more notably, it also modifies his abilities. As we noticed in a brief previous look at him, one ability now burns enemies instead of freezing them, while the lasers he shoots from his eyes now look like an ice attack rather than a solar one.
His Super ability remains the same as that of the standard Superman, although you do hear his new voice at the end of it. He has new voice lines elsewhere too, and seeing two Bizarro skins have a conversation is pretty hilarious: "You Bizarro new best friend," one says, to which the other replies, "Bizarro need not worst friend," prompting the first to go, "Why am you so polite!?" It's quite the scene.
You can see many of these voicelines and modified abilities in the gameplay video above. The Bizarro skin--based on the character that has been in the comics since 1958--is available now as part of the latest patch. Like other Premier skins, it costs 6,000 Source Crystals.
It's been a relatively long wait for the July update for Playerunknown's Battlegrounds--after all, it's not even July anymore. Due to persistent server issues, developer Bluehole had to delay its release. This week, though, players can finally get their hands on the new patch, and today the studio revealed what's in store.
The update's biggest addition is dedicated first-person servers, which Bluehole has been talking about for several weeks. Alongside these servers come a couple of improvements to the first-person perspective, including adding an FOV slider for the first-person camera as well as freezing the camera when looting to prevent dizziness.
A lot of you have been asking about the FOV range in 1st person view, so here is a comparison of min/max FOV coming in our monthly update... pic.twitter.com/toq4San1IH
Until today, Bluehole had been pretty much silent about what else the update would include. The patch notes reveal a bunch of other significant changes and additions. As with past updates, this one adds a new marksman rifle, the MK14 EBR, which can only be obtained through care packages.
In addition, the update adds support for Xbox gamepads, new animations when using consumables, tweaks to sound, and spark effects to flat tires. It also includes horns for cars, so players can finally careen around the map in vehicles honking their horns.
There's a whole lot more in the update, as well, and you can see the full patch notes below. It is currently available to try out in the Public Test Server, and Bluehole states that it'll go live to everyone later this week.
In other PUBG news, Bluehole recently revealed that it's working on a bunch of new character animations, which you can see here. In addition, the game recently passed Fallout 4 to claim third place for highest peak concurrent users on Steam.
Server Optimization
Optimized fences, doors, and windows
Optimized vehicle physics
Client Optimization
Optimized memory usage for world objects
Optimized terrain rendering
Optimized vehicle physics
Optimized User Interface
New Items
Added new weapon Mk14 EBR. Mk14 EBR is a Designated Marksman Rifle that can only be obtained from Carepackages. This weapon is chambered for 7.62mm and sniper rifle attachments
Character
Added two new face presets and hairstyles to character customization for both genders
Gameplay
Added 1st Person server options to NA and EU Solo and Duo game modes
Players who choose 1st Person mode will be matched together
Character view is set to 3rd Person mode in starting airplane and during free fall from the airplane. This will be set to 1st Person only in a future update
Camera will stay still while looting items to prevent dizziness
Added a new feature to report players
Some people killed knocked-out teammates in order to avoid giving kill count to an opponent who knocked them down. Now the kill count will still go to the opponent in this specific case.
Added new animation when using different consumables
Improved camera transition when disabling Free look feature (Alt Key)
Decreased the reload time of VSS
Players may now re-enter games if they have been disconnected mid-game
You may now play with Xbox controllers, and we will continue to make improvements with Xbox controllers
Sound volume difference from inside and outside of building is more obvious
Added new sound effect while scoping or aiming weapon
Added new effects when a character is running or sprinting over different types of surfaces
Improved character animation without any weapon or with melee weapon
Added slight delay when using the drag-and-drop feature on items in inventory UI. We implemented this delay to provide a fair gameplay environment to all players
Improved post-process effect when a character takes damage outside of the blue circle
Items and Vehicles
Added a lower rail attachment slot to SKS
You may now honk a car horn when sitting in the driver's seat with Left Mouse Click
Decreased the chance of vehicle explosion after the vehicle gets stuck in objects
Vehicle driving sound will change slightly in FPP and TPP modes
Added new sound effects for motorcycle tire screech while driving
Eliminated firing delay of S1897 from pump action after reload
Improved effects of boats
Added spark effect to flat tires
Reduced cast time of First Aid Kit / Painkiller to 6 seconds
Reduced cast time of Med Kit / Adrenaline Syringe to 8 seconds
UI
Added more features and hot keys to the Options Menu
Added new option for V-Sync
You may now designate a maximum of two different keys for each key bind
Added new option to set toggle on certain actions and features
You may now use Mouse wheel up/down as one of your key binds
Added new keybinds, such as all mute (Ctrl+M) and switching Voice Channel (Ctrl+Y), and a new option to adjust the volume of voice chat
Added new keybinds to use specific throwables
Added Colorblind Mode
Added an FOV slider for 1st person view
Added some region names to the mini map
Added new option to display helmet, vest, and backpack equipped on HUD UI. This HUD UI will be updated further in the future
Added new option to display all equipped weapons on the right side of the screen. This UI will be updated further in the future
Bug fixes
Partially fixed client crash issues
Fixed an issue of weapons sporadically ceasing to fire despite being set to auto firing mode
You may not use consumables in vehicles underwater
Fixed bugs below while spectating another character
A character appeared to be shaking when the character moves around
Camera swing when a character scopes while walking
Camera swing when a character peeks left or right while scoping
A character appeared to be shaking when the player moves his mouse while scoping in Prone
Characters farther than 500m away from a vehicle will no longer hear the tire screech sound
Fixed post-process bug underwater in FPP mode
Fixed an issue of the reloading sound getting played repetitively after dropping a weapon while reloading
Fixed the probability of getting rainy weather to previous value
Fixed a bug where a character could not equip attachment with full inventory
Fixed a bug where weapons would continue to play looped reload animation even after canceling the reload
Fixed a bug where a character could see through the other side of wall when scoping or crouching against certain walls
Fixed a bug where a character sitting on objects inside of certain buildings could see through ceilings and walls
It might not have been a critical success, but Suicide Squad was still one of 2016's biggest box office hits, and the sequel was confirmed by DC at San Diego Comic-Con last month. However, the movie currently lacks a director, and it has now been reported that the studio's top choice has withdrawn from the project.
According to Deadline, Jaume Collet-Serra will no longer direct Suicide Squad 2. Although Collet-Serra was never officially announced by the studio, he was reportedly its top choice to take over from David Ayer, who helmed the first movie. Collet-Serra, who directed last years hit shark thriller The Shallows, will instead helm the action comedy Jungle Cruise, with star Dwayne Johnson.
Ayer, meanwhile, was previously attached to Gotham City Sirens, which would focus on the female supervillains of the DC universe. However, that movie was not among the future titles that DC announced at SDCC, so it is unclear if it is moving forward.
Rockstar has revealed this week's batch of updates and bonuses for Grand Theft Auto V's multiplayer mode, GTA Online. These include a new vehicle option, a slew of discounts on bunkers and more, and a new Knuckleduster Pocket Tee that all players can receive for free just by signing in this week.
This week's update sees the addition of the Insurgent Pick-up Custom, a new weaponized upgrade for the HVY Insurgent Pick-Up. This particular variation adds a .50 caliber mounted Minigun and Proximity Mines to the vehicle for even more firepower. Players can get the upgrade from their Mobile Operations Center's Weapon & Vehicle Workshop.
Additionally, Rockstar has extended the amount of time players have to earn double GTA$ and RP from the game's new Adversary mode, Power Mad, which was introduced in last week's update. Power Mad bonuses are now available until August 7. Players can also score double GTA$ and RP this week by playing the fan-favorite Deadline mode or by launching any Mobile Operation Mission.
This week's set of discounts revolves primarily around bunkers. Players can get 30% off the Farmhouse Bunker, 25% off the Smoke Tree Road Bunker, and 10% off the Grapeseed Bunker. All bunker renovations and upgrades are also 25% off this week. In other sales, players can save 25% on both the Grotti X80 Proto and Ocelot Lynx, as well as 25% on all garage properties until August 7.
Lastly, this week's Premium Race is Target (which is restricted to the Ruiner 2000), while the new Trial Race is Up N Atom. As usual, all players will earn triple RP for participating in the Premium Race, but only the top three will earn a tidy sum of GTA$. Anyone who beats the target time in the Time Trial will score significant GTA$ and RP rewards. Both events run until August 7.
Following a false start at Walmart, Nintendo has announced that SNES Classic Edition pre-orders will be available in the United States in August, ahead of the system's September 29 launch. The company has also again suggested it will offer an ample number of systems following the supply issues with last year's NES Classic Edition.
In a post on its Facebook page today, Nintendo said, "We appreciate the incredible anticipation that exists for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition system, and can confirm that it will be made available for pre-order by various retailers late this month." It did not offer a more specific date than that, nor did it say which stores would be offering pre-orders. Individual retailers may share their plans in the weeks ahead; we'll continue to monitor and track how to pre-order a SNES Classic Edition as more details are shared.
There have been concerns that, in light of how difficult the NES Classic Edition was to find, the SNES Classic Edition will face a similar situation. Nintendo again tried to alleviate these worries, stating, "A significant amount of additional systems will be shipped to stores for launch day, and throughout the balance of the calendar year." Nintendo previously said its current plan is to only offer the system during 2017, adding that it will offer far more SNES Classic Edition units than it did with the NES model.
All PlayStation 4 players are now getting the chance to try Dreadnought. As of today, the tactical, team-based strategy game has a free open beta on the PlayStation Store. The game has been in closed beta on PS4 for some time, and an open PC beta is currently underway too. You can check out the epic new trailer below.
Dreadnought takes a different slant on space combat than many other tactical strategy games: you command giant capital ships in big battles. There are more than 50 different ships to play across five different ship classes, all of which let you customize their weapons, modules, coatings etc. The PS4 open beta adds two new game maps and six bonus night map variations to the content available in the previous closed beta.
The open beta also includes four game modes: Team Deathmatch, Team Elimination, Training, and Havoc. Havoc is a PS4 exclusive co-op mode not found in the PC version where three players try to survive wave after wave of progressively tougher enemies using the ships they select and upgrade.
Another PS4 exclusive, the Hactar Hero Ship, is available in today's open beta along with a new ShareFactory theme and two additional title themes. If you're a PS Plus subscriber, you'll also be able to pick up a free DLC pack for the game starting August 15.
Mario+Rabbids is really f****** hard. Like, really, really hard. I went into my three hours with the game expecting an XCOM-lite--a simplified strategy title for the Mario audience. It would be easy, I thought. Maybe even too simplistic and perhaps a little dull.
That was not the case. My team of Mario, Rabbid Peach, and Rabbid Luigi got wiped out on the very first level, Ancient Gardens, going out with a whimper to a group of enemy Rabbids. So much for a leisurely walk through the Mushroom Kingdom.
At this point, Kingdom Battle's depth wasn't clear. I had no choice of who to pick for my team, no abilities and only the most basic weapons unlocked, and therefore no grasp on what made Rabbid Luigi different from Rabbid Peach or from any other cartoon rabbit.
The second level I played, however, was from much later in the game, meaning a wider variety of both allies and enemies were involved. It was here in Spooky Trails that Mario+Rabbids revealed its depth: suddenly I had some heavy artillery in my possession, seven characters unlocked (my original team plus Peach, Luigi, Rabbid Mario, and Rabbid Yoshi), and a bunch of special abilities available for each operative. The strategy game transformed into an intricate dance; by connecting together a handful of moves to vanquish multiple enemies per turn I felt less like a trite military general, more like the puppet master of a colorful and ludicrous TV show.
Ubisoft has recreated Nintendo's iconic characters expertly--not only in their character models and animations, but in their personalities. The Rabbid versions of Mario-kind are infused with a similar amount of charm as their Mushroom Kingdom counterparts, who behave exactly as you'd expect them to on the battlefield. (Of course Luigi is the loveable coward, who prefers to keep his distance from the conflict, sniper rifle in hand, hands trembling.)
I particularly loved Peach and her fire shotgun, a lethal close-quarters weapon that, if it doesn't kill, leaves your enemies with a nasty burn. It's devastating power causes enemy Rabbids to scatter around the map holding their burned behind. Combine it with her XCOM-style Overwatch ability and you have the quite ridiculous sight of Princess Peach--until now the archetypal helpless damsel in distress--blasting Rabbids out of the sky without a second thought.
This can be chained together with a number of other offensive maneuvers, such as punching through enemies, moving through pipes, jumping on Mario's head to stomp bad guys, and drawing monsters to one spot with Rabbid Mario's Magnet Dance ability. Movement is key, and choosing which abilities to string together is even more important. Each character has their own skill tree, in which you can invest to get more abilities or unlock new weapons. These, in turn, have their own added effects such as area damage or status ailments.
Through these trees, you're allowed to pick your style and perform all sorts of crazy stunts. But enemies are similarly well-equipped, and their intelligent AI--which can outthink and outflank you with ease--makes keeping your team together and crawling forward a strategy on par with hitting yourself with the controller. You're only going to get hurt.
This forces you to both plan ahead and think on your feet. You'll have to come up with ingenious ways to inflict damage on the fly, of course, but you'll also need to envisage killer combinations to ensure that your Rabbids don't end up dead. It became increasingly obvious to me that team composition is crucial--and absurd. The game's local co-op mode--which puts you and a friend in charge of a pair of fighters each--has you very seriously debating over fighter and strategy choice in the most bizarre fashion:
"I think we need Mario because he's got the best gun."
"Hmm, but Rabbid Peach is a great healer, and if we stick together then Peach's area heal ability could be vital."
"Rabbid Luigi is a great defensive player though…"
"Nope, we definitely need Luigi's massive sniper rifle."
Choosing between a bazooka or defensive solidity in a Mario game is engrossing and hilarious, and the co-op mode highlights that perfectly. Discussing military tactics--again, in a Mario game! Mario has a gun. Like, an actual gun that fires stuff--is even funnier when done out loud.
Kingdom Battle does have an easy mode--which both heals your squad and boosts their HP count by 50% at the start of a fight--and I'm embarrassed to say I resorted to using it on more than one occasion. And I still lost. But the game being this difficult is what sparks those hilarious debates, and the characters being this well imagined is what makes Kingdom Battle feel like more than just an XCOM clone. Directing Mario and his friends was joyous, and I now can't wait to tell you that no, actually, Peach rules more.
The July update for Final Fantasy XV is now live. This month's patch adds the long awaited set of Power Rangers-like combat suits to the game and gives players another chance to participate in a limited-time in-game event.
Starting today, players will finally be able to get their hands on the Magitek Exosuits, a special set of armor for Noctis and his friends. Donning the Exosuits makes the party invincible for a full 30 minutes, though the suits can only be used once per day. The Magitek Exosuits were originally intended to be released as part of the game's paid DLC Booster Pack this past February; however, Square Enix delayed the costumes due to their similarities to the ones worn by the Power Rangers in the recent reboot film. To make up for the delay, the publisher is offering the armor for free to all players. The Magitek Exosuits were also redesigned to further differentiate them from the Power Rangers; you can see a comparison of the old and new designs below.
New vs. Old Magitek Exosuit designs
In addition to the Magitek Exosuits, this month's update adds a new Cross Chain system to the game, as well as an additional quest to undertake. The biggest feature from the update, however, is the return of the Moogle Chocobo Carnival. This limited-time event originally ran back in February and features special carnival-themed games, items, and quests to experience. As before, however, players will need to have either the Holiday Pack or Holiday Pack+ DLC installed to participate in the event. The former pack is free to all players, while the latter is only available to those who purchased the game's Season Pass. Square Enix says the Moogle Chocobo Carnival will run until "late September."
The EA Access Vault will, for the first time, shrink ever so slightly later this year. Electronic Arts has announced that it plans to remove FIFA 14, one of the games that launched alongside the Xbox One service back in 2014.
EA shared the news recently on its website, saying FIFA 14 will no longer be accessible on the Vault as of October 18, 2017. This follows news that EA will cease support for the game and shut down its online servers on that date, preventing players from playing online, accessing Ultimate Team, or spending in-game currency. It will, however, remain playable offline.
On a similar note, EA Access members who have downloaded FIFA 14 will be able to continue playing it offline, too. However, if you delete the game or move to another Xbox One console that doesn't have it installed, you'll be unable to re-download it after October 18.
"We're sad to see any title leave the collection, and rest assured that we'll do our best to limit removals in the future," EA said. "For now, we hope you'll enjoy the other great games in our service--like all the latest FIFA titles--and we look forward to seeing you on the pitch."
Back when EA Access was first announced, then-COO Peter Moore vowed that the Vault would not routinely see games removed, as is the case with Games With Gold or Netflix-style services. "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," he said at the time. To date, that's proven to be true--though that will come as little consolation to those who wish to continue playing FIFA 14, however small that group of fans might be at this point.
The latest update for Injustice 2 is now live, and as was the case last month, it's a rather sizable one. Along with the usual assortment of stability and bug fixes, the patch makes a long list of tweaks and improvements to the game.
Like July's update, the bulk of the August patch is comprised of character fixes and adjustments. Most notably, today's update makes changes to a number of characters' moves to further improve the game's balancing. Developer NetherRealm has detailed all of the changes on the game's website, but you can find the full patch notes at the bottom of this story.
The latest character for Injustice 2, Starfire, is set to make her debut sometime in August. At San Diego Comic-Con, NetherRealm gave fans their first close look at the Princess of Tamaran with a new trailer that highlighted her unique offense. She's the third confirmed DLC character for the game thus far, following Red Hood and the recently released Sub-Zero. All three are included in purchased the game's $20 Fighter Pack 1 DLC. At least six other DLC characters are planned for the game as well.
Many improvements to the stability of King of the Hill
Improvements to AI logic
Attacks that collide with a Roll Escape's invulnerability now act as if they have missed (previously this acted as a block)
Flip Stance button can no longer activate a roll when you are knocked down
Medium Attack and Heavy Attack can no longer activate a roll when you are knocked down with Button Shortcuts On in controller settings
Fixed a one frame window in which diagonals could be used for specials when performing a cancel or wakeup attack with Input Shortcuts set to Off
Holding directions no longer stores that direction in the buffer for dashing with Alternate Controls set to On
Fixed some rare occurrences of a match extension that would not cause both players to be reset to neutral
Fix for a one frame window that could cause a dash in the wrong direction if the opponent has just performed a teleport
Fixed issues with visual effects not disappearing correctly after being evaded by a projectile immune move
Fixed bug causing some non-projectile attacks being able to be avoided by projectile immune moves in rare circumstances
Improved hotfix data application to apply right after boot when available
There is now an Overflow Warning which notifies the player when their overflow is full
Added icons to show when playing with Competitive Mode On or in Tournament Mode to the gameplay HUD
Improved display of Daily Challenges in the Main Menu
The following changes previously disabled in Competitive/Tournament mode are now enabled for all modes:
Atrocitus -- additional damage added after Napalm Vomit attacks inside of a combo will now use the correct combo damage scaling
Bane -- Mercenary's Elbow when meter-burned will no longer do unscaled damage
Black Adam -- Adjusted Air Boot Stomp ability to be able to cross up when an opponent was in the corner
Braniac -- If a Beta Strike Character Power is active when a throw escape occurs, it is destroyed
Captain Cold -- No longer continues to gain Character Power meter if transitioned while holding Cyclotron Charge
Superman -- Air Heat Vision follow up from Rising Grab is now a hard knockdown to prevent it from being punishable on hit in certain circumstances
Stage Specific Fixes
Batcave -- Fixed rare issue where players could use the chain swing interaction to move outside the boundaries of the stage
Brainiac Ship -- Drone interaction respawn timer is now 4 seconds (from 2)
Fortress of Solitude -- Wall punch interaction cooldown is now 4 seconds (from 3)
Metropolis -- Fixed bug that could cause the camera to move away from the fighters when valve interaction was used
Kahndaq -- Wall punch interaction cooldown is now 4 seconds (from 3)
Red Sun Prison -- Drone summon interaction cooldown is now 4 seconds (from 2)
Character Specific Fixes
Aquaman
Huzzah (Away + Light, Medium, Hard) has 3 more recovery frames
Rising Trident (Down + Medium) has 1 more startup frame and 3 less active frames
Trident Rush & Trident Rush MeterBurn do less damage for each hit
Tentacle Strike MeterBurn now does an additional hit that causes a hard knockdown
From The Deep MeterBurn Gear Ability base damage reduced from 6 to 4
Atroticus
Slightly Increased the amount of character power meter drained from Atrocitus when push-blocked while Dex-Starr is out
Slightly increased the amount of Character Power Meter drained for using Blood Ball, Hate Pounce, or Regurgitate Rage Gear Ability while Dex-Starr is active
Significantly increased the amount of Character Power Meter drained for using Blood Wall while Dex-Starr is active
Reduced the cancel advantage of the second to last hit of Blood Ritual (Towards + Medium, Medium, Hard) by 3
Napalm Vomit has 5 less active frames and 3 more frames of recovery on miss
Napalm Vomit block advantage properties adjusted to be more consistent between close and long ranges
Bane
Base stats adjusted to have 50 less strength, 50 less health, and 100 more defense
Base damage of most normal attacks and special moves have been increased by 1
Brutal Jab (Light) now has 7 startup frames (down from 9)
Brutal Hammerfist (Medium) base damage increased to 5 (from 3)
Spine Buster MeterBurn (Towards + Medium, Down, Light + Hard MeterBurn) base damage increased to 8 (from 3)
Knightfall (Away + Medium, Light) base damage increased to 9 (from 6)
Bane Bomb MeterBurn base damage increased to 16 (from 13)
Body Press MeterBurn Gear Ability base damage increased to 18.8 (from 15.8)
Batman
Fixed bug preventing the use of negative edge to perform Bat Swarm with Release Check On in controller settings
Pressing a button not bound to any attacks after performing Air Scatter Bombs MB will no longer prevent further inputs
Slightly increased combo damage scaling after Mechanical Bats Character Power and it is now consistent regardless of how many bats hit
Batarang MB and Up Batarang MB damage scaling increased
Batarang MeterBurn now has 8 active frames (from 9) and has 6 more recovery frames on hit/block
Up Batarang MeterBurn now has 8 active frames (from 9) and has 6 more recovery frames on hit/block
Fixed bug which was preventing the AK Battle Armor 5U89R (Alternate) Shader from dropping from Mother-Boxes and end of match rewards
Black Adam
Riddle of The Sphinx (Towards + Light, Medium, Light + Hard) base damage reduced to 10 (from 13)
Orbs of Seth Character Power base damage reduced to 2.5 (from 3) on each orb and now increase combo damage scaling
Boot Dive and Boot Dive MeterBurn base damage has been reduced to 8 (from 10) and has increased combo damage scaling
Black Magic hit advantage has been reduced to 24 (from 47) and now triggers auto-block on a grounded opponent
Black Magic has increased gravity against an airborne opponent
Black Magic Meter burn has decreased combo damage scaling
No Turning Back (Light, Light, Medium) had 7 less recovery frames, 5 more frames of blockstun and increased pushback on block
Black Canary
New Wings (Light, Light, Medium, Light + Hard) is now a throw attack and has base damage increased by 1
Soaring High (Away + Light, Medium) base damage increased to 7 (from 3), 5 more frames of blockstun and increased pushback on block
High Heel (Hard) has 5 more frames of blockstun and increased pushback on block
Holding Back (Hard, Hard) has 1 less recovery frame, 10 more frames of blockstun
Front/Back Handspring into Flying Scissor Kick now recovers 3 frames faster with increased pushback on block
Front/Back Handspring into Thrust Kick now recovers 4 frames faster and has 15 more frames more blockstun
Brainiac
Coluan Form (Light, Light) base damage increased to 3 (from 2)
Collector of Worlds (Light, Medium) base damage increased to 3 (from 2)
Dual Strike (Away + Medium) base damage increased to 5 (from 4)
Tendril Swarm (Hard) base damage increased to 7 (from 5) and has increased combo damage scaling
The delaying of Beta Strike and Beta Bomb no longer gets cancelled when Brainiac is hit or blocks
Beta Strike can no longer be parried by low projectile parries
Captain Cold
Fixed bug with Upward Cold Blast Gear Ability not aligning properly when done from some 2in1 cancels
Big Freeze MB now ignores projectile immunity
Adjusted hit regions on several normal attacks
Freeze (Medium, Light, Hard) has 4 less recovery on hit/Miss, 7 less recovery on block, and causes 5 less frames of blockstun
Grip Hit (Hard) now has 10 startup frames (from 12), active frames increased to 5 (from 3), 5 less recovery, and has 6 more blockstun frames
Fixed bug that caused Glacier Grenade to have higher input priority then Cryogenic Blast when performed as a cancel
Absolute Zero Supermove and Cryogenic Blast can no longer get destroyed by some Background Interactions
Force Field now activates 5 frames faster and has 5 less recovery frames
The Wall has reduced pushback on block, 9 less blockstun frames, and 9 less recovery on block
The Wall MB startup is now 6 frames (from 14) and recovery increased by 2 frames and now ignores projectile immunity
Reduced the gap between The Wall missing and The Wall MeterBurn active frames to 1 (down from 6)
Catwoman
Tail Spin (Away + Hard) has pushback on block reduced and victim regions slightly increased during the active and recovery frames
Whip Strike (Jump + Medium Attack) has its hit region angle slightly adjusted
Cat-Lateral Damage character power damage on each hit changed (overall reduced)
Cat-Lateral Damage character power no longer has invulnerability on wakeup
Cat Stance Cat-Wheel has 13 more frames of recovery on block, 8 more frames of recovery on miss, and increased combo damage scaling
Cat Dash MeterBurn no longer has armor, has increased damage scaling when hitting airborne opponents, and decreased damage scaling when hitting grounded opponents
Cat's Tail and Up Cat's Tail damage scaling increased
Cheetah
Fixed issue with Graceful Hunter (Away + Medium, Light + Hard) input window which made it difficult to perform follow ups with Input Shortcuts Off in controller settings
Fixed bug that could cause her tail to no longer animate after losing a clash to Red Hood
Silent Stalker (Medium, Medium, Hard) has 25 less recovery frames
Blood Ritual (Hard, Hard, Medium) recovers 3 frames faster on hit, 6 frames faster on block/miss, has 5 more frames of blockstun, and increased pushback on block
Last hit of Blood Ritual (Hard, Hard, Medium) now causes a splat reaction instead of a juggle state when hitting airborne opponents
Darkseid
Fixed bug that caused Boss Darkseid Supermove to get destroyed by some interactables
Deadshot
Ops Strike (Towards + Light) now has 7 startup frames (up from 6)
Low Burst (Down + Light) now has 7 startup frames (down from 8) , 5 less hit/miss recovery frames, 3 less block recovery frames, and blockstun increased by 2 frames
Knee Burst (Away + Light) now has 14 startup frames (up from 13) and 3 more recovery frames
Triggered (Away + Light, Medium) has 5 more recovery frames
Hammer Slam (Towards + Medium) now has 16 startup frames (up from 15)
Reduced his effectiveness in fighting up close.
Dr. Fate
Can no longer spend meter trying to Meter Burn Displacer Orb after it has been projectile parried
After Displacer Orb is Meter Burned, it will ignore projectile immunity and cannot be projectile parried
Fixed issue with his win screen being obstructed by foreground objects on some backgrounds
Fixed issue with some Displacer Orb effects lingering on screen during clash
Evoking The Gods (Medium, Light, Light) and Blood Price (Medium, Light, Light, Hard) had their hit regions adjusted
Summoned Force (Away + Medium) now has a growing hit region instead of a static one and has 9 startup frames (down from 10) and 3 more recovery frames
Glyph of Osiris and Glyph of Anubis recover 1 frame faster on block
Glyph of Anubis MB has decreased combo damage scaling
The Pillar of Magic after connecting with 3 Ankhs of Final Judgment has decreased combo damage scaling
Firestorm
Fixed bug causing Energy Shield effects to persist during the win screen
Flash
Quantum Tunneling and Sonic Parry Gear Ability can now be selected in Wakeup Mode and Reversal Mode in Practice Mode > AI Options
Lightning Punches now has 10 startup frames (down from 12)
Speed Zone Character Power has increased damage scaling
On Your Mark into Sonic Pound has its hit region adjusted, blockstun increased by 10 frames, has increased pushback on block, and hit advantage has increased to 30 or 49 (from 39) if the last hit only or both hits connect
On Your Mark into Charge now has a different reaction and has 30 hit advantage (down from 39)
Freeze Tank interaction on Red Sun Prison now works correctly if Flash uses it while Speed Zone Character Power is active
Gorilla Grodd
Base stats adjusted to have 50 less Ability, 50 less health, and 100 more defense
Slaughtering Humans (Light, Light), Cutthroat King (Medium, Medium), Salvation Run (Away + Medium, Light + Hard) base damage increased by 1
Low Bash (Away + Light) has 5 more frames of blockstun and 6 more hit advantage
Bloodthirsty Ruler (Away + Light, Light + Hard) and (Away + Light, Light + Hard Meter Burn) base damage increased by 1
Hyper-Intelligence (Towards + Medium, Light) base damage increased to 7 (from 5)
Carnivore Sweep (Down + Hard) has 2 more hit advantage, recovers 4 frames faster on block/miss, and has 3 more frames of blockstun
Secret Sweep (Down + Towards + Hard) has more 10 more blockstun
After using Leap 3 times during a combo Savage Kick (Jump + Hard) will cause a splat knockdown
Fixed bug that prevented meter build from occurring when exiting Psionic Lift then canceling into Primal Lunge, Savage Strength, or Mind Control
The window for canceling into Psionic Push or Savage Strength from Telekinesis now starts 14 frames sooner
Telekinesis recovery reduced by 4 frames
Stampede base damage increased to 9 (from 5)
Stampede Meter Burn base damage increased to 18 (from 10)
Stampede Carcass Toss Gear Ability Meter Burn base damage increased to 25 (from 18)
Primal Lunge into Head Bash damage increased to 11 (from 10)
Harley Quinn
Fixed visual bug that caused her mallet to instantly disappear if she is hit by a freeze attack while performing Mallet Slap (Away + Hard)
Joker
Fixed bug that caused Side Order of Pie Gear Ability Supermove to get destroyed by some interactables
Poison Ivy
Rhytidome Skin, Thistle Coat Gear Ability, and Datura Hammer now requires a more precise input when buffered
Up Rooted (Down + Medium) now has a growing hit region instead of a static one, has 16 startup frames (down from 20), has 7 active frames (up from 3), and recovers 3 frames faster
Quick Bloom (Away + Hard) now has a growing hit region instead of a static one, has 26 startup frames (down from 29) and has 10 active frames (up from 4)
Straight Datura and Up Datura have increased combo damage scaling
Swinging Datura has greatly reduced combo damage scaling
Red Hood
Fixed bug causing Ground Mine explosion to have interactable properties
Battle-Chain MB now has 20 advantage on hit (from 39)
Lethal Lunge now has 9 startup frames (up from 8)
Robin
Haunting Legacy (Light, Medium) has 2 less recovery on hit / miss, 3 more recovery on block, and 5 more blockstun
Fighting Authority (Light, Medium, Hard) has 20 startup frames (up from 16)
Family Secrets (Light, Medium, Down + Hard) has 2 less recovery and 5 more blockstun
Quick Draw (Away + Light) has its hit region adjusted
Skill And Training (Away + Light, Medium, Up + Hard) has increased pushback on block
Deep Laceration (Medium) hit region adjusted, has 5 less recovery, blockstun reduced by 5, and 3 less cancel advantage
Blades And Blood (Medium, Light) has its hit region adjusted and 1 more active frame
Inner Darkness (Towards + Medium, Light) has its hit region adjusted
Never Lose (Away + Medium, Light, Hard) has 1 more active frame and 12 less recovery frames
Flip Kick (Towards + Hard) can now be directed closer or further by holding Towards or Away
Flip Kick (Towards + Hard) recovers 3 frames faster on hit, 8 frames faster on block, 13 frames faster on miss and has 10 less frames of blockstun
Low Cutter (Down + Hard) now recovers 5 frames faster on block
Assassin Strike cancel input can now be buffered
Swoop has its hit region adjusted
Swoop MB now auto faces the opponent, has 8 startup frames (down from 16), the projectile travels faster with improved initial tracking
Supergirl
Elseworld's Finest (Light, Light, Up + Hard) has 10 more frames of blockstun
Last Daughter of Krypton (Away + Light, Medium, Hard) has its hit region adjusted and 5 less recovery on block and miss
Face Smash (Medium) has its hit region adjusted, starts up in 10 frames (up from 8), and is a mid attack
Forbidden Fortress (Medium, Light) has increased pushback on block, 5 less blockstun, and 3 less recovery frames
Crossroads of Time (Medium, Light, Medium) now has 16 startup frames (down from 18)
Matrix (Away + Medium, Light + Hard) has 5 less blockstun, 20 less recovery on block, 15 less recovery on block
Frost breath MB base damage increased to 2 (from 0) and combo damage scaling reduced
Kryptonian Force now recovers 4 frames faster
Fixed bug that caused the hit region of Kryptonian Force MB to be offset when done on right side of the opponent
(Air) Power Slam MB can now be Air Escaped
Adjusted the stat distribution on her Epic Set Items to be more in line with similar items.
Superman
Fixed bug preventing superman from canceling Steel Fist (Jump + Light) or Double Strike (Jump + Medium) into Ankle Breaker (Down + Hard) or Flying Low (Down + Towards + Hard)
Flying Punch is now a high attack and has had its repel proximity adjusted
Flying Punch MB no longer has armor and has its hit region adjusted
Rising Grab has 4 more frames of recovery on block and 9 more frames of recovery on miss
Super Breath base damage decreased to 9 (from 10)
Super Breath MB base damage decreased to 6 (from 10)
Fixed bug preventing combo damage scaling from applying to (Air) Flying Smash when used as an OTG in certain circumstances
Swamp Thing
Base stats adjusted to have 50 less Ability, 50 less health, and 100 more defense
Log Slam (Towards + Hard) and Log Smack (Away + Hard) have their hit regions adjusted
Increased base damage of most special moves by 1
Abigail's Garden recovery has been reduced by 9 frames
If Swamp Thing has Abigail's Garden character power active, hitting an opponent with Vine Grab or Green Thumb causes Swamp Thing to gain armor for a short duration
Abigail's Garden will no longer stop growing when Swamp Thing blocks an attack, attacks with Healing The Breach (Towards + Medium, Light), hits with Bio-Fission MB, or does a dash
Wonder Woman
Eyes of The Gorgon (Towards + Medium, Hard) has 5 less frames of recovery and 10 more frames of blockstun
Challenge of The Gods (Away + Medium, Hard) now has 21 startup frames (down from 24), 10 more frames of blockstun with increased pushback, and recovers 15 frames faster on block / miss
Upward Shield Toss is now a high attack, recovers 17 frames faster and has increased hit advantage
Upward Shield Toss MB has its hit region adjusted and has increased hit advantage
Air Shield Toss is now a high attack
Air Shield Toss MB is now a high attack, has 2 more active frames, recovers 12 frames faster, and no longer triggers autoblock on a grounded opponent
Air Downward Shield Toss MB now recovers 9 frames faster and no longer triggers autoblock on a grounded opponent
Hippolyta's Light character power recovers 9 frames faster
August is upon us, meaning Netflix has begun to roll out some of the movies and TV shows coming to the service for August. The company has also announced a list of what's leaving this month.
Some of the notable additions for August 1 include The Matrix trilogy, Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, and the Will Smith movie Wild Wild West. Also due out in August is the Michael Keaton McDonald's movie The Founder (August 2), the third season of the Netflix original Voltron (August 4), and the card-counting movie 21 (August 15).
Other high-profile new releases include the Netflix originals The Defenders (August 18) and Death Note (August 25).
As for what's leaving Netflix, movies that leave the service on August 1 include Babe and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, while Superbad leaves Netflix on August 4. American Dad seasons 1-4 are leaving on August 15, while seasons 1-7 of The League leave on August 30.
You can see the full rundown of what's coming to and leaving Netflix below for the US specifically, as rounded up and compiled by GameSpot sister site CNET. Check out the stories linked below to see the coming and going lists for Hulu and Amazon.
Streaming company Hulu has announced everything coming to and leaving the service for August 2017--and there are quite a few great movies being added. A number of those are available now.
New to Hulu for August 1 are movies like Honey, I Shrunk The Kids; Saw 1-5, Spider-Man 1 and 2, while Saving Private Ryan and Sahara are also out that day. The movies Ali, Bad Boys, and Wayne's World 2 also come to Hulu on August 1.
As for what's leaving, Gangs of New York, Girl, Interrupted; Kangaroo Jack, Mr. Mom, and Mulan are all going away on August 31, so watch them now while you still can.
August is here, and that means a flood of new content on the various streaming services. Amazon Prime's August lineup was previously announced, and the most notable releases include some of its new original series.
Among those is The Tick (August 25), the new superhero show that first saw a pilot episode released last summer. It stars Peter Serafinowicz in the titular role and follows the story of an "accountant with no superpowers as he teams up with an unlikely superhero to stop villains from taking over." For a better idea of what to expect, you can check out a recent trailer for The Tick; the show itself will be available in HDR for those with compatible displays.
Another new Amazon series is kids show Lost in Oz (August 4), a "contemporary re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's extraordinary universe." There's also Comrade Detective (August 4), a "cop spoof based on the 1980s Romanian TV series--a sleek and gritty police show that promoted Communist ideals and inspired a deep nationalism."
Other additions during August include a pair of Bill and Ted movies (August 1), the first five Saw films (August 1), Superbad (August 4), and Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally: Summer of 69: No Apostrophe (August 17). You can check out a complete list of what's coming in August below.
Amazon Prime Arrivals in August 2017
TV
August 4
Comrade Detective: Season 1
Lost in Oz: Season 1
August 15
Tumble Leaf: Season 3
August 17
Undercover: Season 1
August 21
The Last Ship: Season 4 (episodes arrive one day after TV airing)
August 25
The Tick: Season 1
August 29
Victoria: Season 1
Movies
August 1
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Among Friends
Bad Boys (1983)
Bad Company (1972)
Benny & Joon
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Box of Moonlight
Breakdown (1997)
Charley One-Eye
Criminal Law
The Dead Zone
Eve's Bayou
Far from Home (1989)
Friends and Lovers
The General's Daughter
Ghost
Hannie Caulder
Harsh Times
High Noon
The Mod Squad
New in Town (2009)
Nulee's Gold
Once Bitten
The Pursuit of D.B Cooper
Save the Last Dance
Saw
Saw II
Saw III
Saw IV
Saw V
Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf Too
Terry Fator: Live in Concert
Wayne's World 2
August 2
Valkyrie
August 4
Superbad
August 5
The Ticket
August 17
Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally: Summer of 69: No Apostrophe
August 19
My Bloody Valentine
August 20
In Secret
August 27
Florence Foster Jenkins
August 29
Gimme Shelter (2013)
This story has been updated with clarification about Lost in Oz provided by Amazon.
Nintendo has unveiled a new map debuting soon in Splatoon 2. However, this particular level won't be joining the game's usual stage rotation; rather, it will only appear during Splatfest events.
The new map, dubbed Shifty Station, will only be available in the stage rotation during Splatfests, the in-game competitions that have players choose one of two opposing teams and compete to earn points for their side. Nintendo says the map's layout changes between Splatfests, so players will be battling on a different version of the map each time it appears in the game.
Shifty Station will presumably debut with the game's first Splatfest, which is coming up during the first weekend of August. The event begins at 9 PM PT on August 4 and runs for a full 24 hours. Like the Splatfest World Premiere demo that took place the week before Splatoon 2 released, this particular competition will also revolve around food. This time, players must choose which condiment they prefer: mayo or ketchup?
Splatoon 2 launched for Nintendo Switch on July 21. The game was very well-received when it debuted; critic Kallie Plagge awarded it an 8/10 in GameSpot's review and called the game "a vibrant and exuberant sequel with enough fresh additions and changes to set it apart from the original."
This story has been updated with the Splatfest timing information.
Sony has now shipped 63.3 million PlayStation 4 systems worldwide, the company announced today as part of its latest earnings report for its fiscal first quarter. This is up from 60 million for the period ended March 31. Sony shipped 3.3 million units between April 1 and June 30.
The new figure, 63.3 million, represents units sold to retailers, but not necessarily sales to consumers. The latest actual sales number that Sony provided was 60.4 million, a figure the company disclosed during E3, good through June 11.
PS4 shipments dropped year-over-year, as Sony shipped 3.5 million PS4 consoles during its first fiscal quarter last year. As announced previously, Sony expects to ship 18 million PS4 consoles overall this fiscal year, down from 20 million the year prior.
Sony's Game & Network Services division, which covers the PlayStation business, saw its revenue jump 5.4 percent year-over-year to ¥348.1 billion. Sony said the uptick in sales was "primarily" attributed to better PS4 game sales, including digital, along with "the contribution of PlayStation VR." However, the PS4 price drop had a negative impact on the Games & Network Services division's bottom line, Sony said. Regarding PlayStation VR, Sony did not give out a new sales number. In February, Sony announced that sales of the VR headset had hit 915,000 units.
Operating income, meanwhile, for the division came in at ¥17.7 billion, down significantly from the ¥26.3 billion that the unit brought in during the same period last year. Sony said the big drop off was mostly due to a tough comparison to last year, when the company had a "highly profitable first-party title," which is likely a reference to Uncharted 4. The PS4 price drop also had a negative impact on the unit's operating income.
Sony is a massive company with numerous divisions, including those for film, TV, smartphones, and more. Overall, Sony's revenue jumped 15.2 percent for the period, to ¥1.8 trillion. Operating income rose to ¥157.6 billion.
Sony will release a Destiny 2-themed DualShock 4 controller and PS4 bundles focused on Bungie's shooter sequel in Europe and Australia, the company has announced.
As you can see in the images below, the white Destiny 2 DualShock 4 controller's touch pad sports the game's title and logo. The handles feature the character class logos in gold, the Destiny logo, and the number 2. The controller looks pretty neat.
As for the consoles, PlayStation will release jet black and glacier white PS4 Pro bundles that come with a disc copy of Destiny 2, the game's expansion pass, and other "premium digital content" such as a Legendary sword and emote, and a Cabal emblem. In Europe, there will also be a Destiny 2 bundle that comes with a standard PS4. Pricing was not announced for any of the consoles or the controller.
It's already August 1 in some parts of the world, which means Xbox Live Gold members can now download more free Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles. This month's free Games With Gold titles include Slime Rancher, Trials Fusion, Bayonetta, and Red Faction: Armageddon, and two of them are free starting today.
Xbox One owners with a Gold membership can pick up Slime Rancher for the low, low price of free, while Xbox 360 users can grab Bayonetta for $0.00. Additionally, one of July 2017's free Xbox One titles, Runbow, will continue to be free until August 15.
Slime Rancher is a first-person sim game where you manage a farm of adorable slime creatures. It's been in Early Access on PC for some time, but August 1 marks its official release, meaning Gold members will get it for free right out of the gate, which is cool.
Something else to note is that the Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles play on Xbox One through backwards compatibility. You can see the full rundown of August's free Games With Gold titles below.
Microsoft is also expected to roll out a fresh set of weekly Xbox Live deals in the next day, so check back soon with GameSpot for a rundown.
A new patch has been released for Mass Effect: Andromeda. Update 1.10 is focused on the space RPG's multiplayer mode, and it fixes bugs and makes other small changes.
Starting off, Naladen explosion now gives damage when Cryo or Incendiary ammo is used. Additionally, there are changes to veteran ranks. As for the bug fixes, this update clears out a problem that caused the screen to blink red/yellow when using certain weapons. Additionally, the Dhan shotgun should now properly prime enemies.
Star Citizen's much-anticipated Alpha 3.0 update isn't coming out on time. Developer Cloud Imperium Games announced recently that it discovered some "stability issues" in the latest build, and thus the team needs more time to get it ready "for prime time."
"This week, we entered the optimisation, polish, and bug fixing phase for the 3.0 feature set. As there have been so many features and content implemented, we've encountered some stability issues that we want to address before going to a wider test audience," the developer said in a post on its website (via Eurogamer).
"The ongoing work on the new Patcher system (that will save you from having to completely re-download each build) and some new bugs with CopyBuild3 (our internal version of the patcher) have also slowed us down. Because of this we have pushed back the Evocati and subsequent date ranges to reflect the additional time needed to get Star Citizen Alpha 3.0 ready for prime time."
According to Eurogamer, the Alpha 3.0 update was originally scheduled to come out at the end of August and now it's due at the start of September, so it's a small delay.
Will "Soulcrusher" Leverett, Star Citizen's director of player relations, said in a follow-up post. "Working on 3.0 has certainly introduced variables and challenges that we could never have anticipated, and these just do not always cater to a tidy date on a calendar," Leverett said.
Leverett added: "There's certainly no malice behind it, and anyone who makes that claim is providing an uninformed opinion. Ask any project manager or developer who worked on sophisticated software or has been involved on a complex project with lots of dependencies and moving parts. They'll gladly share how challenging a task of estimates can be."
The developer added that all of Cloud Imperium Games is "working feverishly" to finish the Alpha 3.0 update, adding that this version of 3.0 will be "something bigger, something pretty groundbreaking, something magnificent."
Star Citizen's Alpha 3.0 update adds an "entirely explorable solar system" and adds the first tools and systems that players can use to create outpost and communities. Those are just a few of the new features--you can read this blog post to learn more.
Star Citizen is the most successful crowdfunded project of any kind in history. By the latest count, the game has raised more than $155.6 million in funding.
"While we are thrilled to be able to confirm the new version of Minecraft is coming to Nintendo Switch, we are still in discussions with Sony about PlayStation and have nothing to confirm," developer Mojang said in a blog post. "We would love to work with Sony to bring players on PlayStation 4 into this ecosystem as well."
The old console version of Minecraft will be removed from sale after the new edition launches for Xbox One and Switch. It sounds like this means the PS4 edition could be gone unless a deal can be reached between Microsoft and Sony. However, if you already own Minecraft for PS4, or any other console, you can continue to play it and its associated mini-games, though there will be no further updates.
There's been a lot of talk about Minecraft's Better Together update, which will add cross-play functionality between all devices that have Minecraft--with the notable exception of Sony platforms. Now, players can finally try out Minecraft's cross-play, as it has gone live in a limited beta test.
The beta is currently only available on Windows 10 and Android devices, but Microsoft promises that it'll grow to include Xbox One players soon. Beta testers have access to many of the planned features coming in the full update, although some--like community-run, cross-platform servers--have yet to be implemented. Cross-platform Marketplace functionality, however, is already live.
To enroll in the beta on Xbox One or Windows 10, you'll need a digital copy of the game. You also have to download the Xbox Insider Hub app, and then join the Minecraft Beta through the Insider Content section. On Android, follow the instructions here to access the beta.
The full update launches sometime this fall, and it'll support cross-play for the Nintendo Switch, iOS, VR, Windows 10, and Xbox One versions of the game. A ton of new features were released in the beta, and you can see a full list below. A graphical update is coming to the game this fall, as well.
New Features:
Stained Glass
Fireworks (with Elytra boost)
Parrots
Banners
Armor stands
Jukebox and music discs
Recipe Book
Book and Quill
Ravines
Coarse Dirt
New world start options: Starting Map, Bonus Chest, Trust Players
New game rules: TNT Explodes, Natural Regeneration
Added '/tickingarea' command to create areas that still update when no players are there
We already knew Resident Evil Revelations was coming to PS4 and Xbox One, but now publisher Capcom has announced when: the horror title will launch for Sony and Microsoft's latest consoles on August 29. In addition, the publisher revealed that Switch versions of both Revelations and its sequel will arrive in "late 2017."
The original Revelations was originally released for 3DS back in 2013, before eventually coming to PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Revelations 2, meanwhile, was an episodic title for last gen, current gen, PS Vita, and PC.
In our original Resident Evil Revelations review, critic Jane Douglas awarded the game an 8.5/10, calling it a "thoroughly successful crossbreeding of old-school chills and new-school action." Read the full review here.
If you're an EA or Origin Access member, today's a good day: Titanfall 2 just went live in EA's Vault as a free download for subscribers. It's available on Xbox One through EA Access and on PC through Origin Access. Each service is $5/£4/€4 per month, and subscribing gets you access to the Vault, a collection of games.
EA generally adds games to the Vault about 6-9 months after release, a pattern the company continued with Titanfall 2. EA is also adding Battlefield 1 to EA/Origin Access sometime soon, although it hasn't announced an exact date.
There are dozens more games in the Vault for you to play, as well. A subscription lets you download the games in full, much like Xbox Live Games With Gold; you can see a list of EA/Origin Access games here. In addition, you get exclusive discounts and, frequently, access to brand-new games a few days before their full release.
Those in the market for a cheap way to play 3DS games will soon have a new option in the United States. Nintendo has announced the revival of a years-old 2DS bundle that launches in August.
The bundle consists of a white-and-red 2DS (not to be confused with the New 2DS XL) and a digital copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2 (not to be confused with Super Mario Bros. 2). It also comes with a 4 GB SD card, just as this same bundle did when it was offered in European markets back in 2014. It launches in the US for $80 on August 25.
The 2DS lacks the clamshell design of other 3DS models but is capable of playing 3DS game--albeit without any 3D functionality--with the exception of the small number of games exclusive to the New 2DS XL and New 3DS (such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D). New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the 2012 side-scroller that distinguished itself from other games in the series by placing an emphasis on collecting coins.
Nintendo only just launched the New 2DS XL in the US last week. While the New 3DS has been phased out, the standard 2DS remains one of the three pillars of the 3DS hardware business. Earlier this year, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime explained the reason for having so many versions of the 3DS available simultaneously and why the New 2DS XL was introduced.
"The Nintendo 2DS really focused on that entry level gamer," he said. "The four-, five-, six-year old that is just getting into gaming, but wants to play Mario Kart, wants to have a Super Mario Bros. experience, wants to play Pokemon. And we feel with Nintendo 3DS XL at $199 that it's a fully-featured product, that it is, if you will, the Cadillac of handheld gaming. And then we heard from consumers, 'Boy, I wish there was something in between.'"
In addition to the New 2DS XL, last week saw the release of two new 3DS games from Nintendo, although it appears neither one is as stellar as you might have hoped. You can check out our Miitopia review and Hey Pikmin review for our thoughts on each game.
After a delay last year, Tacoma is finally coming out this week. It's the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Gone Home from developer Fullbright, and while it's not technically connected to the 2013 indie darling, Tacoma does feature similarly slow, narrative-driven gameplay. The game puts you in an abandoned space station searching for answers and is centered around individual human stories.
Now, with Tacoma's August 2 release date nearly upon us, reviews have started to go live for the Xbox One/PC game. In GameSpot's verdict, critic Kallie Plagge said she became "deeply attached to the Tacoma crew," and that Tacoma's greatest accomplishment was "getting you to care about people who aren't even there." Read more in our full Tacoma review.
For a wider view of critics' opinions, meanwhile, take a look at our review roundup below, or check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Tacoma
Developer: Fullbright
Platform: Xbox One, PC
Release: August 2
Price: US $20 / £15 / AU $22.45 (Xbox One), US $18 / £13.49 (PC)
GameSpot -- 7/10
"I'm still thinking about [Tacoma], inferring what wasn't spelled out for me and wondering about the complex politics of its near-future world. Mostly, though, I'm deeply attached to the Tacoma crew, who I only got to know through projections and the things they left behind. Out of everything, that's Tacoma's greatest accomplishment: getting you to care about people who aren't even there." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review]
IGN -- 8.5/10
"Tacoma successfully overcomes the challenge of featuring eight characters and making them all interesting in a relatively short game. Using the out-of-sequence AR recordings to learn about the exciting events on Tacoma is a unique way to see every side of a conversation, and it's one I hope to see catch on. I would have appreciated more time and events that'd have given me a reason to explore more of the beautiful station, but the time I did have in this fascinating hypothetical future was great." -- Miranda Sanchez [Full review]
Polygon -- 7/10
"I continue to think of Tacoma as a story first, but it's more than that, clearly: It's an interactive experience, and that plays for and against it. The story is built out of the playback mechanic, which gives birth to the subtler suggestions of what's really going on with this station. But the playback system means there's a lot of talking to listen to, and a lot of wireframes to stare at. For a game about an abandoned space station, Tacoma gave me plenty of company. But the moments where I had to reckon with being alone in space were the ones that stuck with me." -- Allegra Frank [Full review]
The Guardian -- 4/5
"Over the course of about three hours, your investigative journey through Tacoma has you rooting for these characters by the time their story concludes. A space station powered by an advanced AI might not be a particularly original setting, but the team at Fullbright has taken these familiar pieces and used them to tell a different and engaging tale. It's what you'd expect from the people who made Gone Home, but that's no bad thing." -- Jordan Erica Webber [Full review]
Game Informer -- 8.25/10
"With Tacoma's unique take on branching narratives and a strong cast, it manages to tell an intriguing tale about mortality and relationships in the face of catastrophe. Tacoma builds on the foundations of Gone Home, but has its own unique tricks to tell an immersive story in a compelling way." -- Elise Favis [Full review]
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