The Switch version of Monster Hunter XX is releasing in Japan later this month, on August 25. Before then, players will have an opportunity to try out the title with a free demo that is coming to the Eshop on August 10.
While the demo is strictly limited to the Japanese digital store, the console itself is region-free, meaning all Switch owners will still be able to download it. To access another region's Eshop, all you have to do is create a new Nintendo Account and select the appropriate region. Once the account is created, link it to your console and you'll be able to access that region's digital store using your new account. The demo will be entirely in Japanese, but it will still give players a chance to sample several quests.
The next new installment in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter: World, is arriving for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in early 2018, with a PC release following later. Meanwhile, the series' next 3DS entry, the turn-based RPG spinoff Monster Hunter Stories, is slated to release in the US on September 8. That game will also be preceded by a demo, and players who download that will be able to carry their save data over to the full version.
Atlus has announced a new game in the Persona series for 3DS. Called Persona Q2, the game will serve as a follow-up to 2014's Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, although at this point the company has shared no specific information about the new title.
Aside from the name, Persona Q2 has a Japanese teaser website with very little information on it. Most notably, the site features the Phantom Thieves logo from Persona 5, suggesting that characters from that game will be included. Persona Q was a crossover of Persona 3 and Persona 4, bringing together characters from both RPGs.
Persona 5
More broadly, Persona Q played a lot like the Etrian Odyssey series, as it was a challenging first-person dungeon crawler. However, it still retained elements of the Persona games beyond just its characters. You can read GameSpot's Persona Q review for more.
There's no indication at this point if Q2 will see characters from Persona 5 interacting with those from previous games. We know Atlus hasn't forgotten about Persona 3, as it's also announced two new dancing game spinoffs: one each for that game and Persona 5. We'll report back as more is announced, but for now the timeline for new information--or a release window--is unknown.
The newest installment in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, made its long-awaited debut in Japan last week, and despite its short time on the market, the game has made an impressive impact so far. Japanese publication Famitsu reports that the RPG sold over 2 million copies in its first two days of availability (via Gematsu).
According to Famitsu, the PlayStation 4 and 3DS versions sold a combined 2,080,806 units from July 29-30. Famitsu reports that the PS4 title sold 950,338 copies, while the 3DS version sold 1,130,468. These figures are certainly impressive, though not altogether unexpected; the Dragon Quest series remains phenomenally popular in Japan, so much so that a special edition Dragon Quest-themed PS4 and a Metal Slime 3DS XL were released alongside the new game. Each system came bundled with a copy of the title, which were included in Famitsu's total, though digital sales numbers were not factored in.
Last week, Square Enix finally confirmed that Dragon Quest XI will receive a western release, though the title won't arrive until sometime in 2018. In a video update, series creator Yuji Horii revealed that work on localizing the game was already underway, though given the substantial amount of text it contains, it would take some time to bring over. "There's quite a lot of text, so it's an exorbitant amount of work," Horii said. "But we're doing our best and working hard to get this game to all of you as soon as possible, so I sincerely hope you look forward to the game."
Square Enix hasn't confirmed which version of Dragon Quest XI it is releasing in the West, though with any luck, both PS4 and 3DS owners will have a chance to play the title. Despite sharing the same storyline, the two versions look quite different from one another, making each a unique experience. A Nintendo Switch version of Dragon Quest XI is also in the works, though Square Enix has yet to share more details about it. Along with traditional turn-based combat, the game boasts a Zone and Link battle system and gives players the ability to ride certain monsters.
Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians, the successfully funded Kickstarter game from Final Fantasy Tactics director Yasumi Matsuno, has lost its developer. Playdek announced in a Kickstarter update (via Kotaku) that it's no longer working on the game, with the publisher/developer Little Orbit take over going forward.
"Our involvement is coming to an end," Playdek said. "Effective immediately publisher/developer Little Orbit has taken over all the rights and assets to Unsung Story from Playdek, and is now the project creator. They believe strongly the game can be an amazing Tactics RPG, and they are excited to carry on and bring Matsuno's story to life. They will be bringing you project news from this point on to update everyone on their plans for the game."
Playdek thanked fans for their support, and said it believes Unsung Story "is in good hands" with Little Orbit.
"Though we are sorry that we were unable to complete it for you, we believe the project is in good hands, with people who have the same passion for the game," Playdek said.
In February last year, Playdek gave fans some tough news when the studio said it was putting Unsung Story on the back burner as it focused on other projects instead. At the time, Playdek said it was considering working with an outside studio to get the game made, though the possibility of completely stepping aside as it's done now is new.
Unsung Story successfully raised more than $660,000 from close to 16,000 backers. It is billed as a spiritual successor to Matsuno's line of tactical RPGs, reimagining the genre with "complex and rich game worlds" as well as "inspiring class-based tactics gameplay."
Publisher Gun Media announced today that the game has moved 1.8 million units in the two months since it launched. In a press release, studio head Wes Keltner acknowledged the launch issues and said that developer IllFonic has more confidence now in its ability to improve the game moving forward.
"It's been a long two months from our team here at Gun and IllFonic," he said. "We have had an incredibly supportive and dedicated community since we launched, and while things haven't been completely smooth we definitely feel confident moving forward. The team has grown and we are committed as we work to add more content, more kills, more to do, and of course the single player component to the game."
The company also announced that the physical release of the game will launch on a very appropriate date: Friday the 13th, this October. The retail version is coming to PS4 and Xbox One, and it includes a Bloody Jason skin and a free clothing pack for playable camp counselors. It will cost $40, the same price as the digital versions.
Hitman's August update will start rolling out soon, and while there's no Elusive Target this month (the game's final Season One target was available last month), there is a bunch of new content to keep eager assassins happy.
On August 11, 10 new player-created Featured Contracts will hit the game. IO Interactive says it's picked the contracts based on "variety of locations, varying numbers of targets, inventive storytelling, and anything else that we think is interesting."
August 11 is also when the new Challenge Pack will roll out. Called The Art of Revenge, it adds five new challenges to the Hokkaido map. The location mastery you get from completing the challenges is higher than regular challenges, and you'll have to beat them all to get the unique item. The developer is promising to reveal what that item is next week, adding "revenge is never a straight line."
There's more new content on the way later in the month. For the first time, a Hitman player is curating a collection of new Featured Contracts. This month's will be picked by Brazilian Twitch streamer Mendietinha, and IO Interactive says the picks will "give insight into how some of the prominent members of the Hitman community play the game." There's no exact release date on this second batch of Feature Contracts yet.
Hitman received a substantial game update in July, and the developer says that was the last major patch for a while. On its website, IO Interactive says September's new content release will be similar to August's, but big stuff is on the way for the game after that. "That relative calm will give us time to prepare for some exciting announcements," the studio said.
Although Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher has completed all of her scenes in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi before her death in December last year, she was set to reprise the role in 2019's Episode IX. Now her Star Wars co-star John Boyega, who plays Finn, has spoken about what will be her final appearance in the series.
In an interview with ABC News, Boyega said, "This movie sends her off in an amazing, amazing way. And she is still kept alive in this franchise. That's the beauty of it: She lives forever in a sense."
Beyoga also commented on how he felt when he heard about Fisher's death. "It was a strange, strange feeling," he revealed. "I felt like everyone in the cast went silent for a bit after that." The actor also revealed that he will have quite a lot of screen time with Fisher in The Last Jedi. "We worked together closely on this," he said.
In March, Disney head Bob Iger confirmed that The Last Jedi has not been changed to take account of Fisher's death. "What I can say about that is she is in [The Last Jedi] and we're not changing it to deal with her passing," he stated, via Slashfilm. "So her performance, which we're really pleased with, remains as it was." In addition, Lucasfilm previously confirmed that it would not use CGI to digitally resurrect Leia for Episode IX, as it as it controversially did with Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One.
The Last Jedi is set to hit theaters in December. It's directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, and Andy Serkis. Earlier this month, a series of striking character posters were released. In addition, there's also a new behind-the-scenes video.
It's now August, which means that EA will soon launch its annual sports games, such as NHL 18. However, before it is officially released, you can try out NHL 18 for free: the game's beta test went live today for all players on PS4 and Xbox One.
The beta is free to download and includes a few modes that'll be in the final game. Most notably, the beta features NHL Threes, a new mode that is meant to be more arcade-y than the rest of the game. According to EA, Threes focuses on "bigger hits, faster gameplay, and highlight-reel goals through fun three-on-three matches." It supports both online and local multiplayer.
In the full game, Threes will also feature a single-player campaign mode that tasks you with completing regional circuits and challenges. This mode isn't available in the beta.
The beta also features a traditional online versus mode. This mode consists of normal six-on-six matches, and you can try out the changes and additions that EA has added to the gameplay.
Finally, the beta includes EA Sports Hockey League, a mode that focuses on your ability to play as a team with other players. This year's Hockey League supports both six-on-six and three-on-three matches.
You can try out the beta until August 8. NHL 18 officially launches on September 15 for Xbox One and PS4, and it'll feature Connor McDavid as its cover athlete.
The closed beta for Final Fantasy XV's upcoming Comrades DLC kicks off tomorrow, August 3, but players can begin preparing for it by installing it now. The beta is available to download from the PlayStation and Xbox stores, though only for PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold subscribers.
The Comrades expansion is a cooperative multiplayer mode for the previously single-player RPG. Players will be able to create and customize their own avatar and take on quests with up to three other players. The full version will offer a wide variety of new weapons, attack patterns, sigils, quests, and more, but only a small sampling will be available to try in the closed beta. You can read more about what content is included in the beta on the game's website.
The closed beta is scheduled to run until August 8. Only players who've purchased Final Fantasy XV's $25 Season Pass and have either a PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscriptions will be able to participate in it. Square Enix hasn't announced a release date for the full expansion, but more details about it are "forthcoming." The publisher has confirmed that a future update will give players the option to use Noctis and his friends in the mode in addition to their custom avatars.
Ahead of Madden NFL 18's release later this month, EA Sports has now announced the player ratings for all the major positions. Posted on the game's website, the ratings give an indication as to which players are theoretically the best, at least at the start of the season.
Cover star Tom Brady is the highest-rated quarterback, with a 99 rating, while Julio Jones is the top-rated wide receiver (98), and Le'Veon Bell tops the running back charts (97). You can see a breakdown of the top-rated players at the major positions below.
According to PastaPadre, the Seahawks and the Cowboys have seven players rated 90 or higher, more than any other team, with the Patriots following with four. The Jets are the worst, with their highest-rated player only at 85 and only six over 80. Of course, things will certainly change for the Jets and every other team as the season progresses.
Madden 18 launches on August 25 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, though there are multiple ways to play early. The game has a new single-player mode called Longshot, featuring Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali.
The upcoming Hellboy reboot has added Ian McShane to its cast. The Deadwood star will appear alongside David Harbour in Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen, which starts shooting next month.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, McShane will play Professor Broom, who is Hellboy's adoptive father in the graphic novels that the film is based on. The role was previously played by the late John Hurt in Guillermo Del Toro's two Hellboy movies. McShane is also known for playing Brother Ray in season six of Game of Thrones, as well as for roles in American Gods and the John Wick movies.
Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen will be directed by Neil Marshall, who is best known for his work on Game of Thrones, as well as movies such as Doomsday and The Descent. Stranger Things star Harbour will play Hellboy, and the character's creator Mike Mignola is also involved with the film.
In a recent interview with the Post Mortem podcast, Marshall explained that, unlike Del Toro's two Hellboy films, he would be making a more adult movie.
"We can make the movie we want to make," he said. "It's not like I'm going to force it to be R-rated, but if it happens to come out that way, just because of my own sensibilities, then fine. And nobody's going to stop us. So, that's the main [difference].
"And I'm sure, obviously, the success of things like Deadpool and Logan have not hurt that cause. But, also, when you go back the original material, it is kind of bloody, so I'm going to embrace that."
Hellboy first appeared in 1993 and has featured in a wide variety of regular comic books, miniseries, one-shots, and crossovers since then, published by Dark Horse Comics.
Another PlayStation 4 system update is available to download now, but don't expect it to do too much. According to the patch notes, update 4.73 simply "improves the quality of the system performance."
A few days after that, Sony announced that the PS4's big 5.0 update is on the way, and beta sign-ups are open now. According to Sony, beta will start in "early August," though there's currently no clue as to when the update will be released for all. We also don't yet know what the patch will include.
The last big PS4 update, 4.50, added Boost Mode for PS4 Pro owners and external hard drive support, among other things. The Boost Mode feature aims to improve the quality and performance of games that have not been patched to support PS4 Pro. "This can provide a noticeable frame rate boost to some games with variable frame rates, and can provide frame rate stability for games that are programmed to run at 30 Hz or 60 Hz," Sony explained at the time.
EA has revealed a bunch of new FIFA 18 details and has offered the first proper look at some gameplay. The company held a Twitch stream event yesterday in which it showcased a new trailer, new Ultimate Team features, and a full 2v2 match. In addition, the Switch version of Ultimate Team was further detailed, and we got to see new Icons (this season's version of Legends) for the first time.
Starting with FUT Icons, EA revealed a new feature called Stories, in which classic players will receive three Ultimate Team cards for different stages in their career. As an example, Ronaldinho has one card for his time at PSG in 2002, one for when he played for AC Milan in 2010, and one "prime" card, which highlights his peak in 2004, when he won World Player of the Year while playing for Barcelona. Two of these three cards will be available to obtain in packs and squad building challenges, though prime Icons will only available on select Thursdays that EA is calling Throwback Thursdays. You'll only be able to get these in limited time packs and squad building challenges. Take a look at some of the new Icon Stories in the trailer above.
In addition, EA showed off new FIFA 18 gameplay. The company streamed a full match, played by six real life Real Madrid players. The match--which is the first full FIFA 18 game shown off--starts around the 39:00 mark on Twitch.
It then moved on to talking about FIFA 18's Ultimate Team mode on Nintendo Switch. Although FUT is included in the Switch version, it's a slightly stripped down version when compared to the PS4 and Xbox One iterations. Packs, the transfer market, seasons, and SBCs are all included, but Icons and Stories are missing from the Switch version.
Finally, another new FUT feature, Squad Battles, were unveiled. These are weekly single-player competitions where you compete against AI-controlled squads built by other human players. These offer the "best" rewards for any single-player Ultimate Team mode, but they're only available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC editions.
FIFA 18 was first revealed in June, and it launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on September 29. Customers who preorder the Ronaldo Edition or Icon Edition will get to play it three days early, while EA Access and Origin Access members can enjoy a 10-hour trial on Xbox One/PC starting September 21. We've played FIFA 18--check out what we thought here.
FIFA's main rival, PES 2018, launches for last-gen and current-gen consoles as well as PC on September 14, 2017, two weeks ahead of EA's behemoth. You can read more about Konami's challenger here.
Microsoft's Xbox One X console will cost $500 when it launches this November, but you can possibly get one for free... by eating Taco Bell. Starting on August 31, the $5 Steak Quesarito box will come with a code that you can redeem for a chance to win.
There will be a lot of winners, it seems, as Microsoft says in a news release that a potential winner will be selected every 10 minutes for the duration of the promo, which runs August 31 through October 4. In addition to the console, winners will receive a copy of Forza Motorsport 7 and a three-month Xbox Game Pass subscription.
As Microsoft reminds us, Microsoft and Taco Bell teamed up for a promotion around the original Xbox in 2001, and now the companies are "returning to their roots with this promotion to launch the Xbox One X." In more recent years, Taco Bell has partnered with Sony to promote PlayStation consoles.
"It's only fitting that the two brands that do 'boxes' best and have some of the greatest fans in the world have joined forces to box up the ultimate food and gaming offer for them," Taco Bell marketing executive Marisa Thalberg said. "We see this partnership with Xbox as yet another way Taco Bell is tapping what is current in culture and providing our fans access to unique experiences they cannot get anywhere else."
The Xbox One X launches on November 7, though it's not immediately clear when the winners will receive their consoles. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more.
Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning director of the upcoming Han Solo Star Wars movie, has shared a new on-set image that could reveal a brand-new Star Wars alien.
Posted on Twitter (via IGN), the image shows Howard and cinematographer Bradford Young working on a shot. On the left-hand side you can see what appears to be an alien in a suit folding its arms and maybe playing some kind of extra-terrestrial board game. Howard's image, along with a zoomed-in and cropped version of the alien alone from Twitter user @BradH11160706 can be seen below.
The untitled Han Solo movie opens in theatres in May 2018. It stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, alongside Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. Woody Harrelson plays a mentor character to Solo and Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke is in the movie in an unspecified role.
The next Star Wars movie is The Last Jedi, which hits theaters in December. A behind-the-scenes promo and series of stylish new posters were revealed at the annual D23 convention this weekend.
The next Overwatch seasonal event is coming up soon. Blizzard today announced that the Summer Games event will return for a 2017 edition, starting next week.
Summer Games 2017 will run August 8-29, and players will be able to get new skins (of course), while a new Lucioball map is on the way. Additionally, the skins from Summer Games 2016 are returning for this year's event, and they will cost less.
Below you can see a rundown of the prices for Overwatch's Loot Box items, covering this year's event and last year's.
2017 Summer Games Cosmetic Items
Legendary Skins will cost 3,000 credits
Epic Skins will cost 750 credits
Rare tier will cost 225 credits
Common tier will cost 75 credits
2016 Summer Games Cosmetic Items
Legendary Skins will cost 1,000 credits
Epic Skins will cost 250 credits
Rare tier will cost 75 credits
Common tier will cost 25 credits
As for the new Lucioball map, it's set in Sydney, while 2016's map, Rio Stadiums, is also included. Matches will rotate between them. Blizzard has made a number of changes to Lucio's abilities for the mode this year, including the following:
The ability to "boop" enemies has been removed
Lucio's ultimate ability no longer pulls the ball toward the player, but now increases Lucio's speed and the speed of his "boop"
Summer Games 2017 will also introduce a second competitive mode for Lucioball, allowing players to place and rank
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on Overwatch's new Summer Games event.
In today's weirdest video game merchandise, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt now has an adult coloring book. Only one image has been officially revealed so far, but two more have shown up via Twitter--take a look at them throughout this article.
According to an official description, the book will feature "uniquely designed and highly detailed black-and-white illustrations inspired by the games." Scenes will include characters such as Geralt, Ciri, Triss, Yennefer, Roach, Shani, and more. The book is to be distributed by Dark Horse Comics, the long-running comic publisher, and it goes on sale for $15 from November 1.
The book is specifically referred to as "adult," though this may not necessarily suggest anything too raunchy. The word may refer to the same kinds of "M for Mature" scenes found in the video game, or it may simply mean that the puzzles are too difficult for children to complete. Then again, a naked dude in a bathtub and a creature getting chopped in half means you probably shouldn't give this book to your niece or nephew anyway.
In other Witcher news, developer CD Projekt Red recently confirmed it would patch the third game in the series to support both Xbox One X and PS4 Pro. That's despite previously saying it would not release a PS4 Pro patch for The Witcher 3. At the time, the Polish studio said it wanted to "fully focus" on Cyberpunk 2077 and Gwent, adding that patching the game for PS4 Pro would be "too much of a time and resource-consuming process." It appears the developer has now changed its mind.
It is no big surprise that CD Projekt Red wants to continue to support The Witcher III. In a May 2017 earnings report, the studio revealed that the game sold better in Q1 2017 than it did the same period before, demonstrating the game's continued popularity.
Jessica Chastain has confirmed that she will play a key villainous character in the upcoming X-Men: Dark Phoenix. The actress, who is best known for roles in The Martian and Zero Dark Thirty, had been rumoured to be taking on role of Lilandra since June. She confirmed the news via an Instagram post in which she states she is going make co-star James McAvoy, who plays Professor X in the series, "cry so hard." Check it out below:
The film is based on the classic Dark Phoenix saga from Marvel's comic books. It focuses on Jean Grey becoming corrupted by the Phoenix Force that provides her with her powers, and turning them against the X-Men.
In related news, the X-Men spinoff sequel Deadpool 2 is also currently shooting. Earlier this week, the first image of Zazie Beetz as Domino was revealed by star Ryan Reynolds.
Atlus has announced a number of new Persona games today, including a pair of rhythm game spinoffs that are each dedicated to a different core, numbered entry. Persona 3 and Persona 5 are both getting the rhythm treatment, just as Persona 4 did before them.
Persona 5: Dancing Star Night features the music and characters from the most recent entry in the Persona series. The trailer below shows off the protagonist, Joker, as well as Ryuji, Ann, and Makoto dancing in locations from Persona 5, including Station Square in Shibuya and one of the early Palaces.
Similarly, Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night offers the same treatment for Persona 3. The trailer below swaps in the game's party members, including the male protagonist along with Junpei (who may be the most awkward-looking dancer of any Persona rhythm game), Yukari, and Aigis. Again, we see some of the locales from the source game, including the school rooftop and Paulownia Mall.
Dancing Star Night and Dancing Moon Night are coming to both PS4 and Vita. They'll be released simultaneously in Japan in Spring 2018. A Japanese teaser website is now online, although it doesn't offer up any additional information. There's no word yet on a western release.
The Persona series--which itself is a offshoot of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise--has seen numerous spinoffs. In addition to Persona Q and a pair of fighting games, 2015 brought the rhythm game Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Word of a new Persona 5 anime was also recently announced.
The second expansion for the multi-million-selling Guild Wars 2 has been announced. Path of Fire was revealed today; the expansion launches on September 22.
Path of Fire takes players back to the Crystal Desert region from the first Guild Wars, along with another area called Elon, from Guild Wars: Nightfall. There are five new, open-world zones in all, along with nine new "elite specialisations."
Here is how developer ArenaNet sums up the story for Path of Fire: "Balthazar, the human god of war and fire, threatens the Crystal Desert and adjoining kingdom of Elona with his Forged legions. Players saw through the course of Living World Season 3 that Balthazar is determined to hunt Elder Dragons--and now he and his armies have invaded the desert to do just that. Now, Tyria's fate hangs by a thread as players race to the desert to hunt down the rogue god before he can do any more damage to the delicate balance of magic."
ArenaNet president and co-founder Mike O'Brien said in a statement that the Path of Fire update is "all about content." Also coming to Guild Wars 2 in the Path of Fire expansion are mounts, which will allow players to move through the world faster.
The Path of Fire standalone expansion will cost $30, though you can also get it in a $50 bundle that includes the previous expansion, Heart of Thorns, too. All purchases come with an instant-boost that raises one character's level to 80 and this also includes an allotment of gear and gold.
Everyone who has a Guild Wars 2 account can try out Path of Fire through an "open-world preview weekend" event that runs August 11-13. Included in the trial is the first story mission for Path of Fire, along with the Crystal Oasis map with the raptor mount.
ArenaNet also announced the bonuses players get for pre-purchasing. These include the following:
The Spearmarshal's Gift - A special gift from an anonymous friend in Elona. Players will use this to choose one weapon skin from the Sunspear Weapon Set.
"Elonia Envoy" title - Whether a new arrival to Elona or coming home, build bridges by displaying this symbol of respect and friendship.
Miniature Balthazar - This exclusive miniature replica of the god of War and Fire is on the warpath.
Microsoft has announced three new Xbox One controller designs. Announced on the Xbox Wire, the new colours include Green/Grey, Patrol Tech, and Volcano Shadow.
All of these controllers work with the Xbox One and the upcoming Xbox One X console. You can use them on PC as well, though you'll need to connect it via USB cable or a wireless adapter, the newest version of which is 66 percent smaller than the earlier model.
The adapter is available by itself or bundled with a black Xbox One controller. Additionally, a new navy blue Patrol Tech controller that includes a USB cable is coming.
Here's a rundown of the new Xbox One controllers and adapter:
Green/Grey -- $65, launching August 3
Volcano Shadow -- $70, launching August 3
Patrol Tech -- $70, launching on September 5
Patrol Tech with USB cable for Windows 10 -- $70, launching October 17
New Xbox Adapter for Windows 10 -- $25, launching in August; bundled with a controller for $80
Go to the Xbox Wire to learn more about the new Xbox One controller designs.
Update: EA has commented on the upcoming removal of FIFA 14, describing this as a "unique circumstance." In a statement shared with GameSpot, a spokesperson said, "FIFA 14 is being removed from the Vault due to a unique circumstance specific to the title. It does not indicate a change in our priorities for the EA Access and Origin Access Vaults, which continues to be on providing a varied selection of great games for our players, with new titles added regularly."
Original Story: 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.
Ant-Man And The Wasp, the sequel to 2015's Ant-Man starring Paul Rudd as the tiny superhero, is now officially in production. Principal photography has begun, director Peyton Reed said on Twitter, while he also released a new logo for the sequel.
Additionally, Marvel put out a silly promo video heralding the news; take a look:
Ant-Man And The Wasp is due in theaters on July 16, 2018, which is less than a year from now, so right around now would be the time for production to begin.
Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly return from the first Ant-Man, while Michael Douglas and Michael Pena are also coming back. As Collider explains, newcomers for the sequel include Laurence Fishburne, Walton Goggins, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Ant-Man and the Wasp will be directed by Reed, who previously helmed the first film. Reed took over from Edgar Wright, who had worked on the movie for many years but left shortly before production began. Wright recently revealed that he has never seen the final film.
In an interview with Modern Myth Media last year, Reed spoke about his plans for the sequel. "For me, as a comic nerd, I have always thought of Ant-Man and Wasp as a team," he said. "That's a lot of what the second movie is really about--how they work together, and what their personal and professional relationships are like.
"To show her finally fully formed in this movie is really exciting. We really get to introduce this character into that universe. To me she's not a supporting character in this movie. It's every bit as much her movie as it is Scott Lang's."
The first Ant-Man made more than $500 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, so it's no surprise that the franchise is continuing.
The next big Marvel movie is Thor: Ragnarok, which opens in November.
A new writer has come aboard for Star Wars: Episode IX. According to The Hollywood Reporter, British writer Jack Thorne has been brought on to contribute to the script.
The first script was written by director Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly (Safety Not Guaranteed, Jurassic World). Sources told THR that a "fresh set of eyes was needed" for the script. However, the extent of the rewrites or changes is not clear.
Thorne created a number of British TV shows, including The Cast-Offs, The Last Panthers, and National Treasure. He also wrote the popular stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
As Collider explains, the hiring of a new writer for a Star Wars film is nothing new. Michael Arndt spent a year working on The Force Awakens before he was replaced by JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan. Rogue One also had new writers. One major exception is this year's The Last Jedi, which Rian Johnson wrote and directed himself.
Star Wars: Episode IX is set for release in May 2019. While you have to wait a while longer for that movie, The Last Jedi is out this December, with the untitled Han Solo film set to follow a year later.
Rock Band Blitz, the digital-only Rock Band game that doesn't use plastic peripherals, is being removed from Xbox Live and PlayStation Network soon. Developer Harmonix announced (via VideoGamer.com) that the $15 game will be de-listed on August 28.
Harmonix did not explain why Rock Band Blitz is being delisted on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. However, the company did make clear that the game will never be made available on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 through backwards compatibility.
The developer also clarified that all 25 songs on the soundtrack can be imported into Rock Band 4 at no cost. You can find out how to do that here. If you already bought Rock Band Blitz or do so before it's removed, you can presumably keep playing.
Released in 2012, Blitz's gameplay revolves around different aspects of a song--including drums, guitar, bass, keys, and vocals--being represented as a series of lanes. To play the song well, you need to match your button presses with the instrument. As mentioned, it uses a controller and not the plastic instruments the series is known for.
Something else that's cool about the game is that it works with the Rock Band DLC library, so you could potentially play thousands of songs beyond its soundtrack.
Gears of War 4 was updated today with a lot of new content. The Xbox One and PC game's August update has introduced new maps, events, and more.
Starting with the maps, the first of these is Forge Blitz. An updated version of Forge, this map is set in a factory that's been damaged by the elements. The new version is described by Microsoft as being "faster, more tactical, and more intense."
The control room's secondary entrances have been removed, which channels the combat to other areas. The amount of open space has been lessened, so players will have to meet their foes faster and more head-on than before.
The other new map is called Canals, which you may remember was in the first Gears of War game. The new version is of course updated with better graphics and other tweaks.
Forge Blitz and Canals are available right now for people who own the Gears of War season pass, and they pay out double XP. Everyone can play the new maps when they join the public matchmaking hopper starting on August 8.
The Gears of War 4 August update also offers an increase to the bonus you get for your first win of the day. In August, you'll get 500 credits for your first win, up from 100.
Additionally, there will be new Versus and Horde events in August. On August 18, Gears of War 4 will add a new Horde variant, while the One Shot One Kill mode on Canals will go live on August 25.
Check out the video above to see some of Gears of War 4's new content for August.
The delightful farming and adventure game Stardew Valley launched in early 2016, but developer Chucklefish has still been hard at work on updates. Today, it shared details on the long-awaited multiplayer mode.
Stardew Valley's multiplayer mode is essentially a cooperative version of the entire game. Shortly after starting out, you'll get the option to have up to three cabins built on your farm. Each of these can house a friend.
The friends who move in can do almost anything you--the main player--can do, from mining and fighting to foraging and marrying NPCs. Each player has their own separate inventory, which becomes a chest in their house when the player is not online.
Chucklefish also said that it had received many requests for players to be able to marry each other, and so it will implement that feature at some point.
The studio is planning on testing the multiplayer mode in a beta version on PC first, scheduled for release at the end of 2017. It'll then launch in full on PC in early 2018. Console versions will launch at a currently unspecified time after that, with the Nintendo Switch update coming first.
Stardew Valley is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC and will be released on Switch sometime this year. If you're interested in learning more about the game, check out our 9/10 review.
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.
Persona 5's protagonist is getting a posable figma figure, available for pre-order now through Goodsmile's online shop. It costs around $60 before tax and import fees.
The Joker figma, made by Max Factory, comes with three interchangeable face options, and you can add optional gun and knife accessories to go with him. He also comes with a Morgana figure, which makes $60 a pretty good deal. Check them out below.
Orders on Goodsmile's online shop also include an extra "sparkling eyes" part for Morgana, included above. This Morgana figure is separate from the Nendoroid Morgana, also available on Goodsmile's shop, which is much more detailed and includes more spare parts.
In other Persona 5 news, an anime adaptation was recently announced and will air in Japan in 2018.
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