Today at the Gamescom convention, EA showed off a lengthy new look at Star Wars: Battlefront II. The company demoed a big multiplayer space battle, and it looks awesome.
In the 24-player match, teams battled each other in space above the planet Fendor. The demo revealed a beautiful cosmos filled with chaos and destruction, and it showcased the Starfighter Assault game mode that was previously announced after a leak. You can see the full video in the embed above.
The demo also showed off the class-based ships in the game. There are a whole bunch of different ship types, including X-Wing, Y-Wing, and many more. Most notably, there are hero ships that have special abilities; the video showed Poe Damron's black X-Wing, Darth Maul's Scimitar, and, of course, Han Solo's Millennium Falcon, among others.
Battlefront II's space battles are in the works at Burnout developer Criterion, while DICE and Motive are developing other parts of the game. Battlefront II launches on November 14 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Destiny 2's release is quickly approaching, and today Bungie published the launch trailer for the game. It sets the stage for Destiny 2's story, which is shaping up to be much darker than the narrative of the original.
Whereas Destiny's story was a heroic epic in which players took the fight to the Vex, Crota, and Oryx, utilizing a great deal of resources and allies centered on the Tower, Destiny 2's story is one of survival and loss. If you played Destiny 2's beta, you'll recognize that the launch trailer picks up where the opening Homecoming mission ends. Your Guardian has been captured by Ghaul, the hulking leader of the Cabal, and the Tower has been conquered.
The video features the ever-grave Commander Zavala and Ikora Ray alongside the wise-cracking Cayde-6, who is, at one point, inexplicably holding a rooster in a brief moment of levity. The three of them and the Guardians plan a guerrilla mission against the Cabal that, apparently, is expected to end with the deaths of everyone involved. It actually sounds somewhat similar in tone and structure to one of Bungie's previous games, Halo: Reach.
Players still looking to jump into Battlefield 1 have a chance to pick up the game and its DLC all at once. During its Gamescom livestream, EA unveiled Battlefield 1: Revolution, a new edition of the multiplayer shooter that releases today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Revolution is the complete edition of Battlefield 1. It retails for $60 and includes the base game as well as its premium pass, which gives players access to four DLC expansions: They Shall Not Pass, In the Name of the Tsar, Turning Tides, and Apocalypse. Each expansion offers new maps, weapons, and game modes. Those who purchase the Revolution edition will also receive the Red Baron, Lawrence of Arabia, and Hellfighter packs, each of which contains items, vehicles, and emblems based on their respective heroes.
Battlefield 1's next DLC pack, In the Name of the Tsar, releases in September. It adds six maps, two Operations, 11 new weapons, and other content to the popular shooter. The game's penultimate expansion, Turning Tide, follows in December and lets players "partake in amphibious warfare." The last DLC pack, Apocalypse, is scheduled to arrive in early 2018.
Coinciding with the release of Revolution, a new map is also available to play today. Battlefield 1 season pass owners can now jump into Lupkow Pass, one of the new maps from the forthcoming In the Name of the Tsar expansion. It features snow-covered battlefields and "treacherous vertical drops." A closed alpha test for Battlefield 1's new 5v5 Incursions mode kicks off in September.
EA has provided new details about Battlefield 1's next expansion, In the Name of the Tsar. Ahead of its full launch in September, season pass owners can play one of its maps beginning today.
Lupkow Pass, which was the first map revealed from the expansion, is out now for anyone with the Battlefield 1 Premium Pass or In the Name of the Tsar expansion. It sees a battle between the Austro-Hungarian forces and the Russian Imperial Army in a snow-capped hillside where verticality is key. The Armored Train serves as the map's Behemoth, and all modes are available except Supply Drop and Operations.
Lupkow Pass's release brings 11 new Russian-themed weapons (such as the Mosin-Nagant M91 and Russian Standard 1912 grenade) and "limited vehicle access" (including the Ilya-Muromets Heavy Bomber, Putilov-Garford Heavy Armored Car, and the Y-Lighter Landing Craft). There's also the new Hussar class that wields a lance and has "an evolved set of cavalry moves," as well as the Russian Scout--the first-ever female character in Battlefield multiplayer.
All six maps from In the Name of the Tsar have now been revealed: in addition to Lupkow Pass, there's Albion, Galicia, Brusilov Keep, Tsaritsyn, and Volga River. DICE's descriptions, courtesy of the PlayStation Blog, can be found below.
The aforementioned Supply Drop is a new mode for In the Name of the Tsar that is set on the Eastern Front; it sees teams compete to recover airdrops that provide them with additional weaponry. New Operations are also included with the expansion, such as the Brusilov Offensive. More medals, dog tags, and service stars will be added, too.
In the Name of the Tsar launches in full in September for $15/£12 or $50/£40 as part of the Premium Pass. An Operation campaigns update will follow it in October, with a standard update coming after that in November. December brings the third expansion, the "amphibious warfare"-centric Turning Tides; the fourth, Apocalypse, focuses on "the most infamous battles" of World War I and launches in early 2018. If you haven't already purchased the game, EA also today announced and released Battlefield 1's Revolution edition, which packages the game together with its Premium Pass for $60/£55. Additionally, it shared the first details about Battlefield 1's new Incursions mode.
Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar Maps:
Lupkow Pass: The vertical fights are as bitter as the cold as you fight amid snow-covered ravines and treacherous mountains. The first map of Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar, Lupkow Pass pits the Austro-Hungarian forces against the dug-in troops of the Russian Imperial Army. With narrow passes and gorges constantly limiting your sightlines, adapting your tactics is key. You'll want to gain altitude and get a vantage point on the enemy to help secure the win – but an Armored Train may just change the outcome of the battle.
Albion: Partake in the skirmishes of the Albion assault in this massive invasion of the Baltic peninsula, as the German Empire enacts a brutal coastal bombardment against the heavy gun batteries of the Russian forces. While expert vehicle and artillery use is crucial, sharp-eyed infantry that are able to stay ahead of the mayhem can make a serious impact with each capture point.
Galicia: Set during the epic Brusilov Offensive, you'll find the Russian Empire committed to pushing back the Austro-Hungarian forces from within the Russian countryside. It's an open map focused on infantry, cavalry, and light vehicles. With plenty of open space to traverse, it's a great opportunity to make use of the cavalry charge as both lightning-fast transport and a serious threat to enemies on foot.
Brusilov Keep: The Russians have pushed the Austro-Hungarians back into a secluded mountain town along a critical trade route of the Eastern Front, but the opposition is making a strong stand on this infantry-focused map. Set in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains, there's a big emphasis on close-range soldier combat here. Your best bet? Top-notch teamwork with your squad.
Tsaritsyn: The Bolsheviks and the Imperials enter the fray among barricaded streets as the old and new regimes fight for the soul of Russia. This up-close and personal infantry fight is as ruthless as they come. Use the house-to-house fighting to your advantage by setting up ambushes for overextending enemies.
Volga River: A ruined rural battleground sets the stage for a tank fight between the Bolsheviks in red and the Imperial Army in white. Makeshift shelters provide cover from the freezing cold and the constant exchange of heavy firepower. As you trade salvos with enemy tanks, remember to keep yourself from being outnumbered. A strategic retreat can give you time to regroup and prevent losing vehicle resources.
If you think back on past Need For Speed games, chances are good that you remember high-speed cop chases from installments like Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted. Today at Gamescom, EA gave a look at Need For Speed Payback's police chases, and they look more intense than ever.
EA released a new trailer that gives an idea of what you can expect when the cops catch sight of you in the game. The company promises that the police will be "more aggressive than ever before," assisted by better AI that lets them move with greater coordination. Check out the video below.
As with previous Need For Speeds, the cops have a variety of tools at their disposal to take you down. These include giant armored Rhinos, helicopters, and spike strips, among others. The longer the chase, the more advanced equipment that they'll deploy.
DICE has provided the first details about Battlefield 1's new mode, Incursions. This is a competitive-focused mode, and certain players will have a chance to try it out quite soon.
Incursions mode features 5v5 matches and "fast, strategic gameplay." Despite the low player count, vehicles are present, though it sounds as if they not be quite as commonplace as in standard matches. One major change is a draft system used to select your kit before a match begins, which places additional emphasis on teamwork and coordination.
DICE intends for Incursions to be particularly fun to watch. This will be accomplished in part through changes to the scoring system "where every point matters." Specific details regarding these adjustments were not shared. A brief video of the mode was shared during EA's Gamescom stream today; we'll bring that to you once it's available.
Ahead of its official release, an alpha test for Incursions will begin in September. Those interested in participating can sign up for it on Battlefield's official website today. It will provide access to eight kits (Trench Surgeon, Control Leader, AT Assault, Battle Mechanic, Mortar Support, Raid Leader, Shock Assault, Proximity Recon) on a modified version of the Giant's Shadow map. Better weapons and abilities can be access by ranking up, which factors in a "combination of time and performance."
One of the most delightful surprises of E3 2016 was Fe, the beautiful, EA-published adventure game. Today at Gamescom, EA finally announced when we can expect to play the title. The game will launch in early 2018--and it'll be available on Nintendo Switch.
During EA's press conference, developer Zoink revealed that the game will be coming to Nintendo's console alongside PS4, Xbox One, and PC early next year. Zoink also showed off a gorgeous new trailer for the game, which you can see below.
Fe is designed to be heavily influenced by the natural world. Players take control of a cub who explores a forest and interacts with the creatures they find there. Creative lead Klaus Lyngeled explained in a press release that Zoink wants to convey the connectedness and familiarity of nature.
"We would spend hours in the woods as kids, and while it felt scary at first, eventually the strange sounds became familiar," he wrote. "You become part of nature and the forest feels like home. Players will realize similar feelings as they play through Fe."
Fe is the first game published under the EA Originals program, EA's effort to pick up smaller indie titles. Late last year, EA announced that Sea of Solitude is the second EA Originals game, although it hasn't said much about the title yet.
Like other Xbox One X-enhanced games, all of the improvements are visual in nature. Xbox One X players will have three visual modes to choose from. Those who'd like to experience the highest fidelity resolution can play the game in native 4K; Enriched Visuals mode, meanwhile, features "stunning graphic upgrades;" finally, High Frame Rate mode allows for the smoothest gameplay experience.
Square Enix also detailed the tech enhancements afforded by Xbox One X. These include HDR support, spatial audio support including Dolby Atmos, enhanced textures for Lara, NPCs, and environments, as well as improved anti-aliasing. Square Enix released a new trailer for Rise of the Tomb Raider that showcases all of these improvements in action. You can see it and some new screenshots above.
Xbox One X releases worldwide on November 7. Rise of the Tomb Raider's enhancements will be available on launch day. Pre-orders for Xbox One X went live yesterday following Microsoft's Gamescom livestream; you can reserve the console right now at these retailers.
BMW is giving the first look at one of its cars through Need For Speed Payback. On November 10, get ready to take the forthcoming 2018 BMW M5 for a spin, months before its real-world debut.
Unveiled at Gamescom, the new BMW M5 is a luxury four-door sedan with all-wheel drive meant to rip and tear through the streets and terrain of Fortune City. It won't release in the real world until spring 2018, but Need For Speed players will get a taste of its roaring 600 horsepower engine well before then.
Though its the first time BMW has revealed a car through a game, it's not the first time BMW has appeared in Need for Speed. Like the M5, the BMW M2 had its time in the spotlight in Ghost Games' Need For Speed [2015]. The M5 marks the continuing collaboration between Need For Speed and BMW, though it's not clear if we'll be seeing any more new cars from BMW in Payback.
Has there been a missing spot in your sim's life for the past three years? There won't be for much longer--The Sims 4 Cats and Dogs expansion is coming November 10 with lots of new goodies for the pet lover in you.
If you needed any more hours to sink into customizing your sim's families, this expansion will allow it. The new Create a Pet tool will allow you to create any four-legged friend you could possibly imagine, from a recreation of your real pets, to anything Lisa Frank-inspired. Clothing and personality traits will also be available for the first time ever, and your sims can train and play with their pets as well.
Of course, there's more than just your fuzz-ball friends. This expansion also adds the veterinary clinic where your sims can build a career saving the lives of the most vulnerable and sickest of pets. As you work up the ranks, you'll be able to build the clinic your way, hiring staff, battling fleas, and encountering some rather strange ailments too.
Make sure to head to the expansion's new location Brindleton Bay to socialize your pets and pick up a few strays. You'll be able to play fetch on the docks, take a stroll around the lighthouse, and meet plenty of other dog moms and dads.
The Cats and Dogs expansion launches just a week before Sims 4 does on PS4 and Xbox One. At this time, the expansion will only be available on PC and Mac, and sold separately from the base game.
Sony is teasing "something new" for PlayStation. Today, the company's European PlayStation account Tweeted, "We're gearing up for the reveal of something new," accompanied by a gif of something under wraps. Take a look at the video--which was also distributed via Facebook--below.
PlayStation's North American social channels have not referenced the tease, suggesting the pending announcement may only apply to Europe. Other than that, clues as to what Sony has up its sleeve are few and far between.
The Tweet comes the day before Europe's biggest gaming convention, Gamescom, kicks off. However, the company has forgone a press conference in favor of a media briefing at Paris Games Week in October. It may also save some announcements for its own celebration, PlayStation Experience, which is being held in December.
In honor of Game Of Thrones Season 7 Episode 6 "Beyond the Wall", we're giving away a Tyrion Lannister Funko Pop! One (1) winner will be chosen after the giveaway closes on Friday, August 25th at 12:00PM PT.
Open to US residents only, void where prohibited. If you do not win this time, you'll be automatically entered in the next giveaway.
As part of its Gamescom preview stream today, Blizzard revealed a number of new details about its games. That included the unveiling of Overwatch's next map, Junkertown.
This Escort map is set in the outback of Australia. It was highlighted in a new trailer (above) which was less a showcase of the map and more of a comedy starring Junkrat and Roadhog. It had a much different feeling from a typical Overwatch video and more closely resembled something you'd expect to see from Team Fortress 2.
Blizzard hasn't yet said when exactly the map will be released, but it's presumably coming in the near future. Gamescom attendees will be able to try it out this week, suggesting a public release is not far off. An overview video touring the map can be seen along with an image gallery above.
Also new this week is the latest Overwatch animated short. This will debut during a Gamescom stream this Wednesday, August 23. We'll bring that video to you once it's available.
The superheroes of the DC Universe will collide with the iconic characters from Watchmen this November in a 12-issue miniseries called Doomsday Clock. DC Comics has now revealed three covers for the upcoming book, featuring the art of Gary Frank.
The first and second cover--shown above--feature art by Gary Grank, while the third cover uses existing art by Dave Gibbons, the original artist on the 1986 Watchmen book. This miniseries will hit store shelves on November 22.
DC Comics has been extremely tight-lipped about the story, but writer Geoff Johns said during Comic Con, "You'll know in the first page of the first issue. [Y]ou'll know exactly what the story's about." The book will involve the heroes of the DCU finding out that Dr. Manhattan has been meddling with their timeline and lives, hence the New 52 and Rebirth lines from the past few years, which reset or merged the entire comic line. At least, that's what fans can piece together from the clues left in other series over the past year.
What makes this event such a big deal is that Watchmen's characters have not appeared in main continuity. There have been a couple instances where a Watchmen comic appears in the DCU, but these characters have never interacted with each other, which is pretty crazy considering that Watchmen is one of DC's most iconic books.
This isn't DC's only major story in 2017. Currently, Batman and the Justice League are in the midst of Metal, a story about creatures from a dark universe rising up and creating havok all over the world. Writer Scott Snyder says the book is influenced by Mortal Kombat.
In June, it was announced that 2019's blockbuster sequel Godzilla 2 will see Godzilla take on some other famous movie monsters. However, the showdown that fans really want to see will come a year later in Godzilla vs Kong, the fourth movie in Legendary's MonsterVerse, following Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, and Godzilla 2. Director Adam Wingard has now hinted at what fans might expect from this epic showdown.
Speaking to ScreenCrush, Wingard explained that he hoped to match the monster mayhem with emotional drama. "It's a massive monster brawl movie," he said. "There's lots of monsters going crazy on each other, but at the end of the day I want there to be an emotional drive to it. I think that's what's going to make it cool."
"I really want you to take those characters seriously," Wingard continued. "I want you to be emotionally invested, not just in the human characters, but actually in the monsters. If I have my way, I want people to really be teary-eyed at the end of the movie, and be that invested in what's going on."
Godzilla 2 is directed by Michael Dougherty, and it stars Vera Farmiga, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Sally Hawkins, and Charles Dance. The film hits theaters on March 22, 2019.
Another new update for Horizon: Zero Dawn has been announced, and it launches today. Following a patch which provided the option to make things much more difficult, this one does the opposite, giving players a chance to more easily work through the story.
Patch 1.32's primary component is a new difficulty called Story mode. It makes combat easier by "boost[ing] the player-inflicted damage and reduc[ing] the player-received damage considerably," according to a PlayStation Blog post. The accompanying patch notes describe it as intended for players who "mainly want to experience the story of Horizon: Zero Dawn."
Story mode is the only new feature in this update; the remainder of it deals with bug fixes. Those include a pair of progression issues that could stop players from advancing in the game under specific conditions, some crashes, and other nagging problems.
Added 'Story Mode' difficulty. An easier difficulty setting for people that mainly want to experience the story of Horizon Zero Dawn.
General Fixes
Fixed an issue for some players where human melee attackers could change their rotation and warp towards the player after jump attacking giving them an unfair advantage.
Fixed an issue in New Game+ where some players were not allowed to fast travel to Sunfall campfires with the Shadow Stalwart Adept armour equipped.
Fixed an issue where certain players were not able to abandon a job for a job created to buy items at a merchant.
Fixed an issue that some players encountered where some animation events would not work properly when the player has a lot of resources.
Fixed an issue in "Revenge of the Nora" where for some players the Nora would not help Aloy fight off the enemy during the 'Clear the Camps' objective.
Progression fixes
Fixed an issue in "The Point of the Spear" where some players were not able to continue the quest if they dropped their Tripcaster on NG+ before talking to Rost.
Fixed an issue in "The Sun Shall Fall" where some players were not able to get back in the palace to talk to Blameless Marad as the gates were closed.
Crash fixes
Fixed an issue where the game would crash for certain players if they switched difficulty while Aloy is dead with an Errand active.
Fixed an issue where for some players the game would crash if a player continuously makes 'Jobs' and then changes difficulty continuously.
Monolith Soft, the studio behind the Xenoblade Chronicles series, is recruiting developers for a new project. The studio announced on its website (via Gematsu) that it is looking for designers, programmers, and planners to work on an "ambitious" new title.
While the developer hasn't formally announced the game in question, it did reveal some interesting tidbits about the project on its recruitment page. According to the website, the title is an action game that's "different from [Monolith Soft's] brand image." Among the positions Monolith is looking to fill are character modeler, in-game animator, main character designer, system/framework planner, and project manager.
The recruitment page is accompanied by several beautiful pieces of concept art. While it's unclear if the artwork is related to the new project, it certainly looks different from Monolith's usual art direction, featuring a more traditional fantasy style than any of the studio's other titles. You can see the artwork above.
Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the BioShock series, which debuted on August 21, 2007. 2K is celebrating the occasion in several ways, the most notable of which is a new collector's edition for those in the United States.
The primary component of BioShock 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition is an 11-inch statue featuring a Big Daddy and Little Sister. 2K says this features lights and a motorized drill, as well as audio clips of both characters from BioShock. You can see this pictured below.
Additionally, the Anniversary Edition comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and a physical copy of BioShock: The Collection for PS4 or Xbox One. The Collection consists of remastered versions of BioShock and BioShock 2 (minus its multiplayer), as well as BioShock Infinite.
The Anniversary Edition is priced at $200 and is scheduled for release on November 14. It will only be available at GameStop (PS4/Xbox One) and through the 2K Store; pre-orders are now live through those respective links.
Aside from this, 2K plans to host a celebration event on September 2 as part of PAX West. It's also relaunched a new BioShock YouTube channel and announced a sale for the standalone version of BioShock: The Collection. It's currently available for $30/£16/AU$41 through a number of retailers, as well as PSN (for PS Plus members) and Xbox Live.
A new trailer for Kingsman: The Golden Circle has been released. The star-studded action sequel hits theaters next month, and by the looks of this latest promo, the movie should be even more extravagantly action-packed than its predecessor. Check it out below:
Kingsman: The Golden Circle stars Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, and Colin Firth once more, while new members of the cast include Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, and Julianne Moore. It's directed by Matthew Vaughn. The first Kingsman film, Kingsman: The Secret Service, was also directed by Vaughn; it was one of 2014's biggest surprise hits, making $414 million worldwide.
In a interview with Collider, Egerton hinted at what fans could expect from the new movie. "It's f***ing mental," he said. "But it's what people like and it's what Matthew is good at. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's awesome. It's bigger and it feels more ambitious, really.
"There are more characters, the world is explored in more detail. This weird version of reality where these spies exist is kind of explored more. We discover a sister organization based in America called the Statesman... they're richer than us, they've got cool s**t."
Kingsman: The Golden Circle releases on September 22, 2017.
Sunday's Microsoft Gamescom livestream brought with it a surprise reveal, as a new game based on Jurassic World was announced. Called Jurassic World Evolution, it tasks players with running their own Jurassic World park.
Evolution is being developed by Frontier Developments, which is most recently known for the Elite Dangerous and Planet Coaster games. It also previously worked on the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, developing RCT 3 and expansions for RCT 2.
Players take control of both Isla Nublar and the surrounding islands. They'll use these locations to "build their own Jurassic World as they bioengineer new dinosaur breeds and construct attractions, containment and research facilities," a press release states.
You can check out the debut trailer for Jurassic World Evolution above. Despite being announced at Microsoft's event, the game is headed to PS4 in addition to Xbox One and PC. It launches sometime next summer, coinciding with the release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in June.
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds continues to be an absolute sensation on PC, and as announced at E3, it's also on the way to Xbox One. Playerunknown himself, Brendan Greene, joined Microsoft on its Gamescom livestream today to share some news about the game.
Developer Bluehole and Microsoft have revealed they are expanding their partnership, with Microsoft now set to publish the Xbox One version. This means that the company will lend its expertise to development; Bluehole says this will allow it to develop the console version more quickly.
Despite that, Bluehole still isn't ready to share an exact release date for the game. We again saw the E3 trailer, which was capped off with a date of "late 2017." Greene himself only reiterated that it will launch before the end of the year.
Additionally, the PC version has hit yet another milestone. During the stream, Greene confirmed that sales have eclipsed the 8 million unit mark. That's an astounding figure for a game that's only been available for a few months and remains in early access.
Microsoft serving as the game's publisher would seemingly call into question the possibility of a future PS4 release. But based on what we've since learned, PUBG may not be an Xbox One exclusive permanently.
As pictured in the screens below, you'll be able to toggle between Dark and Light modes. Dark mode is what you've seen before and features a grey background. Light mode swaps that out for a white background that is much brighter and arguably more welcoming. Preview program members will be able to begin using it soon.
The focus of this new Xbox One dashboard layout is "speed, customization, and expression." It streamlines a number of aspects, letting you more quickly get to what you want. You can also customize what's displayed on the main Home screen, allowing you to create "content blocks" devoted to specific games or other aspects of Xbox Live.
The Guide changes in this update, and like the previous revamp, speed is the emphasis. In this version, tabs are horizontal, rather than the current vertical arrangement, and it features an "action center" that houses a link to system settings, among other things.
An exact release date for the revamped dashboard has not been announced. Preview program members have access to it now, while everyone else should get their hands on it sometime later this year.
Update: Retailers have been selling the Xbox One X for close to a day now, and many have already sold out. Amazon and GameStop's allotments of the Scorpio Edition appear to be gone, although GameStop is still selling a $600 bundle that packages the system with an Elite controller. We'll continue to update our Xbox One X pre-order guide with the latest details and links, but you may want to act soon if you want to ensure you get the Scorpio Edition, which is available by pre-order only.
Original Story: Eager fans have been waiting for the opportunity to pre-order the Xbox One X since before it even had an official name, and today's finally the day. As expected, Microsoft's Gamescom livestream brought news about the upcoming console, including the fact that pre-orders have gone live--check out our guide on how to pre-order an Xbox One X. We'll be keeping that story updated as more retailer listings come online.
A rumor emerged last week that pre-orders would go live today following the conclusion of Microsoft's stream. Microsoft promised news on them would be coming today along with a "cool surprise," which has turned out to be the Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition. That version is available by pre-order only and sports a unique design and exclusive vertical stand.
The Xbox One X is set for launch on November 7 worldwide with a price of $500 / £449 / AU $649. Crackdown 3 was set to be released alongside it, but the game was recently delayed until Spring 2018.
Put simply, the Xbox One X is a more powerful version of the Xbox One. It's capable of powering 4K games and is a step above other console hardware already on the market (including the PS4 Pro). You can see our breakdown for more on how Xbox One X's specs compare to other consoles. Despite the horsepower, it's Microsoft's smallest console to date.
Xbox One X was the center of attention during Microsoft's Gamescom livestream on Sunday, and among the news about the upcoming system was that of a special edition. Dubbed the Project Scorpio Edition, referencing the codename used for the console up until E3 in June, it comes with a slightly modified design for the console itself and its controller.
Microsoft says the Project Scorpio edition was designed "to celebrate both our heritage and the power and precision that we are bringing into our future." The system and controller each sport the words "Project Scorpio" printed on them--the system features it on the left side of the front, while the controller has it written between the d-pad and right analog stick. There's also a "sophisticated and dynamic graphic pattern across the exterior," and Microsoft notes that the packaging was inspired by the first Xbox.
Additionally, this comes with an "exclusive" vertical stand, giving you the flexibility to stand the system upright if you wish. It's unclear if it's only the design of the stand that makes it exclusive or if a different version will also be sold for standard Xbox One X systems.
The Scorpio Edition launches on November 7, the same day as the standard version of the system. It also carries the same price of $500 but will not include any bundled games, as some were hoping.
It's the last day for the current round of deals on the PlayStation Store in the US, which discount tons of games across PS4, PS3, and Vita. Most notably, this includes the Attack of the Blockbusters sale, which discounts some big-name games.
The selection is much more limited on PS3 and Vita, but there are some deals to be had. Vita's Toukiden 2 is $28 ($32), while Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster is $20 ($24). On PS3, that same remaster is $15 ($18), while Devil May Cry HD Collection is $6 ($8).
It's the last day for the current set of Microsoft's weekly deals for Xbox One and Xbox 360 on Xbox Live. These were posted on Major Nelson's blog, and we have highlighted some of the ones we think you may want to know about in the text below.
Starting on Xbox One, Mass Effect: Andromeda ($28/£38.50/$70 AU), FIFA 17 ($16/£22/$40 AU), and WWE 2K17 ($24/£22/$40 AU) are discounted for the week. Additionally, all of Fallout 4's expansions are marked down by 40 percent, while the Season Pass that contains all of them can be had for ($30/£24/$50 AU). Additionally, EA Sports UFC 2 is on sale this week, marked down to $10/£7.50/$13 AU, a bundle that includes 13,000 Call of Duty points for Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Infinite Warfare, and Modern Warfare Remastered is marked down 10 percent for each game.
Go to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of this week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 Deals With Gold offers, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership. The deals are good through today, August 21.
August 17 update: The previously available Walmart pre-orders were ultimately canceled in the US. Nintendo has since revealed that SNES Classic pre-orders should arrive in the US by the end of August. We don't yet know when they will go up for sale exactly, but you can check out the store listings at some major retailers through the links below. With the end of the month fast approaching, we should have more details soon.
Update: Those in the UK may have missed at least their first chance to pre-order from certain retailers, but Nintendo's online store has the SNES Classic available as of this writing.
Original Story: Nintendo announced the SNES Classic today. A miniature version of the classic Nintendo console, the $80 system that comes with 21 games and two controllers launches in the US in September. Given that last year's NES Classic sold out basically instantly everywhere it was sold, fans might be wondering how they can secure the SNES Classic right away.
US retailers are not yet widely accepting pre-orders, but in Australia, you can secure a pre-order right now through JB Hi Fi and EB Games. The console sells for $120 in Australia and it looks a little different than the North American edition.
In the US, Amazon has a page up for the SNES Classic, as does Best Buy, but you cannot actually pre-order the system there as of yet. We will update this post as more retailers open pre-orders for the SNES Classic. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
As with the NES Classic Edition, the SNES Classic features HDMI output and resembles the look of the system it's based on but in a smaller form factor. But unlike that system, it comes with two controllers in the box.
On the subject of supply, while Nintendo isn't sharing specific numbers, it did say it will deliver "significantly more" units than it did with the NES Classic Edition. That said, it only plans to ship the system between September and the end of 2017.
Microsoft's Gamescom livestream today brought with it the expected news: Xbox One X pre-orders are now live. Below, you'll find the basic details on how and where to pre-order the system. We'll continue to update this as more retailers bring their pre-orders online. The Xbox One X launches worldwide on November 7 for $500 / £449 / AU $649. Pre-orders are already available through a number of retailers, which you can visit through the links below.
There are at least two bundles available--GameStop is packaging the Elite controller with the Xbox One X for $600 in the US, a $50 discount over buying them separately. It also has another bundle with a second controller and more for $583.
Microsoft has also announced a Project Scorpio Edition of Xbox One X for the same price as the standard edition. This is available by pre-order only and features a unique design and an exclusive vertical stand. According to a tweet from Microsoft's Albert Penello, any Xbox One X pre-order listing you see is for the Scorpio Edition, whether or not the listing reflects that. There's no word yet on when or if you'll be able to pre-order the non-Scorpio Edition.
Final Fantasy XV will come to PC next year. The RPG was previously only available on PS4 and Xbox One, but a new trailer indicates the game will come to PC in "early 2018."
The trailer, which you can see below, comes from an Nvidia presentation, and hence highlights many of the technical effects the PC version will have. These include 4K textures, high-quality ambient occlusion, and--the best of the bunch--"advanced hair simulation."
Although the announcement of a PC version originated from an Nvidia presentation, publisher Square Enix has since confirmed to GameSpot that the port is real.
It's unclear whether the PC edition will include the game's upcoming Comrades expansion, which recently got a second beta test. A rough start to the first trial meant Square Enix held a second one last week. At the start of the first test, server issues made it difficult to do much more than create a character and walk around a small patch of land.
Comrades is a cooperative multiplayer expansion for Final Fantasy XV, which until now had been single-player-only. Players create a character of their own to take online and partner with other players to explore the world and complete quests. No release date has yet been set for Comrades.
Final Fantasy XV launched for PS4 and Xbox One last November. Our critic, Peter Brown, called the JRPG "a fascinating game," and he awarded it an 8/10. For more, take a look at our full Final Fantasy XV review.
HTC has dropped the price of its Vive VR headset to $599. Down from its original $799 price, this is a $200 price drop. Unlike Oculus' $399 sale for the Rift, which will kick up to $499 after the summer, this is a permanent price drop for the Vive.
The deal will include Tilt Brush, Everest VR, and Richie's Plank Experience. It will also come with a free trial for Viveport, which allows customers to choose up to five additional games a month on HTC's VR subscription service.
The headset won't come bundled with HTC's Deluxe Audio Strap (DAS), which is an ergonomic attachment for the Vive that we recommend for most users. In addition to making the headset more comfortable, DAS also also integrates headphones into the headset.
The HTC Vive is the only VR system to allow room-scale experiences that allow you to effectively walk around your physical space to explore your virtual environment right out of the box. You can read more about it in our HTC Vive review.
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