From now until October 14, you can pick up a free download code for Charizard from the electronics department at a participating Target location across the US. The Charizard is level 50 and comes equipped with a Red Card. It also knows the following four attacks:
Dragon Dance
Flare Blitz
Fly
Earthquake
To redeem your download code, select the Mystery Gift option from Sun and Moon's main menu and choose "get with code/password." Input the code you received from Target and you'll be able to pick your Charizard up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center. The distribution will run while supplies last, and you'll need to redeem your code by February 4, 2018.
The Charizard giveaway follows shortly after the release of the Pokemon TCG: Charizard-GX Premium Collection, a Target-exclusive package for the trading card game that features the Fire-type Pokemon. The Premium Collection includes a Charizard-GX promo card, a Charizard collector's pin, and other items. It retails for $40.
A new video game music album is coming, but it might not be what you expect. "Prescription for Sleep: Fight For Your Dreams" is an album featuring video game music presented in lullaby form. It's all about helping people to chill, which is something we can definitely get behind.
From Scarlet Moon Records, the album contains 12 fully licensed tracks, including "jazzy lullabies" that you can use to help fall asleep or just relax. Featured on the album are artists such as Metal Gear Solid and Bayonetta composer Norihiko Hibino on saxophone and Etrian Odyssey and Persona Q performer Ayaki on piano.
Some of the tracks are from big-name games like Final Fantasy XV, Mega Man 2, Undertale, and Super Metroid. Check out the video above to hear a teaser for the Final Fantasy XV track, "Veiled in Black," while you can hear the full thing in the Bandcamp embed below.
Producer Jayon Napolitano spoke about "Veiled in Black" in the the album's liner notes, specifically regarding its themes and musical qualities.
"The premise of Final Fantasy XV is that a prince and his closest companions head out on a road trip to the wedding of the prince, but as they leave the crown city the evil empire invades and kills many of those closest to the prince," Napolitano said. "He has to find strength with his friends by his side and reclaim this throne."
"This battle theme plays when encountering the infantry soldiers from the evil empire who are in pursuit of the prince. It therefore has this sense of anger, frustration, and dread. There's still a lovely melody in here, and like most of Yoko Shimomura's work, there's some lovely piano work for AYAKI to work with. The themes can center around companionship, as the game is very much focused on the relationship between Prince Noctics and his friends."
You can see the full track listing below. Fight for Your Dreams goes on sale on October 10, and you can pre-order it now through Bandcamp. All of the music was arranged, performed, and recorded by Gentle Love, which is Hibino and Ayaki's performance name. The duo also organise and perform at the healthcare/wellness event, Music in Heaven.
Prescription for Sleep: Fight For Your Dreams Tracklist:
Veiled in Black (Final Fantasy XV)
Boss (Mega Man 2)
Megalovania (Undertale)
Battle with the Four Fiends (Final Fantasy IV)
Those Imprisoned by Destiny (Chrono Cross)
Mini-Boss (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)
Autobot-Decepticon Battle (Transformers: The Movie (1986))
Beasts as Black as Night (Wanderers from Ys: Ys III)
Ornstein & Smough (Dark Souls)
Intolerance (Raystorm)
Mother Brain (Super Metroid)
In a Better Place (Original)
"I've been wanting to create a volume dedicated to battle music for quite some time," Napolitano said. "I've been trying to increase the challenge factor with each installment of the series, and what better way to challenge Hibino-san and AYAKI than by taking some of the most intense music from videogames and having them transformed into lullabies? I thought it would be a unique way to celebrate the Halloween season. We hope you enjoy it!"
Fight For Your Dreams is the sixth in the Prescription for Sleep series, following Game Music Lullabies and Game Music Lullabies Volume II, along with albums specifically for Undertale and Secret of Mana. Scarlet Moon also released Prescription for Peace: Tribute to the Departed, which is a charity single dedicated to the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
It's been known for some time that Sony is looking to reboot Men in Black, and last year it was reported that the next movie in the hit sci-fi comedy franchise would in fact be a crossover with Jump Street films. However, it has now been reported that a new Men in Black is indeed in the works but that it will have nothing to do with Jump Street.
According to Deadline, Sony is fast-tracking the movie and has set a release of May 17, 2019. Although Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones will not reprise their starring roles from the three original movies, the new film will be set in the same universe as those; it won't simply be a remake of the 1997 original.
The movie will have a script from Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, who previously wrote Iron Man and Transformers: The Last Knight. Deadline states that the pair have "have scripted a contemporary sci-fi pic about the black-clad secret force that protects earth from the alien scum of the universe, focusing on new characters chasing villains that put the picture on more of a global scale than the two previous films."
All three original Men in Black movies were big box-office hits. Although the third movie was not as well received critically as the first two, it still made $624 million at the worldwide box office. In total, the whole series has made more than $1.6 billion.
The Nintendo Switch version of Stardew Valley finally has a release date, and it's coming sooner than you might expect. The popular farming sim launches in the Switch Eshop rather fittingly on the date of this year's harvest moon, October 5.
The Switch version of Stardew Valley has been a long time coming. The game was originally planned to release for Wii U, but last November publisher Chucklefish announced that version would be cancelled and moved instead to Nintendo's then-forthcoming console. The most recent news we heard about the Switch version was that it went into testing back in August.
The Switch port of Stardew Valley was developed by Sickhead Games and retails for $15. It will also be the first console version to receive the game's multiplayer update, which will allow players to share their farm with up to three friends. Chucklefish has said it plans to begin beta testing the multiplayer update on PC later this year; it will launch for that platform in early 2018 and come to Switch and then other consoles after that.
Stardew Valley is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game has earned much acclaim from both fans and critics. GameSpot awarded it a 9/10 in our Stardew Valley review and called it "a game that tugs at your curiousity as often as it does your heart."
One of Destiny 2's first major limited-time events, Faction Rallies, is nearly over. Although they will return again in the future, today marks the final day of this particular instance--and, thus, your last opportunity to earn Faction Rally rewards.
Following its debut last week, the current Faction Rally event comes to an end with Destiny 2's weekly reset on Tuesday, October 3. You have until then to continue partaking in activities that reward you with Faction Tokens, but you'll have another full week to cash those in. Be aware that only the first 30 rewards you receive with a single character provide Faction Rally gear--any after that point only offer shaders.
Also on October 3, as part of Victory Week, Bungie will announce the winner of this first Faction Rally, which is determined by the faction that collected the most reward packages. The winning faction will then offer up its exclusive weapon (pictured in the gallery above) for sale: Dead Orbit has a scout rifle, FWC a pulse rifle, and New Monarchy a sidearm. It will be available for 50,000 glimmer, although members of that faction will be offered a discount that drops its price to just 1,000 glimmer.
Bungie hasn't laid out an exact schedule for future Faction Rallies, though it did say they'll return in the "near future." Be aware that there is a bug involving the social space that may occur once Victory Week begins. If you enter the social space "shortly after the Victory Week has begun, [you] may encounter some graphical overlap in event-related decorations," Bungie said recently. It's currently working on a fix for this problem.
Aside from Victory Week, October 3 will see some server downtime, followed by a new Destiny 2 hotfix update. We don't yet have full patch notes, but those we have seen focus on bug fixes.
EA is back with its basketball game NBA Live 18 after taking last year off, and 2K continues its annual tradition with NBA 2K18. Naturally, you'd want to know which one looks more true to life and which one has the more accurate player models. We put together a quick video (above) to show both games running side-by-side.
To get the closest comparison between the two games, we recreated the 2017 Conference Finals matchups: Cavs vs. Celtics in the East, and Spurs vs. Warriors in the West. The updated rosters may be jarring (we're still getting used to Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas swapping jerseys), but you can get close-up views of star players like Kevin Love and Steph Curry in the video. In addition, we captured some gameplay from Live and 2K with James Harden and the Rockets in action against the Thunder.
Gameplay was capture on the PlayStation 4, and both games were running in 1080p resolution at 60 frames-per-second. If you want to get a better idea of how these games are overall, check out our NBA Live 18 review and NBA 2K18 review.
Following Destiny 2's latest weekly reset, new activities are now available in the game, one of which is the next Nightfall Strike. This one is called The Pyramidion, and it challenges players to get revenge against the Vex Mind that fouled up Asher's arm. [Update: This Nightfall will be replaced on October 3, making today your last chance to give it a try and earn rewards for this week.]
As always, there is a time limit, and this time around it can't be extended due to the Timewarp: Zero Hour modifier. The other modifier is Torrent, which greatly increase the cooldown timers on your non-Super abilities--so be sure to let the grenades fly early and often.
As for the Pyramdion Nightfall Challenges, the first is called Speed of Dark, and you'll get it by completing the event with at least 5 minutes to spare. Unbroken, meanwhile, is unlocked when you beat the Nightfall with fewer than three deaths. Good luck with that. Finally, the Siege Engine challenge can be yours if you prevent Brakion from staying shielded for more than 40 seconds before bringing it down.
Nightfall Strikes change every week with the weekly reset, so if you don't have time or the desire to try this one, something new will pop up next week. The Pyramidion Nightfall runs through October 3.
Beat the Pyramidion Nightfall and you stand to get Powerful Gear rewards, which are among the best items you can acquire in Destiny 2. If you have not yet unlocked the Nightfall, you'll need to complete two Strikes and approach the suggested Power level of 240 before Zavala will allow you to take part in them. Matchmaking is not available, but with Guided Games now available, players have the opportunity to be matched up with members of a clan for the mission (which requires a Nightfall Ticket). Alternatively, clan members can sign up to serve as guides through the Nightfall (which does not require a Ticket).
Pokemon Go players who were looking to take advantage of the limited-time Equinox event before it concludes may have experienced some trouble connecting to the game yesterday, as a server issue prevented many from logging on for most of the day. Developer Niantic has since resolved the problem, and today the company revealed it will extend the Equinox event to compensate for the outage. [Update: The Pokemon Go Equinox event ends on October 3, making this your last day to take advantage of it.]
On Facebook, Niantic announced that the in-game Equinox event will now run until October 3, giving players an additional day to take part in it. During the event, you'll earn double Stardust for catching Pokemon and hatching Pokemon eggs, while registering a new Pokemon in your Pokedex will net you triple the amount of XP as normal.
In addition to that, players have a chance to get special 2 km eggs from PokeStops and Gyms during the Equinox event, which may hatch into Chansey, Mareep, Larvitar, and other rare Pokemon. Niantic is also offering "special boxes" from Pokemon Go's in-game shop that contain items like Lucky Eggs, Lure Modules, and new Super Incubators; the latter hatch eggs 1.5 times faster than a regular Incubator.
Beyond the Equniox event, Pokemon Go players still have a few more days to capture Entei, Raikou, or Suicune, the Legendary dogs from Pokemon Gold and Silver. Each of the three Pokemon is currently available in a certain region until September 29. Raikou can be found in the Americas; Entei is available in Europe and Africa; and Suicune is currently in the Asia-Pacific region. On September 30, the Legendary Pokemon will rotate to a different part of the world, where they will be available until October 31.
A new Legendary Pokemon is now available in Pokemon Go. The three Legendary dogs Entei, Raikou, and Suicune have rotated to a different part of the world, giving players a chance to add another one of the powerful Pokemon to their collections before they make their final stop next month.
As before, each of the three Legendary Pokemon will only be available in their current region for the duration of the month. This time, players in the Americas will have a chance to catch the Fire-type Entei; the Water-type Suicune has moved to Europe and Africa; and the Electric-type Raikou can be found in the Asia-Pacific region. The three Pokemon will remain in their current location until October 31; on that date, the Legendaries will rotate to their final region, where they'll be available until November 30.
Like Pokemon Go's previous Legendary Pokemon, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune will appear as Raid Boss battles at Gyms. You'll need to defeat the powerful Pokemon first in order to get a chance to capture it. You can check out our guide on how to catch Legendary Pokemon for more tips and details.
Sony will soon introduce the next month's lineup of free PlayStation Plus games. That makes today your last chance to claim any September PS Plus freebies that you haven't already added to your library on PS4, PS3, and Vita.
Six games in all will return to their regular price tomorrow, October 3. That includes a total of four games on PS4, such as Infamous: Second Son and Hatoful Boyfriend. As always, claiming these games will allow you to play them for as long as you remain a PS Plus subscriber. Depending on your region, you may have a slightly different list of freebies--North America got Strike Vector Ex, while Europe got Child of Light.
A few current PS Plus offers will extend beyond October 3; PSVR game RIGS is free for another month, while a bonus DLC pack for MMO Neverwinter sticks around until October 16. Another game, That's You, is free until October 24.
October's free PS Plus games will replace these titles on October 3. It's a month headlined by Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which is about as good of a game as you can ever expect to get for free through Plus. Thanks to Cross-Buy, PS4 owners will again receive a total of four games during the month including The Phantom Pain and Amnesia Collection.
Unlike its predecessor, Destiny 2 will release on PC. Although players will have to wait longer for it--Destiny 2 doesn't launch on PC until October 24 but is already available on Xbox One and PS4--the PC version does feature a variety of improvements and differences compared with its console counterparts. To help you get an idea of what to expect from the PC release of Bungie's hotly anticipated sequel, we've gathered all of the essential details below.
For more on the game, check out our Destiny 2 review. We also have tons of Destiny 2 guides, tips, and tricks for those who have already begun playing on consoles or are simply looking to get a head start on how things will work on PC.
Destiny 2 PC Release Date and Differences
The PC version is confirmed to release on October 24, while the Xbox One and PS4 versions are already out, having launched on September 6. (Betas on all platforms have also wrapped up.) In terms of actual playable content, everything is the same on PC--with one exception. Sony's timed-exclusive content for Destiny 2 affects not just Xbox One players, but those on PC. The PS4 version comes with an extra Strike, Crucible map, and some items that will not be available on other platforms for at least one year. There's no precise date for it yet, but after PlayStation-exclusive content in Destiny 1 remained exclusive for longer than expected, Bungie has explicitly stated that this Destiny 2 content will be out by the end of 2018.
Destiny 2 PC Minimum Requirements and Recommended Specs
While there may be changes made for the final release, Destiny 2's PC beta brought a list of minimum and recommended system specs. Additionally, Bungie provided a list of hardware for those looking to upgrade their systems, with CPU and GPU minimums and recommendations.
Texture Anisotropy (Anisotropic Filtering, up to 16x)
Texture Quality
Shadow Quality
Depth of Field
Environmental Detail Distance
Character Detail Distance
Foliage Detail Distance
Foliage Shadow Distance
Light Shafts
Motion Blur
Wind Impulse
Render Resolution
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Chromatic Aberration
Film Grain
Destiny 2 PC Control Scheme
The PC version uses a relatively straightforward control scheme, which you can see in the image below. It's worth noting that the controls are completely customizable.
Destiny 2 Doesn't Use Dedicated Servers
Unfortunately, the game will use peer-to-peer servers. However, this doesn't work quite the same as in the previous game; when Bungie explained why Destiny 2 doesn't use dedicated servers, it noted that you'll never run into a host migration situation.
Destiny 2 PC Impressions
During our hands-on time with the game, we found the mouse and keyboard support to be a welcome addition. It enhanced the overall feel of multiplayer, though it did seem to make the single-player portions we played easier than we anticipated. You can check out our analysis of the PC beta for a technical look at the game; for further impressions of the PC version, watch the video below.
Destiny 2 Review
If you're hoping the game is dramatically different from the original Destiny, you may be in for a disappointment, but those seeking a refined version of that game will likely be pleased. You can read our impressions of the full game on console in our Destiny 2 review diary and Destiny 2 review-in-progress.
Destiny 2 Uses Blizzard Battle.net
Destiny 2 uses Blizzard's desktop app. It's the first game not directly developed by Blizzard to appear on the platform. Activision and Blizzard have changed its name several times recently, but moving forward it will be referred to as Blizzard Battle.net.
Destiny Progress Doesn't Transfer to Destiny 2
Unfortunately, Destiny 1 power, possessions, and Eververse-related items and currency will not transfer over. While your character's appearance will not be abandoned in the sequel for console owners, there's no word if it'll support any kind of transfer from console to PC.
Destiny 2's servers will be taken offline tomorrow as part of the deployment of the game's next hotfix update. Here's what you need to know about the downtime:
Servers for PS4 and Xbox One are going offline on Tuesday, October 3.
At 8 AM PT, you won't be able to sign in.
At 9 AM PT, all players will be removed from the game--even if you're in the middle of an activity--so plan accordingly.
Maintenance is expected to end at 12 PM PT.
Bungie also warned players that it may bring back the server queue after the maintenance period, presumably because a flood of players will be trying to log in at the same time.
This maintenance period and downtime is for hotfix 1.0.3.1. This update fixes a range of problems, one of which is pretty serious: players could get stuck in a loop when they were continuously killed and/or unable to respawn in some conditions. Check out GameSpot's additional coverage here to see the full update 1.0.3.1. patch notes.
Koei Tecmo has announced Nioh, its Dark Souls-like samurai RPG, will be available on PC through Valve's Steam service from November 7, 2017. This version will be released digitally as "Nioh: Complete Edition," and will feature the original game and the three DLC expansions made available for the PS4 version post-launch.
"Team Ninja is well aware of the fact that many gamers have been passionately asking for a PC version of Nioh," said the game's director, Fumihiko Yasuda. "I am thrilled to announce that this massocore game will finally be available for our die-hard PC fans in Nioh: Complete Edition! I hope you all enjoy the unforgettable drama and deeply challenging Yokai battles this action-packed experience has to offer."
The PC version will have Action Mode, which runs the game at a "stable 60 frames per second," or Movie Mode, which is "a cinematic option that can expand the display resolution to 4K." Although Koei Tecmo doesn't specify as much, the Movie Mode will presumably run at a lower frame rate.
To celebrate the release of Nioh: Complete Edition, a new item called the Dharmachakra Kabuto helmet will be available for the PC version.
"The Wheel of Dharma kabuto is a form of 'kawari-kabuto'--a family of helmets featuring fantastical designs," explains Koei Tecmo. "This helmet features a red-lacquered front crest of an ancient Buddhist symbol depicting the eightfold path to nirvana. This holy image represents spiritual enlightenment attained by casting off one's worldly desires, and also holds the power to banish evil.
"However, some claim this is not a Wheel of Dharma at all, merely a replica that looks as though it belongs on a device to regulate steam ... Some have gone so far as to suggest renaming it to 'Valve Kabuto,' but why anyone would make a helmet featuring a valve is unclear."
In GameSpot's Nioh review, critic Miguel Concepcion awarded it a 9/10. "Although the spectre of potential failure hangs heavy over any play session, dying in Nioh is never genuinely disheartening," he said. "This is thanks in part to the various avenues of character growth and many approaches you can utilize to tackle a difficult section or boss fight. It shouldn't be surprising that the foresight and patience needed to survive a battle in Dark Souls translates well to the fundamentals of samurai combat here.
"Nioh's most invigorating and intimidating moments occur when you feel you're at equal footing with your opponent. And it's during these encounters that one careless move can result in your demise or the right string of thoughtful actions can make you feel invincible."
It sounds like Destiny 2 is getting its first big time weapon balance update in the near future. In its latest weekly blog post, Bungie said it's been monitoring the current weapon balance situation across the entire game and is planning some changes for the future.
Senior designer Jon Weisnewski said Bungie recently got its hands on the "first real batch of player data" from its analytics team. In addition to that data, he said Bungie has been "playing the every-loving crud" out of Destiny 2. It's too soon for Bungie to announce the specific weapon balance changes that are coming, but they are coming, apparently.
"We're not ready to go into detail about any weapon or ability tuning at this point, but there is an ongoing process in play, so we did want to drop a quick line and say…We have heard your feedback. Thank you!" Weisnewski said.
One thing that Weisnewski did confirm is that it's looking "very closely" at the MIDA Multi-Tool. A lot of people are using it, he said, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's over-powered. "There are options out there that match or exceed its effectiveness in all activities," he said about the weapon.
He went on to tease that there are still "a handful of guns" that aren't yet released. "We're excited to see how things evolve. As always, thanks for playing, and keep the feedback rolling in," Weisnewski explained.
You can submit feedback to Bungie about Destiny 2's weapon balance and other subjects here in the game's Feedback forum. For more on Destiny 2, check out our recent stories linked below:
Destiny 2's enigmatic merchant Xur has once again appeared in-game, bringing with him a selection of weapons and armor that Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans can use to marginally improve their performance in the great battle against the almighty power level cap.
This week ya boy Xur has landed on Io, and if you open your map you'll see him lurking in the top left corner of Giant's Scar. Although it's pretty easy to get to his general location, he's actually tucked away inside a little cave, so keep an eye open for the entrance. He won't be around for much longer, but here's what he's selling this week:
Transversive Steps (Warlock Class Leg Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Destiny 2's servers will be taken offline this week as part of the deployment of the game's next hotfix update. Servers for PS4 and Xbox One are going offline on Tuesday, October 3 and will be unavailable for around three hours. You can read more about the upcoming Destiny 2 server maintenance here.
In other Destiny 2 news, Bungie has confirmed that Faction Rallies are not going to be a weekly event. Once the event is over players will no longer earn Faction Rallies tokens. However, tokens that are already in a player's inventory can still be redeemed and all engrams from vendors will be auto-decrypted and sent to the player.
For more on Destiny 2, check out our recent stories linked below:
The DC superhero team up Justice Leaguearrives in theaters next month, and a new set of promotional posters has been released. The movie will see Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and The Flash team up to fight the evil Steppenwolf. These new posters deliver some stylish, colourful profile shots of the five heroes. Check them out in the gallery below:
In August, it was reported that the reshoots would lighten Justice League's tone. According to actor Joe Morton, who plays Cyborg's dad, "the film felt too dark." He said: "What I heard was that there was a need from the studio to lighten up the film in a way."
Justice League also stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. It hits theaters on November 17, 2017.
October is here, and that means we'll soon have a new selection of free PlayStation Plus games to download. Sony has announced the lineup for next month, and it's an impressive one thanks to the headliner, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Thanks to Cross-Buy, those on PS4 will get a total of four games: Both Vita titles, Hue and Sky Force Anniversary, can be played on the handheld or PS4. And even PS3 owners get a bonus, as Sky Force supports Cross-Buy with the older console as well. That joins Hustle Kings and Monster Jam Battlegrounds as the standard PS3 games for the month.
All six of these games will be available beginning on Tuesday, October 3. You'll have until November 7 to claim them, but time is running out to grab September's free PS Plus games, which return to their regular prices on October 3. Additionally, if you haven't already grabbed the bonus game That's You, it leaves PS Plus on October 24. PSVR game RIGS also remains free until November 7.
Another bonus offer will be introduced in October for Plus members, as they'll get closed beta access to Hand of the Gods, the spin-off of Smite. Until November 14, they're also entitled to a free Plus Pack that consists of a special Galactic Invader Leader skin for Ah Puch, a card back, a player icon, and five Core Packs.
One of the biggest comic book conventions of the year, New York Comic-Con, kicks off in the Big Apple later this week, and there will be a whole bunch of exclusive toys and collectibles for con-goers to pick up while traversing the show floor. Today, Lego revealed one of its convention exclusives you can purchase from its BrickHeadz line: Boba Fett and Han Solo in carbonite.
The NYCC exclusive set, shown above, consists of the two figures--Boba Fett and Han Solo trapped in carbonite--which total 329 pieces. The Han Solo collectible is the biggest base for a BrickHeadz figure to date. Normally, individual BrickHeadz cost $10 each, but this dual pack will run you $40, as it will only be available at the con.
If you're lucky enough to be in attendance at the convention, you can pick up the exclusive Lego set as long as you win a chance through a pre-show lottery. It will be available at the Lego mobile experience just outside of the Javits Center; however, you will still need a convention badge to access that area. There will also a life-sized BrickHeadz model at the show to take your photo with.
The BrickHeadz line was introduced earlier this year, as Lego's answer to Funko Pops. The collectible and buildable figures feature familiar characters from Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and more. Series 1 featured members of the Avengers, Batman, Joker, Captain Jack Sparrow, and a few others. The collectibles are about the size of an adult's hand.
Stay tuned this week to GameSpot Universe, as we'll be at the show interviewing celebrities, checking out all the cosplay, and taking a look at all the sweet collectibles on display.
Amazon Prime subscribers can look forward to lots of new offerings this October. The streaming service is launching the third season of its comedy Red Oaks and, for anyone who's in the mood for a scare this Halloween season, Amazon's own Lore premieres.
Lore, from the producers of The Walking Dead and The X-Files, brings to life the popular podcast uncovering the real-life events that spawned our darkest nightmares. It will blend dramatic scenes, animation, archive video, and narration to reveal how our horror legends, like vampires, werewolves and body snatchers, are rooted in truth.
Other non-Amazon shows will see new seasons next month, including the sixth season of American Horror Story and the fifth season of The Americans. If you're in the mood for classic Halloween horror, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II and Invasion of the Body Snatchers are coming this month too. Check out the full list of new offerings on Prime below.
TV and Movies Coming to Amazon Prime This October
Available October 1
Alcoholist
Abandoned Mine
Bunker of the Dead
Clueless
Election
Escape from L.A.
Fargo
Ghost World
Ghoulies
Ghoulies II
I Believe in Unicorns
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Jug Face
Margot at the Wedding
Needlestick
Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary Two
Pi
Queens and Cowboys
Scareycrows
Snake Eyes
Texas Chainsaw Massacre II
The Machinist
The Whistleblower
Unlimited
Apartment 1303
Available October 2
Beauty and the Baker
Song to Song
Available October 3
American Horror Story S6
Available October 4
Blood Hunters
Save My Seoul
Available October 5
The Americans S5
Available October 6
The Fashion Hero
Available October 7
Blair Witch
Megan Leavey
Available October 9
Inside Edge (Amazon Original)
Available October 11
5150
Available October 13
Lore (Amazon Original)
Sigmund and the Sea Monster (Amazon Original)
City of Ghosts (Amazon Original)
Available October 14
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Available October 15
The Other Dream Team
The Whole Truth
Available October 18
Fight for Space
Available October 20
Red Oaks S3 (Amazon Original)
The Wall (Amazon Original)
Available October 25
Awaken the Shadowman
The Liberators
Available October 28
Arrival
Available October 29
Priceless
For a look at all the TV shows and movies coming to Netflix this October, including the second season of Stranger Things, check out our full list here.
Stranger Things fans will be delighted, and so will anyone who loves a good scary movie at Halloween. Netflix has released all its new arrivals for October, as well as all the shows and movies that are going away this month.
Stranger Things 2 premieres October 27, giving you just enough time to binge your way through it before Halloween, when it's time to watch some scary movies like Cult of Chucky. For something a little lighter, there are comedies like Tommy Boy,Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and Talladega Nights.
Whether you play in Xbox One or Xbox 360, there are some big deals for you this week. The big headline for Xbox Live Gold subscribers is a deal on Mass Effect: Andromeda and its Deluxe Edition, both of which are half-off during this Deals with Gold ($20 for the base game or $25 for the Deluxe Edition, down from $40 and $50 respectively). [Update: The next wave of discounts will soon be available, making today your last chance to take advantage of these offers.]
There are some great Xbox One deals for non-Live Gold subscribers. The launch edition of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is 40% off at $36 with deals on the Digital Legacy and Digital Deluxe versions too. For big fans of the series, there's a publisher sale featuring other Call of Duty titles like the remastered version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for $32. If you haven't tried it yet, check out Rocket League, which is on sale for $12 (regularly $20). Additionally, its DLC packs are all 40% off.
All of the above deals are on for the next week, and will expire on Tuesday, October 3 at 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET, and you can check out the full list of games on Major Nelson's blog.
The latest batch of discounts are now live in the PlayStation Store. Along with a Call of Duty series sale, Sony is offering PS Plus members exclusive discounts on a variety of titles for PS4, PS3, and Vita this week. [Update: These offers expire soon, making today your last chance to take advantage.]
While those deals are limited to PS Plus subscribers, all players will be able to snag some discounts on the Call of Duty franchise this week. PS4 owners can purchase Modern Warfare Remastered for $32, Infinite Warfare for $36, and Call of Duty: Ghosts Gold Edition for $19.79. PS3 players, meanwhile, can pick up Black Ops III for $14.49, the Modern Warfare bundle for $13, and Call of Duty Classic for $9.79. Those with a Vita can also purchase Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified for $9.59.
Beyond that, Sony is offering discounts on The Last of Us and its DLC as part of the Outbreak Day sale. PS4 players can purchase The Last of Us Remastered for $10 and the standalone Left Behind for $5. Players can also pick up an array of weapon and item DLC packs at a bargain.
You can find the full list of this week's sales here. Many of these discounts will only be available for this week and expire on October 3 at 8 AM PT/11 AM ET.
Sony has announced a new model of its PSVR virtual reality headset. It doesn't have many headline new features, but it does contain a number of small enhancements to help improve the overall experience of playing in VR.
Firstly, Sony says the new model features "an updated design that enables the stereo headphone cables to be integrated with the VR headset and a slimmer, streamlined connection cable." In addition, the headset's processor unit now supports HDR pass-through, meaning you don't need to disconnect the unit--which lies between the PS4 and your TV--to enjoy HDR-enabled content on your TV. Sony notes that this feature can only be used when the VR headset is switched off.
Sony has not yet shared a release date for the new CUH-ZVR2 model, but it has confirmed pricing will remain the same. It also said PSVR's packaging would change to allow customers to distinguish between the new version and the old CUH-ZVR1 model. All PSVR games will be playable on both versions.
It's not yet clear whether the new model will come to Europe and Australia; Sony's announcement blog only mentions North America and no such announcement has been made on Sony's European or Australian channels. We'll keep you updated should those regions receive the new edition.
The original PSVR model launched in October 2016. Sony cut the device's price by $50 in the US earlier this year, at the same time as revealing a new bundle that includes the PlayStation Camera. In our verdict of the first model, we said "it trips up too many times to wholeheartedly recommend at this point." For more, check out our PSVR review.
FIFA 18 has finished top of the UK physical chart in its first week on sale, sending sci-fi shooter Destiny 2 down to No.2. EA's football sim is consistently popular in the UK, and this year looks to be no different with another No.1 in the bag for the week ending September 30.
However, according to GamesIndustry.biz--which cites sales monitor Chart-Track--physical sales are down 25% compared to FIFA 17's launch. This follows a trend we've seen over the past year with games like Call of Duty: Advance Warfare, Watch Dogs 2, and Dishonored 2 all selling less than their respective predecessors. It should of course be noted that FIFA 18 launched on a Friday as opposed to the series' usual Tuesday slot, meaning this year's title had less time in which to rack up sales.
Chart-Track also reports that only 1% of FIFA 18's sales came on Nintendo Switch, with 60% going to PS4 and 37% Xbox One. The Switch version has seemingly suffered low stock at many retailers, however, which no doubt hindered the port's chances.
At No.3 this week is Forza Horizon 3, which Chart-Track notes was helped by retailer bundles containing FIFA 18. The other big football title, PES 2018, drops out of the top 10 for the first time since launch, now down in No.12. The only other new game this week, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, debuts at No.36.
"It's off the pitch that EA excels," we said in our FIFA 18 review. "From the variety of game modes on offer and how everything's presented, to the constant updates in FUT's Team of the Week, Daily Objectives, and discussion of real-world happenings in commentary, FIFA 18 captures the world of football and confidently translates it into a video game. On the pitch, however, EA's soccer series is still lagging far behind PES 2018's more fluid, satisfying football. This year's improvements are welcome, but more needs to be done in the coming years if FIFA is to be a world-beater once again." For more on this year's football games, check out our in-depth comparison of FIFA 18 vs PES 2018.
You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
Video streaming giant Hulu has announced all of the TV shows and movies coming to the platform and leaving it in October. As usual, there are a variety new movies and shows.
Among the notable additions include the Oscar-winning movie Philadelphia and the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore comedy 50 First Dates. The Michael Crichton movie Congo, the Matthew Broderick comedy classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and the Stephen King horror film Carrie are also coming to Hulu in October. Additionally, Adventure Time's ninth season hits on October 21 and the excellent sci-fi movie Arrival lands on October 28.
As for what's leaving Hulu in October, now is your last chance to watch Apocalypse Now, Big Fish, Kingpin, Hitch, Joe Dirt, Sahara, Shooter, and Surf's Up, as they're all leaving the service in October. A full list of everything follows at the bottom of this post.
Destiny 2's Faction Rallies are now live, bringing with them exclusive rewards packages including weapons, armor, and shaders. We can also see the in-game location of Destiny 2's Faction Rally leaders Arach Jalaal (who represents Dead Orbit), Lakshmi-2 (Future War Cult), and Executor Hideo (New Monarchy).
Those three characters are now available to talk to in Destiny 2's Tower. Arach Jalaal and Lakshmi-2 are situated in the Hangar, while Executor Hideo is currently in the Bazaar. We had some trouble finding them at our first attempt, but if you quit to orbit and reload the location, then the trio should appear. Additionally, in order to unlock access to Faction Rallies, you'll need to complete the campaign and reach level 20.
Faction Rallies see you pledge your allegiance to one of three factions. You can then fight for your faction by simply playing the game. In the process you'll earn Rewards Tokens, which you can trade for exclusive weapons and emblems, among other items. An in-game description reads: "To earn tokens for Level 20 rewards, destroy supplies in Lost Sectors and do Public Events, Crucible matches, Strikes, and the Leviathan Raid."
Each faction has a "powerful weapon" that is specific to it--Dead Orbit has a scout rifle, Future War Cult a pulse rifle, and New Monarchy a sidearm. At the end of the event, the faction that collected the most packages is named the winner, and its weapon will be sold to all players for 50,000 glimmer. Members of the winning faction will be able to purchase it for only 1,000 glimmer. The winner will be named at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST on October 3 (3 AM AEST on October 4 in Australia).
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