The Pokemon Company has released another new trailer for the next pair of 3DS Pokemon games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This video provides a look at more of the new features developer Game Freak has added to the upcoming titles, including another brand-new Legendary Pokemon.
Along with the previously revealed UB-Burst and UB-Assembly, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon will feature at least one more completely new Ultra Beast, this one codenamed UB-Adhesive. This mysterious and adorable new Pokemon is a Poison-type and is said to be able to understand humans if it spends enough time among them. You can see screenshots of it below.
Today's trailer also revealed some new details about UB-Burst and UB-Assembly. The former is a Fire/Ghost-type that's exclusive to Ultra Sun. It has a unique attack called Mind Blown, in which the jester-like Pokemon takes off what appears to be its head and throws it at an opponent. UB-Assembly, meanwhile, is a more defense-oriented Rock/Steel-type and is exclusive to Ultra Moon. Like all previous Ultra Beasts, all three of the new Pokemon have the Beast Boost ability.
The Ultra Beats all hail from different worlds and arrive in the Alola region through Ultra Wormholes. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, players will be able to travel atop either Solgaleo or Lunala through these wormholes and visit the worlds the Ultra Beasts come from. The trailer also revealed a new area called Ultra Megalopolis, which Nintendo describes as "a world that has had its light stolen by Necrozma."
Lastly, the trailer introduced a new mysterious team called the Ultra Recon Squad. This cadre is made up of four trainers; in Ultra Sun, players will cross paths with Dulse and Zossie, while Ultra Moon players will encounter Phyco and Soliera. Little is known about the Ultra Recon Squad, but in the trailer, they appear with the Ultra Beast UB-Adhesive.
Much like last year, Blizzard will celebrate October in Overwatch with a Halloween-themed event. Halloween Terror makes a return next week and will run for the remainder of the month, offering new cosmetic items for players to earn.
Blizzard announced today that Halloween Terror has a release date of October 10 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and it runs through November 2. It also shared the very brief teaser video above that shows off new Halloween-themed skins for McCree and Reaper, the latter of which already had an excellent one from last year's event. The video was accompanied by a poem which reads: "The nights grow cold / And monsters appear / A great evil gathers / And Halloween draws near..."
Further specifics have not yet been announced, but along with new cosmetics, we may also see the return of Junkenstein's Revenge. (That seems likely given that Junkrat's Junkenstein skin is featured in the logo for this year's event.) The co-op mode pits a team of four against waves of enemies in what amounts to Overwatch's take on Horde mode. We'll report back as Blizzard shares more details; for now, the developer has only said that the update introduces "spooky new content."
" style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">two more games]
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what games are available? We've now rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available.
Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Lineup (As of September 28, 2017):
New titles are bolded
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
A Kingdom for Keflings
A World of Keflings
Aegis Wing
Age of Booty
Alan Wake
Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Alice: Madness Returns
Alien Hominid HD
Altered Beast
Anomaly Warzone Earth
Arkanoid Live
Army of Two
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed III
Assassin's Creed Revelations
Assassin's Creed Rogue
Assault Heroes 2
Asteroids & Deluxe
AstroPop
Aqua
Babel Rising
Band of Bugs
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts
Banjo Tooie
Banjo Kazooie
Batman: Arkham Origins (disc only -- added August 8)
Battlefield: Bad Company (added August 17)
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield 3
BattleBlock Theater
Battlestations: Midway
Bayonetta
Beat'n Groovy
Bejeweled 2
Bejeweled 3
Bellator: MMA Onslaught
Beyond Good & Evil HD
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
BioShock
BioShock 2
BioShock Infinite
Bloodforge
Blood Knights
Blood of the Werewolf
BloodRayne: Betrayal
Blue Dragon
Bomberman Live: Battlefest
Boom Boom Rocket
Borderlands
Borderlands 2
Bound by Flame
Braid
Brain Challenge
Bullet Soul
Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst
Bully: Scholarship Edition
Burnout Paradise
Cabela's Alaskan Adventures
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
Cabela's Hunting Expeditions
Cabela's Survival: Shadows of Katmai
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 3
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (added September 28)
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Juarez Gunslinger
Capcom Arcade Cabinet
Carcassonne
Cars 2
Castle Crashers
Castlestorm
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Catherine
The Cave
Centipede & Millipede
Civilization: Revolution
Clannad
Commanders: Attack of the Genos
Comic Jumper
Comix Zone
Condemned
Contra
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Crazy Taxi
Crystal Quest
Crystal Defenders
Cyber Troopers Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram (Japan only -- added September 14)
Dark Souls
Dark Void
Darksiders
Darksiders II
Daytona USA
de Blob 2
Dead Rising 2: Case West
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Dead Space Ignition
Deadliest Warrior: Legends
Deadliest Warrior: The Game (added August 8)
Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue
Defense Grid
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
Dig Dug
Dirt 3
Dirt Showdown
Discs of Tron
Disney Bolt (added August 8)
Disney Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (added August 3)
Domino Master
Doom
Doom II
Doom 3: BFG Edition
Doritos Crash Course
Double Dragon: Neon
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon's Lair
DuckTales Remastered
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
Dungeon Siege III
E4: Every Extend Extra Extreme
Earthworm Jim HD
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Encleverment Experiment
Escape Dead Island
F1 2014
Fable Anniversary (added October 4)
Fable II
Fable II Pub Games (added October 4)
Fable III
Faery: Legends of Avalon
Fallout 3
Fallout: New Vegas
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy 2
Fighting Vipers (added August 8)
Final Fight: Double Impact
Flashback
Flock
Forza Horizon
Fret Nice
Frogger
Frogger 2
FunTown Mahjong
Galaga
Galaga Legions
Galaga Legions DX
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Gatling Gears
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
Gin Rummy
Golden Axe
Go! Go! Break Steady
Golf: Tee It Up
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grid 2
Gripshift
Guardian Heroes
Gunstar Heroes
Guwange
Gyromancer
Gyruss
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
Halo: Combat Evolved (added September 21)
Halo 3 (added September 21)
Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition (added September 21)
Halo 4 (added September 21)
Halo: Reach
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo Wars
Hard Corps: Uprising
Hardwood Backgammon
Hardwood Hearts
Hardwood Spades
Harms Way
Haunted House
Heavy Weapon
Hexic 2
Hexic HD
Hitman: Absolution
Hydro Thunder
I Am Alive
Ikaruga
Ilomilo
Injustice: Gods Among Us + disc-only Ultimate Edition
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos
Iron Brigade
Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
Jet Set Radio
Jetpac Refuelled
Joe Danger Special Edition
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Joust
Joy Ride Turbo
Juju
Jurassic Park: The Game
Just Cause 2
Kameo
Kane & Lynch 2
Killer Is Dead
The King of Fighters '98
The King of Fighters 2002
Lazy Raiders
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2
Lego Batman
Lego Indiana Jones
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Limbo
Lode Runner
Lost Odyssey
Lumines Live!
Luxor 2
Mad Tracks
Magic: The Gathering 2012
Mars: War Logs
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
Matt Hazard: Blood, Bath, and Beyond
The Maw
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Meet the Robinsons
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 10
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (added August 15)
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug XX
Midway Arcade Origins
Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
Military Madness
Mirror's Edge
Missile Command
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
Monday Night Combat
Monkey Island: SE
Monkey Island 2: SE
Monopoly Deal (added September 14)
Moon Diver
Motocross Madness
Ms. Splosion Man
Ms Pac-Man
Mutant Blobs Attack
Mutant Storm Empire
MX vs. ATV Reflex
N+
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Neogeo Battle Coliseum
Nights Into Dreams
Of Orcs and Men
Omega Five
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Operation Flashpoint: Red River
The Orange Box
Outland
Pac-Man
Pac-Man C.E
Pac-Man CE DX+
Pac-Man Museum
Peggle
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark Zero
Phantasy Star II
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Pinball FX
Planets Under Attack
Plants vs. Zombies
Poker Smash
Portal: Still Alive
Portal 2
Prince of Persia
Pure
Putty Squad
Puzzle Quest
Puzzle Quest 2
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
QIX++ Puzzlegeddon
Rage
Raiden IV
Raskulls
Rayman 3 HD
Rayman Legends
Rayman Origins
Red Dead Redemption
Red Faction: Armageddon
Red Faction: Battlegrounds
RoboBlitz
Rocket Knight
R-Type Dimensions
Runner 2
Sacred 3
Sacred Citadel
Saints Row: The Third (added September 14)
Saints Row IV
Sam & Max: Beyond Time & Space
Sam & Max Save the World
Samurai Shodown II
Scarygirl
Scrap Metal
ScreamRide (added August 15)
Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl (added August 3)
Shadow Assault/Tenchu
Shadow Complex
Shadowrun
Shadows of the Damned
Shank 2
Shinobi
Shred Nebula
Shotest Shogi
Silent Hill: Downpour
Skate 3
Skullgirls
Skydive
Slender: The Arrival (added September 14)
Small Arms
Soltrio Solitaire
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic Adventure (added September 28)
Sonic CD
Sonic The Fighters
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Soulcalibur
Soulcalibur II
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Space Ark
Space Giraffe
Space Invaders Infinity Gene
Spelunky
The Splatters
Splosion Man
SSX
Stacking
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Steins; Gate 比翼恋理のだーりん (Japan only)
Steins; Gate (オリジナル版) (Japan only)
Steins; Gate 線形拘束のフェノグラム (Japan-only, requires game disc)
Strania
Street Fighter IV
Stuntman: Ignition
Super Contra (added September 14)
Super Meat Boy
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition (added July 13)
Supreme Commander 2
Syberia
Tekken 6
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Texas Hold 'Em
Ticket to Ride
TimeShift
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Torchlight
Tour de France 2009
Tour de France 2011
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers Cold War
Toy Story 3
Tower Bloxx Deluxe
Trials HD
Trine 2
Tron: Evolution
Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon
Unbound Saga
Undertow (added September 14)
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series (added August 29)
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - A Telltale Games Series (added August 29)
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries (added August 29)
"We've had an ongoing relationship with Epic Games throughout PUBG's development as they are the creators of UE4, the engine we licensed for the game," said Bluehole VP Chang Han Kim. "After listening to the growing feedback from our community and reviewing the gameplay for ourselves, we are concerned that Fortnite may be replicating the experience for which PUBG is known."
There are certainly some questionable things at play here, especially in regards to business ethics, but did Epic Games do something illegal? In the video above, we explore the legal side of this developer spat and talk to video game attorney Ryan Morrison. He delves into the meat of what's at play here and explains exactly what "considering further action" means. While he doesn't think it's likely that this situation will go to court, he explains how Bluehole could build a case against Epic Games.
The Dive is a show that digs deeper into current events and original stories from the world of video games. Last week's episode jumped headfirst into PewDiePie, DMCA, and the legality of Let's Plays. In addition to Morrison's help in explaining the legal side of Campo Santo removing PewDiePie's Firewatch content, we heard from professional Let's Player Ryan "Northernlion" Letourneau about "Copyright School" and the threat that the DMCA poses on YouTubers.
Forza Motorsport 7's developer, Turn 10, has apologized to players who bought the Ultimate Edition of the game, saying it is sorry if its VIP pass was misleading or disappointing. It's promising to make it up to players, and also says it will improve stability and performance in its PC release.
"We heard loud and clear from Ultimate Edition owners expressing frustration over the VIP membership offer in Forza Motorsport 7," wrote Turn 10's Alan Hartman on the game's website. "We immediately updated the VIP description in the Windows Store to alleviate any future confusion. As head of the studio, I apologize for any confusion or frustration our players may have experienced."
Forza 7's VIP pass works differently than the VIP pass in Forza 6, which gave pass holders double racing credit on all races, and this wasn't made explicitly clear in the game's earlier description. In Forza 7, those who purchase the $20 VIP pass or obtain it via the $100 Ultimate Edition get access to 5 mod cards. Each of these is good for double racing credit in 5 races, meaning there's a maximum cap of 25 times you can get the double rewards. Now, that system is about to change again.
"This new system will work like it did in Forza Motorsport 6, offering a 2X base credit bonus after every race. We've already started work on this feature and we will release it as soon as possible. Look for more information on this update as we near the release date," said Hartman.
To make it up to players, VIP holders will receive 1 million credits and these four additional Forza Edition cars, which are now available for download from the in-game message center:
2016 Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 Forza Edition
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Forza Edition
2017 Acura NSX Forza Edition
2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S Forza Edition
Turn 10 also said it's aware of some stability and performance issues in the game for some PC players. It said some of those issues were fixed in the Forza 7 update released on launch day, but the studio will continue to investigate and resolve issues as quickly as possible.
Bungie has rolled out the latest weekly reset for Destiny 2, which soon see some server downtime and the release of a new 1.0.3.1 update. Among other things, the weekly reset means a new Nightfall is now available, complete with another set of modifiers, Challenges, and rewards.
This week's Nightfall Strike is Savathun's Song. As always in Destiny 2, you'll have to rush to finish, as a time limit is in place. But whereas last week's Nightfall featured a modifier that didn't permit you to extend the time limit, one of the modifiers this time around is Timewarp - Anomalies. Throughout the Strike, you'll encounter floating objects that can be destroyed, with each one providing an additional 30 seconds for you to make it to the final boss and defeat it.
The other active modifier is Momentum (which was to be used in an earlier Nightfall but had to be replaced because it was broken). When you stand still, neither your health nor shields will regenerate, which means taking cover like you normally might isn't a viable strategy. Instead, you'll want to consider sprinting, which actually increases the rate of your recovery.
There are again three Challenges, the first of which is the returning Speed Of Dark; this tasks you with finishing the Nightfall with at least five minutes on the clock, which may require taking out most or all of the anomalies you encounter. Unbroken requires completion of the Nightfall with fewer than three deaths. And The Best Defense asks you to shoot down 15 projectiles before defeating Savathun's Song.
Players have reported a possible Nightfall cheese, which once again takes advantage of the Timewarp - Anomalies modifier. As documented in this YouTube video, you can reach a point in the Strike where you can turn around and return to an earlier area, where the Anomalies will have respawned. Doing so provides you with more anomalies to destroy than you would otherwise have access to--and thus, additional time to finish.
Completion of the Nightfall rewards players with Powerful Gear rewards. This is one of the few activities to offer those, and they're among the best items you can get your hands on. It's also a reliable way to increase your Power level past 265, should you be struggling to pass that point. If you haven't made it to that point, you may want to consider waiting until after you've raised your Power level before grabbing the Nightfall reward. This Nightfall will be available until the next weekly reset, which occurs at 2 AM PT / 5 AM ET / 10 AM BST / 4 PM AEST on Tuesday, October 10.
If you haven't 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. Traditional matchmaking is not available, but in its place we have Guided Games, providing players with 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, and doing so does not require a Ticket.
The Star Wars Battlefront II beta is now underway for some players. EA has announced more details about the PC version specifically, revealing its minimum and recommended requirements. Starting off, you'll need 15 GB of hard drive space to install the beta client. As for the rest of the requirements, you can see them below, as posted on EA's website.
Minimum PC System requirements:
OS: 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Online Connection Requirements: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
Hard-drive space: 15 GB
Given that Battlefront II is only in a beta state, it's possible that the final PC requirements will change for the full release. We'll report back with more details as they become available. The Battlefront II beta runs October 6-9 on PC, as well as Xbox One and PlayStation 4. People who pre-order got in two days early, beginning on October 4.
Progress from the beta does not carry forward to the full game. This is often the case with betas--for EA games and others. For Battlefront II specifically, EA said, "We want everyone to start on a level playing field at launch, whether they have been able to take part in the beta or not, so we're resetting all progress after the beta." Here's what's included in Battlefront II's beta.
A new trailer for Battlefront II released recently that showed off how much more content the game has compared to its 2015 predecessor. The video is narrated by Star Wars actor John Boyega, who famously lamented the absence of a single-player mode in the previous game.
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.
Unfortunately, if you didn't try it already, the Destiny 2 PC beta has already passed. 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 have release date 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.
There is a problem with Destiny 2's raid system whereby raid keys for the Leviathan challenge are getting removed from players' inventories. That's a problem. Bungie is aware of this and has now explained what's caused the issue and what can be done to avoid it.
There are two situations that Bungie has found to cause this problem, the first is that you'll lose your raid keys when signing in with an alternate character if that character previously had not been signed in since the latest weekly reset. The other instance where you can lose your raid keys is if you earn a raid key and then create a new character.
To prevent the issue, Bungie advises players to sign in with each of their characters in the game or inspect all of them through the Destiny companion app before clearing checkpoints in the Leviathan raid after the reset. Obviously, this is not ideal. So you may be happy to learn that Bungie is working on a more permanent solution for this issue.
Another thing to note is that all of your Leviathan raid progress gets reset every week alongside the weekly reset that impacts the entire game. For much more on the raid, check out GameSpot's detailed Leviathan Raid walkthrough that covers everything you need to know.
For more on Destiny 2, check out our recent stories linked below:
Once again, Microsoft has expanded the Xbox One's backwards compatible catalog. Another two Xbox 360 games are now playable on the current-generation console, both of which hail from the company's Fable RPG series.
The bigger of the two is 2014's Fable Anniversary, the Xbox 360 HD remaster of the first Fable, which was released on the original Xbox. It features improved graphics, a new UI, Achievement support, and everything from The Lost Chapters, an expanded version of Fable released in 2005.
This is joined by the Xbox Live Arcade title Fable II Pub Games, a collection of mini-games that were also playable in Fable II. Pub Games released ahead of that game, allowing you to earn money and items that could be carried over into the RPG.
Both of these games are now playable on Xbox One. If you own them digitally, you'll find them waiting in the Ready to Download section of the My Games and Apps area; if you have a disc for Anniversary, you can simply pop that in and begin playing. Both are also available for purchase from the Xbox Store.
Otherwise, however, Shadow of War seems to be going down well with critics. We awarded the open-world game a 7/10 in our review. "It tries to be larger than its predecessor … yet it leaves you wanting less," wrote Justin Haywald. "But at its core, it's a fun experience with brilliant moments that provide fascinating insight into some of the untold stories of Middle-earth." Read more in our full Shadow of War review.
"And that addition sums up several of Shadow of War's additions--things like the storefront and the menus and loot system don't make the game terrible, it just would've been better without them. It tries to be larger than its predecessor, there are more abilities, more weapons, more Orcs, yet it leaves you wanting less. But at its core, it's a fun experience with brilliant moments that provide fascinating insight into some of the untold stories of Middle-earth. I just wish it had known when to stop." -- Justin Haywald " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
IGN -- 9.0/10
"Similar to the way Batman: Arkham City built on the foundation of Arkham Asylum, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is bigger and more ambitious in scope than Shadow of Mordor, with great results. The way it expands the Nemesis system with far greater variety and fortress sieges makes even better use of the stand-out generated characters, and its battles with memorable uruk captains remain challenging all the way through the campaign and into the clever asynchronous multiplayer beyond." -- Dan Stapleton " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Polygon -- 7.5/10
"If you can get past the microtransactions, Shadow Wars seems set to provide a much meatier extended playtime than Shadow of Mordor ever offered. But more than anything, that's my biggest disappointment with Middle-earth: Shadow of War: Everything about it seems to come with a caveat, some small annoyance or two that you need to dig past to get to the still-very-fun game underneath." -- Philip Kollar & Chris Plante " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.5/10
"Shadow of War fulfills the promise of its predecessor, completing a dark and violent lost tale set within the world of The Lord of the Rings. I was initially frustrated by the liberties that Monolith takes with this beloved fiction (which are plentiful), but I eventually abandoned myself to the insanity, and fell down the rabbit hole into a superb fantasy adventure. Monolith captures the thrill of power with aplomb; the way it simultaneously speaks of its dangers and corrupting potential is the real magic." -- Matt Miller " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Eurogamer -- No score
"Shadow of War ends up the very epitome of the difficult second album. A lot has been added in order to scale it up for a full blown sequel and much of it has been implemented with style and aplomb. As fun as the core is, however, it is often overshadowed by an onerous and self-indulgent story. What should be the game's crowning feature is instead reduced to an undeserved supporting role, like an exquisitely carved plinth groaning under the weight of a gaudy bronze bust of an elven wraith who's looking very, very serious indeed." -- Johnny Chiodini " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
GamesRadar -- 4.5/5
"For the most part, this is big spectacle and richly layered experience. The different regions are beautiful and varied to explore, while Sauron's forces are alway entertaining to meet and beat. If there are moments that don't quite click or things that fatigue a little it's because of that scale. There's almost an Assassin's Creed 2 feel of map spatter to all the markers for towers, collectables, bits and so on. I've not 100%-ed it but you're easily looking at a triple figure time should you try. This isn't a game to get in for the weekend, it's something to buy and cancel plans for the year." -- Leon Hurley " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Overwatch's latest Public Test Realm update has introduced a pretty big change for Mercy on PC. Her Valkyrie ultimate ability has been tweaked so it doesn't immediately reset Resurrection's cooldown. It no longer has any effect on that skill's cooldown timer, instead doubling Resurrection's range.
Although the change is only in the testing phase on the PTR right now, it could eventually come to all players on PC and PS4 / Xbox One, if developer Blizzard decides it's successful. So far, the adjustment has received a mixed reception on the Overwatch forums, so it will be interesting if Mercy is changed again before any update gets a wider release.
The change comes just a few days before Overwatch's Halloween event is due to start. New skins for McCree and Reaper are on the way as part of the event, which runs from October 10 through November 2 on all platforms.
Further specifics have not yet been announced, but along with new cosmetics, we may also see the return of Junkenstein's Revenge. (That seems likely given that Junkrat's Junkenstein skin is featured in the logo for this year's event.) The co-op mode pits a team of four against waves of enemies in what amounts to Overwatch's take on Horde mode. We'll report back as Blizzard shares more details; for now, the developer has only said that the update introduces "spooky new content."
In other Overwatch news, game director Jeff Kaplan recently discussed why it's scary for developers to post online. Kaplan shared his thoughts in a thread where players--citing the lack of forum posts from Blizzard developers--questioned if the Overwatch team has enough people on it. According to Kaplan, the development team has grown from 70 at launch in May 2016 to just over 100 now. "Even though I wouldn't say we're necessarily a 'small' team as modern development standards go, we're certainly not an overly large team either," he said.
Kaplan admitted that the team has made mistakes but noted that Blizzard tries to speak directly with fans using their real names, rather than using aliases or communicating through community managers. "And if you'll allow me to speak openly for a moment--it's scary," he said.
PES 2018 launched under a month ago, but it's already being updated with new content. Data Pack 1 is out now on PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC, introducing a bunch of welcome cosmetic changes.
The biggest changes are 117 new player faces. Players such as Luis Suarez, Neymar, and Romelu Lukaku are among those to get updated face models; take a look at all of them below. In addition, over 3000 players have received new photos for display in team management screens.
Publisher Konami also says the update contains new cutscenes for Master League, as well as more real-world boots and Champions League-specific kits "for teams such as Atletico Madrid and AS Roma." That's it for the first PES 2018 Data Pack, though Konami did confirm it's already working on Data Pack 2, which will be released in mid-November.
The cosmetic changes are welcome, since that was one area of PES 2018 we criticized in our review. "The game's presentation as a whole is lagging behind the competition," we said.
We continued: "And yet, when you get onto the pitch, no other football game feels as good as PES 2018. The slower pace is a definite improvement, helping tread the line between realism and fun near-perfectly. There's just something about the players' movement and the kinds of arcs the ball makes in the air that's just so pleasant to control--every pass, header, and shot just feels right. And when it clicks, and you score a thunderous strike from the edge of the area or finish off a slick passing move or even when you launch an ugly long ball forward to grab a last-gasp winner, it's the closest feeling you'll get to being out there scoring yourself." Read more in our full PES 2018 review.
After a private beta, PS4's big 5.0 update is now available for everyone. In short, there are few huge features included in the update, but lots of small improvements that should improve the system's functionality overall. The patch weighs in at 375 MB, and it's mandatory to install--just turn your PS4 on and the update should begin downloading automatically.
Some of the enhancements center around streaming using the PS4's built-in broadcasting capabilities. PS4 Pro users will be able to stream in 1080p and 60 FPS, provided their connection is strong enough, and PSVR users will be able to see new messages and comments coming through while broadcasting. PSVR is also adding 5.1ch and 7.1ch virtual surround sound support.
Next up, the PS4's Friends List is being updated with greater management tools, such as the ability to set up separate lists of friends. You'll be able to create a list of all the people you play Destiny with and send them all an invite, for example. This feature replaces the old Favorite Groups tab.
In another move to help reduce the amount of time spent in menus, the Quick Menu is being updated to have more options. For example, you'll be able to check on download progress and see new party invites. You can also leave a party from within that menu and see your current Spotify playlist.
Notifications are also being improved when watching films and TV, as you can now disable messages and other notification pop-ups while watching media. You can also change how much of a message is displayed, as well as its color, when playing or watching any form of content.
Finally, Parental Control features are being overhauled in favor of what Sony calls "Family on PSN." This replaces the old Master/Sub account system; instead, one user is deemed the Family Manager, and they can set up other accounts and appoint them as a Parent/Guardian, Adult, or Child. Parents or Guardians can restrict Child accounts in their "use of online features and communication with other players, set restrictions for games, restrict the use of the internet browser, and set spending limits for PlayStation Store."
In the beta, Sony stated people setting up an Adult account for the first time would be charged $0.50 "to verify that you are an adult." It's unclear whether that requirement has been dropped, but it is not mentioned in the final update's patch notes, which you can see below.
In other PlayStation news, Sony revealed a new PSVR model just yesterday. The updated version contains a streamlined cable layout and the ability to watch HDR content on your TV without having to disconnect the PSVR's processor unit. No release date has been revealed for the new PSVR model, though the price will remain the same.
PS4 Update 5.0 Patch Notes
Main Features In Version 5.00 Update
You can now add users of your PS4 as family members. This makes it easy to manage your child's account information and to restrict PS4 features. To add family members, select (Settings) > [Parental Controls/Family Management].
As the family manager, you can set up your family.
Up to seven family members (including you) can be in your family and use online features.
Multiple adults can be in your family. The family manager can make other adults in the family parents or guardians. The family manager and family members who are parents or guardians can adjust parental controls for the children in your family.
You can configure parental control settings for each child. Using parental controls, you can restrict use of online features and communication with other players, set restrictions for games, restrict use of the Internet browser, and set spending limits for PlayStation Store.
You can configure parental controls anytime from your PC or smartphone.
You can now follow anyone, not just verified accounts. Select (Follow) on a person's profile screen, and their activities and broadcasts will appear in [What's New]. You automatically follow your Friends, but you have the option to unfollow them.
Recommendations for who to follow are now offered based on the games you play. Select (Friends) > (Follow).
You can now choose who can follow you and who can see your follow list. Select (Settings) > [Account Management] > [Privacy Settings], and then configure each setting.
(Custom Lists) has been added to (Friends). Create custom lists to easily organize your Friends and choose players to send messages or game invitations to.
For certain broadcasts, (Communities) now appears on the (Live from PlayStation) viewing screen. To access the broadcaster's community, select (Communities).
You can now view (Notifications) on the quick menu.
The following languages have been added as system languages.
With the second season of one of Netflix's most well-known shows, Stranger Things, releasing later this month, the streaming service has announced changes to its subscription prices in the United States. Some but not all of its subscription options are now more expensive for US customers.
The standard $10 per month option increases by $1 to $11, while the 4K-supporting $12 tier jumps up $2 to $14. At least for the time being, the basic $8 plan will remain at its current price. These prices are in effect for new customers as of today, while those who already subscribe will see the higher charges in an upcoming billing cycle, according to a Netflix statement shared with CNET.
"Starting Oct. 19, members will be notified at least 30 days in advance, based on billing cycle, on when they will see the price change," the company said. "Members will be notified with an email and also see a notification within the service. The price change will roll out to members over the course of the next several months."
It's been two years since Netflix prices last increased in the US. At the time, the standard tier went from $9 to $10, while the $8 option remained at that price.
Stranger Things: Season 2 is the biggest release on the service this month, but also coming up is another season of Voltron: Legendary Defender, The Hateful Eight, and a Patton Oswalt comedy special. You can see everything that's releasing in our roundup of what's new on Netflix in October.
The picture was tweeted from the movie's official account. It's a travel application for main character Newt Scamander, which has been denied by the Ministry of Magic, citing that he was "uncooperative and evasive on reasons for last trip." Check it out below:
The Fantastic Beasts sequel will star Eddie Redmayne as Newt, with Katherine Waterston, Zoe Kravitz, and Ezra Miller all returning from the first movie. Johnny Depp will play the villainous Grindelwald, with Jude Law as young Dumbledore. Other cast members include Claudia Kim (Avengers: Age Of Ultron) and Ingvar Sigurdsson (The Oath), and David Yates directs once more.
An official synopsis for the movie was released in July. It reads, "As he promised he would, Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape and has been gathering more followers to his cause--elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore.
"But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander. The adventure reunites Newt with Tina, Queenie, and Jacob, but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world. The film expands the wizarding world, moving from New York to London and on to Paris."
The Fantastic Beasts sequel is set for a November 16, 2018 release, and according to Potter creator JK Rowling, it will be the second of five movies. The first movie made more than $814 million at the worldwide box office.
Following a brief beta test that took place last week, Bethesda has launched the Creation Club for Skyrim: Special Edition on all platforms. To promote it, the company is also giving away the biggest and most notable piece of Creation Club content so far, Survival Mode, free for a limited time.
As announced at E3, Creation Club is like an evolved version of paid mods--although Bethesda insists that this is not paid mods. As with the Fallout 4 version, Creation Club sells new content for Skyrim similar to mods, but the development is either done by Bethesda or by outside parties in conjunction with Bethesda. Mods will continue to exist as they already do, but Creation Club offers content that is "fully curated and compatible with the main game, official add-ons, and achievements."
Survival Mode is one such example; it increases the challenge of the game, disabling fast travel and requiring you to account for things like hunger, fatigue, and weather. Like other Creation Club content, it will cost real-world money, but from now until October 10, you can download it for free. Other paid content that's now available includes new weapons and items.
Creation Club is specifically available for Skyrim: Special Edition, the enhanced version of the Elder Scrolls game that launched last year. Creation Club currency, called Credits, are now for sale on Steam in bundles ranging in price from $8/£6 to $40/£30.
Marvel and Netflix confirmed today that the new TV show The Punisher, a brutal and violent show featuring a gun-toting main character, has pulled out of New York Comic-Con in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting. In a joint statement, Netflix and Marvel said they are "stunned and saddened by this week's senseless act in Las Vegas."
"After careful consideration, Netflix and Marvel have decided it wouldn't be appropriate for Marvel's The Punisher to participate in New York Comic-Con," the statement goes on (via Deadline). "Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and those affected by this tragedy."
Firing from a 32nd-floor hotel room window on Sunday during a Vegas country music concert, a gunman killed at least 58 people and injured hundreds more in what was the deadliest shooting in modern American history.
The Punisher's presence at NYCC was to include a panel at Madison Square Garden featuring star John Bernthal and Marvel TV chief Jeph Loeb. There will be 13 episodes in The Punisher's first season, though Netflix has yet to announce a premiere date.
New York Comic Con runs October 5-8 at the Javits Center in downtown New York.
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. It's also a month that will see an increase in subscription prices for many customers in the US.
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.
It may be some time before we see the Eshop as busy as it was last week, when a whopping 18 games were released for Nintendo Switch. But today's Eshop update is no slouch, bringing seven new games to the platform, with three more to arrive in the coming days.
Most notably, as announced earlier this week, the Nintendo Switch version of Stardew Valley is finally available. Priced at $15/£11, the charming Harvest Moon-style game lets you create and tend to your own farm, get married, and generally relax. It seems like a perfect match with the portability of Switch, and it'll also be the first console version to receive Stardew Valley's upcoming multiplayer mode.
Those looking for something more action-oriented can pick up Axiom Verge, the acclaimed Metroidvania game, which costs $20/£15. Joining it is bloody 2D action game Volgarr the Viking ($10/£9), action-puzzle game Tumblestone ($15/£12), multiplayer beat-em-up Ninja Shodown ($15/£10), and the visually interesting side-scrolling shooter Earth Atlantis ($15/£13.49). There's also, of course, the obligatory ACA Neo Geo game; this time around, it's the delightful Metal Slug X ($8/£6.29).
Following all of this, the excellent adventure game Oxenfree ($20/£16) arrives on Friday, October 6. And you can look forward to at least two games during the early part of next week, with one-on-one shoot-em-up Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle ($30) and 2D action-platformer Tiny Barbarian DX ($30) releasing on October 10. The month's big release, Super Mario Odyssey, is coming up on October 27.
This summer's Tom Cruise-starring The Mummy was supposed to kick off the "Dark Universe" of connected classic monster movies. But it has now been reported that what is supposed to be the second film in the franchise--a remake of the horror classic Bride of Frankenstein--might no longer have anything to with the wider movie universe.
In an interview with Collider, director Bill Condon was asked about how Bride of Frankenstein, which is due in 2019, would connect to the other movies in development. "I will tell you this--what I'm doing is 100% making a really good monster movie," he said. "It has nothing to do with anything else. Nothing. Zero."
However, the negative critical reaction and underwhelming box office results for The Mummy may have changed the direction of the universe. The movie made $407 million worldwide, far from a failure, but hardly a spectacular success on which to base an entire connected universe.
Bride ofFrankenstein is set to arrive in theaters on February 14, 2019. Despite early rumors that Angelina Jolie might pay the title character, no further casting announcements have been made to date.
Capcom has announced Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition, a new version of its flagship fighting game that will be available for PlayStation 4 and PC from January 16, 2018. The updated version will include post-release content from Season 1 and Season 2 of the game, as well as a number of new gameplay changes.
In terms of characters, there will be a total of 28 fighters, comprised of the original roster plus the DLC characters, one of which is still yet to be revealed. More significantly, Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition will introduce a second V-Trigger for every character. This, according to Capcom, "will significantly change their playstyle."
Click image to view in full-screen gallery
"You may need to relearn your main or perhaps try another character, which speaks to you in a different way due to their alternate abilities," it says.
Details on these secondary V-Triggers have not yet been provided, but Capcom says to "stay tuned for more information" in the future. Also being added is a new Arcade Mode "ripe with nostalgia," an Extra Battle Mode, a gallery, and a redesigned user-interface. Further information on these modes can be found on the game's website.
Extra Battle: Fight against unique enemies! Defeat the golden-colored Shadaloo soldiers to get Fight Money. There may even be opponents wearing special alternate costumes.
Arcade Mode: To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter, you can enjoy the story paths of six Street Fighter games. There's an ending comic panel for each character in each path. Of course, you can turn on Fight Request while taking on Arcade Mode as well.
Gallery: In addition to the Arcade Mode endings, fulfill certain requirements to unlock a treasure trove of special illustrations. There are over 200 pieces of artwork just waiting to be unlocked.
V-Trigger II: All characters are getting V-Trigger II, which can be selected before the battle begins. Use them to create a new playstyle for your character.
Updated UI: The character select and battle screens have been overhauled. We're going for substance over style.
Images of these new features can be seen below, but they're currently only available in low-resolution.
For those that already own Street Fighter V, "all the new gameplay-related content--Arcade Mode, Extra Battle Mode, a second V-Trigger, the Gallery, and more--will be available as part of a free in-game update." Otherwise, the game will be available for $40. Pricing in other regions has not yet been confirmed.
Street Fighter V is currently in its second season of content updates. Its last DLC character, Menat, was released in August 29. Capcom also previously revealed more DLC costumes for Street Fighter V's character. Four new outfits became available on August 29 to coincide with the fighting game series' 30th anniversary. The costumes are for M. Bison, Guile, Ibuki, and Karin and you can see screenshots of the outfits here.
There's also a range of 13 outfits, including a range of Halloween and school-inspired costumes for Cammy, M. Bison, and many other characters. For those looking for something other than outfits, Capcom has released a new stage: English Manor. This is a castle that "overlooks a sweeping landscape with the Northern Lights hovering up above" very much inspired by Cammy's classic stage. Players can purchase it for $4 or 70,000 in-game Fight Money.
Just nine months after Intel released its 7th-generation desktop CPUs, the company is at it again with the 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors. They're essentially refreshes of the Kaby Lake architecture, but Intel increased the core and thread count for all its CPU lines: the i3, i5 and i7. It's the company's first opportunity to respond to AMD's Ryzen CPUs which shook up the PC hardware landscape in March this year.
We've put the Core i7-8700K through a bevy of tests to find out if offers a meaningful change from its predecessor. The core and thread count bump is a first in the history of consumer-grade i7 processors; in this regard alone, we're getting more performance per dollar. The 8700K retails for $360 USD, which is the highest launch price for a flagship i7, but not by much; the previous 7700K launched at $350. This slight price bump is justified by the addition of two cores, for a multithreaded six-core CPU.
The Core i7-8700K CPU alongside a penny for scale.
There is a catch to the price, however. All 8th-gen Coffee Lake CPUs require a motherboard with the Z370 chipset. All past motherboards, including ones with the Z270 chipset that released earlier this year, are incompatible with Coffee Lake CPUs, even though they all use the same LGA 1151 socket. That means you'll have to shell out the dough for a new motherboard.
As for technical details, the 8700K sports a base clock speed of 3.7GHz across all cores. It can also automatically boost one core to 4.7GHz, two cores to 4.6GHz, or all cores to 4.3GHz through Intel's Turbo Boost technology. Like all "K" models, it comes unlocked for manual overclocking. It has more memory built into the die with 12MB of L3 cache, but takes on a 95W TDP, which is slightly higher than its predecessor's 91W TDP. Like Kaby Lake processors, Coffee Lake CPUs are built with the 14nm FinFET manufacturing process.
Intel 8th Generation CPU Lineup
CPU
Cores, Threads
Base Clock
Boost Clock
TDP
MSRP
i7-8700K
6, 12
3.7 GHz
4.7 GHz (1 core) 4.3 GHz (all cores)
95W
$359
i7-8700
6, 12
3.2 GHz
4.6 GHz (1 core) 4.3 GHz (all cores)
65W
$303
i5-8600K
6, 6
3.6 GHz
4.3 GHz (1 core) 4.1 GHz (all cores)
95W
$257
i5-8400
6, 6
2.8 GHz
4.0 GHz (1 core) 3.8 GHz (all cores)
65W
$182
i3-8350K
4, 4
4.0 GHz
N/A
91W
$168
i3-8100
4, 4
3.6 GHz
N/A
65W
$117
Methodology
To benchmark the CPU, we built our testbed around the Asus Maximus X Hero Z370 motherboard. For consistency's sake, we used the same or similar specs to previous builds: 16GB of DDR4 RAM at 2133MHz from HyperX, a Samsung 850 PRO SSD, NZXT's Kraken X62 water cooler, and a reference GTX 980 GPU--which can still hold its own in contemporary games.
We're going to compare the 8700K directly to three other CPUs: the Core i7-7700K, AMD Ryzen 7 1700X, and Ryzen 5 1600X. The 7700K released earlier this year and it's equipped with four cores and eight threads with a base clock of 4.2GHz that can boost to 4.5GHz. AMD's Ryzen 7 1700X (which costs between $300 to $400) is similarly priced as the 8700K but rocks 8 cores and 16 threads. AMD's Ryzen 5 1600X is equipped with the same core and thread count but it's much cheaper, ranging from $220 to $250.
System Specifications
CPU
Ryzen 7 1700X / 5 1600X
Core i7-8700K
Core i7-7700K
Motherboard
Gigabyte AX370 Gaming 5
Asus Maximus X Hero
Gigabyte GA-170X-Gaming 7
RAM
Corsair Vengeance 2933MHz
HyperX Fury 2133MHz
Corsair Vengeance 2133MHz
GPU
GeForce GTX 980
GeForce GTX 980
GeForce GTX 980
SSD
WD Blue 960GB
Samsung 850 PRO 512GB
Seagate 600 Series 240GB
CPU Cooler
Noctua NH-U12S (Air)
NZXT Kraken X62
NZXT Kraken X61
Case
NZXT S340 Elite
NZXT ROG 420
NZXT H440
Power Supply
NZXT 700W
EVGA 850W
NZXT 1200W
All systems ran on Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
CPU Benchmark Results
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 is a common CPU benchmark to indicate how well your system handles image rendering. The 8700K (1549 cb score) smashes on the 7700K (982). It also beats out AMD's cheaper six-core 1600X, which scored 1179. And the Ryzen 7 1700X is neck and neck with its score of 1528. This is an example of more cores at work, but also the higher efficiency of Coffee Lake.
X264 5.0.1
X264 is the most demanding CPU-focused test that simulates video encoding and consists of two separate runs. Again, the 8700K outperforms other CPUs by a significant margin, except in pass 2 where the Ryzen 7 1700X trails by less than one frame a second. Compared to its predecessor, the 8700K puts its extra cores to work for an improvement of over 30%.
Our other CPU-centric tests followed a similar trend shown in Cinebench and X264:
Blender
POV-RAY 3.7
GeekBench 3.0
Synthetic Benchmark Results
PCMark 8
PCMark is an extensive multi-stage simulation of real-world tasks like web browsing, photo editing, and video conferencing. It simply spits out a score at the end, and Intel's 8700K came out on top by a wide margin. The three other CPUs were fairly close to each other, but the 1700X's distant 2nd place shows the efficiency of Intel's Coffee Lake CPU.
3DMark 11
3DMark 11 closely resembles video game performance since it goes through several stages of rendering 3D graphics. First, we plucked out the physics score, which is heavily dependant on CPU calculations, and the 8700K takes the cake by a significant margin. The overall score is the big picture result. Here, we see more parity once we factor in GPU performance. The 8700K still comes out on top but the 7700K and 1700X systems aren't too far behind.
Gaming Benchmark Results
Star Swarm Stress Test
A six minute run-through with Star Swarm throws multiple units and explosions on screen to stress test your system. We ran it on low settings to really take the strain off the GPU and put it onto the CPU. We also tested at high settings at 1080p, which is probably more indicative of a real-use case and it appears that it doesn't utilize anything beyond four cores. This means the higher clocked 7700K came out on top with both tests.
Bioshock Infinite
Bioshock Infinite's benchmark is a bit of an anomaly in that the 7700K significantly outpaces all the other CPUs in our 1080p test with low settings. When we bump the settings to maximum, the gap closes, but the six and eight core CPUs still fall behind the quad core 7700K.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (DirectX 12)
Deus Ex Mankind Divided is a very demanding game. We ran it at 1080p with the high graphics preset for a more realistic scenario. And while we see the 8700K ahead, it's not statistically significant. The game and benchmark are more GPU-bound, and our GTX 980 is the bigger factor when it comes to performance.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands
To prove the GPU-bound nature of games at 1080p with high settings, Ghost Recon Wildlands' benchmark gave us similar results. It spits out real-time readings of GPU and CPU usage, and while the GPU was constantly working at 99%, the CPU workloads ranged from 25% to 40%. But the 8700K seems to be slightly more efficient.
Overclocking
When testing overclocking limit, we use X264 which is the most stressful CPU test. It sets a high bar to clear for stability, so if the overclock can handle X264, then it should be able to handle anything else. We kept things fairly simple and used a built-in profile on the Asus Maximus X Hero motherboard that set all cores to run at 5.0GHz. It's ambitious, but we got through both passes without crashing. This is the unlocked K version of an Intel CPU, so it should handle higher overclocking with the proper cooling.
Temperatures
As stated earlier in the methodology, we used the NZXT Kraken X62; an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler with a dual-fan 280mm radiator. However, the 8700K still got pretty hot. At idle, the CPU sat at a mild 32 degrees Celsius and went up to 78 degrees Celsius under load during our runs of X264. With using the 5.0GHz overclock profile, it reached 86 degrees Celsius under load in X264, which is considered higher than desirable.
Verdict
Judging from our results with the i7-8700K, we have a meaningful change from what we've come to expect from Intel. Its flagship processor gets a jump in core/thread count and the numbers show how much of an improvement it makes in CPU-heavy tasks that are able to leverage more than four cores.
However, there isn't much to point to when it comes to performance in gaming, since games are heavily reliant on the GPU and aren't geared to take advantage of more than four CPU cores quite yet. But upgrading to the 8700K (and consequently a Z370 motherboard) from an older platform makes sense if you plan to do more than gaming, especially if you're hoping to stream and render video off the same computer. It's a bridge between a competent gaming CPU and a workstation CPU. And for $360, Intel is leaning closer towards affordability and high-end performance, something AMD capitalized on with Ryzen.
Star Wars Battlefront II's beta kicks off on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in only a few days, on October 6 (or it's already available, if you pre-ordered the title before the month began). Ahead of its launch, EA has revealed all the modes and maps that players will be able to sample.
The Star Wars Battlefront II beta will consist of four modes, including Galactic Assault and Starfighter Assault. The former pits two teams of 20 players against each other in a large-scale battle as either a Clone trooper or Separatist droid. As in EA's live demonstration of the mode during E3, Galactic Assault will take place on the Naboo: Theed map during the beta. Starfighter Assault, meanwhile, is a 24-player space battle. In this mode, players will be able to try Battlefront II's three new starfighter classes and pilot Hero Ships from the prequel, original, and new Star Wars trilogies.
The remaining two modes featured in the beta are Strike and Arcade. The former is a class-based mode that doesn't feature any heroes. Players will have to use the unique abilities of their class to work together and complete objectives. During the beta, Strike takes place on Takodana. Arcade is Battlefront II's offline mode for one to two players. It is set on Naboo and features two options: a team battle with AI allies and enemies, and a one-vs.-many battle in which players take on a wave of foes.
The Star Wars Battlefront II beta runs until October 9. EA says that the Battlefront II beta is "among the biggest" the publisher has ever offered and warns players that downloading and installing it will take some time. EA has also outlined the beta's minimum and recommended specs for those planning to play on PC.
Mountain Dew and Doritos today announced a special promotion through which you could win an Xbox One X--if you're good enough at real-life capture the flag.
"The Drop Zone" is what the companies are calling a "technology driven" capture-the-flag contest. Here's how it works: Drop Zone events will be held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago on the weekend of November 10 (which is after the Xbox One X launches on November 7). If you live there or are up for a road trip, you can download the Drop Zone app and take part in a "real-time, location-based" AR game for a chance to win an Xbox One.
It's still not exactly clear how this is all going to work (full details are coming in "early November), but it sounds basically like capture-the-flag, enhanced by your phone. Here's more from the description:
"Deploying offensive and defensive power-ups, players will be tasked with finding, claiming and keeping control of a virtual console within the app."
If you're attending New York Comic-Con this weekend in New York, you can pre-register for the Drop Zone event.
This Drop Zone event is part of the "Every 60 Seconds" Xbox One X giveaway campaign that Mtn. Dew and Doritos are already running. As part of this, you can collect codes on Mtn. Dew and Doritos packaging and add them to an account on this website. Starting on October 23, each code you enter will enter you into a contest to win an Xbox One X. Then from November 6 to December 15, you can used your banked points to bid on an Xbox One X. You can get more details on the Every 60 Seconds campaign here.
If you'd rather keep it simple and just buy an Xbox One X, the mega-powerful console goes on sale November 7, priced at $500 in the US.
The Nemesis system is again in place in Shadow of War, and it's been improved to allow you to establish unique relationships with the orcs you encounter over the course of the game. Anytime you come across certain orcs (specifically War Chiefs), a cutscene of sorts plays out. This involves the orc in question trash-talking you, shouting about their backstory, or otherwise providing them with some further level of personality. Friendly orcs can also join in, offering up their own smack talk or quirky remarks.
In the video above, you'll find a selection of some of the best such sequences we've come across so far. At the 1:13 mark, you'll even see an orc voiced by comedian and Silicon Valley actor Kumail Nanjiani, who plays an incredulous orc who calls Talion's problems into question. (Nanjiani also played a key role in Mass Effect: Andromeda earlier this year.)
Shadow of War's launch is coming up soon; its PS4, Xbox One, and PC release date is set for October 10. In the meantime, you can check out the new free Shadow of War mobile game, which is out now.
The second season of Stranger Things comes out on Netflix this month, but you don't have to wait that long to get back into the series. An official Stranger Things game is now out for free on iOS and Android devices, and it's dripping in show lore and '80s nostalgia.
The pixelated, retro-inspired side scroller puts you in the shoes of Hopper and the Stranger Things kids. You travel around Hawkins, Indiana and other locations from the show, dodging and battling enemies and solving puzzles to advance. Developer BonusXP says each character has their own unique abilities. For example, Lucas can nail anything with his Wrist Rocket and Nancy has an entire collection of bats to swing.
In addition to exploring and solving mysteries, you're also tasked with collecting Eggos and Gnomes. While Stranger Things: The Game is completely free (with no microtransactions), collecting these items will unlock more of the game. You can also speed run levels to try to beat other players' times on leaderboards and on social media.
The new retro-inspired Stranger Things mobile game for iOS and Android ends with a never-before-scene from the upcoming second season. People on Reddit discovered that beating the game rewards you with a clip that appears to be from the Season 2 premiere. We see the kids--minus Eleven--are trick-or-treating, dressed as Exterminators, erhhm, Ghostbusters. They also joke about Three Musketeers candy bar, everyone hating on it except for Dustin, who places it in his top three favourites.
The video also shows the kids getting spooked by a new character dressed in a Michael Myers mask. You can watch the clips in the video embedded above.
The pixelated, retro-inspired side scroller puts you in the shoes of Hopper and the Stranger Things kids. You travel around Hawkins, Indiana and other locations from the show, dodging and battling enemies and solving puzzles to advance. Developer BonusXP says each character has their own unique abilities. For example, Lucas can nail anything with his Wrist Rocket and Nancy has an entire collection of bats to swing.
In addition to exploring and solving mysteries, you're also tasked with collecting Eggos and Gnomes. While Stranger Things: The Game is completely free (with no microtransactions), collecting these items will unlock more of the game. You can also speed run levels to try to beat other players' times on leaderboards and on social media.
Those who have yet to dive into the open world of Horizon: Zero Dawn will soon have a new option to consider when picking it up. Sony and developer Guerrilla Games have announced a Complete Edition of the game that's due out later this year.
Horizon: Zero Dawn - Complete Edition packages the base game with its upcoming DLC expansion pack, The Frozen Wilds, and all Digital Deluxe Edition content. This is due out on December 5 in the US and December 6 in Europe, which is about a month after The Frozen Wild's release date of November 7. You can check out the Complete Edition's box art below.
In the US, the Complete Edition will be priced at $50, the same price that the base game currently sells for. (The Frozen Wilds sells for $20, although PS Plus subscribers can pre-order it for $15.) The Digital Deluxe Edition currently goes for $60 on PSN and includes the following content, all of which comes with the Complete Edition:
Amid its roaring success and popularity, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has recently encountered a variety of server issues that have kept players from getting online. Developer Bluehole has now addressed the situation, explaining, "It has become increasingly difficult to manage servers during peak times," and vowing to continue working on improvements.
In a blog post, Bluehole opened with an apology, saying, "We would like to sincerely apologize to everyone for the recent server issues which resulted in long waits and any inconveniences. Our development team has been continuously upgrading the service architecture to address the increasing concurrent player numbers and tackle any emerging issues. Despite our daily efforts, there were some unexpected issues during peak times and we were unable to resolve some of the issues as fast as we would have wanted to."
When designing PUBG's lobby server, Bluehole expected to have to deal with about 1 million concurrent players during Early Access. As has been well documented, PUBG has smashed Steam records, surpassing Dota 2 and setting new all-time records for peak player count. (Just today, its peak topped 1.65 million players online at once.) The company began developing new server architecture in late June, but it's been unable to keep up with the explosive growth of the game.
"To alleviate the above, our development team will prepare our servers far more in advance so that they can handle a much larger number of concurrent players," it said. "This is something that we plan to continuously improve on."
Bluehole also discussed server crashes in Asia, saying it did not sufficiently test the cloud service it enlisted when its existing one could not meet demand. This resulted in servers being overloaded, and thus the "frequent crashes." The developer said it's "investigating the issue in order to prevent it from happening in the future."
"The entire development team is doing their best to make sure all PUBG players in the world can play PUBG smoothly whenever they want," it said. "Again, we would like to sincerely apologize to all the players who experienced any inconveniences due to server problems or connection errors. Please rest assured that we have doubled our efforts to improve the quality of the service. On a side note, we have been continuously working on optimization and doing our best to make gradual improvements.
"Our team will not be content with the status quo and will do our best to improve your experience. Thank you for your patience and understanding."
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