Steelseries retooled its Arctis 3 gaming headset to include Bluetooth functionality in addition to the original wired connectivity. It can use both audio channels simultaneously, allowing users to receive game audio while separately listening to music or taking calls/chat audio.
By making the wired and bluetooth audio distinct, Nintendo Switch users in particular can take advantage of how the platform requires the Nintendo Online Chat application for multiplayer communication. This way, all audio comes through one source. Regardless of the communication app, whether it be Discord or Skype, Bluetooth can be used for wireless voice chat.
The headset is constructed identically to the original Arctis 3 with its ski google headband and breathable woven ear cups. Its retractable bidirectional microphone is found on the left ear along with the volume wheel, while the Bluetooth toggle switch resides on the right ear.
The Steelseries Arctis 3 Bluetooth headset is available now for $130 USD. If you want to read more on gaming headsets and which one might be right for you, check out of gaming headset roundup.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 arrives on Switch in a little less than a month, making it the last major first-party game coming to the console this year. Nintendo revealed a lot more information about it during Xenoblade's dedicated Direct presentation earlier this week, and now the company has given us a closer look at the open-world RPG.
A representative from Nintendo's Treehouse stopped by the GameSpot office and took us through a 30-minute demonstration of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. In the video above, you can watch an early portion of the game set on the Titan Gormott. We also get to witness the humorous scene when the Nopon mechnaic Tora creates his own artificial Blade, Poppi.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 puts players in the role of Rex, a Driver who can wield living weapons known as Blades. When his life is restored by the Blade Pyra, the two set off on a journey together to find the World Tree and the fabled paradise it is said to house, Elysium.
Of the many changes from Star Wars Battlefront to Star Wars Battlefront II, one of the most significant is the inclusion of all eras of Star Wars films. That will only continue next month, as free post-release updates will introduce content from the upcoming Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. We already knew some of the details, but EA and DICE have now revealed more about what it's calling "The Last Jedi season."
The bulk of the new content comes on the multiplayer side. This starts on December 5, when you'll be able to choose your side--First Order or New Republic--and complete special faction quests over the next few weeks. Your choice will make a difference, as the rewards you receive for completing these quests will be specific to your faction.
On December 13, new heroes and maps will arrive. As previously announced, the new hero units are Finn and Captain Phasma. The new maps include the planet Crait (for Galactic Assault) and D'Qar (Starfighter Assault). Throughout December, you'll also encounter new quests and challenges. The exact schedule is laid out in the gallery images above, or you can see it here.
Perhaps most notably, The Last Jedi season introduces a new single-player mission. There aren't many details, but you'll take control of protagonist Iden Versio "during the days of the First Order's rise to power." The mission is called Resurrection and also launches on December 13.
The Last Jedi itself officially releases in theaters on December 15, although the first showings will actually be on December 14. All of this Last Jedi-themed content will be available for free, as is the case with all Battlefront II DLC. EA will compensate for that by offering microtransactions, which have been controversial.
Compared to Rockstar Games' other open-world efforts, L.A. Noire certainly stands out. Set in a post-World War II Los Angeles, Detective Cole Phelps uses his sleuthing skills--along with his underappreciated sketching talents--to solve a set of bizarre cases across his law enforcement career. Instead of the typical open-world hijinks found in Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, Noire was a comparatively subdued and earnest detective's tale featuring remarkable performance capture and acting. Now, L.A. Noire will be making its first appearance on current consoles and take advantage of the new setup in interesting way.
During a special hands-on session with the Switch and VR releases, we learned just what Rockstar Games has in mind for the re-release of its adventure game exploring the sprawling and seedy underbelly of post-war Los Angeles. Coming to PS4, Xbox One, Switch--and a special VR edition for the HTC Vive later in December--L.A. Noire is looking to make a fresh impression for a new audience, while packing a few surprises for returning players.
Rockstar Games is taking the opportunity to update the game in a number of ways. In addition to quality of life tweaks and graphical updates--including 4K support for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X--the remaster also includes all DLC and updates for the game, along with a redesigned interrogation system--replacing the contextually vague Truth, Doubt, and Lie options with Good Cop, Bad Cop, and Accuse. Moreover, there's also set of new costumes and unlockables to find over the course of the game, giving extra incentive to dive back in.
Since its release in March, the Nintendo Switch has been graced with a number of games that make clever use of the console's unorthodox setup, and L.A. Noire puts some of those unique features to use. The Switch version of the game takes advantage of the touchscreen and Joy-Con functionality for greater accuracy when investigating, which interestingly gives it more of an old-school adventure vibe. The touchscreen can be used for gesture controls--such as tapping locations on the screen for Cole to walk to and items to interact with--and also for smaller details like swiping through pages of his journal. Moreover, the Joy-Con motion sensing tech is put to good to use: you're allowed to control the in-game camera by physically moving the right Joycon around a three-dimensional axis, as if it was an analog stick itself.
At first it felt a bit gimmicky, given that a game like this would feel more ideal with a traditional gamepad setup, but there was a surprising level of comfort and precision with the way it felt on Switch. The console unfortunately doesn't match up to its PS4 and Xbox One counterparts in terms of performance, running a little sluggish at 1080p resolution on TV, but with some improvements to overall stability at 720p undocked. But overall, the Switch release uses some clever design tricks that add a lot more to the game than you might expect at first glance. But the Switch release isn't the only new version making some changes to the game.
Releasing in December, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is special re-release that reinterprets much of the game for the VR format. Playing in first-person and using the HTC Vive's motion controls creates a more immersive experience with Noire, coming face-to-face with in-game characters while investigating seven of the game's key cases in VR. As a whole, this VR experience felt fresh compared to the other ports, and showed how refined and precise virtual reality controls have become. The VR Case Files is a more streamlined version of L.A. Noire, focusing on the highlights of Cole's career from beat cop to an investigator on arson cases.
Starting off in Cole Phelps' office, you're able to move around and interact with a number of objects and other points of interest. Interaction has a far greater focus in this version of L.A. Noire, and with over 500 objects given new animation and physics, investigations now require you to hold up clues to examine them in full view. Picking up the clipboard on Cole's desk--which you can chuck around the office--allows you to examine the game's mission menu and engage with your next case. While each case follows the same main story as in the original game, the new first-person perspective gives it a whole different feel. For instance, examining the faces of suspects to determine truthfulness suggests you should pay attention more to the character's faces during interrogation--even requiring you to lean in further to examine the micro-expressions that occur when someone lies.
The new movement systems, however, take some adjusting to. Because of this, The VR Case Files allows you to experiment between different control schemes to find one that best suits your style. Such options include a contextual point-and-click command (a la Myst), and a line of sight and jogging motion where you make jogging motion with your hands to run to a desired location. The VR Case Files gives you a number of options to experiment with to find which one bests suits your style. This particular release also features real-time shooting, driving, and hand-to-hand combat with the Vive's motion controllers. This version's take on action is a noticeable improvement overall when compared to the original, which felt somewhat stale, lacking real impact and weight. When squaring off against hostile perps, the action will shift over to the redesigned fighting system, which uses real-time blocking and fist-flying action. Raising up both fists to your face will block punches from the other guy, while straights, swings, and jabs can be carried out by motioning the controllers in your desired direction. Even a regular fight against low-level suspect felt intense, and resulted in a bit of a workout.
Though L.A. Noire shows its age in some areas--with graphical textures and some design decisions coming off a bit dated--the remaster and special VR edition both breathe some new life into the game. Set for launch on November 14 for Xbox One, PS4, and Switch--with the HTC Vive VR release coming in December--Rockstar's return trip to post-war L.A. looks to have a number of exciting things in store for returning fans and newcomers looking to experience darkly intimate take on so-called traditional detective work.
By Anonymous on Nov 09, 2017 10:27 pm Hell has made its way to Switch so its about time we blow up some demons with destructive weapons to the sweet tune of metal in Doom.
It's another busy week for Nintendo Switch releases. A total of 15 games arrive in the Eshop this week, with one particularly major title on the way tomorrow.
Headlining this week's batch of releases is Doom, which arrives for the system on November 10. The acclaimed shooter originally released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC last year, and despite Switch's more modest hardware compared to the other platforms, it has made a largely faithful transition to Nintendo's system. You can read more about the port in our Doom review-in-progress.
Doom
Also arriving tomorrow is Snipperclips Plus, an expanded version of the Switch launch game. Unlike the original release, Plus will be available both physically and digitally, and it features new shapes, activities, comic book and toy box worlds, and a new stamp mode on top all of the content from the original release. We thought Snipperclips was one of the best Switch games you might've missed this year, so this would be a good chance to pick it up if you haven't yet.
This week's releases also include a number of titles arriving today in the Eshop, most notably Octodad: Dadliest Catch; the latest ACA Neo Geo game, Street Hoop; and the retro platformer Super Putty Squad. Those join the latest Sonic game, Sonic Forces, which released earlier this week, while the action-RPG Cat Quest arrives tomorrow. A Hulu app also launches for Switch today, making it the console's first video streaming app thus far. You can find the full list of this week's Switch releases below.
Nearly every one of the 283 episodes of South Park that has aired over the last 20 years started out with an identical disclaimer. If you're ever tuned in before the show's intro, you know the one: the white-text-on-black-background message warning people of poor impressions and foul language, punctuated with the statement, "Due to its content, it should not be viewed by anyone." With the release of the franchise's new mobile game, South Park: Phone Destroyer, we now have a new version of that disclaimer.
Phone Destroyer, which was revealed back at E3, is out now worldwide on iOS and Android. Before you get into the action, however, you're presented with a familiar sight--albeit with a few differences to account for this being a free-to-play, microtransaction-based game.
"This game contains both in-app purchases and the option to watch ads for rewards," it reads. "To disable the ability to make in-app purchases, adjust your device settings. In-app purchases cost real money and are charged to your account and for those reasons, this game should not be played anyone."
Phone Destroyer was developed by RedLynx, the studio best known for the Trials series. This game bears little resemblance to that series; it's a collectible card-based real-time strategy game where you'll do battle by summoning various South Park characters using cards. As in publisher Ubisoft's South Park console games, you play as the New Kid as you work your way through a single-player campaign. There's also a PvP mode where you can use the cards you've unlocked to compete against other players.
The first image of the new star of Doctor Who has been released. The picture was tweeted by the show's official twitter account and gives us a first look at the latest Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker.
Whittaker was announced in the role of the 13th Doctor in July. She is the first female star of the long-running sci-fi series, and is pictured on a grassy plain with the TARDIS behind her. Check it out below:
Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi, who has played the Doctor since 2013. Capaldi will make his final appearance on this year's Christmas Special, and it's likely we'll see Whittaker make her debut in it too. The Christmas episode is titled "Twice Upon a Time," and a trailer was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
Whittaker's first full season as the Doctor will air in 2018. The show also has a new showrunner, with Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall taking over from Steven Moffat. In a recent interview with the Radio Times, Chibnall suggested the show might take a different approach from previous seasons.
"What the BBC was after was risk and boldness," he said: "I had ideas about what I wanted to do with it. When I went to them and said, 'This is what I would do,' I actually expected them to say, 'Ooh, let's talk about that.' But they said: 'Great!'
"I finally said yes because I love the show to my bones. I resisted it for a very long time, and [the BBC] really had to woo me."
Despite the fact that both Wii and Wii U offered video streaming apps for services like Netflix, Nintendo Switch launched without them. For its part, the company said it was focused on making Switch a solid games system and that such apps could come later, but firm plans were never revealed. Now, the US is finally getting its first Switch video app, some eight months after its initial launch.
As always, Nintendo has sent out its weekly press release detailing the games releasing on the Eshop in the coming days. And it's there, quietly buried toward the end of a bullet point list, that we see Hulu launches for Switch today. At the time of this writing, neither its Nintendo website page or system Eshop page has gone live, so we don't yet know any details beyond that.
Still, its release is notable given that it marks the system's first video streaming app (with the exception of Japan's NicoNico Switch app). There's no indication if this will open the floodgates for Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and other services to also release their own apps or if this is intended as a test.
The absence of video streaming apps proved to be a confusing decision to some. Just after launch, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime stated, "We built the Nintendo Switch to be a world-class gaming device, meaning we want you first and foremost to play games on the system and have an incredibly fun experience. We're talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon--things that will come in time. In our view, these are not differentiators."
"When you think about a new platform, what will define it as a long-term success are the ongoing range of games and experiences that come to the platform--not what's available on day one," he added. "For the Nintendo Switch, we were very deliberate in wanting to make sure, from a Nintendo publish[ing] standpoint, that we had a steady cadence of great games in addition to strong titles at launch."
Beyond feeling it would not help to set the system apart, Nintendo may have wanted to be clear in its messaging that this was a gaming system first and foremost--not something to be confused with a tablet. Whether that has played a part or not, Nintendo has achieved a great deal of success with Switch in its first eight months on the market. It's sold 7.63 million units as of the end of September, and it recently projected that Switch will top Wii U's lifetime sales within its first 13 months on the market.
By Anonymous on Nov 09, 2017 08:30 pm Project channels the look and feel of Limbo but lets you create platforms with lights and explore a world of shadow puppets
Currently, we get a new FIFA, Madden, and NHL every year. But EA says there will likely come a time where that is no longer the case and instead we get subscription-based live services.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson responded to a question from Bloomberg about whether this might ever happen by saying, "The short answer is yes." However, don't expect it to happen any time soon: "There's a few things that have got to happen first," Wilson explained. "We do a lot in a FIFA game every year and a lot in a Madden game, and there's a lot of code that we make available as part of the new iterations.
"But [in Korea or China] we don't do it that way: about every four years we release a big new code drop and we offer incremental change over time," he continued. EA and other developers also choose to annually update sports games in the mobile space rather than release a new game every year--FIFA 18 is handled like this on iOS and Android, for example. "I think there's a world where that might also happen in other parts of our business," Wilson concluded.
EA's Sports division is doing well commercially, with a "notable shift to digital … and remarkable growth in Ultimate Team," according to the publisher. Its sports titles are doing well critically, too: our Madden NFL 18 review awarded the game a 9/10 and EA's soccer game got a 7/10 in our FIFA 18 review.
FIFA may not be a subscription-based service just yet, but it has plenty of live content updates throughout the year. Just last week a new FIFA 18 patch dropped, and FUT continues to evolve each week. Would you like to see EA's titles turn into full subscription-based live platforms, or are you happy buying a new game each year? Let us know in the comments below.
Call of Duty: WWII is out now and doing very well, both critically and commercially, but things could have been very different. Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg has said CoD: WWII's developer, Sledgehammer, originally wanted to make a sequel to 2014's Advanced Warfare.
"Sledgehammer wanted to make Advanced Warfare 2," Hirshberg told Newsweek. It's unclear if Activision explicitly denied the developer the chance to make a sequel to Advanced Warfare, but Hirshberg did go on to say he was always confident Sledgehammer could make a great World War II game: "We knew they would become historians, that they would tackle it with authenticity, give it tremendous care, and we also knew they would capture the unspeakable scale of World War II."
It seems the decision to go back to World War II was a good one for Activision--Call of Duty: WWII's launch sales are double those of Infinite Warfare, and critical reception has been positive, too. In our Call of Duty: WWII review, critic Miguel Concepcion wrote: "As one of the most comprehensive and filler-free Call of Dutys in recent memory, Call of Duty: WWII successfully capitalizes on the series' strengths."
By Anonymous on Nov 09, 2017 04:31 pm We fired up the switch version of 2016's DOOM for a little direct feed footage of ripping and tearing action on the go!
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Nintendo dropped by to give us a 30 minute demo of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and answer our questions.
Hell has made its way to Switch so its about time we blow up some demons with destructive weapons to the sweet tune of metal in Doom.
Project channels the look and feel of Limbo but lets you create platforms with lights and explore a world of shadow puppets
We ran through a bit of DOOM's arcade mode on the Nintendo Switch just to see how high a score we could get.
We fired up the switch version of 2016's DOOM for a little direct feed footage of ripping and tearing action on the go!
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