Although 2012's Prometheus was met with a mixed response from both fans and critics, it did well enough for a follow-up, this year's Alien: Covenant. In the lead up to Covenant's release, director Ridley Scott spoke about his plans for more movies, suggesting that the Covenant sequel might start shooting in 2018. However, the movie's disappointing box office performance has cast doubt on these plans, and now Scott has admitted it might not happen.
In a roundtable interview hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Scott explained that he was working on many projects at the same time as Covenant, and suggested that time was nearly up for the Alien series. "It was a crossfire of too much business", he said. "I'm doing a lot of TV and films, there are six films going out this year. I figured it was a good piece of business to follow through Prometheus, which, from ground zero, had good lift-off. So we went to Covenant to perpetuate the idea and [revive] the franchise of the Alien. [However] I think the beast has almost run out, personally."
While Scott does not mention the movie's financial performance, it was clearly well below what was expected. The movie made $240 million worldwide, much less than Prometheus's $403 million take.
In March, the director suggested that the next movie would be called Alien: Awakening, and that the series would continue for several more films beyond that. "There will be more after this. If this is successful, and then the next one, and then there will definitely be three more," he said. "If you really want a franchise, I can keep cranking it for another six. I'm not going to close it down again. No way."
The other big sci-fi movie that Scott was involved with in 2017 was Blade Runner 2049, this time as producer. The sequel to his 1982 classic has to date pulled in a similar box office take to Covenant--$239 million to date--but on a higher budget. It is estimated that Blade Runner 2049 had a production budget of $150 million, compared to Covenant's $97 million.
One of the most notable releases this week is The Frozen Wilds, the first major expansion for Horizon: Zero Dawn. The DLC introduces a lot of new content to the acclaimed PS4 adventure, including a new storyline, quests, a Traveler skill tree, and most notably The Cut, a beautiful and harsh wintry landscape that serves as the setting for the expansion.
Ahead of its release on November 7, reviews for The Frozen Wilds have begun appearing online. We've rounded up a sample of reviews from other outlets and their scores below to give you an idea of what critics have to say about the DLC expansion. For a wider look at what reviewers think of The Frozen Wilds, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Horizon: Zero Dawn - The Frozen Wilds
Developer: Guerilla Games
Platform: PS4
Release date: November 7
Price: US $20 / £16 / AU $30
GameSpot -- 8/10
"[C]oming back to Horizon for The Frozen Wilds alone is still worthwhile for the fights and sights, but it ultimately feels like a missing chapter, rather than an eye-opening extension of what came before. It's easy to imagine how newcomers to Horizon will benefit from its new gear and skills the most, for example. Likewise, its story feels better suited as an interlude than the revelatory companion to the conclusion it tries to be. Yet these are feelings that come up after more than a dozen hours of riveting battles and serene hikes flew by, so it's hard to get too upset at such a captivating experience when it's all said and done." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 8.8/10
"Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds is an excellent addition to an amazing game. Developer Guerrilla has doubled down on the thrill of the hunt with more challenging machines and testing side quests that are added to the original map through an intriguing new storyline that delves into the mystical side of this post-apocalyptic world. It left me wanting start a brand new game, just to wander around the world, marveling at it." -- Lucy O'Brien [Full review]
Polygon -- 8/10
"The Frozen Wilds arrives in time to petition for a spot on Game of the Year lists. The expansion accomplishes this goal with ease, rehashing what worked the first time around. Sure, The Frozen Wilds doesn't add much new, and shares Horizon's flaws, but the expansion operates fine when taken as simply more of a great thing." -- Chris Plante [Full review]
Eurogamer
"If you were captivated by Horizon Zero Dawn, and the prospect of an extra 15 hours of similar adventures sounds perfectly palatable, then you'll find more than enough to enjoy in Frozen Wilds. If not, then it's best to avoid Frozen Wilds as this is in no way a game-changer. Though the enchanting environment is a spectacle to behold, this particular winter wonderland can be quite hard to warm to." -- Vic Hood [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4/5
"The Frozen Wilds makes me remember why I fell in love with Horizon to begin with. A breathtaking new environment, enemies that simultaneously intimidate and fascinate, and characters that prove Horizon Zero Dawn is about far more than fighting robots. It arrives at precisely the right time to catch all of you who'll have rinsed the main game for content and have probably already reached the level cap. But even if you're comfortably sitting at level 50 and can take down a Thunderjaw without breaking a sweat, dear god, don't underestimate the Frozen Wilds. It isn't for the faint-hearted. Mind you… I think we all know one flame-haired person who never shies away from a challenge." -- Zoe Delahunty-Light [Full review]
Destructoid -- 7.5/10
"The Frozen Wilds doesn't feel like a must-play add-on, but it's more Horizon Zero Dawn. It's something you can enjoy once or stack with New Game+ runs when you inevitably play through it again. In other words, an actual expansion." -- Chris Carter [Full review]
Xbox One X is due to hit shelves tomorrow, and one of the US's largest retailers wants to make sure players don't have to wait even a minute longer than they have to. Select Best Buy stories on the east coast will be opening at midnight tonight to start selling the console.
To see which locations are holding the midnight event, you can head over to Best Buy's Xbox One X website to search by location. Stores on the west coast, on the other hand, will be opening at 9PM on Monday. You should call your local store in advance to confirm. Certain stores will also be holding demo days on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18 from 12PM - 7PM, and you can also get a look at those listings on the retailer's site.
Best Buy isn't the only store hosting midnight events for the Xbox One X. More than 2,000 GameStop locations are also opening at 12:01AM to start selling, and players can trade in their existing Xbox One or other items to earn discounts on the price of the new console.
Asher Angel will portray Billy in the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The 15-year-old actor is currently best known for his role as Jonah Beck on Disney Channel's Andi Mack, playing the titular character's love interest. He previously appeared as a guest star on an episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders in 2016.
The movie will be directed by David F. Sandberg, whose previous feature credits include Annabelle: Creation and Lights out. Sandberg confirmed the casting himself on Instagram, where he has been documenting Shazam's pre-production process--and all of the Coke Zero he's been drinking while working on the film.
Shazam is scheduled to arrive in theaters in April 2019. Before that, the DC universe will be expanding with the release of Justice League on November 17, uniting Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa). Momoa will then return to the big screen to team with Amber Heard in a standalone Aquaman film, releasing in December 2018.
Like Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro before it, the Xbox One X represents a mid-generational upgrade that offers a significant boost in performance over its predecessor. Microsoft says the console will allow developers to render games natively at 4K, offer high-dynamic range for more accurate colors, improve load times, and bolster framerates. While we encountered issues with some of these enhancements, the Xbox One X has the potential to really soar when its power is leveraged effectively.
The Xbox One X retails for $500 / £449 / AU $649. For that, you get the console, a 60-inch long power cable, a six-foot high-speed HDMI cable (needed for 4K HDR), Xbox One controller, two AA batteries, a 14-day free trial for Xbox Live Gold, and a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass.
Design
The console measures 30 x 24 x 6 cm (11.8 x 9.5 x 2.4 inches), which technically makes it the smallest Xbox console yet. This is really impressive when you consider the fact that it has an integrated power supply unit, like the Xbox One S before it. This means that you don't have to deal with an obnoxiously large external power brick like with the original Xbox One. Despite its small size, however, it's the heaviest Xbox One at 8.4 pounds.
Aesthetically, it looks a lot like a matte black Xbox One S. Like the S before it, it has a physical power button, which strays away from the original Xbox One's capacitive touch equivalent. This is a welcome tweak considering it was often prone to accidental shutoffs. The front of the console also sports a 4K HDR Blu-Ray drive, one USB 3.0 port, and a controller pairing button. The ports on the back remain identical to the S; from left to right it offers: HDMI out, HDMI in, two USB 3.0 ports, IR out, S/PDIF, and Ethernet. The X is backwards compatible with the existing Xbox One accessories, though you'll need a Kinect dongle if you want to use Microsoft's recently discontinued camera system.
Overall, the design is simple and clean. It has plenty of ventilation through the back and when you couple this with its compact size, you get a sense that Microsoft prioritized function over a flashy design here. Luckily, it still has an unassuming aesthetic that should fit right in with most personal entertainment centers.
Specs
CPU: x86-64 2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU
GPU: 6 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon-based graphics clocked at 1172MHz with 40 compute units
Memory: 12GB GDDR5
Storage size: 1TB HDD
External dimensions: 30x24x6 cm/11.8x9.4x2.3 in
Weight: 8.4 lbs/3.8 kg
Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray
Input/Output: Power, HDMI 2.0b out, HDMI 1.4b in, three USB 3.0 ports, IR out, S/PDIF, gigabit Ethernet
Networking: IEEE 802.11ac dual band (5GHz and 2.4Ghz), 2x2 wireless Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct
Power consumption: 245W
Underneath the hood, there's been a lot of talk about the Scorpio Engine fueling the system. At the heart of it is AMD's x86-based 2.3GHz 8-core CPU, which is clocked 550MHz faster than the original Xbox One's octa-core equivalent.
Arguably bigger gains come from the integrated graphics processor, which uses a custom AMD Radeon-based solution that features 40 compute units clocked at 1172MHz. This provides six teraflops of graphics performance, which is over 4.5 times that of the original Xbox One and over 1.4 times that of the PS4 Pro, its nearest console competitor. This gives it enough horsepower to run certain games at 4K (2160p) with high-dynamic range colors enabled.
The Scorpio Engine is cooled via a vapor chamber cooler, which houses a small amount of water that evaporates into steam when it gets too hot. It then reverts back to liquid when the system cools back down. You typically only see vapor chambers in high-end graphics cards, but they've been known to work effectively, and it's nice to see Microsoft implement it here.
While the original Xbox One and PS4 Pro both use 8GB of shared memory across their respective CPUs and GPUs, the Xbox One X features 12GB of GDDR5 RAM that's capable of delivering 326GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is unprecedented for a console. Microsoft says that games will be able to leverage up to 9GB of it, with the rest going to operating system-related tasks.
While we would have preferred an SSD, Microsoft says that the Xbox One X's 1TB hard drive is 50 percent faster than the original's 5,400rpm solution; though we weren't able to validate this claim in our testing, which we'll discuss below. Like the original Xbox One before it, the X supports external USB drives for added storage.
Graphical Enhancements
The main reason to get excited about the Xbox One X is for the prospect of graphical enhancements. Rather than dictate a certain set of graphical targets for developers to hit, Microsoft lets developers use the console's extra processing power as they see fit. Games that are tuned to take advantage of the Xbox One X will carry an "Xbox One X Enhanced" label.
From what we've seen so far, many developers are opting to render games at 4K, which is four times the 1080p resolution of the vanilla Xbox One. Some are also adding HDR support to provide a wider color gamut and higher contrast ratio between white and black levels.
While the Xbox One X is geared towards users with 4K HDR displays, traditional 1080p TVs aren't entirely left in the dust as some developers may choose to use the extra processing power to improve lighting or to add dynamic shadows. Some games will also run more smoothly on the X. Standard HDTVs will also get supersampling, which renders games at higher resolutions and then down samples or "shrinks" them to a lower resolution display. This acts as an effective form of anti-aliasing that reduces undesirable jaggy effects.
While only Xbox One X-enhanced games will reap some of the aforementioned graphical tweaks, Microsoft says that the Xbox One X has tweaks at the hardware level to implement anisotropic filtering to every game in existence. This can help textures off in the distance look clearer.
Visual Analysis
To analyze the visual enhancements that the Xbox One X offers, I compared it against the original Xbox One, a high-end gaming PC, and Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro with multiple copies of games whenever possible.
I hooked up all the systems to the same TV: a 55-inch 4K HDR Samsung UN55KS8000 and then swapped between the HDMI inputs to conduct visual A/B tests. Because the Xbox One X can also bolster 1080p graphics, I also connected both systems to a 55-inch 1080p TV and similarly analyzed the visual differences there.
While a wide variety of Xbox One X-enhanced games are on the way, unfortunately, at the time of this writing, only a handful of games were patched to take advantage of the new hardware. The available games that we tested include Gears of War 4, Killer Instinct, Super Lucky's Tale, FIFA 18, Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure, and Disneyland Adventures. You can expect us to do more graphics comparisons in the future as the Xbox One X enhancement patches are released.
Gears of War 4
Testing the third-person shooter on the 4K HDR TV, the resolution bump is immediately apparent from the initial menu screen, which showcases a real-time rendering of protagonist JD Fenix's face. With the Xbox One X, the pores on his cheeks provide a real sense of depth, almost like you could fall into them...if you were tiny enough. On the original Xbox One, they comparatively look more like fuzzy dust particles.
You really get much better detail overall with less jagged aliasing issues running on the X. This is especially evident around characters' hair or distant items with straight lines. Overall, it amounts to a cleaner, sharper image.
Gears of War 4 also sports arguably the best implementation of HDR we've seen in a game yet. The high-dynamic range allows colors to appear more realistic. The original Xbox One looks much more washed out and muted in comparison. The X's high-contrast implementation also provides really dark black levels, which, again, contributes to a more realistic image that pulls you into the scene.
In terms of pure image fidelity, it surprisingly looked better than our high-end gaming PC equipped with a GTX 1080 running the game maxed out, as it offered extra dynamic shadows that don't seem to be available on the PC. Unfortunately, the game doesn't run at 60 FPS here on the Xbox One X, so a high-end PC will be able to beat it in terms of framerate.
Fortunately, Gears of War 4 also offers a performance mode that eschews the native 4K rendering in favor of a smoother experience. Here, it looks visually closer to its orignal Xbox One counterpart, but often felt like it was running at 60 FPS.
Hooking everything up to the 1080p TV, the Xbox One X does a good job making the display punch above its standard HD resolution. While there are still some jaggies, supersampling effects provide a very potent form of anti-aliasing. While the difference between the Xbox One X and the original Xbox One isn't as prominent on a standard HDTV, the overall image still looks noticeably clearer with less noise. The Xbox One X can effectively make your 1080p TV look as good as it possibly can.
Super Lucky's Tale
When it comes to Playful's platformer, there's much less to analyze. Super Lucky's Tale supports 4K 60FPS with the Xbox One X and 1080p 30 FPS on the original Xbox.
Whether playing on the 4K TV or 1080p display, the frame rate increase with the X is noticeably smoother. The game looks very crisp running on the 4K TV with the Xbox One X. When hooked up to the 1080p TV, the X's supersampling does make it look slightly sharper than its Xbox One counterpart, but it's not super prominent unless you're really looking for it up close.
Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct already runs at a locked 60 FPS on the original Xbox One. The X simply bumps up the resolution to 4K, which mitigates most of the jaggies.
The game doesn't support HDR, and the Xbox One X makes shadows look too dark on our HDR display. We didn't encounter this issue running the game on our traditional (non HDR) 1080p display, however. Here, the original Xbox One looked washed out in comparison to the X. We also noticed improved anti-aliasing and better anisotropic filtering that made details in the background a little more clear.
FIFA 18
FIFA 18 is the only Xbox One X-enhanced game available at the moment that's also enhanced on the PS4 Pro. When we pitted the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro head to head here, it was honestly hard to tell the difference. Both platforms render the game at 4K, but neither system is able to achieve a stable 60 FPS.
The biggest visual difference we could tell between the two consoles was that color on the Xbox One X looked more realistic on our 4K HDR TV. On the PS4 Pro, the grass looked a bit too "nuclear green" in comparison, which gave it a more "videogamey" aesthetic.
Beyond that, if you're looking for more graphical comparisons between the two consoles, you'll have to wait until we have access to more Xbox One X enhanced games post launch.
Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure
This family-friendly mini-game compilation supports 4K and HDR through the Xbox One X. The enhancements allow the game to feature vibrant colors and look sharp, but it clearly isn't able to run at a smooth 60 FPS, as we encountered the odd, occasional hiccup. This is disappointing considering Rush doesn't look very graphically demanding, especially not compared to something like Gears of War 4. This could be due to how the game was originally designed or may speak to the quality of the update.
Disneyland Adventures
Like Rush, Disneyland Adventures supports 4K and HDR through the Xbox One X's enhancements, but, again, the frame rate didn't see an improvement with it running below 60 FPS. Despite the official HDR support, the game ended up looking a little dim on our 4K HDR television.
4K HDR Video Support
To test out the Xbox One X's 4K HDR video playback capabilities, Microsoft provided us with a 4K HDR copy of BBC's Planet Earth II series.
On our 4K HDR TV, the nature documentary looked stunning. The visuals were sharp and crisp, and it was easy to make out every strand of hair on a sloth and every texture of each tree branch.
The color reproduction is equally amazing. The blues of the ocean and the greens of the forest are realistically portrayed. The bright rays from the sun pierced down through tree canopies very convincingly. This is about as good as it gets as far as home theater setups go.
User Interface
Microsoft released its overhauled Xbox One dashboard last month. While there is a small learning curve to new user interface, it's snappier than past iterations. We did encounter some menu slowdown while we were downloading a bunch of games and quickly flipping through all the tabs, but it's certainly not as sluggish as past updates.
The new dashboard also allows you to filter games that are Xbox One X Enhanced, though it doesn't tell you what specific graphical enhancements the console offers.
Noise, Heat, Power Consumption, and Boot Times
Sitting in the dashboard, the Xbox One X runs silently. When we fired up Gears of War 4, a slight hum from the cooler arose, but it's impressively whisper-quiet.
Using Flir One's heat camera, we measured the Xbox One X's temperature.
The console does get a bit warm, however. Just sitting in the OS, we clocked it at 54.3 degrees Celsius. When we fired up Gears of War, it rose to 61.7 degrees C. It's not scorching hot to the touch by any means, but it is significantly hotter than the PS4 Pro we tested last year, which we saw hit 46.1 degrees Celsius when we were gaming on it. Interestingly, the temperature dropped to 57 degrees C when we switched over to Gears of War 4's Performance mode, which optimizes frame rate over visual fidelity.
We also saw this mirrored when we measured the system's power draw. The Xbox One X consumed 144 watts of power under Gears of War 4's Performance mode, but 174 watts in the higher fidelity Visual mode.
In terms of boot times, Microsoft asserts that the Xbox One X's hard drive is 50 percent faster than the original Xbox before it, and while we did see improvements here, they weren't as good as the company's claims. From a cold boot, the X took 7.5 second to turn on. This is just 0.6 seconds faster than the original Xbox One. Loading up Gears of War 4, the X took 50.8 seconds to boot to the main menu, which was roughly seven faster than the Xbox One. When I loaded up the same Act 1 mission, both consoles took 31 seconds.
When I fired up Killer Instinct, the X launched the game in 37.7 seconds, whereas the original Xbox One did so in 44.1 seconds. While there's generally a measurable performance gain when it comes to load times, it's not as significant as Microsoft is claiming thus far.
Conclusion
As Xbox head Phil Spencer has suggested, the Xbox One X shares a lot in common with the company's high-end Xbox One Elite controller. Both devices are designed for enthusiasts through and through, and are priced accordingly. This makes the less cost-prohibitive Xbox One S a better fit for most people.
While the Xbox One X is an expensive box, from a hardware standpoint, you're getting a very powerful and capable machine. You'll be hard pressed to build a comparably powerful PC for $500. On top of that, you get a 4K HDR Blu-ray player, which can cost several hundred dollars on its own.
The Xbox One X isn't perfect. From what I can tell so far, its load times don't live up to Microsoft's claims, and I noticed some poor HDR implementation, but when a developer is able to take advantage of the hardware, you can get sharper visuals, more vibrant colors, better performance, and added graphical bells and whistles. Playing Gears of War 4 on the Xbox One X really feels like it's the way it's meant to be played.
Should you get an Xbox One X? That answer should largely depend on whether you'd be happy with the console's library of games. You can check out a list of all the Xbox One X-enhanced games here. If you're happy with the lineup and are thinking about jumping in, allow me to outline three different scenarios for you. If you game on a 1080p TV and don't have any plans to upgrade to a 4K one, the Xbox One S is going to be a better fit for you. While you will get some graphical enhancements with the X, you don't really get your money's worth if you don't have a 4K HDR TV. But what if you already own a 4K HDR TV and an Xbox One? In this case, I'd only recommend getting the X if you have the disposable cash to spare for the increased visual fidelity and performance benefits. If you have a 4K HDR TV, don't have a current gen console, and are looking to purchase one, however, the Xbox One X is a great choice.
So much for the big surprise. Last week's episode of The Walking Dead ended with the appearance of Morales, a character who hasn't been seen since Season 1. Provided you could remember who he was, it was a genuine surprise, and the episode ended with a cliffhanger between two old allies-turned-enemies. Would Rick and Morales explore their shared past, shifting allegiances, and their different experiences over the intervening years?
The answer is yes, for about five minutes, before Daryl put a crossbow bolt in Morales' neck near the start of Episode 3. It could be argued that it was redundant to introduce this character, only to kill him off minutes later. But his death was as unexpected as his arrival, and to be honest, who could really remember him anyway? Morales' speedy departure was a good way of highlighting the thin line between life and death that all these characters exist on. It also formed a possible subplot about Daryl's willingness to execute potential enemies on the spot--as well as Rick's obvious discomfort with it.
In fact, the lengths to which the show's heroes should go when attempting to defeat the Saviors was one of the biggest themes throughout "Monsters." The conflict between Jesus and both Tara and Morgan was clumsily introduced last week, but for the most part, it was better handled here. The fight between Jesus and Morgan was fun but a bit pointless, and Tara's sudden transformation into a ruthless gun-toting badass is jarring. But the pre-fight conversation between Morgan and Jesus, and the scene in which Jesus persuades Maggie to keep the captured Saviors as prisoners at the Hilltop were well acted and written.
But there is at least the sense that some of these subplots are finding their focus, and the sooner this day of fighting is over, the better the show will be. It was great to see Maggie once more, and her showdown with the cowardly Gregory was a highlight. The way she dismissed him when he was arguing that the Savior prisoners shouldn't be allowed into the Hilltop confirmed that Gregory is no longer in charge there. How long he stays alive remains to be seen.
There were also--finally--some zombie highlights. Season 8 might have been non-stop action so far, but the endless gunfights were growing tiresome. But "Monsters" saw a great sequence in which a group of walkers tumble down a steep embankment on the edge of the forest towards the Savior prisoners, all of whom are tied together. No one can run without dragging everyone else to the ground, and we got some enjoyably gruesome moments of undead mayhem.
The show also ended with perhaps the most abrupt final moment of the entire show, as a sniper opens fire on Ezekiel and his men, cutting them down in what appears to be big numbers. It's rough justice for Ezekiel, who has spent the last couple of episodes going on about an assured victory and literally moments before was congratulating himself about having not lost a single man that day. This could be a turning point for this character, and perhaps this tragedy--presuming he survives it--will allow us to see the real Ezekiel, not the annoying persona he has adopted to lead his people.
Season 8 is still falteringly paced, with the momentum of good scenes frequently spoilt by the decision to cut away to something far less interesting, instead of letting them play out in their entirety. Rick and Morales' encounter was a prime example of this. There are also way too many characters, and the show continues to rely on elements we've seen realized far better in earlier seasons. But there are now at least some interesting dramatic conflicts emerging, and with three episodes remaining until the mid-season break, still time to find some of its earlier form.
Best Kill
The Savior prisoners were rendered completely helpless against the walkers tumbling down the hill towards them. Director (and vfx veteran) Greg Nicotero made the most of the opportunity for some splatter, and the sight of one unlucky Savior having his head chewed on by a zombie was capped by Morgan shooting the walker, its blood spraying all over the camera. Juicy.
Pros
Cons
More plot, less aimless action
Strong dialogue scenes between Jesus, Maggie, and Morgan
November 6 update: Xbox One X is now just hours away from release. Certain stores--including GameStop and Best Buy--will have midnight openings in the US, allowing you to get your hands on one as soon as possible. While the Scorpio Edition is long gone in most cases, it is possible to still pre-order a standard unit from some retailers. Amazon and GameStop still availability online, as does the Microsoft Store--although, in that case, it says it will ship by November 30. Some stores could have units for walk-ins, but you may want to call ahead to make sure. If you're wondering if the system is worth all the fuss, check out our Xbox One X review and list of all the Xbox One X enhanced games.
September 22 update: Amazon also now shows itself to be sold out, joining Target. A number of other US retailers are still offering pre-orders, but there's no telling how long they will last. Similarly, we don't know how easy it will be to find one in stores on release day, November 7.
September 21 update: More Xbox One X-enhanced games have now been confirmed, but Target has apparently sold out of its allotment of systems. Other retailers still show stock being available, however. Meanwhile, Walmart has brought its pre-orders online, giving you another potential place to pick one up. Stores may also have a limited selection of Xbox One X systems on its release date, November 7.
September 20 update 2:Xbox One X pre-orders have gone live at multiple retailers in the US. For as long as they remain in stock, you can pre-order through Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Microsoft Store, and Newegg. The previously announced GameStop bundles range in price from $570 to $800, although the system is also available on its own, too. Keep in mind these are the standard editions, not the Scorpio edition. They offer the same functionality; you'll simply be missing out on a special design and a free vertical base that allows you to stand your console upright.
September 20 update: GameStop's Xbox One X pre-orders go live today, and Microsoft has announced that a number of other retailers will also follow suit. These include the Microsoft Store and Amazon. We'll report back with more specifics as they're available.
September 19 update: GameStop has announced that it will offer pre-orders on the standard edition Xbox One X beginning on September 20 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. Quantities are likely to be limited. The retailer will also offer optional layaway bundles, as well as up to $200 in credit for PowerUp Rewards members who trade in their existing console toward the new system.
August 25 update: If you've had trouble pre-ordering an Xbox One X, this might be why: Microsoft has announced it is the fastest pre-ordered Xbox console ever. The Scorpio Edition appears to be mostly sold out--although, again, you might have luck by continuing to check in at retailers that are currently out of stock. Microsoft says details on pre-orders of the standard edition will be shared at some point in September. We'll report back as we receive more information.
August 23 update: Retailers have sporadically been bringing pre-orders back online over the last day. As of this writing, Target has them back in stock again, although they may not last long. As with the SNES Classics, which have reappeared briefly, it may be worth periodically checking the retailer listings linked below to see if you can get lucky. Keep in mind, the Scorpio Edition will be available by pre-order only, though the system is functionally identical to the standard Xbox One X model.
Original Story: Microsoft's Gamescom livestream today brought with it the expected news: Xbox One X pre-orders are now live. Below, you'll find the basic details on how and where to pre-order the system. We'll continue to update this as more retailers bring their pre-orders online. The Xbox One X launches worldwide on November 7 for $500 / £449 / AU $649. Pre-orders are already available through a number of retailers, which you can visit through the links below.
There are at least two bundles available--GameStop is packaging the Elite controller with the Xbox One X for $600 in the US, a $50 discount over buying them separately. It also has another bundle with a second controller and more for $583.
Microsoft has also announced a Project Scorpio Edition of Xbox One X for the same price as the standard edition. This is available by pre-order only and features a unique design and an exclusive vertical stand. According to a tweet from Microsoft's Albert Penello, any Xbox One X pre-order listing you see is for the Scorpio Edition, whether or not the listing reflects that. There's no word yet on when or if you'll be able to pre-order the non-Scorpio Edition.
Xbox One X releases around the world on Tuesday, and players who want to get their hands on the console right away will have a chance to pick one up at midnight from GameStop. The game retailer has announced it will host midnight launch parties at many of its stores in the US on release day.
The launch parties begin on Tuesday, November 7, at 12:01 AM ET and will take place at more than 2,000 GameStop locations across the country. Additionally, GameStop will offer an extra percentage bonus when customers trade in items toward their Xbox One X purchase; Elite members will get an extra 40%, Pro members an extra 30%, and all other customers will get 20%. Those who pre-ordered the console will also receive "up to $200 credit" when they trade in their current Xbox One toward the purchase.
If you'd like to go hands-on with the new console before buying one, participating GameStop stores around the country will also have demo units available to play the next three weekends, through November 19. You can find the full list of stores that will host Xbox One X demos on GameStop's website.
One complication of the MCU formula of interconnected, shared universe stories has been the endless need to maintain forward momentum. Each franchise has to push forward into more movies, which, ideally, makes room for more character introductions who will in turn make more room for more movies and--well, you get the idea.
But what happens to that forward momentum when an installment of the MCU comes up against the literal end of the world and loses?
Thor: Ragnarok's dire conclusion, in which all of Asgard is summarily and gleefully demolished by a towering fire demon, poses this question, leaving us with questions of our own--like where, exactly, can the Thor franchise go now that Asgard is no more and her residents are cosmic refugees?
Thankfully, Marvel's extensive backlog of comic book continuity has some pretty strong suggestions for just where the God of Thunder's cinematic doppelganger could end up next, and it just might be a little more mundane than you'd guess.
As Thor and the survivors of Asgard leave the ruins firmly in the rearview, he offhandedly commands the lifeboat make a course of Earth--and, well, let's just say that crazy-sounding idea has some precedent in the comics.
In 2007, a creative team consisting of J. Michael Straczynski and Marko Djurdjevic set about the literal resurrection of Thor both as a character and as an ongoing comic. It was "literal" in the sense that several years prior, in 2004, Thor's last ongoing had ended with--well, Ragnarok, the absolute and total destruction of Asgard at the hands of the demonic Surtur. The finale of Thor volume 2 is one of the most overt inspirations for the ending of Thor: Ragnarok, right down to Thor making the choice to just let the fire elemental destroy his homeworld for the greater good.
In the comics, things immediately got a little complicated. For one, rather than having the luxury of a lifeboat to flee the scene, everyone in Asgard--including Thor--was "killed." Don't worry, it sounds more bleak than it actually was--but the point is that the gods of Asgard were all decidedly off the table for a while.
"A while" in this case meant three years. That's where Straczynski and Djurdjevic came in. They had to figure out a way to restore not just Asgard itself, but everyone in it--after its complete annihilation. Luckily for everyone involved, comics are practically synonymous with complicated resurrection logic, and with the help of some specific continuity deep cuts and loopholes, they were able to pull it off.
Asgard made its triumphant return from destruction, gloriously reconstructed--just outside a small town in rural Oklahoma.
The town of Broxton is actually a real place--you can find it on a map and take a road trip if you like--but for Marvel's purposes it was the new home of Thor comics for the subsequent several years. It started when Donald Blake, the sometimes autonomous human alter ego of Thor (a relic from the age of Thor's secret identity years), summoned Thor's spirit from the "void of nonexistence," or, whatever happens to immortals after they die. With Thor back on two feet and moving freely in Midgard, he set upon summoning his fellow Asgardians into mortal bodies with him.
Then came the big one: summoning Asgard itself. Thor rebuilt the city as, well, a floating castle amidst a bunch of cornfields, a couple of miles away of town. Don't worry, he bought the land legally, using gold left over from the royal treasury. Squatting is unbefitting of the gods, obviously.
With Asgard reconfigured, the comics shifted focus from the grand scale cosmic drama of Thor's bygone days and zeroed in on the personal drama of the daily life of heroes through the lens of small town Americana. The culture clash between warriors and farmers was played as both a running gag and a heartwarming parable--there were love stories, dangerous misunderstandings, political tensions, you name it, until the events of the crossover event Siege in in 2010 brought it to an end.
So what does any of this have to do with the MCU? Well, it's unlikely we'll see a shot-for-shot remake of the Asgard, Oklahoma run of Thor on the big screen any time soon, but as things stand right now? All signs point to Earth for the future of the franchise. Thor volume 3 weaves a story that blends superheroics with the everyday life of Midgardians in a way that could easily match the tone and levity put forth by the increasingly more "auteur" entries into the MCU's lineup--and, uniquely enough, would actually require less focus on Thor himself.
Contract negotiations and tenures have been a hot topic among fans whenever the state of the MCU post-next summer's Infinity War comes up in conversation. Many of the core cast of heroes have either stated outright or hinted at the fact that they're due for contract re-negotiations and will likely be stepping down--or at least pulling back--from their roles in the future. This isn't a huge problem for characters with long legacy statuses like Captain America or Iron Man, but it represents a challenge for Thor--a challenge that's recently gotten even more tangled with Natalie Portman's Jane Foster (the most recent bearer of Mjolnir in the comics) officially exiting the franchise.
A move to Asgard, Oklahoma would make way for an extended cast of Asgardian heroes with Thor himself playing a more supporting role. There would be space for Valkyrie, the return of Sif, and maybe even the introduction of the long absent Balder the Brave to take point for the future of the Thor franchise.
Although, admittedly, this is all assuming that there are any Asgardians left after the MCU's looming encounter with Thanos. Here's hoping.
The release of Xbox One X--the most powerful console to date--is upon us, and Microsoft has released a full list of games that will feature Xbox One X enhancements. Aaron Greenberg alluded to the list during a livestream at Gamescom 2017 and mentioned Quantum Break and Halo 5: Guardians as key games to receive optimizations, but there are many more.
Every game that receives Xbox One X enhancements will do so through free updates, which can include--but are not limited to--4K resolution (checkerboard or native), anisotropic filtering, HDR, and high-resolution textures. However, developers decide how their games take advantage of the more powerful hardware, so results may vary dramatically.
As of right now, more than 100 Xbox One games will reportedly be upgraded when the new console launches on November 7; check out the entire list of confirmed enhanced games below. For more on what to expect, check out our Xbox One X review.
We're on the eve of the release of Xbox One X, the newest member of the Xbox One family from Microsoft. While similar in some ways to last year's PS4 Pro, this is still very new territory for video game consoles, so to help you stay on top of everything you need to know about to know, we've rounded up all of the key details for you below.
What is the Xbox One X? Formerly code-named Project Scorpio, the Xbox One X is a significantly more powerful version of Microsoft's Xbox One console that's capable of offering 4K support and higher fidelity graphics. Read our Xbox One X review for much more.
How do the Xbox One X specs compare to Sony's PS4 Pro console? On paper, the Xbox One X is more powerful. While both consoles use an 8-core system-on-a-chip design built by AMD, the Xbox One X's CPU is clocked 200MHz faster at 2.3GHz, compared to Sony's 2.1GHz equivalent. On the GPU side, the Xbox One X's solution offers six teraflops of performance, which is 1.8 teraflops more than the PS4 Pro. The Xbox One X also offers 12GB of GDDR5 memory, while the PS4 Pro offers 8GB of GDDR5 coupled with 1GB of DDR3 RAM. The Xbox One X also offers a 4K-capable Blu-ray drive, whereas the PS4 Pro does not.
Will the Xbox One X work with Xbox One games? Yes. The Xbox One X will support the existing library of Xbox One games and peripherals.
Will there be Xbox One X exclusive games that won't work on the original Xbox One? No. Microsoft tells us that all games will work across both consoles.
What console generation is the Xbox One X a part of? Microsoft considers the Xbox One X to be a part of the Xbox One family, which would classify it under the eighth generation of consoles.
Will original Xbox One games receive graphical boosts or performance benefits on the Xbox One X? Yes. Microsoft tells us that it has made hardware modifications to the Xbox One X that will allow older games designed for the Xbox One to receive enhancements like anisotropic filtering and faster load times right out of the box. The company also tells us that games that feature variable frame rate and resolution should be able to run smoother and at higher resolutions. In addition, Microsoft allows developers to go back and update their games to take advantage of the Xbox One X's extra processing power. These manually tweaked games will carry an "Xbox One X Enhanced" label.
Will the Xbox One X use an SSD? No. The Xbox One X will use a hard drive, but Microsoft tells us that it's 50 percent faster than the Xbox One's 5,400 RPM solution.
Will the Xbox One X support VR? Yes. Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One X will support VR at its E3 2016 press conference. While VR was a no-show at the company's E3 2017 press conference, the company confirmed to us that it still plans to support VR on the console but will share more details at a later date.
Does Xbox One X support native 4K? Yes. It will support native 4K (3840x2160p), but it will also support checkerboard rendering on more graphically demanding games.
What is checkerboard rendering? It's a rendering technique that takes up the same spatial resolution as a native 3840x2160p image but has half the number of pixel shader invocations, which are laid out in a checkerboard pattern. Essentially, it's a 4K-like rendering shortcut that isn't quite as sharp or rich as a native 3840x2160p render, but it can look very close.
What exactly is 4K? In the consumer realm, it's generally considered a resolution that offers 3,840 horizontal pixels and 2,160 vertical pixels. It offers four times as many pixels as 1080p.
Will the Xbox One X come with a 4K Blu-ray player? Yes.
Will the Xbox One X support HDR? Yes. You will need an HDR-capable TV to see its full effects.
What is HDR? HDR stands for high dynamic range. You can learn more about it here. In short, HDR displays provide a much wider color gamut and contrast ratio compared to standard RGB panels. Colors look richer, blacks look darker, and whites look brighter.
Will all games and movies support HDR? No. Games and movies must be specifically tuned to support HDR.
Do I need a 4K TV or HDR TV to use the Xbox One X? No, but if you want to fully reap the system's benefits, you'll most likely want one.
Is there any benefit to using an Xbox One X on a 1080p TV? Yes. Microsoft asserts that the Xbox One X will be able to add anisotropic filtering, shorten load times, and enable supersampling; the latter of which renders games at a high resolution and then downsizes them to 1080p, resulting in a sharper image than native 1080p rendering techniques.
How big is the Xbox One X? 30x24x6 cm (11.8x9.4x2.3 in). It is Microsoft's smallest Xbox console to date.
How much does the Xbox One X weigh? Despite being noticeably smaller than the original Xbox One, the Xbox One X is .6 pounds heavier at 8.4 pounds, which makes it two pounds heavier than the Xbox One S.
Can the Xbox One X stand vertically? Yes, though it requires a stand that's sold separately.
What games are designed to support the Xbox One X's beefier specs? You can find a comprehensive list here.
Horizon: Zero Dawn's first DLC, The Frozen Wilds, is just one day away on PS4. With it comes a new story, new quest lines, errands, weapons, armor, and a new skill tree (which will be available in the main game too). GameSpot has played through The Frozen Wilds and, while much of the DLC's content can have far-reaching effects on the game as a whole, we can tell you roughly how much play time you'll get out of the new features.
We got through The Frozen Wilds in about 12 hours, but the DLC could take you anywhere from 10-20 hours depending on your starting levell--the game recommends you be level 30 before attempting The Frozen Wilds). In the DLC, you'll explore the icy world of the Cut and experience the game's new weather effects; wind and snow particles affect how well you'll see.
Fortunately, there's a new Traveler skill tree to help Aloy tackle the new environment. Many of the skills you can unlock center around abilities used while riding a mount, culminating in one move that lets you leap off and attack enemies with a lethal one-hit-kill spear assault. All those new skills can also be used in the main game, and the DLC also adds the ability to customize Aloy's spear.
The new DLC launches tomorrow, November 7, and will cost $20 / £16 / AU $30. Check out GameSpot's full Horizon: The Frozen Wilds review here and in the video above. If you haven't played Horizon: Zero Dawn yet, The Complete Edition, which includes the base game and the The Frozen Wilds together, comes out for PS4 on December 5.
PS Plus subscribers can download a total of six games for free across all three of Sony's consoles. On PS4, the lineup is headlined by Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the final Metal Gear Solid title helmed by series creator Hideo Kojima. Additionally, PS4 owners can download Amnesia Collection, which includes both Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. A bonus title, the PSVR game RIGS, is also available for free until tomorrow.
Vita's October lineup consists of two titles, Hue and Sky Force Anniversary, both of which can also be downloaded on PS4 thanks to Cross-Buy. The latter is also available on PS3 via Cross-Buy. The PS3 selection is rounded out by Hustle Kings and Monster Jam Battlegrounds.
All of the aforementioned games return to their regular price tomorrow, when they'll be replaced by November's lineup of free PS Plus games. That batch also consists of six titles and includes Worms Battlegrounds, Bound, and R-Type Dimensions, as well as the extra freebie Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, the latter of which will be available for a longer-than-usual period of time. You can grab October's free PS Plus games if you haven't already from the links below.
Super Mario Odyssey is a huge, wonderfully designed game brimming with personality. Although it doesn't specifically impact gameplay (for the most part), one new thing it introduces is the ability to dress Mario up in a wide variety of costumes. These range from his wedding outfit to Waluigi's overalls and many others.
Amiibo figures play a part in accessing these costumes, as you can scan select ones to unlock a corresponding outfit in-game. They can also provide various bonuses, such as extra hearts and--in the case of Mario's Amiibo figures--invincibility for 30 seconds. In the video above, we provide a full rundown on what you can get. Be aware that the costumes thankfully aren't exclusive to Amiibo figures--you can unlock everything in-game without owning any.
To scan in an Amiibo you own, you have to speak with the appropriately named Uncle Amiibo. He's the Roomba-looking robot who can typically be found near your ship after completing a kingdom. Speaking with him brings you to a menu where you can scan in your figures--just hold one over the reader on the right Joy-Con (or the middle of the Pro Controller) to do so.
November is here, and it's going to be a big month for subscribers to Amazon Prime. The service's streaming video component is beefing up its library heading into the end of the year with original TV shows and movies--including the critically acclaimed The Big Sick.
The big news for Amazon in November comes in the form of a secret agent, though. As with Hulu, a large piece of the James Bond film library is now available--practically every film from 1962's Dr. No through 2002's Die Another Day. The one omission is the original Casino Royale, which starred David Nivens as 007.
Another major arrival to Prime is three Thursday Night Football games, taking place throughout the month. Matchups featuring the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Pittsburgh Steelers will be available live exclusively through Amazon Prime Video.
With October behind us, November is here, and Hulu has shared a full list of new titles coming to its streaming service this month. In addition to new episodes of your favorite TV shows, November will see the debut of some notable Hulu original series and a slew of new movies to watch.
The most notable addition for the month is sure to be the series premiere of Marvel's Runaways, the streamer's first comic book adaptation. From Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the creative duo behind The O.C. and Gossip Girl, Runaways tells the stories of six teenagers who learn their parents are supervillains.
Future Man, from executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, will bring time traveling comedy to Hulu. Josh Hutcherson stars as a janitor that might also be the savior of the universe.
As for movies, popular titles like 13 Going on 30, Ocean's Eleven, and Terminator 2: Judgement Day will become available to stream. Additionally, 21 James Bond films have debuted on Hulu, giving subscribers access to almost every single film starring the famed secret agent, prior to Daniel Craig taking on the role. The only early film that's missing is 1967's Casino Royale.
Take a look at the full list of what is arriving and departing Hulu in November below.
"Should you get an Xbox One X? That answer should largely depend on whether you'd be happy with the console's library of games. You can check out a list of all the Xbox One X-enhanced games here. If you're happy with the lineup and are thinking about jumping in, allow me to outline three different scenarios for you. If you game on a 1080p TV and don't have any plans to upgrade to a 4K one, the Xbox One S is going to be a better fit for you. While you will get some graphical enhancements with the X, you don't really get your money's worth if you don't have a 4K HDR TV. But what if you already own a 4K HDR TV and an Xbox One? In this case, I'd only recommend getting the X if you have the disposable cash to spare for the increased visual fidelity and performance benefits. If you have a 4K HDR TV, don't have a current gen console, and are looking to purchase one, however, the Xbox One X is a great choice." -- Jimmy Thang [Full review]
IGN -- 8.7/10 (Review-in-progress)
"The Xbox One X is a very impressive collection of hardware crammed into a sleek case. It runs cool and quiet as it delivers impressive performance in the enhanced games we've been able to test out so far. It's hard to believe Microsoft exclusives like Gears of War 4 can look so good and run so smoothly on a box that costs less than half of what you'd pay for a high-end gaming PC. Plus, it caters to home theater enthusiasts with 4K ultra-HD Blu-ray playback and Atmos sound. However, the big question of how it compares to the PlayStation 4 Pro in running third-party games remains, for now, unanswered." -- Brandin Tyrrel [Full review-in-progress]
Polygon -- No score (Pre-review)
"The Xbox One X is undeniably the best console to play multiplatform games; they'll look and run better on it than on the PS4 Pro. For some people, that peace of mind--knowing that they're guaranteed to get the highest image quality and smoothest performance--will be enough to justify the purchase price. And the ancillary benefits of Microsoft's ecosystem, such as Xbox Play Anywhere and backward compatibility going back to the original Xbox, can't be discounted. But I've been floored by plenty of games on the PS4 Pro, like Horizon Zero Dawn. For now, with the limited number of enhanced Xbox One X titles I've been able to test, I haven't seen enough to be able to recommend the console in light of its high price--especially when the audience for these mid-cycle upgrades still seems so specific." -- Samit Sarkar [Full pre-review]
The Verge -- 8.5/10
"Sony really has some impressive exclusives on the way, and it's hard for Microsoft to counter this despite its great job on the hardware. Microsoft promised the best hardware, and it delivered--but that's nothing without games." -- Tom Warren [Full review]
The Guardian -- 4/5
"Multiplatform titles will almost certainly look better on Xbox One X than on PS4 Pro, sometimes very noticeably (and elements like increased draw distance and smoother frame-rates can have a palpable effect on your gameplay experience), but is it worth the extra £100? That's a conversation you need to have with your aesthetic standards and your wallet." -- Keith Stuart [Full review]
Engadget -- 87/100
"Ultimately, the Xbox One X offers some major performance upgrades that gamers will notice--especially if you're coming from an original Xbox One. But it's also a bit disappointing since it's coming a year after the PS4 Pro, and it doesn't offer VR yet. For Microsoft fans, though, none of that will matter. It's exactly what the company promised: the fastest game console ever made." -- Devindra Hardawar [Full review]
Eurogamer -- No score
"Really, it all comes down to whether you own a 4K screen or are considering investing in one. The right ultra HD display with decent HDR support really does offer a huge improvement in many cases over standard 1080p. Forza 7's precision lines and often beautiful lighting are a world apart from the base Xbox One experience, while the richness of detail in Gears of War 4 (or the doubling in frame-rate, if you prefer) are transformative experiences. Work needs to be done on beefing up the lacklustre 4K media support, but as a top-tier games machine, Xbox One X is an excellent piece of kit." -- Richard Leadbetter [Full review]
Wired -- No score
"Microsoft has pulled off something impressive here. 4K gaming previously required a noisy desktop PC with a flamin' hot graphics card, and now it's something you can get for $500 that fits under your TV. That's awesome, even if the benefit is small and only for a select few. For devotees who worship at the altar of Master Chief, the Xbox One X is an offering that optimizes the Xbox experience. It's an opportunity for fans to re-up their membership and prepare for the higher-def, higher-dynamic range future." -- Brendan Nystedt [Full review]
TechRadar -- 4/5
"If you're the kind of gamer who stops to look at the scenic vistas in games like Skyrim, The Witcher or Dragon Age, or a streamer who can point out a 4 frame-per-second difference while looking at two videos side by side, the Xbox One X is a worthwhile investment.
"That said, if you're a gamer who just wants a console that plays great-looking games without digging too deep into your pocket books, the Xbox One X is a bit overkill - save some money and buy yourself an Xbox One S ... preferably the one with a 2TB hard drive." -- Nick Pino [Full review]
CNET -- No score
"Xbox One X lays a credible claim to the title of most powerful game console ever, but it has an uphill battle for your gaming dollar, especially if you already own an original Xbox One." -- Jeff Bakalar [Full review]
Netflix has announced what's coming and going in the month of November. As usual with the streaming service, many titles--both original and not--will be added to the service leading throughout the month. One particularly interesting addition is the upcoming documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, which is made up of behind-the-scenes footage of Jim Carrey during production of Man on the Moon--the Andy Kaufman biopic.
Of course, the most anticipated release of the month for Netflix is none other than Marvel's The Punisher. The streamer's first Marvel series after Defenders launches November 17, with Jon Bernthal playing the gun-toting vigilante. November will also see the arrival of new seasons of Lady Dynamite and Broadchurch, along with movies like Chappie, Men in Black, and Piranha.
Leaving Netflix isthe Matrix Trilogy, V for Vendetta, and The Human Centipede: First Sequence, to name a few. On the TV front, the streaming service will also remove all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother, along with four seasons of Jessie.
Update: GameSpot's Call of Duty: WWII review is now final, so we've updated this roundup accordingly. We've also added a couple more reviews for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy! Original story follows.
Thankfully, with the shooter now out worldwide, reviews have started to go live. GameSpot's own Call of Duty: WWII review-in-progress awarded the game a provisional 9/10--we're waiting to test the game on public servers before we give our final verdict, but you can check out our thoughts so far below. We've also collected a bunch of other critics' reviews for you to read; alternatively, check out Metacritic.
"Ultimately, if every shooter set in the European Theater of World War II is measured by how it depicts its D-Day landing--assuming it has such a mission--Call of Duty: WWII emphatically succeeds in its impactful designs and delivery. The sensation of riding the troop carrier as it approached the beach filled me with depression more than dread, knowing I'd survive eventually while many of my surrounding brothers in arms wouldn't. While not equally emotional, this battle's reinterpretation in War mode proves to be a highlight in a superb suite of competitive modes. Zombies rounds off this stellar return to form, effectively blending the ferocity of online cooperative play with the goal-driven satisfaction of found in the campaign. 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." -- Miguel Concepcion [Full review]
Polygon -- No score (Review-in-progress)
"The prospect of a modern take on World War II is an exciting one. What would the last ten years of gameplay, graphical and storytelling advancement bring to scenes that we've already experienced? Unfortunately the Call of Duty: WWII campaign is not up to the task, falling into rote cliches and overly familiar territory. While it returns to the era of classic Call of Duty, it neither captures the surprise of the early games nor the ambition of modern entries. Rather than serve as a reboot, Call of Duty: WWII is more of a redundancy." -- Russ Frushtick [Full review-in-progress]
Game Informer -- 8.75/10
"While the campaign fails to provide a compelling tale and is often bogged down in uninteresting large-scale slaughter, Call of Duty:WWII nails its multiplayer, new social hub, and zombie modes to provide the back to boot-on-the-ground experience fans have clamored for since the first foray into space." -- Daniel Tack [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4/5
"From moment to moment, though, the campaign is solid, unwavering fun with some great set pieces and moments. Taking a step back really exposes the single player as a collection of good levels and ideas strung together, rather than a narrative. The experience overall though is good and, with such an enjoyable and varied multiplayer offering, everything ultimately balances out." -- Leon Hurley [Full review]
The Telegraph -- 4/5
"It's a Neapolitan ice cream of shooters, essentially, with three very different flavours squashed together in a single serving. They're not always complementary: it's hard to reconcile the fact that you've got a former Doctor Who shouting "twat!" at Nazi zombies in the same game as a haunting glimpse of history's worst genocide. Still, between its moments of good taste and a mode that's more Bad Taste, it hits a consistently high standard – and though it's mostly riffing on ideas we've seen before, it manages to make several of them its own. The series' dwindling popularity has proved a tough nut to crack for its publisher in recent years; CoD: WWII proves that maybe a Sledgehammer really is the right tool for the job." -- Chris Schilling [Full review]
The Guardian -- 3/5
"The way CoD: WWII is packaged seems bizarre, but then these three individual games don't have much to do with one another anyway. Call of Duty is the Golden Goose for Activision, almost its own genre through sheer dint of popularity. This is everything you'd expect. I suppose you could call that praise." -- Rich Stanton [Full review]
PC Gamer -- 70/10
"WWII marks the first time I felt like I could get a grip on Call of Duty's multiplayer since Black Ops II, and the most fun I've had with it since Modern Warfare. It's a familiar feeling, but a comfortable one. If the matchmaking settles and if it can maintain a PC population larger than than a small town in North Dakota, then WWII could be a great Call of Duty for anyone bothered by the direction the multiplayer was going with the complications futuristic warfare rolled in. But a dull, safe campaign has me aching to return to fictional wars, something that at least gives Call of Duty the room it needs to be loud and dumb and free from the responsibility of teaching the kids anything besides no-scope 720s." -- James Davenport [Full review]
Xbox One X's release date is just days away, so now could be a good time to pick up some games in preparation. With that in mind, Microsoft has revealed which games are on offer as part of this week's Xbox One Deals with Gold and Spotlight sale. We also now know what Games With Gold titles that November will bring, if you'd prefer something free. [Update: It's Monday, meaning there are only hours left to take advantage of these sale prices.]
Some of the discounted games this week include XCOM 2 (US $24 / £18 / AU $28), EA Sports UFC 2 (US $20 / £15 / AU $26.23), and Styx: Shards of Darkness (US $16.50 / £13.20 / AU $25.64). In addition, The Escapists: The Walking Dead is currently on offer for US $15 / £11.24 / AU $20.21 for Gold members to celebrate the new season of the Walking Dead TV show. All these deals are available until 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET / 11 AM GMT / 10 PM AET on November 6--check out the full list here.
With Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok now in theaters, there is one big superhero movie to go before the end of the year. Justice League releases later this month, and a series of new clips from the DC team-up have appeared over the last couple of days.
The latest gives us a proper look at the villainous Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hines) and shows Aquaman (Jason Momoa) saving the day. Check it out below:
Other recent Justice League clips include Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) recruiting Aquaman and The Flash (Ezra Miller), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) in action, and an encounter with Commissioner Gordon (JK Simmons). Check them all out in one video here. We've also revently seen mini-trailers for Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg.
"The movie is Zack's DNA," he said. "The cast of the movie, the design of the movie--there's something that people who don't actually work on movies don't understand, which is how much of the work is done in prep--the casting, the sets get built, the story is written. The ship is, in essence, sailing. I found as a director you can maybe change 10%, 15% or something, on the day.
"Zack's ship set sail with us, and we were fortunate that when Zack was not able to continue, we got really lucky in that we got a guy who is very accomplished in his own right, and particularly in this genre, and he kind of sprinkled some of his fairy dust on our movie and finished it."
"I don't think there's any way to go back, to me, and look at those scenes and go, 'That's a Joss scene, that's a Zack scene,'" Affleck continued. "It was more that they were both working together toward a common goal. Debbie [Snyder, who produced the movie] would know better than I would, certainly, but I got the sense that Joss was working from what he had discussed with Zack before he stepped in."
Hearthstone's expansion announcement at Blizzcon this year may have been expected, after all, updates to the game have started hitting with regularity. But the big difference this time is way the team is changing up its approach to single-player content. At the show, we talked with lead mission designer Dave Kosak and lead UI designer Max Ma to learn how exactly the new Dungeon Run will work, and to get a few early tips for what sounds like a challenging new mode. In addition, we learned the codename for this expansion before it was revealed to the world!
The following transcript has been edited for content and clarity.
Is the Blizzcon demo basically how Dungeon Run is going to work in the real world? You'll choose a class, you're given 10 cards, and you just go for it?
Dave Kosak: Basically. We had three classes in the Blizzcon demo; the full Dungeon Run has all nine classes. There are 48 different encounters and every time you play, it deals out eight random encounters. You never know what's next, you don't know what eight it's gonna pick. We have about 40 treasures. I think there are a dozen treasures on the Blizzcon build, but there's 40 total and they really do shape how you play.
Another change in the full Dungeon Run is that you'll get a treasure after every other boss. After the third, the fifth, et cetera. Here at the Blizzcon, we gave you a treasure every time because we wanted to show off more treasures, but that made the Blizzcon demo a little easier. The real run is tricky; it's very difficult. We were going for that rogue-like gameplay where the difficulty is part of the fun and you get these great spikes while you're playing. Occasionally you have the perfect run when all the right cards are landing and it feels really good.
Is the Dungeon Run only tied to this expansion, or is this a permanent addition to the game?
DK: The Kobolds & Catacombs Dungeon Run is just for this expanion, so it's all the cards up to and including the Kobolds & Catacombs expansion. In future expansions we won't go back and add the new cards to it. But, the idea is that every expansion has a full set of cards as well as single-player content. So you might see something like Dungeon Run in future expansions as well.
Max Ma: If our players like this new mode, please tell us because our mission is to make them happy.
Was this driven by a decision to introduce players to these new cards, and that's why it's not something like Arena where you have to pay an entrance fee and you get the reward out of it at the end?
DK: I'm the lead mission designer for the team so when we decided with Year of the Mammoth to go to this new model of full expansions and free single-player content, we got to redefine what the single-player content could be. With our previous adventures, you paid for them and cards were gated behind it so we had to make them a certain way. We had to make them easy enough that if you bought the adventure, you could earn the card.
Now that the single-player content is free, we can actually have a lot more fun with it. There's a lot more space to play and we can do something that's more repeatable. We can make something that's really difficult like the Lich King. Defeating the Lich King nine times? Super difficult. The Dungeon Run can be really brutal, but we have a reward for players who can defeat it with all nine classes--you get a special card back. But we can make it really difficult because cards aren't gated behind it and it does exactly what you say; it sells the story of the expansion, the feel of the expansion, you get to play with the new mechanics and see how it works and hopefully that encourages you to jump into ranked with what you've learned from the Dungeon Run.
Are there any card rewards for playing through or meeting milestones within it?
HL: If you beat adventure with all the classes, at the end you will get a special card back. That's the reward.
DK: It's tricky because we want to make sure you don't feel obliged to play a mode that you don't want to play. If you're a free-to-play player, we don't want you to feel like you have to do the dungeon. If you don't enjoy the dungeon runs we don't want to make you feel like you have to do them because there's rewards that you really need. We just want it to be fun, and the reward is cosmetic--you don't need a card back but it's so hard to get. There's a lot of prestige when you see someone shuffling that and that's their card back.
HL: The reward moments are the treasures you earn after every boss defeat--you're paid awesome treasure, which is just a completely broken card if you had them in ranked mode. It feels satisfying, and the progression you're making from a really basic deck of ten cards will probably be the strongest deck you've ever gotten your hands on. To me the pressure is huge, and the reward as well.
So, the part of Kobolds & Catacombs is gonna end when Year of the Mammoth ends next year right?
DK: The mission mode will be available. Anybody can go into the solo adventures tab and click on Kobolds & Catacombs and they'll be able to play it. It'll still be there, yeah. I'll be playing it for a long time.
HL: I've been playing a long time, and I still haven't defeated it with all eight.
Since this introduces another new card back, do you guys think about giving players a way to show off more of that library of card backs they might have earned over the years?
HL: It's definitely something we have considered, but we don't have anything in the plans to make that. We have tried a few things to make cardbacks show more often, but I think one thing about Hearthstone is that we want to keep relevant information close without any extra things in the way. Card backs are purely aesthetic.
DK: It's important to keep the game as streamlined as possible, and you can see that in the box hasn't changed since the game was launched. Dungeon Run was a real challenge for us because it was a whole new mode, but we wanted to keep it as straightforward as possible. We wanted to keep it clean and elegant. The interface feels very much like the Arena. We talked about whether we should show the dungeon, show a map. We ultimately decided to go with the purest expression of Hearthstone--the dungeon is a deck of eight cards that you gotta go through one card at a time. That felt very good and made the interface very clean.
Related to that aesthetic experience are the Heroes themselves. Going into the store, there are only three skins for sale. There have been a lot of Hero skins available through promotions, but why is that something that's still so limited?
DK: The concern about Heroes is that you want to make sure you're not seeing a million different faces and you have no idea what class you're facing. We want Heroes to feel very, very special. If you unlock Prince Arthas by beating the Lich King, that's super special. There's not a lot of those paladins running around, so when you see one, it's very unique. That's really important to us. We have lots of Hero skins in the pipeline, but it's not something we're going to blast people with.
So with this new expansion, some of the cards just feel scary. Like Azari the Devourer, which destroys your opponent's deck.
DK: With the First Disciple, it's a Warlock legendary. In the set, you bring Rin on the board; she has a deathrattle that starts you on a dangerous path. Her deathrattle gives you the first seal: a spell that summons a demon and give you the second seal, which summons a slightly larger demon, which gets you the third seal. All the way to the fifth, final seal and then you get Azari the Devourer. It ends up being like 38 or 40...it's a lot of mana. You're putting a lot of mana out there over the course of several turns. Your opponent can see it coming, they know what you're doing.
And Azari is a 10-10 demon that destroys your opponent's deck, which is one of the coolest visual effects we have in the game. You just slam it on the board, blast your opponent's deck, and they're out of cards. It's very scary.
HL: I remember glancing over at a designer's computer when I first saw that card, and I was like, "Are you guys out of your mind? This is not an actual card we're releasing, right?"
DK: So that one's really scary but it's an investment. You can see your opponent doing it, and they're committed to that strategy. So we're really curious to see, with cards like that, what kind of decks are built around it to make that happen. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Did you see the Legendary Weapons?
I got to try the with the Mage's, Vorpal Dagger, which has mega-windfury. It's fun to use that with a character who doesn't normally get a weapon.
DK: Exactly. That was a lot of fun for us, figuring out what kind of weapons casters would have. The other one we showed was Dragon Soul for priests. A huge artifact in World of Warcraft lore if you're familiar. Here, if you cast three spells in a turn, it summons a 5-5 Dragon. Dragon Priest is one of my favorites, so I was delighted to see that one bubble up out of design.
And we're giving away a legendary weapon on the launch of the expansion--everybody will get one of the nine legendary weapons. And next week we're giving away Marin the Fox, he's coming out early. Marin the Fox summons a treasure chest for your opponent, and if you can break it, then you get some pretty crazy cards.
With some of the ridiculous powers that are in here, were there any cards that you were you thought, "This is actually too broken, we have to take it out?" Or just something that seemed like a good idea, but which didn't work out?
DK: We had a lot of discussions, but it usually ended with, "Let's just go over the top with it." For instance, there's the Potion of Vitality, a passive treasure that doubles your starting health. What happens if you get two during a Dungeon Run? Do they stack? We thought, "Sure why not?" How often are you going to be able to get two? And if you do get two of these, you have quadruple health, which is crazy but that's what makes rougelikes fun.
Where did the idea for this particular adventure come from?
DK: It really started with the theme of the set. For Kobolds & Catacombs, the earliest theme was doing a treasure set. We wanted to do tons of loot. In fact, the code name for the expansion early on was Lootapolooza. And then we said, "Okay, how do we give people loot?" That's when we settled on doing dungeons, because there's the classic fantasy of running a dungeon and getting loot. Then we had to make decisions about whether or not it was a specific dungeon. Is it going to be the Dead Mines? But what we really wanted was not a specific dungeon but the idea of running a dungeon. The idea of the classic role-playing experience, the classic computer RPG, pen-and-paper game of fighting monsters and powering up your character. Once we had that core fantasy down, it was expressing that in single-player--that's where Dungeon Run was born.
HL: It all comes together after our team playtests. Every week we get together, and we're all Hearthstone players on the team, we all play our products early and give feedback. I remember after our first Dungeon Run playtest, everybody kept playing for hours. We didn't even work that much that day. I was like, "Dave, we have to build this. If this means a complete change to UI, I'm up for it."
DK: It really sold everybody. In our earliest prototypes to Dungeon Run the interface was terrible and it was super janky and the last boss was Jaraxxus. He just started summoning infernals immediately, and it was impossible. Even though it was really janky, it was so much fun. It proved that this was going to be fun, building a deck and fighting more monsters just felt fun, and we were committed to it.
For the difficulty balnce, it did feel like the first battle was much easier, and then things ramped up slightly, but is it random? Could you start with a Jaraxxus-level fight as my first battle and then end with something much simpler, kind of like the Munchkin board game?
DK: The 48 encounters are of varying difficulty and they're stratified. For the first couple of bosses, there's only a subset that you can get for your first boss, and there are five final bosses for the end. In between, they're kind of stratified so it does ramp up in difficulty predictably. The only thing is, you don't know which of the mid-level bosses you're going to find in the dungeon and which of the high-end bosses you're gonna find at the hardest parts of the dungeon. You can't predict it, and that's what makes it so much fun.
It's less about what the bosses do and more about what kind of deck you're building. You have to build something that can withstand any number of challenges and that ends up being the fun part.
Early on--I'm giving you strategy tips now--the bosses have very little health, so aggro-decks are really powerful. If you can get out there right out of the gate and burn the boss down, the bosses are relatively weak. You think that aggro is the strategy to go with, but once you get to the middle of the dungeon, the strategy starts to change. Some of the bosses have a lot of health, and sometimes they have ways of countering an aggro-deck. So you have to have a backup plan, you have to have some other way. You almost have to build a deck and then pivot toward the middle of the dungeon to whatever your endgame deck is gonna be. Learning that and learning to cope with all the different challenges you'll find ends up being the really fun part of the mode.
That's hard to tell from the Blizzcon demo because you only get a taste, you only get three bosses. But I think the final version is gonna really be exciting.
HL: I had the same example early on; I was building an aggro-deck, and then I encountered Candle Beard. His hero power is to give all his minions charge, so he basically out-aggro'd me. And I have no heals, I had no taunt]. I learned my lesson. In a way, playing Dungeon Run helped me get better at deck building.
It does feel like, if you're not someone who's used to creating your own deck, this will teach you through example, how to build your own. Was that one of your goals originally?
DK: It wasn't one of the goals, but we discovered it really early on. I lead our mission team but I myself, am not a really good Hearthstone player. I'm not very competitive, and I actually learned quite a bit about deck building from this because the game helps you build a synergized deck. It'll put cards in there that you wouldn't have thought about using in your frost deck, but that are a good combo. Then you start building these decks, and it got me more excited to build a deck like this and go on the ranked ladder and play. It actually does teach you. So that was just something we discovered along the way.
Another weekly reset has arrived for Destiny 2, which means it's time for a new Nightfall Strike... except it doesn't. The Flashpoint has moved to the EDZ, but despite the reset, players still have access to the same Nightfall as last week: The Arms Dealer. It features the same exact Challenges but different Modifiers, which is unusual. We do know that a new Destiny 2 update is slated to arrive this week, and it's possible the Nightfall will change following that. We'll update this story if that proves to be the case, but for now we'll look at the Nightfall version of The Arms Dealer. [Update: It's Monday, meaning there's less than a day left to complete this week's Nightfall before the weekly reset.]
The time limit is in place and can be extended because of the first of the two modifiers, Timewarp: Killing Time. By slaying enemies, you'll receive additional time--up to a limit--to complete the Strike. The other modifier is Prism, which cycles through each of the damage types. The selected damage deals more than usual, while the others are less effective.
In terms of Challenges, Speed of Dark is active, which asks you to finish the Strike with at least five minutes left on the timer. Unbroken requires you to make it through the mission with fewer than three deaths. And finally, Trash the Thresher tasks you with bringing down a Thresher (the Cabal gunship) during the fight with Bracus Zahn.
The reward for completing the Nightfall is Powerful Gear. 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 / 9 AM GMT / 4 PM AEST on Tuesday, November 7.
The Nightfall is available from the start for the PC version, which is out now. 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. Doing so does not require a Ticket.
The latest batch of discounts are now available in the US PlayStation Store. This week, PS Plus members will especially find some great deals on various PS4, PS3, and Vita games. [Update: It's Monday, making this your last opportunity to take advantage of these deals. They'll be replaced by the next set of offers on Tuesday.]
Thanks to the limited-time Double Discount Sale, those with a PS Plus membership can save twice as much on each of the eligible titles. On PS4, Plus subscribers can pick up the acclaimed Horizon: Zero Dawn for $28 (or $39 without PS Plus) ahead of the release of the game's first major DLC expansion, The Frozen Wilds (which we got to see a bit more of during Sony's Paris Games Week conference). Also discounted is Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition for $12 ($26). Some other notable deals include:
The Double Discount Sale runs until November 7. You can find the full list of this week's discounted titles on the PlayStation Store. This is also the last week of Sony's Day 1 Digital offer, which will get you a 20% coupon toward your next PSN purchase when you buy two or more select titles. Additionally, this is the last week members can download October's free PS Plus games, which will be replaced on November 7.
WWE has mixed results with translating the success of the NXT wrestlers into mainstream popularity. Sometimes, the problem is the gimmick. The Vaudevillains and Bo Dallas worked better in smaller, more intimate venues, where their idiosyncrasies would not be overpowered by Raw's production values and slick presentation.
But other times, it's the result of poor booking. For whatever reason, the creative team either doesn't get what made the NXT wrestler special or doesn't want to get it. And this is the current, sad state of former NXT Women's Champion and former Raw Women's Champion Bayley, who has been booked into the ground by the Raw creative team.
It wasn't always this way. When Bayley debuted on Raw, her stock was at an all-time high. She was NXT's darling--the superfan who had become champion--and she was a vicarious thrill for anyone who dreamed of being in WWE. Along that journey to the top of the NXT women's division, she had a number of incredible matches: against Asuka, Nia Jax, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch.
The crowning achievement was her title-winning showdown against Sasha Banks at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, in 2015. It had technical precision, back-and-forth storytelling, and pageantry; it was one of the finest WWE matches of the year, and it was the best WWE women's match in the company's history.
Was the match technically perfect? No. But in wrestling, that's not the end-all, be-all. For a match to be considered classic, it needs emotional context. Why are these two characters fighting? Why do they hate each other? What are their motivations? And Bayley had a well-told, underdog narrative that was easy to follow and empathize with.
At the beginning of her journey, she lost to many an NXT wrestler, usually by a hair. And eventually, Bayley realized that to be successful, she had to get over her impostor syndrome and her "just happy to be here" attitude. The stars in her eyes disappeared and were replaced by steely flint. And the fans loved her for it--so much, that when she debuted on Raw, the response was deafening. Listen to that chanting. And look at those smiles.
But unfortunately, rather than allowing Bayley to develop beyond her NXT character as a new, confident Bayley, WWE Creative did a soft reboot of her old storyline. They made her a fangirl underdog again; she had to relearn her confidence despite the past two years of character development. It reminds me of the Shrek franchise; with every new movie, Shrek learns, again, that he's more than just an ogre. WWE fans hate this sort of predictability. They want something new: a character who grows and changes in new directions, rather than rehashing the same insecurities and conflicts.
For example, Bayley's been using the same, tired "Ever since I was a little girl…" themed promo for over a year. Enough already. And it's made worse because she's reciting scripted lines instead of speaking from the heart. Now admittedly, Bayley has never been strong on the mic. But at least when she was unscripted, she sounded natural; she stammered and spoke in an unrehearsed cadence, and her biggest weakness as a wrestler became her strength; that awkwardness made her relatable.
The old Bayley used to stand up for herself. She was sweet and forgiving, but she also had a deep sense of right and wrong, and she would go on the offensive if the situation called for it. In her recent feud with Alexa Bliss, however, Bayley allowed herself to be treated like a doormat. And during their climactic, kendo stick fight at Extreme Rules, Bayley couldn't even bring herself to hit her opponent with the stick. Underdog narratives only work if the underdog asserts herself at the end of the story. Otherwise, there's no growth, and nobody learns anything.
And this entire time, Bayley has been BBFs with Sasha Banks. Think about that. Her archrival--the woman with whom she's had the best in-ring chemistry--is her ally and rarely her opponent. WWE should have used their NXT feud to promote a Raw feud for the ages. Now, it's been over a year since Bayley debuted on Raw. Banks should have stabbed Bayley in the back by this point, but here's still no heel turn in sight.
But what if the company turned Bayley heel instead of Banks? It would be an incredible swerve. It would finally put these two women on a collision course with one another. And the motivations for the heel turn are self-evident and meta; she's tired of being the nice girl, saying the same old platitudes, and being taken advantage of.
Imagine if in the middle of a Sasha Banks match, Bayley ran out to the ring, as she always does. The fans would immediately assume that she's out there to help Banks. But instead, Bayley would attack her best friend or ignores her cries for help.
Bayley doesn't even have to change her wardrobe or theme song. Instead, she could follow Sami Zayn's route; turn every babyface characteristic up to maximum, until it becomes rage-inducing and irritating. Zayn brought up an excellent point on a recent podcast; that smiling while doing something evil generates a lot more heat than scowling. The latter is expected. But the former is dissonant and off-putting. Like in this promo with AJ Lee, where Bayley obliviously tramples on AJ's feelings and implies that she's a stalker, all while smiling the entire time. Done properly, this version of the character could be a lot of fun to watch.
Up until a few months ago, it would have been crazy to consider a change this radical, to a character who had been extremely successful. But at this point, Bayley no longer generates the pop that she used to, and fans no longer chant her name. By staying the same, she'll continue to draw less and less of a reaction. On the other hand, a heel turn would be shocking and would give fans some time away from the original, giddy, try-hard Bayley they once loved. And when she finally goes back to those old ways, the fans will value what they missed.
This year's BlizzCon has finally arrived, which means there's a multitude of news for some of Blizzard's biggest games. From the new Overwatch character reveal to the announcement of the new World of Warcraft expansion, there's a whole lot of exciting news and announcements waiting to be revealed. We've compiled all the biggest ones from the show below.
What news and announcements are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check back often as we update this article with more news and trailers.
New Overwatch Map Is A Blizzard Theme Park--Alongside a new character, Overwatch is adding a new map that fans of any Blizzard game will likely enjoy, with areas themed after Warcraft, StarCraft, and more.
In our Blizzcon Overwatch interview, the devs talk about addressing player toxicity and whether there's a chance we'd ever see a real-life "Blizzard World."
StarCraft II
StarCraft II Will Soon Be Free To Play--Beginning this month, players will be able to play through StarCraft II's Wings of Liberty campaign and co-op mode for no cost.
Horizon Zero Dawn's new DLC, The Frozen Wilds, is out very soon. The add-on expands Horizon's world and adds a bunch of welcome new features.
First up, there's a new Traveler skill tree focused on exploring the new environment. Many of the skills you can unlock center around abilities used while riding a mount, culminating in one move that lets you leap off and attack enemies with a lethal one-hit-kill spear assault. And you'll need that new attack: you're recommended to be at level 30 to play The Frozen Wilds, so it's not going to be a walk in the park. Thankfully, all those new skills can also be used in the main game.
The Frozen Wilds, as you can probably guess, is set in a new, snowy environment that we think looks beautiful. Its new storyline runs parallel with the main game, adding around 15 hours of content, and features improved motion capture performances and animations. Finally, The Frozen Wilds adds the ability to customize Aloy's spear, while the excellent photo mode includes a new snow angel emote. Check out some footage of the DLC's new features--as well as our impressions of the expansion--in the video above.
Below Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed Origins drops one place to No.2, while FIFA 18 continues to chart well at No.3. The rest of the top 10 is filled with huge titles, while the only new title this week is Spintires: Mudrunner, which debuts at No.24.
Although Call of Duty: WWII's launch has so far been a successful one for publisher Activision, it has not been without its problems. The game has suffered from server issues, prompting developer Sledgehammer to close its leaderboards and make a number of other temporary changes. Despite this, the shooter has garnered a positive reception since launch, and GameSpot's Call of Duty: WWII review awarded the game a 9/10. 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."
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.
Beginning that day, Xbox One players will be able to play PUBG via the Xbox Game Preview program. Bluehole also says that it's "on track" to release the 1.0 PC version in late December. While the developer is working on both PC and Xbox One versions simultaneously, it notes that each has its "own separate roadmaps" and will differ slightly from one another.
"We're approaching development on Xbox One with the same community-driven focus that we've taken with the game on PC," Bluehole VP and executive producer Chang Han Kim wrote on Xbox Wire. "As a result, the ultimate battle royale experience that fans play on Xbox One will be slightly different than what players know today on PC."
Xbox One players will also be able to purchase some exclusive content in the form of special cosmetic packs. Three such packs will be available to purchase for a limited time for the Xbox One version: the PUBG Warrior Pack, Accessory Pack, and Tracksuit Pack. Aside from these three, Bluehole says it doesn't have plans to offer any in-game purchases in the Xbox Game Preview version. You can take a look at a few of the exclusive cosmetic items above.
It's now the start of November, and that means the next set of Xbox One and Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles are now available. Xbox One owners can now pick up the racing game TrackMania Turbo, while puzzler The Turing Test, a holdover from October, will continue to be free through November 15.
Switching to Xbox 360, the Sega Saturn remake Nights Into Dreams is available at the low, low price of free for the first of the month. Later in the month, starting on November 16, Tales From The Borderlands will go free on Xbox One, while Deadfall Adventures will drop to $0.00 that day. Both Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
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