Despite still only being available in early access on PC, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has reached another major milestone. Creative director Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene has revealed the game has now sold more than 20 million copies since launch--and he's also spoken out a bit on the game's future.
Greene shared the sales figure on Twitter today, describing it as an "amazing milestone" that was surpassed this past weekend. But more pressingly, he attempted to reassure fans who are "frustrated by issues w[ith] the game."
"[T]he team is working hard to deliver a truly great Battle Royale experience for everyone," Greene wrote. "Bear with us, change is coming!" He didn't offer any further specifics about what he was referring to, although developer Bluehole recently announced extra emphasis it's placed on dealing with PUBG cheaters. Other improvements and additions that are in development include vaulting and a new desert map.
While there have been complaints about the game recently--and concerns that Fortnite's free Battle Royale mode could siphon players away--PUBG continues to go strong. 20 million units in early access is an astounding figure, and the upcoming Xbox One release is sure to boost that further. Meanwhile, its peak player counts on Steam continue to reach never-before-seen heights; just today, it saw 2.37 million players online at the same time. That's more than triple the next highest game, Dota 2.
Significant layoffs have hit Telltale Games, the developer best known for its licensed episodic adventure games, including those based on Batman, Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead. As part of a "comprehensive company restructuring," Telltale has laid off 25% of its employees, which amounts to 90 people.
Specifics regarding individuals were not shared, but these layoffs impact "all divisions" and are effective as of today. A press release states the move will make the company "more competitive as a developer and publisher of groundbreaking story-driven gaming experiences with an emphasis on high quality in the years ahead." There was similarly little to say about exactly what drove these changes, although Telltale says the projects it has announced won't be affected.
"Our industry has shifted in tremendous ways over the past few years," CEO Pete Hawley said. "The realities of the environment we face moving forward demand we evolve, as well, reorienting our organization with a focus on delivering fewer, better games with a smaller team."
One criticism of Telltale in recent years has been its continued use of aging technology. The press release says this will be addressed, as Telltale "will use this restructuring as an opportunity to move internal development over to more proven technologies that will fast-track innovation in its core products as it works with new partners to bring its games to new audiences."
Hawley added, "I'd like to express our respect for all the contributions that these incredibly talented artists, storytellers, and more have made to this company, and that this decision is in no way a reflection on the quality or dedication of their work."
Ubisoft has released its earnings report for the first half of its fiscal year. Although it didn't launch until after that period, perhaps the most striking result the publisher had to share was a major boost in sales of Assassin's Creed Origins compared with the previous game, Assassin's Creed Syndicate.
On a "comparable basis," which in this case looks at units sold during their first 10 days, sales of Origins are double that of Syndicate. Ubisoft unfortunately didn't provide specific sales figures, but this is an encouraging sign for the company after it gave the franchise a year off. Despite a generally positive response, Syndicate sales were down in 2015 due to the notoriously buggy launch of Assassin's Creed Unity in 2014. During a post-earnings conference call, CEO Yves Guillemot declared that the series is "officially back."
CFO Alain Martinez said Wildlands in particular has a "bright and exciting future" and boasted about the strong continued performance of Siege. He also noted that Mario + Rabbids sold better than expected and should have a "stronger than usual" sales tail as more people get their hands on Nintendo Switch. As revealed previously, Kingdom Battle is the Switch's best-selling third-party title.
The industry-wide shift toward digital continues to go well for Ubisoft. Digital revenue was up 69.1% year-over-year to €342.6 million. And with the publisher so heavily focused on keeping its existing games such as Siege and Wildlands alive, player recurring investment (a category that includes things like DLC and subscriptions) was up 82.9% to €174.5 million.
Anyone who has seen Thor: Ragnarok--or any of the trailers for the movie--knows it's a huge departure from the previous movies centered around the god of thunder and his portrayals elsewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What caused such a massive change in how Thor was approached? According to Chris Hemsworth, who plays the titular superhero, it was Clerks director Kevin Smith.
It seems Hemsworth heard Smith bashing previous installments of the Thor franchise in a podcast. "Hearing someone like Smith, who represents the fanboy world, was such a kick in the ass to change gears," the actor tells Vanity Fair. "We sort of had nothing to lose. People didn't expect what we did with it this time around."
It's what they ended up doing with it that makes Thor: Ragnarok so interesting. All of the traditional hallmarks of the character are stripped away. As Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige explains, "He has blond hair; he has a hammer; he has a cape. These are the things that make Thor." Luckily, the concept of Thor has changed to the general public thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. "He has now appeared as that character so many times [that] Chris Hemsworth is Thor," he says. "So we cut his hair, we got rid of his hammer, and it's still him."
As it turns out, though, after hearing Smith's take on the other Thor movies, getting rid of the hair, hammer, and cape were Hemsworth's ideas. Thankfully, director Taika Waititi agreed with him. Now, after seeing the outcome, Hemsworth has learned a valuable lesson: trust your instincts.
"It's about trusting yourself, and listening to your gut, and the pure education you receive making these films. I take responsibility for that. I'm not pointing fingers at writers or directors. But then it became predictable, or overly earnest, self-important, and serious," he says of the first two Thor films. "Nothing that was unexpected."
The Walt Disney Company has reversed an earlier decision to ban the LA Times from attending advanced screenings of its movies for reviewing purposes. Originally, the company put a halt on inviting the newspaper to screenings due to what it called biased reporting about Disney as it relates to the company's relationship with Anaheim, Ca., the home of Disneyland, and the tax incentives it receives from the city.
On November 3, a note was posted on the website of the LA Times that reads, "Walt Disney Co. studios declined to offer The Times advance screenings, citing what it called unfair coverage of its business ties with Anaheim. The Times will continue to review and cover Disney movies and programs when they are available to the public."
What followed was backlash from several critics groups, some of whom threatened to disqualify Disney films from year-end awards consideration. "Disney's actions, which include an indefinite ban on any interaction with the Times, are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists," the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and the National Society of Film Critics wrote in a joint statement.
The Television Critics Association followed with a statement of their own, reading, "The Television Critics Association understands that screeners and coverage opportunities are a privilege and not a right, but we condemn any circumstance in which a company takes punitive action against journalists for doing their jobs."
Among others who spoke up was director Ava DuVernay, whose next film is Disney's A Wrinkle In Time. She tweeted her solidarity with the reporters and critics boycotting Disney movies over the ban, writing, "Saluting the film journalists standing up for one another. Standing with you."
Now, Disney is backing off of the ban. It aren't necessarily admitting it were in the wrong, though. "We've had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we've agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics," the company says.
The move comes as Disney heads into a busy end of the year. Not only did Thor: Ragnarok just land in theaters, but the Pixar film Coco releases on November 22 and, on December 15, Star Wars: The Last Jedi will debut.
With the latest weekly reset, Bungie has launched the second-ever Faction Rally event in Destiny 2. It's now live on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, marking the first time that players on that platform will be able to take part in the limited-time event. Faction leaders have returned to their respective locations in the Tower, and you'll need to pledge your allegiance to one again to participate.
For the uninitiated, Faction Rallies are events where you temporarily join up with one of three factions: Dead Orbit, New Monarchy, or Future War Cult. By playing the game normally, you'll earn Faction Tokens, which can be turned in to your faction's leader for unique rewards. You can see all the Faction Rally weapons, armor, and gear in our gallery. A small selection follows below.
The other aspect of this is competition. Each faction's members work to unlock the most rewards over the course of the event. The faction that emerges victorious will then sell a Powerful, unique weapon for 50,000 glimmer to all players--or just 1,000 if you're a member of that faction. This time around, New Monarchy will sell a sword if it wins, Dead Orbit a grenade launcher, and Future War Cult a fusion rifle.
To get started, you'll have to finish the campaign and reach level 20. From there, head to the Tower and speak with each of the faction leaders (if you haven't done so previously). Doing so will allow you to see the weapon that will be for sale if that faction emerges victorious. You'll then pledge your loyalty and begin earning Tokens through various activities. Once you've accumulated enough, you can return to the leader to cash them in for a faction-specific engram. Bear in mind, only the first 30 rewards you earn with each character will possibly include gear; after that, you'll only get shaders. There's also a Faction Rally exploit to account for which provides an easy (if mind-numbingly boring) path to Tokens.
The way in which Tokens are awarded is different than during the first Faction Rally. Destiny 2's 1.0.6 update made changes to the number of Tokens paid out by certain activities; you'll get more in some ways and fewer in others. Each completed Strike provides from five to nine Tokens; previously, they offered three to seven. The first Nightfall of the week (per character) provides 10 to 18 Tokens, while Heroic Public Events hand out five (down from eight). Additionally, rather than destroying enemy resources in Lost Sectors, all members of a Fireteam will earn Tokens by opening the chest at the end of a Lost Sector.
This Faction Rally runs from now until the next weekly reset, which takes place on Tuesday, November 14. Victory Week will begin at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT) that day, which will give players seven days to purchase the winning faction's weapon and cash in any leftover Tokens.
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.
Since the release of It in theaters, fans have speculated who would play the adult versions of the kids from Derry that defeated Pennywise the Dancing Clown. One name thrown around quite a bit was Jessica Chastain, who many thought was the perfect choice to play a grown-up Beverly Marsh, portrayed as a teenager in the movie by Sophia Lillis.
As it turns out, Chastain herself is a fan of that idea. Speaking to ScreenRant, the actress admits that she would love to join the It sequel. One big selling point is it would reunite her with the brother/sister team of Andy and Barbara Muschietti--who directed and produced the first film, respectively.
"Well, I love Andy and Barbara. I worked with them on Andy's directorial debut, you know, his film, Mama. His first film. And you know, Barbara is one of my best friends," Chastain says. "Listen, of course, I want to work ... they're my friends. They're like my family. Anything that they're doing I want to be a part of, so I hope we can make it happen."
Mama, the first feature film directed by Andy, was written by both siblings and released in 2013. The horror film starred Chastain, along with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), and was met with critical and box office success. Mama was the only feature film directed by Muschietti, prior to his being hired for It.
No casting for the second chapter of It has been announced thus far. Following the success of the first film, which is based on the Stephen King novel, it was announced that a sequel would arrive in theaters on September 6, 2019--less than two years after the first film. Both Muschiettis will return, along with co-scriptwriter Gary Dauberman. Chastain can next be seen in Molly's Game, in theaters on December 25.
Xbox One X has been released, marking the debut of the most powerful gaming console to date. Provided you haven't already purchased one but are interested in doing so, you can already pick up a freebie alongside the system--so long as you're okay with not getting your hands on one for launch day.
Over on Ebay, where we often see launch-day discounts or promotions, you can still pick up an Xbox One X with a free copy of Ghost Recon: Wildlands right now for $500. This is available through highly rated seller Antonline and features free shipping. It can be shipped to the US, Canada, the UK, and many other countries.
As for Xbox One X, there's no denying it's a powerful console. Our Xbox One X review dives into what you can expect. Whether one is right for you will vary depending on your setup (a 4K TV is recommended but not required) and interest in playing improved versions of games that are playable on a standard Xbox One. An increasing number of titles have received free updates to introduce various graphical and performance boosts, and the system is capable of making games look better across the board. You can check out the full list of all the Xbox One X-enhanced games to see which ones are set to receive updates to really take advantage of the system's horsepower.
The following contains major spoilers for the November 7 episode of Smackdown Live.
Fans in attendance at the Smackdown Live taping were able to witness history on Tuesday in Manchester, England. Not only was it historic, though, but it also changed what fans will see at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view.
For the first time ever, the WWE Championship has changed hands outside of North America. AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal in the main event of the taping, becoming a two-time WWE Champion in the process. The win dramatically changes the match card at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view, which was set to see Mahal face WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar in a champion vs. champion match to headline the show.
With Styles now reigning as WWE World Champion, he will fill Mahal's spot as the representative of the blue brand. The title change comes one day after Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins on Raw to become WWE Raw Tag Team Champions. That team will now face the Usos in another champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series.
While this is the first time the WWE Championship has changed hands outside of North America, the company's top title has been switched on another continent before, albeit under a different name. On November 30, 1979, Antonio Inoki won the WWF Heavyweight Championship--renamed that year from the WWWF Heavyweight Championship--after beating Bob Backlund at a live event in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoki vacated the championship a week later and Backlund regained it. In its official title history, WWE does not recognize Inoki's win. Instead, they view Backlund's two reigns as one interrupted run as champion.
Previously, Styles held the WWE Championship for 140 days until losing it to John Cena in January at the Royal Rumble. Survivor Series airs on the WWE Network on Sunday, November 19.
After a few delays, the Spider-Man spin-off Venom is now in production. Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock, a man possessed by an evil alien parasite, and a new on-set video has been released that shows him engaging in some stuntwork.
In the behind-the-scenes clip, Hardy falls onto a mat, then proceeds to run up an alleyway. He stops to look at something and seems horrified--could this be a reflection of Venom, starring back at him? We'll find out in October next year, but in the meantime you can check out the video over at comicbookmovie.com.
The film is the first of Sony's Spider-Man spin-offs; although Spider-Man features in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony still owns the movie rights to the character. There was initially some confusion about whether Venom will be part of the MCU, and whether Spider-Man could appear in any of the spin-offs. Both Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Spidey actor Tom Holland have stated that the two universes are entirely separate. However, in June, former Sony boss and Spider-Man: Homecoming producer Amy Pascal suggested otherwise, before subsequently switching to Feige's position.
The next pair of Pokemon games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, launch on 3DS this month, marking the series' final installments for Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. The titles are based on last year's Sun and Moon versions but tell an "alternate" story that revolves around the mysterious Legendary Pokemon Necrozma.
While the core adventure remains the same across both versions, each game has some some distinct elements, so you may be unsure of which to pick up. We break down the biggest differences between the two versions below to help you decide which one to play.
Which Version Should You Get?
We recently had the opportunity to interview the developers of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and one of the topics they weighed in on is which version players should pick up.
"In essence there's no real problem with whichever one you buy, you're going to get a really good experience of Pokemon,"said Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon director Kazumasa Iwao. "But one point users might want to consider is that the Pokedex in Pokemon Ultra Sun is based on the Pokedex in Pokemon Sun and the same for Ultra Moon and Moon. So if something the players are really looking for is Pokedex completion, they might find it better to go for the opposite version this time round in order to help complete their Pokedex. So if they bought Pokemon Sun, they might want to choose Pokemon Ultra Moon this time."
However, those who care more about the games' narrative may want to consider sticking with the same version this time. As producer Shigeru Ohmori explained, "[I]f you're looking for a story-based experience then those who played Pokemon Sun may want to go for Ultra Sun as there are some small details that remain consistent throughout the two that might appeal to people looking for a story-based game."
General Differences
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon tell the same story and feature the same cast of major characters, but there are some slight differences between the two titles that will make the experience unique depending on the version you choose to play. As in the original Sun and Moon, the two games are set 12 hours apart. Ultra Sun will reflect the time that is set in your 3DS clock, while Ultra Moon will be 12 hours ahead--meaning if you play during the day, it will be night in the game.
Additionally, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon introduce a mysterious new group called the Ultra Recon Squad. This team arrives in Alola through an Ultra Wormhole and has some sort of connection to the Ultra Beasts; in one trailer, the group can be seen commanding the new Ultra Beast, UB-Adhesive. You'll encounter different members of the Ultra Recon Squad depending on which version you play. In Ultra Sun, players will cross paths with Dulse and Zossie; in Ultra Moon, players will meet Phyco and Soliera.
Ultra Recon Squad, from left to right: Dulse, Zossie, Soliera, and Phyco
Version-Exclusive Pokemon
As with every pair of Pokemon titles, the primary difference between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is the kinds of Pokemon you can encounter in each version. While both games feature most of the same monsters, each one is also home to a handful of exclusive Pokemon that cannot be captured in the other version. Below you'll find a list of all the version-exclusive Pokemon that have been confirmed so far:
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Vulpix
Alolan Ninetales
Houndour
Houndoom
Cranidos
Rampardos
Cottonee
Whimsicott
Tirtouga
Carracosta
Rufflet
Braviary
Lurantis (Totem-sized)
Passimian
Turtonator
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Sandshrew
Alolan Sandslash
Electrike
Manectric
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Petilil
Lilligant
Archen
Archeops
Vullaby
Mandibuzz
Salazzle (Totem-sized)
Oranguru
Drampa
Legendary Pokemon
The Alola region is also home to a diverse array of Legendary Pokemon, and thanks to the appearance of Ultra Wormholes in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, players will be able to encounter Legendaries from past regions, as well. Every single Legendary Pokemon from previous gens returns in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, though as is the case with regular Pokemon, some can only be encountered in a specific version. Here's the list of all the version-exclusive Legendaries that appear in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Legendaries
Ho-oh
Raikou
Groudon
Latios
Dialga
Heatran
Reshiram
Tornadus
Xerneas
Buzzwole
Kartana
Dusk Mane Necrozma
UB-Burst
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Legendaries
Lugia
Entei
Kyogre
Latias
Palkia
Regigigas
Zekrom
Thundurus
Yveltal
Lunala
Pheromosa
Celesteela
Dawn Wings Necrozma
UB-Assembly
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon release for 3DS on November 17. Along with an expanded storyline, the games introduce many new features and characters, including a new surfing game and Team Rainbow Rocket, a villainous supergroup comprised of the leaders from past teams. Players who purchase either title by January 10, 2018 will receive a free gift: a special Rockruff that evolves into the new Dusk Form Lycanroc.
Cuphead's visual style is the most distinctive part of the game, as it's evocative of old, light-hearted cartoons like Steamboat Willie. But its gameplay is something different: challenging and sometimes punishing, but rewarding nonetheless.
One particular boss in the game has become especially well-known for its brutality. Grim Matchstick, the dragon boss who throws fireballs and rings, is a struggle in spite of his cheery aesthetic. If you've already fought Grim, chances are you hate him--but the story of how he came to be is still intriguing.
GameSpot sat down with Cuphead creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer and learned about the origins of the dragon. Among other things, they touch on the model castle in the background of the level, how it draws on Mega-Man, and how Disney cartoons inspired its final phase. Check out the video above.
Cuphead launched last month to critical acclaim, and it's already sold over a million copies. If you haven't played Cuphead already, it's worth a shot. In GameSpot's 8/10 review, critic Peter Brown lauds the game for its visual flair and "delightfully punishing" gameplay. If you're struggling to stay alive in the game, you can take a look at our guide to not dying.
There's still over a week to go before Star Wars Battlefront II gets its full release, but Origin/EA Access subscribers are getting their first taste of the game today. The Battlefront II early access trial went live earlier today on Xbox One and PC. The trial lets you play up to 10 hours of the game.
The trial limits the number of single-player missions you can do, but everything in multiplayer is available. Servers are live now, and any progress you make will carry over to the full game when you buy it. The trial also includes support for enhanced graphics on the Xbox One X.
Star Wars Battlefront II releases on November 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. If you buy the Deluxe Edition, you'll get to play the full game early starting November 14.
We're now comfortably into November, and if you haven't already claimed them, that means the next set of Xbox One and Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles are waiting for you. 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.
November's lineup of free games for PlayStation Plus members is now available. This month, subscribers can download a total of seven titles across PS4, PS3, and Vita, which includes a bonus game for PSVR owners. As usual, PS4 owners have the widest selection of games to download due to that PSVR bonus and Cross-Buy.
Three titles are free right now on PS4 for PS Plus subscribers: Worms Battlegrounds, Bound, and PSVR title Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (the latter of which will be available for a longer-than-usual period of time). Thanks to Cross-Buy, PS4 players can also get a fourth title at no cost, Dungeon Punks.
The aforementioned titles will be free for PS Plus subscribers until December 5, when they'll return to their regular prices. Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, meanwhile, will be free until January 3. You can see the full list of this month's PS Plus freebies and grab them from the links below.
It has now been reported that the two producers in charge of the franchise's creative direction have quit entirely. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan have left to focus on other projects. Kurtzman is heavily involved with TV, including Star Trek: Discovery, while Morgan is writing the Fast & Furious spin-off which will star Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.
In a statement, Universal president of production Peter Cramer, said, "We've learned many lessons throughout the creative process on Dark Universe so far, and we are viewing these titles as filmmaker-driven vehicles, each with their own distinct vision. We are not rushing to meet a release date and will move forward with these films when we feel they are the best versions of themselves."
Whatever happens, there is no denying that this situation is a mess for Universal. The launch of the interconnected universe was very high profile, and THR states that the expensively refurbished Hollywood offices designed as a headquarters for the series are now sitting empty. As Cramer's statement suggests, one option the studio is reportedly considering is making standalone monster movies with established filmmakers, and abandoning the connected universe concept entirely.
The first sign that the Dark Universe was in trouble came last month, when Bride of Frankenstein director Bill Condon denied that his film was connected to a wider cinematic universe. "It has nothing to do with anything else. Nothing. Zero," he told Collider. Shortly after this, Universal cancelled pre-production entirely, and removed the film from its release slate.
Check out GameSpot's new gameplay video above to see the six new maps in action. Those outlined above all feature Galactic Assault and two other modes, but you'll also get to see Starfighter Assault on Endor Death Star Debris and Unknown Regions: Resurgent Class Star Destroyer. If that's not enough, check out a full Strike match on Kashyyyk and see some killstreaks on Kamino.
One of the new multiplayer modes in Star Wars: Battlefront II is Strike. Unlike some of the game's bigger modes, this one is quite small. It's a 6v6 mode, with each side fighting to win an objective. One side attacks, while the other defends. The attacking must return a package before the timer runs out or all lives are lost. The defenders, meanwhile, have to stop the attackers from securing the package at all costs.
You can watch a full match in our new video embedded above. It's on the new map Kashyyk, which is the homeworld of the Wookies. In addition to this video, you can see six new maps and watch some aerial killstreaks. This is just a taste of what's in the game; EA has boasted it's much larger than its predecessor. There's more to come post-launch, and all of Battlefront II's DLC maps and characters will be free.
Star Wars: Battlefront II is almost here. While you have to wait a little while longer to play the PS4, Xbox One, and PC shooter sequel, you can now see some fresh footage. In our new gameplay video above, we show off some of the aerial killstreaks you can do with ships like the Arc-170, Millennium Falcon, and Poe's Resistance X-Wing.
Check out GameSpot's new gameplay video above to see the new killstreaks in action. You can also watch a full Strike match on Kashyyyk and see six new maps. There's a lot take in just ahead of the game's launch.
Call of Duty: WWII launched last week to a positive critical reception, and now we know the shooter has succeeded commercially, too. During its opening weekend, the game sold twice as many copies as Infinite Warfare did during the same period last year, Activision has announced. The three days following launch saw the new Call of Duty make over $500 million, and its PS4 version is the "best-selling digital full game … on its first day of availability" ever on the PlayStation Store.
"Our $500 million opening weekend was not only bigger than Thor: Ragnarok's, it was bigger than the opening weekends of both Thor and Wonder Woman combined," said Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg. "And we're committed to supporting the community with continuous improvements and new content."
There has been plenty of news about DC's upcoming Shazam over past few weeks, including confirmation of its release date and cast. One thing we know we won't see in the movie however is Shazam's nemesis Black Adam. The villainous character is to be played in a future DC movie by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but it has already been confirmed that he won't be part of Shazam.
However, a new rumor suggests that Johnson might make his DC debut in Suicide Squad 2. According to The Wrap's sources, the plot of Suicide Squad 2 will revolve around "members of Suicide Squad [who are] tasked with tracking down a weapon of mass destruction." That weapon is apparenty Black Adam. Johnson himself teased a surprise introduction for the character earlier this year, when he told Fandango: "We have a really cool surprise for Black Adam that I can't reveal, in terms of where we will see Black Adam being introduced."
Even though we are used to seeing Johnson play more heroic characters, he explained to Digital Spy that the more complex nature of the Black Adam role had drawn him to it. "I just felt Black Adam was inherently more interesting to me because I felt there were more layers to [him], starting out as a slave and then ultimately becoming the anti-hero who we enjoy today."
Black Adam first appeared in 1945 as a one-off villain for a comic book called The Marvel Family, published by Fawcett Comics. He was later licensed by DC, alongside Shazam, and revived in the '70s as an ongoing character. In more recent years he has been portrayed as a more complex anti-hero than an outright bad guy, who will sometimes use his powers for good as well as evil.
It's going to be quite a while before we see a new PlayStation or Xbox console, according to Assassin's Creed Origins and Rainbow Six Siege publisher Ubisoft. In an investors' call, CEO Yves Guillemot stated the company believes the next major consoles are "a minimum of two years" away.
"As Sony launched PlayStation 4 Pro last year and Microsoft Xbox One X this year, we think we still have a minimum of two years in front of us before something new is coming," Guillemot stated. "But that's our perception, we don't have any confidential information on that front."
Guillemot went on to say he likes that Sony and Microsoft are updating their platforms with iterative new consoles in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, and he believes the new devices will aid the industry.
"We really like the fact that Sony and Microsoft are really putting more power in their machines, using the evolution of technology to give power to our developers to create better games for our players," he said. "That is going in the right direction rather than trying to do accessories or other things. That is going to help the industry a lot because the games will be really beautiful on those machines."
While a standalone Batman movie from DC has been planned for many years, it hasn't always been clear what we'd be getting. Initially, current Batman actor Ben Affleck was set to star in, direct, and co-write The Batman. However, Affleck stepped down as director in January, to be replaced by War for the Planet of the Apes' Matt Reeves. It was then reported that Affleck's script had been scrapped, and that he might not appear in the movie at all.
Affleck has now commented on his continued involvement with the DC universe. In an interview with ExtraTV, the star was asked if he will fulfil his five-film contract with the studio, to which he replied, rather wearily: "I don't know about that. We'll see what the future holds."
Since Reeves came on board, the direction of The Batman has clearly changed. While the director has since stated that Affleck is still involved, he has also confirmed that his script would no longer be used. Reeves has also teased a few details about his film. "It's really that emotionality that I am interested in," he said. "I want to do a very point-of-view-driven [film]. In all the films what I try to do, in almost a Hitchcockian sense, is use the camera and use the storytelling so that you become the character and you empathise with that point of view," he said.
"I think there is a chance to do an almost noir-driven detective version of Batman that is point of view driven in a very, very powerful way. And hopefully it is going to connect you to what's going on inside of his head and inside of his heart."
Affleck's latest appearance as Batman is in Justice League, which hits theaters on November 17. This week it was revealed that the surprisingly short running time of the movie was ordered by Warner CEO Kevin Tsujihara as a reaction to the extended length of previous movies such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film clocks in at 119 minutes, which makes it the shortest movie in the DC universe so far.
Microsoft's next console, the Xbox One X, launches worldwide on November 7. Xbox boss Phil Spencer is doing the media rounds to talk about the super-powerful console. One of his stops was on CNBC in New York, where he was asked who he thinks is the target audience for the new system. As he's said many times in the past, Spencer made it very clear that the Xbox One X is not for everyone.
"This is for the discerning connoisseur of gaming [that] has a 4K television, [who] wants to see the absolute best visuals," Spencer said. "This box is definitely targeted toward the customer that buys the most and plays the most."
By comparison, the less expensive Xbox One S, which will remain on sale, is being positioned as the mass-market device. As such, Microsoft believes it will sell much better than the Xbox One X. Spencer said Microsoft having two consoles on the market at the same time is all about giving players choice.
The Xbox One costs $500 in the US, meaning it's about twice the price of the Xbox One S. The new console plays all Xbox One games and works with the same controllers. More than 130 games are getting or already have been updated to take advantage of the Xbox One X's power, including first-party games like Halo 5 and big-name third-party titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
On the eve of the Xbox One X launch, Microsoft is talking about what may come next. In an interview with Bloomberg, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Microsoft may launch a streaming service by 2020. Here is the exact wording from Bloomberg's report:
"Microsoft will probably debut a streaming service that doesn't require a console for some types of content in the next three years, Spencer said."
The report says Microsoft held a trial for the service internally back in 2012. However, it was reportedly "too costly," which is why it was never made available publicly. Whatever this service is, it may be powered by Microsoft's cloud service program, Azure. Spencer said there have been advancements of late that could make this mysterious streaming service more potentially economically viable.
If Microsoft does indeed launch a game-streaming service, it would be following in the footsteps of Sony. The company's PlayStation Now service lets subscribers stream a hundreds of games, including PS4 and PS3 titles, starting at $20/month. That service lets users stream games either to a console or PC.
We'll report back with more details on Microsoft's secret game-streaming service as more information comes to light. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
Microsoft's Halo 5: Guardians is among the more than 130 Xbox One games that is getting or already has been updated to take advantage of the Xbox One X's power. Now, 343's studio head for FPS games, Chris Lee, has revealed more specifics about how Halo 5 leverages the power of the console.
In an interview with the Xbox Wire, Lee said the Xbox One "provides a ton of additional power." Specifically, the level of detail on elements that are further away are increased. And if you have a 4K TV, you may notice a "ton of detail" on things like characters, weapons, and vehicles, beyond what you would see on a 1080p set.
"From the materials and stitches on our Spartan's gloves to operator instructions on the ARs all the little details really shine," Lee said.
He added that that Halo 5's campaign and multiplayer see benefits on Xbox One X, especially in more intense things like the Warzone mode and larger campaign maps. Additionally, load times are "significantly faster," Lee said.
"The amount of visual detail that pops in 4K, from the texture of your Spartan's glove holding a Magnum to the crisp details of the world of Sanghelios, really adds to the overall feel of the game," Lee added. "The amount of detail that players didn't know was there will be a nice surprise."
Microsoft worked with Canadian game studio SkyBox labs on Halo 5, and this includes the Xbox One X enhancements. You can expect Microsoft to continue to think about how to best leverage the power of the Xbox One X with its future games.
"We have a lot of ambition for future projects. 4K lets us show a ton of detail in our assets. HDR is a great technology for a sci-fi game with vibrant color and FXs as a critical part of our gameplay sandbox," Lee said.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has acknowledged that Microsoft's investment in the area of first-party games has not been consistent over the years. Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer, who is known for his candid remarks, said Microsoft is open to acquiring studios and/or starting new ones as part of an effort to beef up the production of exclusives.
"We need to grow, and I look forward to doing that," Spencer explained. "Our ability to go create content has to be one of our strengths. We haven't always invested at the same level. We've gone through ups and downs in the investment."
"That meant we had to stop doing some other things in order to create room for that. And that's just kind of the nature of running a business," Spencer said. "One of the things that I wanted to do when I came into this job ... one of the things was our first-party and how I thought about needing to--this is an unfair word, but I'll say 'rework' our first-party. Regretfully, that meant certain things that we were doing, I thought we needed to do something different. It meant getting back to what I think is a core and building from that."
Microsoft's new console, the Xbox One X, goes on sale in just a matter of hours, on November 7 worldwide. GameSpot's Xbox One X review called the system a "more future-proof Xbox for 4K and HDR."
A TV series based on the epic fantasy franchise The Lord of the Rings is in the works, though it sounds like very early days and it may never happen. According to Variety, Warner Bros. TV and J.R.R. Tolkien's estate are talking to Amazon about developing a series based on the novels. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is reportedly actively involved personally in the discussions. Importantly, Variety points out the rumored talks are only in the "very early stages" and no agreement has been reached as of yet.
According to Variety, WB and the estate are speaking to other, unnamed platforms for the new Lord of the Rings show, with Amazon said to be the frontrunner at this stage. WB and Amazon had no comment when approached by Variety.
Variety points out that it is a rarity for Bezos to be personally involved in negotiations regarding Amazon Studios projects. He might be doing so due to the recent turnover at Amazon Studios. Roy Price was the Amazon Studios president before leaving the company recently amid sexual harassment claims. Head of scripted programming Joe Lewis and head of unscripted programming Conrad Riggs also left Amazon recently.
Some of Amazon Studios projects include the critically acclaimed shows Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, and The Man in the High Castle.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the biggest entertainment properties on the planet, so it is no surprise at all to learn it may continue with a TV series. There are no details at all as of yet regarding what part of the Lord of the Rings story the show might cover or who would star in it. Whatever the case, it is an exciting idea for Lord of the Rings fans.
In what could be a major shift in film and TV, Disney is reportedly in talks to buy most of 21st Century Fox. The entertainment conglomerate is home to the 20th Century Fox movie studio, along with the Fox Television Group, among many other properties.
The news comes from CNBC, which reports that talks between the two companies have taken place on and off over the last few weeks. However, at this point, there is no deal in place. While talks are not actively happening right now, it's reported that they could resume at any moment. Should it actually come to pass, though, this could reshape two of the biggest franchises in movies--the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the X-Men films.
Both series come from the Marvel Comics banner, but have been unable to crossover with each other thanks to being produced by different studios. Should Disney purchase 21st Century Fox, though, it would make bridging the two worlds much easier. That said, bringing the X-Men--and the Fantastic Four, for that matter--to Disney isn't the only major thing at stake in a potential sale.
An acquisition by Disney could also see the company taking over the FX and National Geographic cable networks, CNBC reports. It would, however, not include the Fox broadcast network. Disney owns ABC and is only allowed one TV network. The deal would also not include Fox Sports, Fox News, or Fox Business.
Perhaps more importantly, purchasing 21st Century Fox would go a long way in helping Disney beef up its TV and movie library as it prepares to launch a streaming service in 2019. Already, the company is working on pulling many of its titles from Netflix as it readies the project.
Looking at it from the 21st Century Fox side, being purchased by Disney would be a major point in film history. The 20th Century Fox studio was founded in 1935 and has produced some of the biggest movie franchises of all time, including the Alien films and Die Hard series. It's also the studio behind 2009's Avatar and the multiple sequels James Cameron is currently working on.
At this point, the possibility of talks are nothing more than reports. That said, with both Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox set to release new chapters in their superhero franchises in early 2018--Black Panther for Marvel, New Mutantsfor 20th Century Fox--it will certainly be interesting to see if the talks lead anywhere. Beyond that though, it will be fascinating to see what a sale could mean for the movie industry as a whole with one less major studio.
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