The second Wonder Woman movie won't arrive until late 2019, but it's never too early to start thinking about the plot of Diana Prince's (Gal Gadot) next adventure--especially if you're director Patty Jenkins. Jenkins, who helmed the first movie in the franchise and will once again take the reins on the sequel, is also working on the film's script with DC head Geoff Johns and writer David Callaham (Godzilla).
In an interview with Variety's Playback podcast, Jenkins revealed a little about the direction of the movie. Once again, Jenkins is looking to Wonder Woman herself as inspiration for the new film. "It's really still going to other values of hers, and a similar formula insofar as making a great, enjoyable fun movie but that ultimately in its third act turns some very big issues, and a very big experience that will aim to have slightly more weight and profundity than it has to have," she says. "Because that's a formula that I really like, and I like the idea of taking somebody on a very solid, great journey but that arrives at a bigger question being answered."
There will be one major change, though. The first Wonder Woman film explored Diana's roots on the island of Themyscira, before she became the world-famous superhero. Now, Jenkins says, "She's fully developed, it's got great fun from the start and great big superhero presence from the start."
It sounds like the movie will also continue trying to brighten up the dark and dour world of the DC Extended Universe. While Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice were practically void of any humor and positivity, Wonder Woman was a total departure. It was a movie filled with hope and laughs, and it reminded viewers what kind of superhero could lead the DCEU. Now, as they works on the second film, Jenkins says Wonder Woman 2 "is funny and a great love story again and a couple new unbelievable characters who I'm so excited about, who are very different than were in the last movie."
The bit about it being a love story is very interesting given that Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), Diana's love interest in the first movie, didn't make it out alive. Perhaps that's where the new character's Jenkins mentions come in.
Wonder Woman 2 arrives in theaters on November 1, 2019.
With no new major releases, the weekend was once again Pixar's for the taking, as Coco continued to sit at the top of the box office charts. In its second weekend, the animated film raked in $26.1 million, according to Entertainment Weekly. That brings Coco's domestic gross thus far to $108 million.
Coco easily topped Justice League, which came in second with $16.6 million. The superhero team-up movie has currently earned over $197 million domestically, with an additional $370 million worldwide.
In limited release, both Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water and James Franco's The Disaster Artist opened impressively. In only two locations, The Shape of Water earned $167,000, giving it one of the best per-theater averages of the year. Meanwhile, The Disaster Artist, which is about the making of The Room, totaled $1.2 million in 19 locations.
Woody Allen's latest film, Wonder Wheel, didn't fare as well in limited release. The Amazon Studios movie opened to $140,555 in five locations--an average of $28,111 per theater.
Rounding out the top five are Wonder with $12.5 million, Thor: Ragnarok's $9.7 million, and the $6.7 million earned by Daddy's Home 2. You can see the full Top 10 chart below, covering December 1-3. The numbers were compiled by EW.
Coco -- $26.1 million
Justice League -- $16.6 million
Wonder -- $12.5 million
Thor: Ragnarok -- $9.7 million
Daddy's Home 2 -- $7.5 million
Murder on the Orient Express -- $6.7 million
Lady Bird -- $4.5 million
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri -- $4.5 million
The streaming service made the announcement on Twitter with a poll, asking fans if it should continue with another year. Minutes later, Netflix followed with a new tweet, writing, "FOR THE LOVE OF STEVE, DUH! So hold tight baby darts--season 3 is officially happening."
FOR THE LOVE OF STEVE, DUH! So hold tight baby darts — season 3 is officially happening.
Given how Season 2 ended, with the revelation that not only did the Shadow Monster survive, but was growing stronger, it should be a no-brainer that the series would continue. The Duffer brothers, who created Stranger Things, have been very clear about their having a story in mind for the next two seasons, ET Online reports.
That said, should the popularity of Stranger Things continue to skyrocket--and those involved continue to be interested--it's possible the series could run beyond four seasons. Whether that would be a good idea remains to be seen. There's a long list of great shows that fans loved until the quality--and popularity--started to decline. It's best for a show to not wear out its welcome by staying past its expiration date.
Then again, The CW's Supernatural is currently on its 13th season and shows no signs of slowing down. Anything is possible. There is no announced return date for Stranger Things. However, with a little over a year between the first two seasons, there's a chance fans could see the next season before the end of 2018.
With just two weeks before Star Wars: The Last Jedi debuts in theaters, new behind-the-scenes footage has been released. The training featurette finds the movie's cast learning the choreography and fighting skills needed to pull off the epic battle scenes that will be featured in the film.
From Daisy Ridley picking up new lightsaber tricks for her role as Rey to Gwendoline Christie figuring out the easiest ways to move around in a battle while wearing her restrictive Captain Phasma armor, the Star Wars cast is going out of their way to make the movie's fights as authentic as possible. They are also looking to use stunt doubles as little as possible when it comes to the movie's showdowns.
"Finn and Phasma end up face-to-face, which results in a major fight," John Boyega (Finn) explains. "One thing I do want to do is do the whole fight by myself."
Even new addition Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose in The Last Jedi, is getting in on the fun with her own training. "What was cool was learning different types of fighting," she says. "It was intense and fun, but it was really hard."
The training can also hurt. In the featurette, as she prepares for a scene with Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Ridley strikes herself in the head with her own weapon. "It's just rigorous in a great way," Driver says.
If this short look at the making of the movie shows anything, it's that Star Wars: The Last Jedi is taking its fights to an entirely new level. You'll be able to see the next chapter in the Star Wars saga when it lands in theaters on December 15.
Lionsgate has set an official release date for its upcoming remake of Hellboy. The film, which is not connected to the original two movie, will arrive in theaters on January 11, 2019.
The reboot will star David Harbour (Stranger Things) in the title role, with The Descent and Game of Thrones director Neil Marshall helming the project. The script for the new take on Hellboy comes from Mike Mignola, who created the character, along with Andrew Cosby (Eureka) and Christopher Golden (Ghosts of Albion: Embers).
The first two Hellboy movies starred Ron Perlman as the titular demon who fights supernatural villains, with Guillermo del Toro serving as director. Back in June, comedian Patton Oswalt got Perlman and Harbour to sit down together, at which point the first Hellboy gave his approval to his successor.
"Apparently Patton Oswalt aka balvenieboy thought it was a good idea to host [David Harbour] and yours truly for a detente dinner," Perlman wrote on Facebook. "The result: I gained 3 pounds and ruined my liver. Meanwhile, good luck kid! Signed, the babe."
While details surrounding the new movie are being kept under wraps, Harbour previously teased that it wouldn't be an origin story. "We kind of pick up the movie like we're running and gunning," he explains. "We do have a little bit of stuff where we show stuff, but it really is a story and you just drop in with this guy."
Hellboy also stars Milla Jovovich, Daniel Dae Kim, and Ian McShane.
Ahead of its debut sometime in 2018, the first look at the upcoming live-action adaptation of Teen Titans has been released and it showcases a major DC universe character. Robin, otherwise known as Dick Grayson, leads the team in Titans, and his vigilante suit is an impressive one.
The first image from the series shows Brenton Thwaites (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) in Robin's suit, complete with his signature staff. The costume was designed by Laura Jean, who is no stranger to superhero looks with costume credits that include both Iron Man and The CW's upcoming Black Lightning.
Titans hails from DC Entertainment and The Berlanti Company, with Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, and Sarah Schecter serving as executive producers. In addition to Robin, Anna Diop stars as Starfire, Teagan Croft as Raven, Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, Alan Ritchson as Hawk, and Minka Kelly as Dove.
An official synopsis for the series reads, "Dick Grayson emerges from the shadows to become the leader of a fearless band of new heroes, including Starfire, Raven and many others. Titans is a dramatic, live-action adventure series that will explore and celebrate one of the most popular comic book teams ever."
Titans is being produced exclusively for the still-unnamed streaming service DC is planning to launch in 2018. It's one of three programs in the works for the service so far, along with a revival of the animated Young Justice series and a Harley Quinn cartoon geared toward adult audiences..
This past Monday, Finn Balor fought a competitive match against Kane. And although he won the match via disqualification, Balor ended the evening with a chair wrapped around his neck. A couple of weeks prior, Kane pinned Balor cleanly in the center of the ring. This would have been an acceptable outcome in 1998, when Kane was booked to be nearly invulnerable. But these days, he's a 50-year-old mayoral candidate who wrestles when his schedule allows him to.
Based on the past couple of months, this mini-feud will likely culminate in a match where Balor finally takes on his Demon form and definitively beats Kane.
While watching Raw these past two months, I found myself thinking, "Balor lost, but he's not in his Demon form," and, "If Balor was in his Demon form, he wouldn't have his neck in a steel chair." This was the narrative arc for Balor's feud with Bray Wyatt; Balor was a mild-mannered good guy until Wyatt pushed him too far. And then, the Demon came out to play. It was the Demon who crushed Wyatt at SummerSlam.
This plot device also extends to the WWE video games. In WWE 2K18, the Finn Balor character--the normal, leather jacket version--is rated an 88 out of 99. Meanwhile, the Demon Finn Balor character is rated 92 out of 99. It reinforces the point that WWE implies on TV: that Demon Finn Balor is a stronger, better version of the "normal" character.
But it's puzzling that WWE would script this. The difference between normal Finn Balor and Demon Finn Balor does more to hurt the man than it does to help him. Finn Balor should be Demon Finn Balor whenever he fights, and not only during the "big" matches.
WWE storytelling works best with clear, definitive plot points. As it is, clean wins are rare; there are always managers jumping on the ring apron, or weird match stipulations, or low blows when the referee isn't looking. Giving Balor two difficulty settings muddies the waters further. And imagine how embarrassing it is for an opponent who loses to normal, leather jacket Balor; that opponent didn't register as a threat. Balor never even pulled out the big guns, but he still managed to pin his opponent.
It also adds an asterisk to the end of any Balor loss. Did he lose as his normal self? And if so, does he then need a rematch--this time as the Demon--to win? By this logic, no Balor loss is a "true loss" unless he loses in his Demon form. And that's an exhausting, insufferable way to approach storytelling in this medium. That might work in video games, but not in a television show, with limited time each week, that presents itself as an athletic competition.
"Hey, I beat Finn Balor, but I only beat him on Easy Mode! Now I have to beat him in Demon Mode, or it doesn't really count."
The most common argument for giving Balor two personas is that it makes the Demon a special attraction. Might people become desensitized to the gimmick if Balor used it every week? But history does not support that argument. The Undertaker showed up as an Old West mortician for decades, and it never got old. Balor's Demon gimmick has the same sort of strength and resiliency.
Imagine if The Undertaker had two versions, where 90% of the time, he dressed as a biker and came to the ring as a biker. But whenever he started losing to an opponent, he kicked it up a notch and went into "Dead Man" mode to get a win. It would be a ridiculous, unnecessary complication, which is why we got Biker Undertaker OR Dead Man Undertaker. We never got both within the same week.
And at least The Undertaker was a big, intimidating man. Balor is 5'11 and 190 pounds. Technically speaking, he belongs in the cruiserweight division (205 pounds or under), even though he fights as a heavyweight. And when Finn Balor is placed next to men like Braun Strowman or Brock Lesnar in nothing but black tights and a leather jacket, it's difficult for the average fan to take him seriously. Balor looks like he walked off the set of Grease Live; for fans who don't know his history outside of WWE, he doesn't appear to be a legitimate threat.
The Demon gives Balor an edge--a sense of mystery and danger--that he otherwise lacks. And narratively, it's the x-factor that could make Balor vs. Strowman or Balor vs. Lesnar palatable. We can suspend our disbelief long enough to accept that yes, with this supernatural advantage, Balor can overcome the odds and emerge as the better fighter. Balor also fights better and with more intensity whenever he has his Demon makeup on. It could be deliberate. It could be a psychological issue, where the makeup helps Balor get into the right headspace. But whatever the case, it is palpable and self-evident.
Balor was a massive star on NXT. He was on his way to being a massive star on Raw until his shoulder injury derailed him. And his greatest WWE moments thus far--his NXT title win over Kevin Owens at Beast in the East, his win over Samoa Joe at NXT TakeOver: London, and his Universal title win over Seth Rollins at SummerSlam (2016)--were as his Demon persona. WWE should embrace this gimmick instead of keeping it locked away. They're too busy trying to protect it, and meanwhile, they're hurting the wrestler who would benefit most from using it.
By Anonymous on Dec 05, 2017 12:08 am Jean-Luc and Erick visit the lovely world of hell in virtual reality all thanks to Doom VFR releasing last Friday, December 1st.
Variety was not in short supply when it came to gaming videos in 2017. Niantic finally gave Pokemon Go fans what they wanted--namely, robust content updates--even though catching Legendaries was easier said than done. When it came to GameSpot's video reviews, there was the expected mix of critically acclaimed releases and hotly anticipated sequels that were met with disappointment. This year also had its steady stream of trailers from releases that shipped in 2017 to games that don't have a release date in sight. And a crafty April Fools gag made many Breath of the Wild fans wish piloting Guardians was possible. This list, in no particular order, represents a mix of many of GameSpot's most watched videos and the diversity of content that pulled in viewers.
When it comes to $200 high definition TVs, many American consumers were willing to risk their well being while waiting for days on lawn chairs and in tents. Gaming has been a part of Black Friday for a few decades but do you know how this celebration of wanton consumerism originated? Let our history lesson enlighten you.
Mass Effect: Andromeda Review
Mass Effect: Andromeda ranks among one of 2017's biggest disappointments, but why? This video version of Scott Butterworth's review covers the key reasons why this sequel was a letdown. As he put it, "As a Mass Effect game, Andromeda falls well short of the nuanced politics, morality, and storytelling of its predecessors. For me, the series has always been about compelling characters and harrowing choices, so to find such weak writing here is bitterly disappointing."
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is not only a phenomenal game, but it's also one of the best console launch releases of all time. It pushes the boundaries of open-world while giving the player limitless emergent gameplay opportunities. As reviewer Peter Brown put it, "It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience."
Nintendo Switch Review
2017 was a redemptive year for Nintendo, which centered around the strong launch of its console and a solid helping of superb games throughout the year from Super Mario Odyssey to Golf Story. It's about as solid of a launch as any, thought there's still room for improvement through added online features via firmware updates. Our review covers the hardware's many strengths and its few shortcomings.
Xbox One X Review
Microsoft's answer to the PlayStation 4 Pro is a sleek, black, and hefty upgrade to the original Xbox One with 4K video as one of its major selling points. Another strength is its GPU, making older Xbox One games look and perform better than before. Even more impressive was how select games from older Xbox consoles--such as Ninja Gaiden Black and Mirror's Edge--were enhanced on this $500 powerhouse.
Pokemon Go - Over 80 New Pokemon Trailer
After its mid-2016 launch, it took a while for Pokemon Go developer Niantic to deliver a substantial update to its runaway hit. So naturally, the announcement of over 80 new Pokemon would get fans' attention. One of the studio's advantages is that can dip into two decades worth of pocket monster rosters so it would not be surprising if a similar reveal is in store in 2018.
Even More Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The fact that GameSpot produced multiple Things I Wish I Knew videos for Breath of the Wild illustrated just how rich the game was in moments and places to discover. The editorial and video teams at GameSpot where happy to share any and every emergent gameplay opportunity that resulted from over hundreds of combined hours of playtime. Even month after release, fans are still discovering new things to do.
How To Unlock Cuphead's Secret Modes
Cuphead has proven to be one of the toughest games of 2017 and one of the most demanding run-and-gun shooters of all time. Granted, these secret modes only unlock visual filters, but doing what's necessary to earn these tweaks are their own bragging rights. Let our resident Cuphead expert and video producer, Joey Yee, explain.
Fortnite - Gameplay Trailer
After years in development limbo, Epic's sandbox survival game finally released in 2017 and the studio reminded the gaming public of its existence with a short and sweet E3 trailer. This thorough overview covered the depth and complexity of Fortnite, while also displaying the cartoon-styled charm of its art and characters. Narration by one of the heroes was also an effective touch.
Pokemon Go - Legendary Trailer
The only Pokemon Go news bigger than the reveal of new characters is, naturally, the announcement of the first Legendary Pokemon. By game trailer standards, this reveal was a big production, focusing on the augmented reality aspects of the game, even if it took creative liberties on real time interactions. You really wouldn't want Lugia flying outside your apartment window, would you?
Which Destiny 2 Class Is Right For You
Picking a class is an important decision, especially for a game like Destiny 2, where you can easily spend over 100 hours in Raids and PvP sessions. Even if you know the fundamental differences between tanks, rogues, and mages, it didn't hurt to know how these classes have been adapted to the Destiny universe. Our brief, yet thorough guide on which Guardian is right for you proved helpful to both Destiny veterans and newcomers.
The History of Assassin's Creed
After 10 years and over 10 mainline releases, 2017 was a great time to look back on one of Ubisoft's biggest franchises of all time. This comprehensive 30-minute history lesson by Jean-Luc Seipke effectively illustrates how prolific the series' studios were, releasing more hits than duds. It's only fitting that this retrospective and anniversary came out the same year as Assassin's Creed Origins, which one can argue marks a new stage in the franchise, both in narrative and gameplay.
How To Pilot A Guardian In Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Rather than overhaul the GameSpot.com website with some elaborate April Fools gag, our video team went with a more nuanced approach, by designing this made-up how-to on piloting guardians in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. How did we know this video was a success? When viewers who knew this was an April Fools joke still followed our steps just in case this trick was real.
Beyond Good and Evil 2: First In-Engine Gameplay Demo (Official) E3 2017
Yes, the E3 2017 reveal of Beyond Good & Evil 2 was a highlight of Ubisoft's press conference, but it was disappointing that none of the visuals looked like real-time graphics. Thankfully, Ubisoft had an in-engine gameplay demonstration ready. While we were relieved to see this work-in-progress running in real-time, it's clear the game has a long way to go, and we're hoping for more substantial updates in 2018.
In a year that included Everybody's Golf and Wipeout Omega Collection, series' that began on the original PlayStation made their presence known in 2017. Ace Combat looks to continue this trend in 2018 with Skies Unknown, a multi-platform release that notably includes PlayStation VR. This trailer attests that this seventh mainline installment will continue the franchise's tradition of robust storytelling in its campaign mode.
This year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales may be over, but those aren't the end of the game deals you'll find this holiday season. If you're still in the market for some new titles, Best Buy has kicked off a new buy one, get one 50% off promotion that gives you the chance to score a nice discount on some of this year's biggest releases for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
If you purchase any of the aforementioned games at their standard price of $60, you can get a second title from the list for 50% off, dropping its price down to $30, which is comparable to many of the sale prices that were available on Black Friday. To take advantage of the offer, simply go on Best Buy's website and add the two titles you'd like to pick up to your cart. The discount will be reflected when you check out.
This promotion doesn't stack with other Best Buy offers, but Gamers Club Unlocked members will still receive an additional discount for the titles. The GCU program gives members 20% off of all new game purchases at Best Buy, so you can purchase one of the aforementioned games for $48 and the second title will drop down to $24. A two-year GCU membership runs for $30.
The buy one, get one 50% off promotion will only be available through Saturday, December 9, so if you've had your eye on any of these titles but have yet to pick them up, this would be a good opportunity. There will likely be more game deals in the weeks leading up to Christmas, so be sure to check GameSpot as more sales and promotions are announced.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
It's the end of the year, so we're taking a look back at the biggest gaming trends from the year that was. To that end, we've compiled a list of the 20 most-read gaming stories on GameSpot from January through the end of November. There was a lot of big news this year, with stories around Star Wars: Battlefront II microtransactions/loot boxes, Destiny 2 updates, and Red Dead Redemption II cracking into the top 20.
Keep reading to see our most-popular stories, counting down to number one. One important thing to note is that for some stories, in the interest of presenting the most widely read stories and topics, we combined the views for stories around recurring topics such as Black Friday, Destiny 2 updates, and free games.
20) "Sony Is Teasing 'Something New' For PlayStation
Everyone seems to like to know what's coming up next for any big product. In August, Sony teased that it was getting ready to talk about "something new" for PlayStation. It turned out that this was the new GT Sport edition PlayStation 4 console, so it might not have been what you wanted, but it's still pretty cool. [Read the full story]
19) New Red Dead Redemption 2 Trailer Released; Still No Release Date From Rockstar
A new trailer for Red Dead Redemption II dropped at the end of September. Given that Rockstar's open-world western is sure to be one of 2018's biggest games, this story got a lot of traction. Unfortunately, Rockstar didn't give us a release date at the time--and still has not. [Read the full story]
18) Call Of Duty: WW2 Beta Is Now Playable On PS4 And Xbox One
There has been and continues to be a lot of interest in the newest Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: WWII. This year Activision held a public beta for the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, allowing players to try the game before launch in November. [Read the full story]
17) New South Park Game Warns You To Not Play Due To Microtransactions
One of the biggest trends overall in gaming this year was microtransactions. So it was pretty funny when the new South Park mobile game, Phone Destroyer, jokingly (?!) warned players to avoid the game due to microtransactions. [Read the full story]
16) SNES Classic Edition: How To Pre-order
One of the biggest new consoles this year was an old one...sort of. Nintendo launched the SNES Classic Edition at the end of September. Given what happened with the NES Classic, people were very much interested in finding out how to secure a pre-order. [Read the full story]
15) Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Dev Is "Incredibly Saddened" About The Game's Negative Feedback
Star Wars: Battlefront II shows up more than once in our Top 20 most-read stories. They both, as you might have guessed, were related to the game's much-criticised microtransaction/loot box system. Before the microtransactions were removed, DICE held a Reddit AMA in which some developers said they were "incredibly saddened" by the negative feedback surrounding the game. [Read the full story]
14) Bethesda E3 2017: Exec Explains Why Elder Scrolls 6 Not Happening Soon Is A Good Move
At E3 this year, Bethesda's Pete Hines talked about how the studio will eventually make The Elder Scrolls 6--though you shouldn't expect it to launch anytime soon. Hines said it's in the developer's best interest to try and do new things before making the next instalment. [Read the full story]
13) All The Pokemon Ultra Sun And Moon 3DS Differences: What Are The Exclusives In Each Game?
The newest Pokemon games, Ultra Sun and Moon, launched in November. In the lead-up to launch, GameSpot's Kevin Knezevic broke down the differences between each game, including the exclusives in each version and more. [Read the full story]
12) Mario Kart Wii Has Been Hiding A Secret Mode For Almost Ten Years
In August, it was discovered that Nintendo's 2008 kart racing game Mario Kart Wii had a secret mode, Mission Mode, that no one found out until this year--almost 10 years after launch. It was discovered by someone with the username MrBean3500vr, so we're all winners here. [Read the full story]
11)Big New Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Update Out Now, Here's What It Does
A big patch for Nintendo's celebrated RPG The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched in November. It added a new side-quest that rewards you with armour based on Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Rex. It also added supported for the four new Champion Amiibo figures. [Read the full story]
10) Blizzard Apologizes To Entire Country Of Australia About Overwatch, Here's Why
The new Overwatch Junkertown map, which is set in Australia, used the word "take-out" instead of "takeaway" to describe food that you take home from a restaurant. The internet revolted, and game director Jeff Kaplan apologised. The map was edited to include the proper Australian term, so all was made right in the world again. [Read the full story]
9) Here Are Two Free Mythical Pokemon You Can Claim Right Now
Free stuff is pretty much always popular, and this was the case with Pokemon this year. Through different promotions, Nintendo gave away new Mythical Pokemon in the 3DS games Pokemon Sun/Moon, X/Y, and Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby. [Read the full story]
8) Just Before Star Wars: Battlefront 2's Release, EA Removes Microtransactions For Now
One of the biggest stories of the year was around Star Wars: Battlefront II and its use of microtransactions/loot boxes. After facing an avalanche of criticism about how players could pay for the chance to get game-affecting items, EA completely removed all microtransactions for launch. The story didn't end there, however, as lawmakers around the world are now launching investigations into whether or not loot boxes constitute gambling. [Read the full story]
7) Ariana Grande Will Be in a Final Fantasy Game
Yes, one of the most widely read stories on GameSpot this year was about the pop singer Ariana Grande. In January, it was announced that the "Side To Side" singer would appear in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. [Read the full story]
6) PewDiePie Uses Racial Slur In Livestream, Game Dev Says He's "Worse Than A Closeted Racist"
YouTube's biggest star, PewDiePie, made headlines this year when he used a racial slur during one of his livestreams. A game developer responded by calling him "worse than a closeted racist," and PewDiePie later apologised. [Read the full story]
5) PS4's 5.0 Update Revealed, Here's What It Does
The new PlayStation 4 update, 5.00, was announced in August before launching for everyone in October. News about this update got a lot of attention, and for good reason, as the update contained quite a few welcome additions and improvements. [Read the full story]
4) BlizzCon 2017: All The New Overwatch Skins Based On Diablo, StarCraft, And Other Blizzard Games
Overwatch is a huge hit, with some 30 million players. At BlizzCon this year, Blizzard announced new skins based on Diablo, StarCraft, and other Blizzard games. [Read the full story]
3) Free PS Plus/Gold Games With Gold titles
Another popular recurring story this year were our reports on the free PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Games With Gold titles. Everyone likes free stuff, and this is no different for video games. Both services offered up dozens of free games this year, so your digital game libraries are probably stuffed for the holidays--not a bad thing!
2) All The Destiny 2 News And Updates
Destiny 2 finally launched in September. Given the game's numerous elements and modes, along with its games-as-a-service model, there was a huge amount of interest in the game among the GameSpot readership. All up, our Destiny 2 coverage turned out to be the most popular content on GameSpot this year only behind one other subject. [Further reading]
1) All The Black Friday Deals!
Not that we're surprised, but Black Friday generated a huge amount of interest this year on GameSpot. There were some great deals on offer this year, including big discounts on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, in addition to loads and loads of games. Hopefully you found what you were looking for this Black Friday. [Further reading]
With 2017 quickly coming to a close and 2018 looming on the horizon, we're taking a step back to reflect on the biggest gaming trends from the past year. 2017 was packed with incredible game releases across all platforms, from instant PS4 classics like Horizon Zero Dawn and Persona 5 to the debut of the Nintendo Switch and its exceptional new Mario and Legend of Zelda games. The past year was certainly not lacking for highly anticipated releases, regardless of which console you own.
But while many of the year's most hotly awaited titles lived up to the lofty expectations surrounding them, not every game turned out the way fans may have hoped. Mass Effect: Andromeda was considered by many to be one of the year's biggest disappointments, especially compared to its acclaimed predecessors, and at the beginning of the year, few could have predicted the backlash that would meet Star Wars Battlefront II thanks to its controversial microtransactions. Fan criticism was so severe that EA temporarily removed microtransactions from the game just prior to its launch.
With so many major titles out in 2017, we've compiled a list of our top 20 most-read game reviews from January through the end of November. Read on to see which reviews were our most popular in the past year.
20) Persona 5
"Within Persona 5 is a complex set of interconnected gameplay mechanics, and in almost every aspect Atlus has executed on its vision exceptionally, barring the pacing issues towards the end. At every turn, it presents something to marvel at, whether it's the fluid combat, vibrant world, or the many memorable characters. It's a game I could talk about for hours; I haven't mentioned the ability to connect to the Thieves Guild, which lets you see how other players spent their day or ask them for help answering questions at school. Or the thumping acid-jazz-infused soundtrack that I've not been able to get out of my head. Or even just the joy of seeing how it stylishly transitions between menus. But that encapsulates why Persona 5 is a game that shouldn't be missed. It's stuffed to bursting point with gameplay ideas and presentation flourishes--there's an overwhelming level of artistry in every part of Persona 5, making it a truly standout entry in the series." -- Lucy James[Read the full review]
19) Sniper Elite 4
"Sniper Elite 4 feels like a natural progression for this series, as Rebellion continues to refine its systems and put a greater emphasis on the long-range shooting it does so well. Its stealth and action mechanics may be simplistic, but they're functional and regularly enjoyable. And the maps--with their impressive scale, open-ended objectives, and clever level design--coalesce these disparate systems into a creative and fulfilling whole. There are still some issues with AI inconsistency, a bland story, and some dull competitive multiplayer, but it finally feels like this series is living up to its long-standing potential." -- Richard Wakeling[Read the full review]
18) Observer
"Cyberpunk is a reflection of where we're headed as a society, an oddly alluring reality where we've allowed impressive technology into our lives at the cost of our humanity. This is a niche genre that needs new revisions and new pioneers so it can keep evolving as we inch closer to seeing its fictional warnings play out in real life, and Observer adds to the familiar parables in fascinating and unexpected ways. In that respect, and on so many other levels, Observer is a haunting and remarkable achievement." -- David Rayfield[Read the full review]
17) For Honor
"After slaying countless foes, it's clear the impact For Honor's combat has had; its fundamental tenets of discipline and restraint are bestowed upon you permanently, forever changing the way you perceive a melee-combat encounter in a game. In its highest moments, For Honor is difficult to put down. Its slow combat pace and narrative shortcomings might turn off those unwilling to take the time to dive deep into what it has to offer. However, make no mistake--those who do will be rewarded with some of the most satisfying multiplayer melee fighting conceived in recent years." -- Matt Espineli[Read the full review]
16) Super Mario Odyssey
"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." -- Peter Brown[Read the full review]
15) Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." -- Kallie Plagge[Read the full review]
14) Injustice 2
"With AI battles, online and local versus matches, the diverse and ever-changing Multiverse, and an impressive story mode, Injustice 2 offers numerous ways of engaging with its characters and testing your abilities without feeling repetitive. This variety is further bolstered by gear. Despite the needlessly complex economy tied to item management, the value of customization and expression that comes with gear ultimately makes up for it. And with over 25 characters to explore, it's easy to look forward to watching your next character grow while your understanding of the game continues to expand. NetherRealm has delivered a fighting game that can be enjoyed by new players and pros alike in ways that go beyond pure competition. It's a bar that every fighting game should meet, but one that has up until now seemed out of reach." -- Peter Brown[Read the full review]
13) Ghost Recon: Wildlands
"As only the second open world game in the Clancyverse, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a middlingly safe tactical shooter and a slightly wasted opportunity given the ambitious scope of its seemingly boundless map. While its main strength is its mission diversity, it doesn't take long to lose the motivation after reaching El Sueno's doorstep. Even with a foursome of highly trained friends, Wildlands eventually reveals its diminishing returns. The feeling of positive immediacy and dopamine hits begin to wane sooner than you expected from a game with such a large and diverse world." -- Miguel Concepcion[Read the full review]
12) Assassin's Creed Origins
"While Assassin's Creed Origins reaches great heights in this new setting, it routinely runs into issues that bog down the overall experience. Technical issues make for an inconsistent experience and its new gameplay pillars wobble under the weight of its systems. But despite this, the world of Origins remains fresh and exciting to explore, which is a testament to the remarkable setting and compelling story. Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." -- Alessandro Fillari[Read the full review]
11) Divinity: Original Sin 2
"From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made. Its immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of the year thus far, and it has to be regarded as an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats." -- Brett Todd[Read the full review]
10) Nioh
"Although the spectre of potential failure hangs heavy over any play session, dying in Nioh is never genuinely disheartening. This is thanks in part to the various avenues of character growth and many approaches you can utilize to tackle a difficult section or boss fight. It shouldn't be surprising that the foresight and patience needed to survive a battle in Dark Souls translates well to the fundamentals of samurai combat here. Nioh's most invigorating and intimidating moments occur when you feel you're at equal footing with your opponent. And it's during these encounters that one careless move can result in your demise or the right string of thoughtful actions can make you feel invincible." -- Miguel Concepcion[Read the full review]
9) Middle-earth: Shadow of War
"It tries to be larger than its predecessor, there are more abilities, more weapons, more Orcs, yet it leaves you wanting less. But at its core, it's a fun experience with brilliant moments that provide fascinating insight into some of the untold stories of Middle-earth. I just wish it had known when to stop." -- Justin Haywald[Read the full review]
8) Destiny 2
"In true Destiny fashion, if you do something once, you'll probably end up doing it many more times. The difference with Destiny 2 is in the variety and accessibility of what's available, which cuts down on a lot of the frustration associated with grinding. And even after you've leveled up, there's still more you can do, from keeping up with daily and weekly challenges to just hanging out with friends. It's a much stronger foundation than the original had and one that's enough on its own to keep people coming back week after week." -- Kallie Plagge[Read the full review]
7) Nier: Automata
"Thanks to Platinum Games' knack for riveting and gratifying combat, Automata is Yoko Taro's most exciting game to date. The combat mechanics click after hurdling a low learning curve, and the end result is a skillful dance where balletic dodges complement wushu-inspired aggression. Moreover, this multi-ending trip is generously peppered with surprises and revelations, as well as easter eggs that call back to the first game and the Drakengard series from which Nier spun off. It's a meaty, often exhilarating trek that showcases Platinum Games' and Yoko Taro's unique blend of genius." -- Miguel Concepcion[Read the full review]
6) Star Wars Battlefront II
"While its main narrative feels unresolved, and the general loop of the multiplayer carries a number of issues, Battlefront II still manages to evoke that same sense of joy and excitement found in the core of what the series is all about. But as it stands, the biggest hurdle that Battlefront II will need to overcome--for its simultaneous attempts to balance progression with genuine feeling of accomplishments--is deciding on what type of game it wants to be." -- Alessandro Fillari[Read the full review]
5) Horizon Zero Dawn
"This is the first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo. For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process." -- Peter Brown[Read the full review]
4) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." -- Scott Butterworth[Read the full review]
3) Call of Duty: WWII
"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 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[Read the full review]
2) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created." -- Peter Brown[Read the full review]
1) Mass Effect: Andromeda
"In many ways, Andromeda feels like a vision half-fulfilled. It contains a dizzying amount of content, but the quality fluctuates wildly. Its worlds and combat shine, but its writing and missions falter--and the relative strength of the former is not enough to compensate for the inescapable weakness of the latter. As a Mass Effect game, Andromeda falls well short of the nuanced politics, morality, and storytelling of its predecessors. For me, the series has always been about compelling characters and harrowing choices, so to find such weak writing here is bitterly disappointing. Yet even after 65 hours, I still plan on completing a few more quests. The game can't escape its shortcomings, but patient explorers can still find a few stars shining in the darkness." -- Scott Butterworth[Read the full review]
Finding gifts for the PC gamer can be tough considering there are just so many dang peripherals out there. That's why we've done the dirty work for you and have outlined the best bang-for-the-buck keyboard, mouse, monitor and more that will serve as excellent gifts this holiday season.
Keyboard: Corsair K68 Mechanical Keyboard
A mechanical keyboard is a valuable asset to PC gamers, but they tend to come at a hefty price. Corsair offers some of the better options out on the market and for $100, the K68 features everything you'd need out of a keyboard. It's water and dust resistant, so you don't need to worry about accidentally spilling drinks at your desk and destroying an expensive piece of equipment. Dedicated media keys come in clutch and the Cherry MX Red switches give you smooth, linear, and precise keystrokes.
Street price: $100
Mouse: Logitech G403 (Wired) / G703 (Wireless)
Logitech has a great reputation when it comes to gaming mice and the G403/G703 shows why. It's a simple mouse that fits into your hand whether you use a claw grip or palm grip. Those who prefer a heavier mouse can insert the included 10 gram weight. Two side buttons are easy to hit with your thumb and the distinct tactility of the mouse buttons help with rapid clicking. The G403 uses a Pixart PWM3366 optical sensor, which is extremely precise. The wired version (G403) goes for $70, but can be found for cheaper while the wireless one (G703) will run you $100 unless it's found on sale.
Street price: $70 (G403), $100 (G703)
Mousepad: Steelseries QCK mouse pad series
The Steelseries QCK mouse pads are smooth. The surface consists of sleek cloth, which tracks precise mouse movements. The grippy rubber base prevents movement of the mouse pad itself. The low-profile styling keeps things simple.
The QCK series comes in several sizes, so you can find the dimensions that suit your play style or desk space setup. Dimensions and street prices of the different versions are broken down below.
Street price:
QCK: 320x270x2mm ($9.99)
QCK+: 450x400x2mm ($14.99)
QCK Mass: 320x270x6mm ($11.99)
QCK Heavy: 450x400x6mm ($24.99)
QCK Mini: 250x210x2mm ($6.99)
PC Controller: Xbox One Controller
For a long time, the Xbox 360 controller was the de facto controller of choice for PC gamers due to its XInput support. The Xbox One controller is even better, however, with improved joysticks. The newer variants also support Bluetooth, so you can go wireless without a dongle.
Street price: $47
Gaming Headset: HyperX Cloud Alpha
Kingston's HyperX brand found its way into PC gaming peripherals not long ago and its headsets have been highly regarded. The Cloud Alpha released this year and provides exceptional sound quality. Just as important is comfort; this headset has dense velvet-like ear pads that form nicely around your ears. The microphone is detachable so you can get it out of the way if you don't need it. HyperX's Cloud Alpha connects through a 3.5mm connection and can be used on any device that supports the audio jack. Overall, PC gamers will appreciate its sound and build quality.
Street price: $100
Gaming Monitor: LG UltraWide UM57 25UM57
There are a lot of gaming monitors on the market, but LG makes a really good one with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which will be able to give you a viewing advantage in games that support ultra wide resolutions. It also helps that it's under $200. LG's UM57 25UM57 uses a 25-inch 1080p panel that offers just five millisecond of delay. This is good enough for most gamers. It also uses an IPS display, which means it offers vibrant, realistic colors and wide viewing angles.
Street price: $180
VR Headset: Oculus Rift
With the recent price drop of the Oculus Rift to $400, now is arguably the best time to get a VR headset, especially since the Rift has a more mature library that includes great games like Superhot VR, Robo Recall, Echo Arena, and more. This price also includes the Oculus Touch controllers, which retailed for $200 alone earlier this year. It helps that the Rift is also much easier to set up than the competing HTC Vive.
Street price: $400
SSD: ADATA SU800 (512GB)
Getting a solid-state drive is arguably the biggest upgrade you can make to your PC. ADATA's SU800 SSD is a relatively affordable one that offers 512GB of storage for under $160. It also offers sequential read and write speeds of 560 and 520MB/s, respectively, which makes it dramatically faster than the speediest hard drives.
Price: $159
GPU: GeForce GTX 1060
The current cryptocurrency craze has dramatically increased the prices of modern GPUs, but you can still get a good graphics card for under $200. For instance, you can find Asus' 3GB Phoenix Fan Edition GeForce GTX 1060 for $193, and it happens to be a great GPU for maxing out most games at 1080p.
Street price: $193
Webcam: Logitech C922
Logitech's C922 webcam is great for both streaming and video calls. It has two different modes that allow you to shoot at either 1080p with 30FPS or 720p with 60FPS. The C922 also offers low-light correction, so you can use it in dim environments.
Street price: $100
Mic: Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Whether you want to stream or simply want a high-quality microphone, Blue Yeti's USB microphone has you covered. It has three condenser capsules, which allow you to switch among multiple recording patterns that include cardioid, bidirectional, and omnidirectional.
2017 has flown by. It's been a busy year for gaming, between the launch of two major pieces of new hardware--Nintendo Switch and Xbox One X--the explosive popularity of an Early Access game in PUBG, and a possible breaking point for microtransactions with Star Wars Battlefront II, among many other things.
In this gallery, we're taking a look at the biggest news stories of the year on a month-by-month basis. Whether you simply couldn't keep up with the year's news or are just looking to relive the highlights, let's take a look back at the year that was.
We'll have much more Best of 2017 content in the coming days and weeks. You can look forward to console report cards this week, with our console best-of lists and Game of the Year countdown following after that. You can check our full 2017 Game of the Year schedule for a complete rundown.
January: Nintendo Switch Price And Release Date Announced
Nintendo started out the year by answering the biggest questions about the upcoming Nintendo Switch: a price and release date. As part of a livestream presentation, it revealed that its new system would debut on March 3 around the world, with a price tag of $300 in the United States. That was higher than had been rumored and more than many expected, but it signaled Nintendo's confidence in the system--something that was well-placed, as we saw later in the year.
Later in the month, we learned that Square Enix had signed a multi-game partnership with Marvel, the first component of which will be a new Avengers project from Deus Ex developer Eidos Montreal. This was soon after followed by a report suggesting that the Deus Ex series had been "placed on hiatus." However, Square Enix recently denied this is the case, saying that although no new Deus Ex games are in development, it's simply a matter of resources.
The concept of a Netflix for games has been around for years, dating back to services like GameTap and, more recently, PlayStation Now. In February, Microsoft announced that it planned to take a stab at it, offering an Xbox One subscription service called Game Pass that allows users to play full games as much as they want for a monthly fee. Unlike Netflix or PlayStation Now, these games are downloaded, rather than streamed. Game Pass features a library of more than 100 games across Xbox One and Xbox 360. The system launched toward the end of spring and continues to see new games released every month. Microsoft has suggested the service could help support the development of original games, but whether that will ultimately happen remains to be seen.
February: Other Big Stories
For the first time in its history, the Entertainment Software Association announced that 2017's E3 would open its doors to the public in June. 15,000 tickets were sold in February, allowing people to attend what was otherwise an event limited to media and developers. (It was crowded.)
There's always going to be a userbase for any new video game console from one of the major companies. New Nintendo hardware doesn't come along all that often, especially one with such a unique conceit: the Switch doubles as both a home console and a portable. That helped the system to set the record for Nintendo's fastest-selling console ever in numerous regions around the world, including the Americas, Europe, and Australia. The success has continued throughout the year, and Switch remains a hot-seller as we approach the end of 2017.
March: Other Big Stories
Switch's success in March came despite numerous reports about issues with the system's Joy-Con controllers. Specifically, the left Joy-Con would sometimes lose sync with the system when used wirelessly. DIY solutions emerged, and eventually Nintendo acknowledged the problems and offered to fix them for free, albeit while attempting to downplay how severe or widespread the problems were.
April: Ignoring Demand, Nintendo Discontinues The NES Classic Edition
Despite proving to be phenomenally popular, Nintendo made the head-scratching decision in April to discontinue the NES Classic Edition. The surprise news came with no accompanying explanation, just the announcement that product shipments in April would be the final ones. This proved to be frustrating to many, given the difficulties in obtaining one (dating back to launch in November 2016, when resellers caused prices to skyrocket on Ebay). It's also likely a major reason that the SNES Classic Edition has been so difficult to obtain since its launch. However, there is some good news on the horizon; along with extending availability of the SNES Classic, Nintendo will bring back the NES Classic Edition in 2018.
April: Other Big Stories
Nintendo showed that it wasn't ready to let the 3DS's lunch be eaten entirely by Switch and announced yet another revision of its dedicated portable hardware. Intended to serve as a sort of middle ground between the existing 2DS and the more premium New 3DS XL, the New 2DS XL does away with 3D functionality but offers the enhanced hardware of the New 3DS and New 3DS XL. This allows it to play both SNES Virtual Console games and New 3DS-only games, such as Xenoblade Chronicles.
As successful as Switch was in its first weeks on the market, launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did even better in terms of sales. Settings aside sales of the Wii U version, Breath of the Wild for Switch sold 2.76 million copies in March worldwide--topping the 2.74 million Switch units sold during the same period.
Mass Effect: Andromeda was not the success that was expected from a new Mass Effect RPG. The critical response was middling, and there were numerous complaints about technical issues--particularly relating to facial animations. While improvements were made across a series of updates and EA said it has "strong" expectations for the brand in the future, a report emerged that Mass Effect had been put on hiatus. Members of developer BioWare Montreal were said to be reassigned to EA's Motive Studios and other projects, and later in the year, we learned officially that BioWare Montreal would be absorbed into Motive.
May: Other Big Stories
BioWare Montreal wasn't the only developer facing turmoil in May, as we learned that Hitman developer Io Interactive had been put up for sale by Square Enix. Things looked potentially troublesome for both Io and its signature game series, but the studio subsequently went independent--with the rights to Hitman in tow--and, more recently, a new Hitman game and TV show were announced.
In May, we also learned that one of 2017's biggest games would become one of 2018's biggest. Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed until Spring 2018, with a release coming no sooner than April 1. We still don't have a date, though Rockstar has shared a select few screenshots and a trailer to give us some sense of what to expect.
June: Project Scorpio Finally Revealed As Xbox One X
We had known about the Xbox One X for quite a while prior to its official reveal at E3 2017 in June, but only as Project Scorpio. Microsoft used a good portion of its media briefing to tout the power and benefits of its new system, which is positioned as an optional upgrade over the Xbox One S, rather than the start of a new generation of systems. It plays the same games, but with various improvements to visuals, performance, and loading times. The event also brought word on two other key details: It would launch on November 7, and with a price of $500. That was the same ill-advised price point as the original Xbox One, which came bundled with Kinect. With Xbox One X, Microsoft knew it was targeting a niche audience, even admitting that Xbox One S would continue to be its best-selling console.
June: Other Big Stories
E3 featured far more news than just Xbox One X reveals. A huge list of games were announced, some with very little information: There was BioWare's Anthem, Assassin's Creed Origins, Metroid Prime 4, a new Pokemon RPG for Switch, Skyrim VR, Metro Exodus, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Forza Motorsport 7, and Monster Hunter World, among many others. A few of these, including Skyrim VR, Origins, and Forza are already out, with at least two more coming soon. Others, like Metroid Prime 4, are still a year or more away.
Another hot topic at E3 was cross-play, as we learned that Rocket League was coming to Switch and would support cross-play with the Xbox One and PC versions. Sony, meanwhile, continued to resist calls for it to allow multiplayer support with its console rivals. The company did address the issue, but only to provide answers like, "Unfortunately, it's a commercial discussion between ourselves and other stakeholders," and, "We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base. Minecraft--the demographic playing that, you know as well as I do, it's all ages but it's also very young."
One of the biggest games in recent years, Pokemon Go, continued to grow in meaningful ways in 2017. Perhaps the biggest addition came in July, when developer Niantic introduced Legendary Pokemon--and along with them, Raid Battles. These provided a type of activity that gathers players together and offers a cooperative form of gameplay that had not been present previously.
Nintendo was far from the first to offer a classic micro console, but the success of the NES Classic demonstrated the potential there. Perhaps on the back of that, we saw Atari announce that it will deliver a new console that offers both "current" and "classic" gaming content.
It's not uncommon to see a new game take Steam by storm, rising up the sales and player count charts. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds may have initially looked like such a game, making a strong run during its first few months of Early Access. But if there was any doubt about the heights it would reach or its long-term popularity, August wiped them away. PUBG surpassed Dota 2--which had long been Steam's most-played game--for the first time in terms of peak player count. In September, it would go on to break Steam's all-time record, set by Dota 2 in 2016, and as of this writing, it continues to dominate the No. 1 spot. With an Xbox One release coming soon and mobile versions in development, PUBG's explosive popularity is likely to only rise from here.
August: Other Big Stories
Just weeks before NBA 2K18's release, 2K was faced with an unusual situation. Its cover star, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was now Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics. The star point guard requested a trade from the team that had drafted him--and given the timing of the trade that ensued, this meant 2K18 would have to ship with Irving in the wrong jersey on the cover. 2K would subsequently release an updated cover.
In and of itself, the release of Fortnite's free-to-play Battle Royale mode, which draws more than a little inspiration from PUBG, is not a huge deal. When PUBG's developer publicly expressed its displeasure with this, we did get a glimpse at a potential lawsuit, albeit one that's unlikely to ever make it to court. But more importantly, it signaled what's likely to be the next major trend in gaming: PUBG-inspired Battle Royale games. Much as we saw countless games adopt Minecraft's basic gameplay mechanics and visual style, we've begun seeing more developers move toward attempting to capitalize on PUBG's popularity. Fortnite is the biggest example of this so far, but it certainly won't be the last.
October also brought the Star Wars Battlefront 2 beta. Although there were no microtransactions available, it provided players with their best glimpse yet at how progression would work, which would prove to be a major subject in November.
November: Star Wars Battlefront 2 Microtransactions Spark A Firestorm
Microtransactions and loot boxes are nothing new, but the specific implementation in Star Wars Battlefront II proved to be too much for many fans. The game was set to allow real-money purchases of loot crates, which can provide players with in-game boosts--ones that in some cases provide additional health or damage, not simple weapon alternatives. EA and developer DICE made changes prior to release, but the biggest came just hours before launch. In the face of extreme anger from fans, EA temporarily pulled microtransactions altogether. And although microtransactions will return, they may come in a much different form. The move may have been motivated at least in part by pressure from Lucasfilm and Disney, which were reportedly less than pleased with the negative press surrounding their brand.
This situation extends beyond the last-minute removal of microtransactions from a game, as surprising as that was. We've seen politicians around the world who are suddenly concerned about the idea that loot boxes are gambling, and the potential for legislation is now on the table. Whether that happens or the industry decides to regulate itself remains to be seen, but the outrage around Battlefront II has seemingly proved to be an inflection point for video games.
November: Other Big Stories
Xbox One X, the most powerful console ever, was released in early November. It provides a way to play enhanced versions of games that are otherwise still playable on the standard version of the console. It does succeed in doing so, though how large the audience is for a 4K-capable system like this remains to be seen.
Blizzard had a variety of announcements to make as part of BlizzCon, but the biggest may have centered around addressing a years-old request: a way to play vanilla World of Warcraft. We still have few details about WoW Classic, but Blizzard confirmed it is working on a way for players to enjoy a version of WoW before the release of its many expansion packs.
DICE continues to make adjustments to Star Wars Battlefront II. While microtransactions remain disabled, the studio has released a new update in an attempt to address complaints regarding the rate at which players earn rewards and unlock new items.
With new content themed around The Last Jedi on the way this month, the new Battlefront II update focuses exclusively on progression. A common complaint among fans has been that the game is too slow to dole out Credits, and that your performance factors in very little--leading to some players finding ways to idle in-game by running in circles to rack up rewards. All players will now receive more Credits at the end of a match, and DICE has "specifically bump[ed] the top players on each team by even more."
Additionally, DICE has increased--but not removed--the cap on how many Credits can be earned in Arcade mode every day. DICE said in a blog post that players "were hitting the Arcade mode Credit cap faster than [it] expected." As a result, you can now earn up to 1,500 daily, three times as many as before. DICE explained, "While we're still looking into ways to add more content into the mode in the long-term, we think that this should help in the near-term for those who want rewards for completing the different scenarios."
The final change comes from rewards handed out through the free loot crate you receive for logging in each day. These now provide more crafting parts, which are used to obtain specific Star Cards. DICE stated, "This should help you get where you want to go faster when it comes to crafting and upgrading."
Following this update, Battlefront II will be receiving a variety of new content for free this month. The Last Jedi season of content begins on December 5; updates later in the month will bring new maps, vehicles, Hero units, and a campaign chapter, among other things.
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Jean-Luc and Erick visit the lovely world of hell in virtual reality all thanks to Doom VFR releasing last Friday, December 1st.
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