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.
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]
With just a few days to go before this year's Game Awards, some of the event's celebrity talent in gaming and other circles has been revealed. As revealed by the show's Twitter account, Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima will be a presenter at the show, as will Kojima's friend and collaborator, the film director Guillermo del Toro.
Kojima and del Toro were working together on a new Silent Hill game before it was canceled. del Toro, who directed Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, is a character in Death Stranding but he apparently is not involved in the game's creative decisions. The fact that Kojima and del Toro are both appearing at the event doesn't guarantee we'll see or learn something new about Death Stranding, but we sure hope that happens. [Update: We've learned that star Norman Reedus (of The Walking Dead fame) will serve as a presenter at The Game Awards, as will actor Andy Serkis, who is at work on a new War for the Planet of the Apes game. Geoff Keighley shared the news on Twitter.]
Some of the other recently confirmed celebrities for The Game Awards including Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates and the internationally recognised classical cellist Tina Guo. They will perform as part of The Game Awards Orchestra, which is new for the 2017 event. This is a group of "some of the world's most talented orchestral and rock musicians." These performers will be joined by "special guests," and they will perform video game music.
It's pretty cool to see performers like Gates and Guo come together for a show like this, given their backgrounds are quite different when it comes to music. Gates is impossibly good at guitar and Guo recently put out an incredible album called "Game On" in which she covers music from games like The Legend of Zelda and Skyrim on cello, so it'll be really rad to see what they do together. You can watch Guo's Skyrim video above.
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.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally arrives in theaters next week, and a new international trailer has landed. Although it uses many of the shots we've seen in previous trailers over the past few weeks, it does include some exciting new footage, including a first look at the movie's casino city, Canto Bight.
The footage in question occurs around the two minute mark and reveals what appears to be a stampede of creatures through the casino. In addition, there are new shots of the battle on the planet Crait immediately after this, as Resistance fighters are bombarded in their trenches by First Order TIE Fighters. Check it out below:
The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15 and stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, and Andy Serkis. There has been plenty of promotional activity for the movie over past couple of weeks, including a TV spot in which Chewie smacks a Porg, and another that focuses on Luke's relationship with Rey.
Last week saw the release of a new video of Ridley, who plays Rey in the movie, training to use a lightsaber. Ridley has also revealed that she plans to leave the series after Episode IX in 2019. "I am really, really excited to do the third thing and round it out, because ultimately, what I was signing on to was three films," she said. "So in my head, it's three films. I think it will feel like the right time to round it out."
Tuesday, December 5 marks the launch of Destiny 2's first expansion, Curse of Osiris. Coinciding with that, the first "season" of content will come to an end, bringing a refresh to certain aspects of the game. For now, the final weekly reset of Season 1 has taken place, introducing a new (and familiar) Nightfall Strike, Flashpoint, and Eververse lineup.
Today marks your final chance to earn Clan XP before your Clan level is reset for Season 2. Reaching the maximum level before the season ends will unlock this season's Clan Staff. Additionally, the items available in Bright Engrams will rotate for Season 2, so you'll want to unlock as many of those as you can now if there's something you've been wanting. The Spicy Ramen Exotic emote, specifically, will no longer be available after Season 1.
In terms of what's new this week, the Flashpoint has rotated to the European Dead Zone, and the new Nightfall Strike is Savathun's Song. It features the same Modifiers we saw during a previous instance of this. Timewarp - Anomalies makes it so that during the Strike, floating objects will appear. Destroying each one adds an additional 30 seconds to the timer, which should make it a bit easier to finish.
Also active is Momentum. This Modifier makes it so that your health and shields only regenerate when you're on the move; in other words, taking cover behind an object is not a viable strategy for recovering after taking damage. Sprinting causes shields and health to regenerate more quickly, so ensure you're always on the move.
As with the modifiers, the three Challenges are what we've seen before on this Strike. The first is Speed Of Dark, which is always active and asks you to complete the Nightfall with five minutes or more on the clock, making those anomalies all the more important. Unbroken tasks you with finishing with fewer than three total deaths during the Strike. And the last of the three, The Best Defense, requires shooting 15 projectiles during the final boss fight before you actually kill Savathun's Song.
Powerful Gear rewards are what you'll receive for completing the Nightfall. There aren't many activities you can complete to get your hands on those. What makes them particularly desirable is that they're an easy way to increase your Power level above 265, which can be difficult to do otherwise. This Nightfall will be available until the next weekly reset, which occurs at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM BST / 8 PM AEST on Tuesday, December 5. Curse of Osiris also launches that day on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
For those who haven't unlocked access to the Nightfall, you'll need to first finish two Strikes and get to about Power level 240. At that point, you can speak to Zavala and he'll provide access to them from the Director. Just keep in mind that there isn't standard matchmaking--but you can make use of Guided Games to be matched up with other players.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the past, but that doesn't mean video game deals have dried up. Microsoft today announced and launched the latest lineup of weekly Deals With Gold offers. And while the lineup is not as extensive or impressive as the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Xbox Live offers, there are still some solid deals to be had. [Update: It's Monday, meaning these deals are set to end soon. Today's your last chance to take advantage of any offers you want to take advantage of before the new round of Deals With Gold are introduced.]
On Xbox One, 2014's puzzle-platform game Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) is marked down to $3/£2.40/$4 AU. With an arctic fox at your side, you play as a young girl from the Alaska native people, the Inupiat. You are on a perilous journey to find the source of an "eternal blizzard" that threatens her people. Almost 40 Inupiat people contributed to the development of the game, which is the first ever to be made with the Inupiat.
The game's first expansion, Foxtales, is also on sale, marked down to $2/£1.60/$2.68 AU. Additionally, the Never Alone Arctic Collection, which contains the base game and the Foxtales expansion, is discounted this week to $3.60/£2.88/$4.83 AU. Other Xbox One games on sale this week include Mordheim: City of the Damned ($10/£7.50/$15 AU) and Earthlock: Festival of Magic ($7.50/£6/$10 AU).
The big PSN Black Friday sale may now be over, but there are still a few discounted titles available in the US PlayStation Store. This week is fairly light on deals; there are no publisher-specific sales going on now, but players can still find some PS4, PS3, and Vita games at a discount. [Update: It's Monday, making today your last chance to take advantage of these weekly deals before they're replaced by a new set of offers on Tuesday, December 5. That day also marks the release of December's PS Plus games, meaning today is also your last opportunity to claim November's freebies.
As usual, PS4 owners have the widest selection of discounts to choose from. The latest installment in Sony's racing series, Gran Turismo Sport, is on sale; the standard edition of the game runs for $39.59, while the Digital Deluxe edition is available for $60. The Elder Scrolls Online is also on sale; the Gold Edition costs $30, while the Morrowind expansion is $30. Other PS4 game discounts include:
You can find the full list of games on sale this week on the PlayStation Store. Many of the discounts are only available through the end of the week, so you only have a limited time to take advantage of these deals.
December is here, and that means another batch of free games is on the way for PlayStation Plus members. Six more games are set to be available soon for all subscribers, with PS4, PS3, and Vita owners each getting at least two.
As usual, the main highlight comes on PS4. First up is Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, the remastered version of the 2012 action game. It includes all DLC released for the original version along with improved graphics and other enhancements. It'll be joined by a more family-friendly game in Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends. The ongoing bonus PS Plus game, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, will continue to be available throughout December, too. If you're in Europe, you can still grab That's You.
PS4 will owners will receive a third game this month, thanks to Cross-Buy: the Metroidvania-style Forma 8, which is officially one of Vita's free games for December, will also be playable on PS4. Vita's other new game in December will be co-op shooter Wanted Corp. Rounding out the month's lineup are two PS3 games: Syberia Collection (which includes adventure game Syberia and Syberia II) and Xblaze Lost: Memories.
As previously announced, a beta of the upcoming Monster Hunter World will be available exclusively to PS Plus members. It will run from December 9-12 and features the Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste levels, where you'll hunt a Great Jagras and Barroth. An additional bonus will also be available during December and into next year in the US. From December 12 through January 9, PS Plus subscribers can claim the Smite PlayStation Plus Pack, which consists of a variety of gods, skins, voice packs, and an announcer pack.
It's officially December around the world, which means Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now pick up the first of December's free Games With Gold titles. Two more games are now available to download for free if you're an Xbox Live Gold member, with another two set to arrive later in the month.
Also note that one of November's Games With Gold titles, Tales From the Borderlands, will continue to be free on Xbox One through through December 15. You can see the full Games With Gold schedule for December below.
Disney is pulling the new animated short Olaf's Frozen Adventure from the start of its current Pixar hit Coco in theaters across the US. The 21-minute film is a spinoff from the 2013 hit Frozen, focusing on the titular snowman. But the short has been met with multiple complaints about both its length and quality, and now it has been reported that Disney has asked theaters to no longer play it ahead of Coco.
According to Mashable, Olaf's Frozen Adventure will finish screening from this Friday, December 8. The site states that the studio has asked theaters to use the extra time to give Coco an extra showing each day. Disney has commented on this decision, telling EW, "It was always promoted as a limited run. The end of our Olaf theatrical play is coming next week. All our ads and messaging called it as such."
Olaf's Frozen Adventure has been criticised for its length, which, when taking into account the standard 20 minutes of commercials and trailers that play before movies in most theaters, meant that some audiences were waiting up to 40 minutes for Coco to begin. In addition, while Pixar movies are often preceded by short films, Olaf's Frozen Adventure is not a Pixar film. It was originally intended to be an ABC TV special, before the decision was made to release it alongside Coco.
Last week, Coco director Adrian Molina commented on the reaction to Olaf's Frozen Adventure. "It is longer than, I think, any other short that has ever been attached to one of these films," he told the Huffington Post. "I've heard that that has taken people by surprise. We've always, even at the conception, liked this idea that these are two stories about family traditions, and understanding what your family traditions are."
The PlayStation Store's PlayStation Plus lineup is set to refresh this Tuesday, December 5. That makes now your last chance to get November's free PlayStation Plus games before they return to their normal prices.
On PS4, the free games include Bound, Dungeon Punks (thanks to cross-buy), and Worms Battlegrounds. Also of note is that one, PSVR game Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, will stay free until January 3. You can see the full line of November's free PS Plus games below, covering PS4, PS3, and PS Vita; there are as many as seven games to claim in total.
When the PlayStation Store updates on December 5, December's freebies will become available. These include Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition and Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of the Legendary Legends, among others. The full list can be seen below. Like Rush of Blood, these will be available until January 3. They aren't the only bonuses coming for Plus members in December, as they'll also soon gain access to a Monster Hunter World beta.
November 2017 Free PlayStation Plus Games
PS4
Bound
Dungeon Punks (Cross-Buy with Vita)
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (available until January 3)
Worms Battlegrounds
PS3
R-Type Dimensions
Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic
Vita
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse (Episodes 1 & 2)
There's very little change at the top of the UK sales chart this week (ending December 2), as the five best-selling games all maintain their positions from last week. That means Call of Duty: WWII comes top, before FIFA 18 at No. 2 and Gran Turismo Sport at No.3, according to sales monitor Chart-Track.
The RPG has been received well among critics, and it earned a 7/10 in our Xenoblade Chronicles 2 review. "Xenoblade 2 exhibits admirable depth," wrote critic Peter Brown. "Adventurous types that enjoy complex combat systems can easily spend more than 100 hours uncovering Alrest's secrets and developing their team of Blades, provided they can come to terms with a handful of unavoidable shortcomings. It's equal parts pleasing and frustrating, but the struggle to keep up with everything thrown your way is more of a hurdle than a roadblock. It will be a tough pill to swallow for people who aren't accustomed to the typical cliches found in many Japanese RPGs, and its often clumsy nature keeps it from being the next groundbreaking Switch game, but Xenoblade 2 is worth pursuing if you've got enough patience to let it blossom."
You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
In honor of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we're giving away a Porg Funko Pop! One (1) winner will be chosen after the giveaway closes on Monday, December 4 at 11:59PM PT.
Open to US residents only, void where prohibited.
Enter below (the additional entries are optional to increase your chances of winning):
The first trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is coming soon. The trailer will premiere on Thursday, December 7, but you don't have to wait that long to see footage from it. A 15-second teaser trailer has been released, showing Chris Pratt's character sprinting out of the forest as a volcano erupts and dinosaurs emerge. Bryce Dallas Howard and newcomer Justice Smith are also in the brief clip.
You can watch the teaser trailer in the video embed above.
This teaser follows the first clip from Fallen Kingdom that was released last month, showing Pratt's character, Owen, bonding with a baby raptor.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is due in theatres in June 2018. It's directed by J.A. Bayona, who made The Orphanage and A Monster Calls. In addition to Smith, James Cromwell and Toby Jones are some of the other newcomers for the sequel.
2015's Jurassic World currently stands as the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time, bringing in $1.6 billion at the global box office. It was the first new entry in the series since 2001's Jurassic Park III.
Microsoft's much-anticipated Xbox One and PC game Sea of Thieves will appear at The Game Awards later this week, the company has confirmed. According to GamingBolt, Xbox marketing manager Aaron Greenberg said during an Extra Life livestream recently that the pirate-themed multiplayer game will be shown during the event, which takes place on Thursday, December 7.
In response to the news stories making the rounds based on his comments during the livestream, Greenberg cheekily wrote on Twitter, "Lose lips sink... ;-)" He went on to say that fans should "be sure" to watch The Game Awards to learn the latest.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson said during a press conference this morning that he wants Episode VIII to feel like a Star Wars movie first and foremost--which to him means "fun."
"It's the second movie in the trilogy, and I think we've been kind of trained to expect it will be a little darker, and obviously it looks a little darker," Johnson said. "The thing is, though, for me, I loved the tone of the original films, and also that J.J. [Abrams] captured in The Force Awakens, of fun. And that, to me, is a Star Wars movie. First and foremost, we were trying to make it feel like a Star Wars movie. And that means you have the intensity and you've got the opera, but it also means that it makes you come out of the theater wanting to run in the backyard and grab your spaceship toys and make them fly around."
"That's a key ingredient to it," he continued. "So we're going to go to some intense places in the movie, but I hope also it's fun, and it's funny."
Oscar Isaac, who plays Resistance fighter Poe Dameron, said The Last Jedi has one advantage over The Force Awakens.
"Often with the second chapter in the story of three, because the first one sets the tone and the world and the new characters, it introduces them, in the second one you don't have to spend so much time doing that. You can really just delve into the story, into what's happening, into the conflict of each of the characters," Isaac said. "I think what Rian's done so incredibly well is that he's deeply challenged every single character--including the droids--the biggest challenges they've ever faced, and that's how you're really able to learn about them, on all sides of the spectrum, from light to dark."
"The story's moving forward," added John Boyega, who stars as defected Storm Trooper Finn. "J.J. [Abrams] had a blueprint, a foundation, in The Force Awakens that was pretty good. And now it's about moving the story and the characters forward. All the characters are under intense pressure."
Daisy Ridley, who plays Jedi-in-training Rey, said she's "a bit nervous" about the situations some of the characters find themselves in. "Because people responded well to John [Boyega] and I as a team, I was a bit nervous about not being a team so much in this one," she said. "I think for me personally it was a challenge--I don't know what it was like for anyone else--but to be in different combinations of people."
"I was blown away when I saw the movie," said Andy Serkis, who plays Supreme Leader Snoke, a character we only caught a glimpse of in The Force Awakens. "I just was so caught up with it, not least because it was really intimate and very emotional...It's very very powerful, and it touches you. What Rian's done incredibly is make this tonal dance between these great epic moments and hilarious antics, literally flipping on a dime."
"I think the reason why [Star Wars] has resonated so deeply is that it's a foundation story of good against evil," said Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma. "But there's something about this film, and I think it's becauses the world that we live in is a changing and evolving place, that it retains the simplicity of those elements--that it really resonates with what it is to follow your own, human, dark, narcissistic tendencies--where that will take you--and I love that."
For Mark Hamill's part, he had one response when asked about the balance between darkness and fun in The Last Jedi: "My answer would be in direct proportion to the amount of screentime I have."
The final 2017 episode of New Releases highlights some of what the rest of December brings. For Destiny 2 fans, that means the game's first expansion, Curse of Osiris. For fans of zombies and general creepiness, there's the blood-drenched Dead Rising 4: Frank's Big Package and the house-exploration adventure of Hello Neighbor. Meanwhile, LocoRoco 2 gets remastered for PS4, while Okami HD comes to the latest console generation. For a look at even more games coming before the end of the year, you can also see our full list of December release dates.
Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris -- December 5
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The sequel's first expansion sends Guardians to the Mercury to rescue Osiris himself from the Vex. A new planet means new Crucible maps, Strikes, and Raid Lairs, plus all those shiny guns and gear. The highlight is the Infinite Forest, which will be different every time you play.
Dead Rising 4's PS4 debut includes the original game and all previously released DLC weapons and costumes. It also packs in a brand-new Capcom Heroes mode, which lets protagonist Frank West dress up as characters from Street Fighter and Mega Man while slaying the undead.
You've just moved into a new house, and the neighbor seems to be up to no good. Cue the stealth-horror gameplay of you snooping around his house, trying not to get caught. What's in the basement, anyway?
If you haven't played the original PSP game, you're in for a rolly-polly adventure with a bunch of bouncy blobs and great music. If you want to play the game at the prettiest it's ever looked--with 4K support on PS4 Pro--then here's your chance.
If you missed out on this Zelda-like adventure starring the wolf goddess Amaterasu, now's your chance to play it in the new console generation. With new platforms comes great visuals--up to 4K if you've got a PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, or PC that can handle it.
Arma developer Bohemia's survival game DayZ is finally leaving Steam Early Access next year. In a blog post, the studio said 2018 could be "the most exciting year for DayZ so far." In addition to a full release, DayZ is headed to console in 2018, Bohemia said.
The blog post (via Kotaku) specifically says that Bohemia is "committed to bringing DayZ to Xbox, where we have a large community of gamers patiently (very patiently!) waiting for a truly hardcore online survival game." Interestingly, the blog post does not mention PlayStation 4. The game was announced for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but it remains to be seen if the PS4 edition is still in the works; we're following up with Bohemia to try to find out.
DayZ launched in December 2013 as an Early Access game on Steam. Despite being unfinished, the $35 game has sold more than 3 million copies. Creator Dean Hall left Bohemia in 2014, going on to start his own studio in New Zealand.
DayZ's PC beta won't make it out until sometime in 2018. Lead producer Eugen Harton said, "We tried to get it done sooner, but it's going to be 2018 folks. Both the BETA update and any further 0.63 updates, up to 1.0, will happen in 2018, which is shaping up to be one of the most important years for DayZ," Harton explained.
The 1.0 release of DayZ won't be the end of Bohemia's support for the game. Harton said the studio is treating DayZ as a platform that will be continuously supported for "as long as it's viable." Harton added that there are also "fantastic opportunities" for ongoing support through the modding community.
The DayZ blog post is stuffed with so many more details about the state of the game and what's next; you can read the full blog post here.
One of the biggest pieces of TV news this year came in the past month: A Lord of the Rings TV show is on the way. Amazon Studios picked it up, reportedly paying a quarter of a billion dollars for the rights alone even before production costs. The show was reportedly being shopped around to multiple networks before Amazon won it. Among the others reportedly interested was Game of Thrones network HBO, and now the network's CEO has explained why his company did not have much interest in getting the Lord of the Rings show.
According to Variety, Richard Plepler said at the Business Insider Ignition media conference that HBO would rather focus on franchises that it can better control, like the breadwinner Game of Thrones. "I'd rather own our IP [intellectual property] 100%… and I'd rather have the ability to work with a product that is inextricably linked to our brand," he said.
Regarding the reported $250 million price that Amazon reportedly ultimately paid for the Lord of the Rings TV show rights, Pepler remarked, "If I'm [Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos], that's Monopoly money."
Even though HBO didn't get the Lord of the Rings TV show, the company's sister firm, Time Warner, will enjoy some of the benefits since it's co-produced by Time Warner's New Line Cinema unit.
Little in the way of specifics is known about the Lord of the Rings show, but we do know it will be set before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. The universe that Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien created is absolutely massive, so there are countless opportunities for great stories to be told; it's exciting to think about.
Peter Jackson directed the three Lord of the Rings movies in the early 2000s. Together, they made more than $2.9 billion globally, with the final instalment, The Return of the King, picking up 11 Oscars including Best Picture. Jackson went on to direct the three Hobbit films.
The cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi took the stage for a press conference in Los Angeles this morning, using the opportunity to pay tribute to Carrie Fisher, who passed away last year after finishing filming on this movie.
"I watched TV and film obsessively from such a young age, but [she] stayed with me throughout my formative years," said Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma in the new Star Wars movies (not to mention Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones).
"She's really interesting, she's really smart, she's really funny, she's courageous, she's bold, she doesn't care what people think, and she isn't prepared to be told what to do," Christie continued. "And she doesn't look the same as a sort of homogenized presentation of a woman that we had been used to seeing. So what was really instrumental to me, as someone who didn't feel like they fit in that homogenized view of what a woman was supposed to be, that there was inspiration there--that you could be an individual and celebrate yourself and be successful without giving yourself over, without necessarily making some sort of terrible, huge compromise."
Laura Dern, who plays Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, said FIsher was "without shame."
"And that's what moved me the most about the icon she gave us, but also what she gave us individually and personally, which is to carry who she was so directly, and to be without shame and to share her story and to expect nothing less from any of us," Dern said. "And the privilege of watching how [The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson] has so beautifully captured all of that, and her grace, in this amazing, beautiful, pure performance."
Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose Tico--another character new to The Last Jedi--said Fisher was a personal inspiration. "Something about Carrie that I really look up to is something I didn't realize until recently--just how much courage it takes to truly be yourself when you're on a public platform," Tran said. "She was so unapologetic, and so openly herself, and that is something that I am really trying to do, and it's hard. And just like Daisy said, and Laura said, and Gwendoline said, I think that she will always be an icon as Leia, but also as Carrie. What an example, and I am so fortunate to have met her, and I think that she will really live on forever."
Daisy Ridley, who returns as the mysterious Force-wielding Rey, paid a compliment to Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd, who recently played Winter on American Horror Story Cult. "Carrie's daughter Billie is, I think, all of those qualities," she said.
Ridley discussed the impact of having so many female characters in the new generation of Star Wars films.
"As a girl growing up in London, obviously I knew there was a disparity in films, but I wasn't so aware of it. Growing up in a liberal household, I was never made to feel any one way," Ridley said. "So when I got involved, I knew it was a big deal, but the response was so beyond anything I could have imagined, that it was only afterward that I was like 'Oh--oh yeah!'"
Dern said she's excited to play a strong female character who owns her feminine side. "I just want to pay tribute to Rian for being one of the most brilliantly subversive filmmakers I've ever been able to bear witness to," she said. "In the case of the look of my character, I was moved by the fact that he really wanted her strength to first lead with a very deep femininity. And to see a powerful female character also be feminine is something that moves away from the stereotype that's sometimes perceived in that strong female characters must be 'like the boys.'"
On the other hand, Christie was "delighted" that The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi feature female characters, like Captain Phasma, who don't adhere to stereotypical feminine ideals.
"I wasn't cast in [The Force Awakens] yet when I heard about the casting, and I was utterly delighted to see that there was a more representative selection of actors that were going to be in this incredible Star Wars film," she said. "You get to see women that are not being strong just because they're acting like men. They're doing something else...I'm delighted that something as legendary as Star Wars has decided to be modern and to reflect our society more as it is."
"I was very excited when I was shown just the basic elements of the [Phasma] costume," she said. "I knew we were seeing a character whereby her femininity was not delineated in terms of the shape of her body, in terms of her physical attractiveness--that weird, random group of elements we're born with in some kind of odd lottery and then we're judged on in society."
Tran added that "the girls in this movie kick some butt."
"Every single one is so good!" she exclaimed.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters December 15.
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