A new trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special has been released. The special is titled Twice Upon a Time, and it will be Peter Capaldi's final appearance as the Doctor, before Jodie Whittaker takes over the role.
The promo shows more of Capaldi's encounters with the first Doctor, played by David Bradley. Bradley is reprising the role that William Harnell first played back in 1963. The trailer also hints at some spectacular sci-fi action, and features the Doctor's assistant Bill (Pearl Mackie), who will also leave the show after this special. Check it out above.
The show also has a new showrunner, with Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall taking over from Steven Moffat. In a recent interview with the Radio Times, Chibnall suggested the show might take a different approach from previous seasons.
"What the BBC was after was risk and boldness," he said: "I had ideas about what I wanted to do with it. When I went to them and said, 'This is what I would do,' I actually expected them to say, 'Ooh, let's talk about that.' But they said: 'Great!'
"I finally said yes because I love the show to my bones. I resisted it for a very long time, and [the BBC] really had to woo me."
The recent trend of reviving classic RPGs isn't stopping any time soon. Back from the days when Square Enix was still SquareSoft, Romancing SaGa 2 localization releases next week.
Romancing SaGa 2 was originally released about 25 years ago in 1993 for the SNES--since then, it has be re-released on the Wii virtual console in 2010, the Wii U virtual console in 2014, and the 3DS earlier this year in Japan only. It's also seen ports on iOS and Android.
In 2016, Square Enix announced that a PS Vita port of the game would be localized for the West for the first time. Now, on December 15, that localization will be expanded to PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
As early '90s RPGs typically go, Romancing SaGa 2 is typical of what was popular in its time. What separates it from Square's other RPGs is that it has the open scenario system. Players take on the role of the emperor or empress of Avalon, and through a series of turn-based RPG action, that character eventually withers and dies. But not all hope is lost; different abilities and features are passed on to each new heir as one character dies.
This remaster still retains the original content of the game with updated high-res visuals, and some added extras. A new dungeon, two new classes, a new game system called the Avalon Gardens, an additional scenario, and new game plus have been added.
Monster Hunter World's free PlayStation 4 beta takes place this weekend, but players who are looking forward to trying the monster-slaying action game can start preparing for it now. The beta is available to pre-load from the PlayStation Store, provided you have a PS Plus subscription.
The beta kicks off on Saturday, December 9, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM GMT and runs through the same times on Tuesday, December 12. You'll need to have 5.9 GB of space available on your console to download it and be a PS Plus member to participate. You can download the beta here.
The beta features 14 different weapon types to use, as well as three different quests across two environments: the Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste. The former is home to the Great Jagras and the Anjanath, while the rock-headed Barroth can be found in the latter. Each quest can be completed either solo or with up to three other players; if you manage to clear all three before the beta ends, Capcom says you'll earn "some useful bonus items" in the full title.
Monster Hunter World releases for PS4 and Xbox One on January 26; the game is also coming to PC later in 2018. So far, Capcom hasn't announced if either platform will receive a similar beta, but we do know the PS4 version will have at least one exclusive DLC weapon set based on Horizon Zero Dawn.
The mysterious merchant who shows up weekly to sell a random assortment of Exotic items, Xur, has arrived today. What's he selling? Why, Prometheus Lens, of course. Whether this is happenstance or a deliberate decision by Bungie (hoping to at least level the playing field by ensuring everyone can use the gun), the studio acknowledged this week's Xur inventory on Twitter.
"Did you make a bet that we wouldn't let Xur sell Prometheus Lens?" it wrote in a tweet immediately after Xur's arrival. "It's available in the EDZ. Your move." This is possibly in reference to a Reddit post where a player said they would shave their head (and then glue the hair to their face) if Xur sold the weapon.
The item sells for 29 Legendary Shards, the same as a typical Exotic weapon sold by Xur. As a Curse of Osiris weapon, only DLC owners will be able to purchase it, which is troubling given that non-DLC owners have already found themselves locked out of some content, and now face an uphill battle in Crucible until patch 1.1.1's release on Tuesday.
This instance of Trials will be a weird one, as it's a highly competitive event where the stakes are higher than in a standard PvP match. Players compete to rack up seven wins before suffering three losses (and, ideally, with no losses at all). As you can see in the video above, Prometheus Lens annihilates enemies and can swing a match just by one player using it. A four-on-four showdown between eight players with it equipped will be especially bizarre, and will perhaps be akin to the old one-shot-kill Instagib matches I remember so fondly from the Unreal Tournament days.
Xur's showing should make the next few days in Crucible either terrible or really fun. It'll certainly be memorable.
Curse of Osiris has been released for Destiny 2, kicking off the shooter's Season 2 and introducing a variety of new gear. Xur has now arrived, marking his first appearance during the new season to sell more Exotic armor and an Exotic weapon. For the second week in a row, he can be found in the same spot on Earth; here's exactly where to find Xur and what he's selling.
Xur has taken up temporary residence once again in the EDZ's Winding Cove. To reach him, fast travel to the Winding Cove landing zone and jump on your Sparrow. You'll see a winding road to your left--head up there, and you'll come upon a cliff with a downed ship. Exit your sparrow and jump up the rocks to the right side. (You can also jump on the left and then walk across the top of the ship, but you'll need to be fast, as this is technically out of bounds.) Once you reach the top, Xur will be right in front of you.
While his location might not be new, some of the gear he is selling is. Two of the four items for sale are from Curse of Osiris, including Titan leg armor. More notably, Xur's weapon this week is the trace rifle PrometheusLens--the same Prometheus Lens that is wrecking players in Crucible right now due to a bug. Bungie has said a fix is coming, but not until update 1.1.1 next week, meaning Crucible--and the newly launched Trials of the Nine--are going to be especially chaotic, albeit with everyone having a fair shot at using the gun. Here's everything Xur has for sale this week:
The Dragon's Shadow (Hunter Chest Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Nezarec's Sin (Warlock Helmet) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Mk. 44 Stand Asides (Titan Leg Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
That's all Xur has for this week. Bungie previously announced that he would begin selling a new Three of Coins item, as well as Fated Engrams (which will provide you with an Exotic you don't already own). However, it appears that will have to wait until next week, after the next patch.
The release of Curse of Osiris has resulted in non-DLC owners losing access to some activities in the game. With both Prometheus Lens and the Stand Asides being Osiris items, that means those looking to buy a weapon or Titan gear from Xur this week will have to own the DLC. Locking players out of some content--namely the Prestige Nightfall and Prestige Raid--means it's now impossible to earn all Trophies and Achievements in the base game. Bungie has said it will address this issue, but it has not yet indicated if it will provide more content to non-DLC owners.
Another batch of new games has been released on the Nintendo Switch Eshop. This week is a particularly busy one for the hybrid console; a total of 22 games launch for the system throughout the week, many of which are certainly worth a look if you need something new to play.
As usual, the bulk of this week's releases arrive on Thursday, December 7. While there aren't any major first- or third-party titles among the bunch, there are plenty of new and acclaimed games to choose from. Some of the highlights include the mystery game The Sexy Brutale; the classic shoot-'em-up Gunbird; the puzzle-platformer Teslagrad; the stylish breakdancing game Floor Kids; the side-scrolling adventure game Embers of Mirrim; the latest ACA Neo Geo classic, Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy; and the ridiculous physics game, Human: Fall Flat.
The Sexy Brutale
Other Switch releases this week include WWE 2K18, which launched for the console on December 6. 2K18 marks the first WWE game to release for a Nintendo system in five years, and it boasts all of the same major features as the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions of the game do. The day before that saw a pair of releases arrive on the Eshop: the beautiful co-op action-RPG Nine Parchments, and the co-op side-scrolling platformer Caveman Warriors.
In addition to the aforementioned games, a free demo of Lost Sphear, the next classic-inspired RPG by I Am Setsuna developer Tokyo RPG Factory, has been added to the Eshop, and Switch owners can now pre-load Playtonic's retro 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee, which releases for the console on December 14. You can find the full list of this week's Switch releases below.
A new game mode has been announced for Fortnite Battle Royale, and it's available now. The mode was one of the many surprises unveiled during tonight's Game Awards, where developer Epic debuted its first trailer.
The mode is called 50 Vs. 50, but it will only be available in the game for a limited time. As its name implies, two teams of 50 players are pit against each other in a giant battle, with the last team standing declared the winner. You can take a look at its trailer below.
50 Vs. 50 mode will only be available to play through Sunday, December 17. Epic says that it has "additional unique game modes and content planned for the future."
Battle Royale is Fortnite's free, PUBG-style survival mode. It's available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Epic recently rolled out a new update for the mode that introduced smoke grenades, two new leaderboards, and Xbox One X support. The update also added new items and content to Fortnite's Save the World mode.
Nvidia has both unveiled and launched the first video card publicly available that uses the new Volta architecture, the Titan V. The announcement came during the 2017 NIPS Conference in Long Beach, California. Considering the Titan V carries a more-than-hefty price tag of $3,000 USD / £2,700 GBP, this will be a niche piece of PC hardware.
The Titan V is built with 21.1 billion transistors and delivers 110 teraflops of performance, which comes out to over nine-times that of the GTX 1080 Ti. This new card uses a 12nm manufacturing process, meaning Volta cards will be more efficient than its predecessors. It also packs 5120 CUDA cores and 12 GB of HBM2 video memory, which is unprecedented for Nvidia cards.
While it's nice to imagine what it'd be like to run PC games at max settings in 4K with the highest framerates possible, that's not exactly what this is for. It's not pitched as a gaming video card, but rather high level computing for artificial intelligence and deep learning. In the official press release, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the following:
"Our vision for Volta was to push the outer limits of high performance computing and AI. We broke new ground with its new processor architecture, instructions, numerical formats, memory architecture, and processor links. With Titan V, we are putting Volta into the hands of researchers and scientists all over the world. I can't wait to see their breakthrough discoveries."
Nvidia's $3000 video card, the Titan V.
Even if the Titan V isn't a video card for gaming, it's still a showcase of where PC hardware is going. The Volta architecture is said to have twice the energy efficiency of the current Pascal architecture seen in the GTX 10-series, and Volta could be making its way to cards for gaming soon. But if you're so inclined to drop $3000 on a video card now, you can do so now on Nvidia's website.
To get a better idea of how Nvidia's current line of video cards perform, check out our reviews of the GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1080, or GTX 1070 Ti. AMD has made a splash this year as well, and you can see where the RX Vega 64 and RX Vega 56 cards stack against the competition in our reviews.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds finally has an official release date. During The Game Awards, publisher Bluehole announced that the phenomenally popular battle royale game will leave early access and release in full on PC on December 20.
Among the new features PUBG 1.0 will include are climbing and vaulting, which PlayerUnknown himself Brendan Greene says "will change the game severely." It will also feature a new desert map called Miramar, which will be available to play on PUBG's test servers beginning tonight at 12 AM PT/3 AM ET.
Bluehole released a new trailer showcasing Miramar during The Game Awards, providing a closer look at the upcoming map. Unlike PUBG's current map, the lush Erangel, Miramar encompasses industrial areas, beach towns, arid desert land, and more, which the developers say will dramatically change how players approach the survival game.
This month, EA kicks off the first "season" of updates for Star Wars Battlefront II, which are based on the upcoming new film, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. The bulk of the new content arrives just prior to the film's release, on December 13, but before then, EA has shared a new trailer that showcases some of the Last Jedi-themed content that is coming to the game.
Perhaps the most notable additions that The Last Jedi Season brings to Star Wars Battlefront II are two new heroes, Finn and Captain Phasma. We've known for some time that both would be added to the game as free DLC characters, but the new trailer marks the first time either have been shown off in the game. Additionally, developer DICE will add a new Galactic Assault map (Crait), a Starfighter Assault map (D'Qar), and a new vehicle (Tallie's A-Wing). You can take a look at them in the video above.
Some new single-player content will also arrive as part of The Last Jedi Season, specifically a new mission called Resurrection. This puts players again in the role of Inferno Squad commander Iden Versio, this time "during the days of the First Order's rise to power." You can catch a peek at the new mission--and an older Iden--in the new trailer.
While most of the Last Jedi-themed content won't arrive until next week, EA kicked off the season modestly this week by letting players align themselves with either the First Order or New Republic. Once you choose a side, the game will present you with special, weekly faction quests over the next few weeks; completing these will "help edge your faction closer to victory" and earn your side additional rewards. The first challenge is available now and tasks players with racking up 50 kills with each trooper class.
Other new challenges and special events are also scheduled to arrive throughout the month, including a holiday playlist on December 27. The content will roll out at the same time across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Last Jedi, meanwhile, premieres on December 15.
Plants vs. Zombies has been around long enough now that it no longer seems weird. But when you stop and consider it--a tower-defense game where you use sentient plants to fight off waves of zombies--it's a pretty strange concept. So it should perhaps be no surprise that the new game from creator George Fan is also pretty unusual.
Developer All Yes Good today announced Octogeddon, a new game where you play as a "giant mutant octopus bent on world destruction." The trailer provides a sense of what vibe Fan and All Yes Good are going for--it's all very silly--but we don't yet have a firm grasp on precisely what you do other than generally wreak havoc.
The official description states players "grow more tentacles and evolve each of them into deadlier weapons until they become the ultimate eight-armed sushi avenger." It also describes this as a spiritual successor to Plants vs. Zombies while highlighting the fact that it's a game devoid of any microtransactions.
"[Octogeddon is] weird, playfully gruesome, and writhing with nearly infinite re-playability while only suctioning money out of your wallet ONCE," the press release states. A price was not announced, but it's made clear that this is not a free-to-play game, and that post-release content will be released for free.
Octogeddon's release date is set for February 8 on PC through Steam. A closed beta has now begun, but access won't be easy to get. 64 "golden tickets" will be given away through "semi-secret sources--or in some cases by pestering George on Twitter."
Fan is collaborating on the game with ex-PopCap employee Rich Werner, who was the original artist on Plants vs. Zombies, and Kurt Pfeifer, who worked on PvZ's Xbox 360 port.
A number of big video game franchises are soon getting the comic book treatment, with the latest being Bethesda's Wolfenstein series. Publisher Titan Comics has announced it is releasing a new graphic novel based on the acclaimed shooter this month, and we've gotten a look at its cover and some interior artwork ahead of its debut.
The first installment, Wolfenstein Volume 1, is a prequel to the series' most recent title, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Titan hasn't revealed many details about the story, but like the game series, it stars B.J. Blazkowicz and features at least one character from The New Colossus, The Professor. Here's how the publisher describes the first issue:
"It's 1960, the Nazis won the war, and a small band of outsiders fight to survive in occupied America. But the relative peace of their sanctuary is shattered by the arrival of Nazis on the hunt for some top-secret quarry. But they're not the only new faces. A strange old lady has a tale to tell of the legendary Nazi hunter--B.J. 'Terror Billy' Blazkowicz."
Wolfenstein Volume 1 is set to debut later this month, on December 19. It's written by Dan Watters (whose previous credits include Limbo and Dark Souls) and features art by Piotr Kowalski (Sex) and Ronilson Freire (Doctor Who, The Mummy). You can see its cover and a sample of some interior artwork in the gallery above.
Wolfenstein isn't the only game series Titan is turning into a graphic novel this month; on the same day, the publisher will release a new comic based on Tekken. Titan also has a graphic novel based on Bloodborne in the works. The first issue of that series will release in February 2018.
Through Humble Bundle, you can fight for freedom on American soil in a fictional military occupation without spending a dime. As long as you have a Humble Store and Steam account, you can download the PC version of Homefront free of charge until December 9, 10AM PT.
Homefront is a first-person shooter with both a single-player campaign and multiplayer component. Its story uses elements of the real world to set the stage for the campaign where North Korea invades the United States amidst the chaos of diseases, financial collapse, and military rule in the year 2027. You take part in an organized rebellion, fueled by the sights of desperation and oppression. The game plays out like a standard FPS campaign, but memorable moments are peppered within its story.
GameSpot awarded the game a 7/10 score, and reviewer Chris Watters praised how well the multiplayer component was crafted despite limited game modes. He concluded, "It's rare to have a shooter pay this much attention to its setting, and the results are some remarkably memorable moments that are often nicely emphasized by the soundtrack."
Homefront is typically $20 on Steam, but not for the next two days. In addition to a free game, the Humble Store is including 10% off the first month of its Humble Monthly subscription; new subscribers will automatically get Quantum Break, The Long Dark, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III in their library.
In what seemed like a moment of unfettered passion, Josef Fares--director of the upcoming game A Way Out--shared the stage at The Game Awards with Geoff Keighley and Fares expressed his enthusiasm for the show, among other things. Here are some of the highlights of Fares' spirited chat:
"There are, like, passionate people, crazy people, then there's me. I'm so passionate to be here, I'm so excited to be here, meeting the industry people."
"Look, this is kind of insane. The Oscars should f*** themselves up, this is the s***. I'm serious, I'm telling you this is the real s***."
"F*** the Oscars, you know. F*** the Oscars! F*** you!" [gives middle finger to the camera]
Keighley proceeded to move the conversation toward the trailer and release date announcement, but Fares continued to express himself:
"If the whole world tells me 'your game is s***,' I would tell them, 'no, it's not.' That's how much I believe in it. If you play the game from beginning to end and you see what it is, it's impossible not to like it."
"This is my idea. It doesn't have anything to do with the EA s*** going on with loot boxes and stuff. No, look, I'm going to say one thing. EA has been very good to me. And to be honest with you, because it's nice to hate EA blah blah I don't care about that s***. What I'm saying is this, all publishers f*** up sometimes. That's how it is, they f*** up. But in this case, they've been treating me well. I have 100% of the income to my team for the game I'm doing."
THQ Nordic has announced Fade to Silence, a survival game in development for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Developed by Black Forest Games, the studio behind Giana Sisters 2D, Giana Sisters: Dream Runners, and Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Fade to Silence is described by its developer as a "survival game that truly elevates the genre."
The game made its debut at The Game Awards, where a trailer showed a character braving treacherous storm, riding a snowmobile and trekking through the snow as strange creatures close in around him. "Fade to Silence recreates the many dynamics of a harsh winter climate, delivering a new level of intensity to the survival experience," explained Reinhard Pollice, business and product developer at THQ Nordic.
Players take control of Ash, who is described as a "natural leader" tasked with facing "eldritch monsters and the elements in a post-apocalyptic environment blanketed in endless winter." The game will launch on Steam Early Access on December 14 and will acclimatize the player with the ins and outs of expeditions, collecting materials, and upgrading equipment. Additionally, they will be able to establish camps and face off against the monsters lurking in the dark.
Click image to view in full screen
"Players will continually struggle to navigate dynamic, accumulating snow, real-time snow trails, and completely immersive weather effects such as blizzards," said Black Forest Games' managing director Adrian Goersch.
Over time the studio intends to give Steam Early Access players "consistent and meaningful content updates throughout development, layering on new areas, followers, missions, monsters, and increasingly complex social events--events that demand moral decision-making on the part of the player."
One of the highlights of The Game Awards 2017 was a meaty trailer for Metro: Exodus, the latest installment in the post-apocalyptic survival horror shooter set in Russia. It showed familiar aspects Metro fans will recognize like mutated creatures and very hostile and inhospitable outdoor environment.
The trailer opened with voice over, "There's no one out there Artyom, no one to help us, no one to hear us," said a female voice. Returning protagonist Artyom is shown walking through a frozen wasteland. The buildings around him are destroyed and the world seems lifeless. And yet, Artyom keeps going out into the wasteland, looking for something.
Of course, before long monsters appear and force Artyom underground, where he happens upon what looks to be another abandoned Metro. Exploring this, he eventually happens upon a coal-powered train and gets it up and running. Perhaps this train is a key part of the Exodus referenced in the game's title.
Metro: Exodus is being developed for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. This sequel is set in 2036, two years after Metro: Last Light, continuing the story from the previous game's "Redemption" ending. Playing once again as Artyom, this 22 year-old protagonist leaves Moscow with the Spartan Rangers on a journey eastward. Confirmed settings include the Volga River and a locomotive called the "Aurora." The campaign's story timeline spans one year. Anna, who is now Artyom's wife, also makes a return.
For more about Metro: Exodus, you can check out GameSpot's prior coverage of the game and the series as a whole:
A Way Out, the intriguing-looking indie game from Brothers developer and Swedish filmmaker Josef Fares, will launch on March 23, 2018, publisher EA announced tonight during The Game Awards. Not only was the release date revealed, but EA also revealed a unique promotion where you can play the game without buying it if a friend owns it.
This is being called a "friends pass free trial," and it'll be available right away at launch. You need a constant internet connection and an EA account to use this trial. Also, your friend must be on the same platform, and you'll need PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold if you're playing on console.
A Way Out will be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A new gameplay trailer was released during The Game Awards, and you can watch it in the embed above. Far more memorable from the game's showing at the event was director Josef Fares, who put on quite the display.
Set in the '70s, A Way Out focuses on the story of two convicts who are on the run after a prison escape. After a getaway chase, the story transitions to follow these two characters as they come to grips with their past, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.
Tonight at The Game Awards, Bethesda released a trailer for something new--not a game, but something more unique. The video stars Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter calling on gamers to "save" the single-player gamer.
Along with this, some of Bethesda's single-player games (Doom, Fallout 4, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus) are marked down by as much as 50 percent this week, digitally and at some physical retailers. Additionally, Bethesda is donating $100,000 to the Entertainment Software Association Foundation, which is a group that gives scholarships to help women and minorities going after degrees in the field of video game arts.
Bethesda said today that it doesn't plan to stop making single-player games, which shouldn't surprise anyone. Unlike companies like EA and Activision, Bethesda is a privately owned company that doesn't have shareholders to answer to.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more tonight from The Game Awards. You can watch the event here and follow our liveblog here.
Disclosure: Leslie Moonves, the CEO of GameSpot parent company CBS, is on the Board of Directors at Zenimax, which owns Bethesda.
The 2017 Video Game Awards took place last night, and we've learned all the winners for every category, including the highly coveted Game of the Year. In total, 102 games and gaming personalities were nominated this year. Nintendo picked up the most nominations overall (23), with Sony (15), and Activision (7) following behind.
During The Game Awards 2017, Bluehole showed off the first gameplay trailer for PUBG's new desert map. You can check out the footage in the video embed above--and you'll be able to play it sooner than you might have expected, provided you're willing to venture onto test servers.
The new map, Miramar, has now launched on PC through the game's test servers. It will be available on Xbox One in early 2018. Bluehole has also confirmed that the 1.0 version of PUBG will launch on December 20. As previously announced, the game comes to Xbox One through the Game Preview program on December 12. You don't have to wait for it to launch to start buying items for it, though.
Whereas the one existing map, Erangel, has lush forests and lots of green, Miramar is quite different in terms of layout and design. "We wanted to go the opposite direction of having lush fields and forests and arrived at the harsh and unforgiving desert of what we can now reveal is Miramar," Bluehole said.
Finally, Bluehole provided a new sales update for PUBG , confirming that it has sold 24 million copies since launch in March. For lots more on The Game Awards, check out our roundups of all the big news and trailers.
Nintendo has announced that Bayonetta 3 is in development exclusively for Nintendo Switch. The reveal happened during The Game Awards, when Reggie Fils-Aime appeared on stage and introduced a short teaser. The video featured the titular character, Bayonetta, using her iconic dual-wielding pistols, firing bullets into the distance.
During the sequence, an incredibly fast, purple ghost-like creature attacks Bayonetta, who is struggling to keep up with it. The two then face off against each other, but suddenly Bayonetta disappears and it looks like her body dissolves, leaving her guns to drop to the floor. Check out the trailer above. It's unclear what exactly will be new about the game, but it's an exciting reveal nonetheless given the critical acclaim of its predecessors.
As with the previous two entries in the series, Bayonetta 3 is being developed by Platinum Games. Nintendo will be publishing the title, just like it did for the second game in the series. The Game Awards had more surprises for Bayonetta fans in the form of re-releases of Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 for Switch. You can find out more about the two Bayonetta re-releases for Switch here. That will be released in early 2018; there's not yet a release date for Bayonetta 3.
Additionally, PlayStation VR bundles are discounted significantly. The Gran Turismo Sport bundle is down to $200 (from $300), the Doom VFR bundle drops to $300 (from $400), and the Skyrim VR bundle is going down to $350 (from $450). These offers will be available December 10-24, so you have more time to get involved. Go to the PlayStation Blog to see a full rundown of the deals and specifics on the bundles.
It will be interesting to see if Microsoft follows suit and cuts the price of the Xbox One or the Xbox One X for the holidays. Microsoft has in the past followed Sony's move when it comes to temporary price cuts. During the all-important holiday shopping season, sticker price is especially important, so we may also see an Xbox price cut.
Bandai Namco has announced SoulCalibur VI, a new entry in its weapon-based fighting game series, coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018. The game made its debut at The Game Awards, where a teaser was shown. The video featured a young-looking Mitsurugi battling Sophitia. During the battle the two weapons the characters wielded glowed different colors, indicating there will be some additional mechanic added to the traditional weapon-oriented battles.
According to Bandai Namco, SoulCalibur VI will have an "epic" story mode, revamped gameplay mechanics, and "dynamic fights enhanced by cinematic-styled combat." One of the key new gameplay changes is the introduction of "Reversal Edge," which allows players to "defend against the opponent's attack and directly counter with a powerful strike highlighted through a dynamic camera." SoulCalibur VI is being developed in Unreal Engine, just as Tekken 7 was, and it looks like the game has also inherited the dynamic camera angle.
There was also a tease for what looks to be a new character, who held a long staff-like weapon with blades on each end. Bandai Namco has said SoulCalibur VI will have a roster of "returning characters and newcomers," so that mysterious figure may be someone entirely new to the series.
"Two decades after its first iteration, SoulCalibur VI returns to its roots while bringing brand-new gameplay features to the fight," Bandai Namco says in a press release. "Travel through the signature 16th century stages and experience the struggle for the two legendary swords using a complete roster of returning iconic SoulCalibur characters, along with some newcomers."
SoulCalibur V, the last mainline entry in the series, was released for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. Before that, an HD version of SoulCalibur 2 was released for last-generation consoles. Since then, developer and publisher Bandai Namco has focused on its other major fighting game series, Tekken.
Tekken 7 was released in June 2017 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and features a full story campaign that incorporates Akuma, one of the main antagonists of the Street Fighter series, into its mythos. Since then, Tekken 7 has added another guest character in Geese Howard to its roster. Geese is a mainstay from SNK's Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series.
Guest characters are something that Bandai Namco featured heavily in previous entries in the SoulCalibur series, with the likes of Tekken's Heihachi Mishima, The Legend of Zelda's Link, Yoda and Darth Vader from Star Wars, and Image Comics' Spawn making appearances in the past. It will be interesting to see if Bandai Namco will continue the series' trend of including guest characters in SoulCalibur VI.
While not as massive a year for mobile as 2016, this year still had an array of fantastic gems. Across the multitude of games released on mobile on a daily basis, the ones that stood out the most were inventive takes on puzzle games, retro callbacks to the past, and fascinating new experiences that grasped the distinct qualities of the platform. Smartphone games have always dominated among more casual audiences, but they're now drawing attracting the attention of gamers everywhere with experiences you just can't get anywhere else. In no particular order, here are our Best Of Mobile from 2017:
Linelight
Video games are so often praised for being complex or impressively lavish, but sometimes all we really need is a dash of color and a simple puzzle to get sucked in. Linelight focuses on these basic components, making it an easy game to jump into. You guide a little beam of light along a path from point A to point B, and then shuffle onto the next puzzle.
Shifting pathways, enemies (dangerous red beams), and cycling animations make the game challenging. These obstacles increase from one level to the next, demanding complicated mental gymnastics as you strategize before making your first move. Originally released on consoles and PC, Linelight on mobile is just as effective and puzzling, but with the added benefit of being able to alter your orientation--a helpful tool when faced with the game's most intricate designs.
Bury Me, My Love
Perhaps one of the most impactful games of 2017; Bury Me, My Love is a mobile title that chronicles the journey of Nour, a woman fleeing war-torn Syria in hopes of making it to a better life in Europe. While light on gameplay, Bury Me, My Love distinguishes itself through a compelling narrative that explores the experiences of someone attempting to make a treacherous journey through refugee camps, past security checkpoints, and across borders.
Bury Me, My Love's narrative unfolds in pseudo-real time and is presented like a WhatsApp conversation, and together these two elements ground the game in reality, despite the fact that the story itself is fictional. Playing as Majd, Nour's husband, you're able to communicate with the character, offering advice and guidance to help her along the way. Since events play out in real time, it's common to not hear from Nour while she attempts to navigate her way through a dark forest, is smuggled in a car by a stranger, or spends the night in a camp. The back and forth facilitated by the instant message-style interactions blurs the line between what's real and what's not, and over time, it becomes easy to forget that Nour is a fictional character. The strong writing and characterization, along with the fascinating context the game provides for Syria's political and military strife, engender a closeness with Nour; you want her to succeed, you fear for her safety, you fret when there's a long gap between her messages.
Bury Me, My Love is powerful and unique. In a world where it can be difficult to relate to others' hardships, this game provides valuable insight and perspective.
Monument Valley 2
The original Monument Valley was a loving send-up to the classic puzzle adventure games of the past. With its M.C. Escher-inspired levels, many of which puzzled players while astounding them with visual luster, the first game was an inviting experience that challenged you to look at your surroundings differently. With the follow-up, Monument Valley 2, the puzzles and sense of wonder are expanded upon greatly.
While the first game focused on just one character, the sequel has you guide two. You have to navigate the many optical illusions with Ro and her child, which open up inventive takes on past puzzle-solving mechanics. By far the most striking aspect of Monument Valley 2 is its visual style, pulling from M.C. Escher and Japanese art prints to craft a world that inspires curiosity.
Above all, Monument Valley 2 is about the story of a mother and her daughter. While the puzzles themselves are what will attract people, the game offers a surprisingly unique and captivating narrative that ties it all together. And that's a wonderful thing within the package of a modest puzzle game for you mobile device.
Arkanoid Vs. Space Invaders
The beauty of Arkanoid Vs. Space Invaders is that old-school arcade fans will get the concept immediately, making one wonder why this holy pairing didn't happen sooner. Instead of using the Vaus space vessel as the paddle to bounce off balls, you reflect the invaders' attacks back them. The classic varieties of brick densities and power-ups that Arkanoid is known for are just two of the many factors that create variety to these 150 stages. You have to strategize what bricks to hit while also factoring in how the invaders are hiding behind these barriers.
Despite the tiny size of the paddle, controlling this ship with your thumb is a breeze. You're not limited to side-to-side movement; there's flexibility to move vertically, giving you leverage for fine aiming. There's a gratifying sense of strategy as you decide whether to use the paddle to reflect attacks straight on or ricochet enemy attacks against walls or bricks that withstand multiple hits.
A light narrative structure and manga-style character design helps inspire you to press on invasion after invasion. A hefty amount of visual effects and flares spruce up the stage-to-stage flow. These graphical touches and the motivation from the story goals go a long way toward turning single-mission sessions into 20-mission marathons. And with power-ups that reference characters from other properties like Psychic Force, Elevator Action, and Darius, Arkanoid Vs. Space Invaders is a touching mini-celebration of game developer Taito's legacy.
Framed 2
Framed 2 expands on the distinct design of the original, offering a multitude of clever puzzles that are as entertaining to solve as they are to see play out. There's much to love about its film noir visuals and pulpy jazz soundtrack, but where it shines is in how it continually challenges and rewards your inclinations to tinker with a puzzle. It helps that the failures you make in your attempts to find a solution are rarely debilitating, instead only encouraging you to reassess the problem presented. The elegance of switching panels makes it easy to learn from your mistakes and construct a new solution. While this was true of the original, it's made all the more enjoyable in its sequel thanks to how rewarding it is to find puzzle solutions this time around.
Whether you're switching pathways to pave the way for your mysterious suitcase wielding protagonist to escape a pursuing guard dog or guiding his equally mysterious stalker through a series of ventilation shafts, Framed 2 is a joy to interact with. And when it isn't captivating you with its puzzles, the caper plot on display is made all the more endearing through how well it evokes character without dialogue, while still maintaining a sense of clarity in its narrative. In all its moving parts, Framed 2 is not only a spectacular sequel to an already masterfully executed puzzler, but a fantastic game in its own right.
GameSpot will be unveiling its picks for the best games of the year throughout all of December. Check out our Best of 2017 hub for even more.
Despite the release of Nintendo Switch, this year still gave us plenty of top-notch 3DS games. The popular handheld maintained a strong lineup this year that consisted of new and exciting entries from iconic series and remakes and reissues of existing popular games. With the year about to come to a close, we've narrowed down a list of 2017's five best 3DS games that you need to add to your collection. In no particular order, here's our Best of 3DS from 2017:
Metroid: Samus Returns
It would certainly be an understatement to say expectations were high for Metroid: Samus Returns. It had been seven years since the last proper game in the series, Metroid: Other M, launched for Wii, and its story and portrayal of Samus were so divisive that it led to a temporary hiatus for the franchise. Just as worryingly to many fans was the news that Samus Returns was being developed by MercurySteam, the studio behind the equally divisive Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series.
Fortunately, any concerns these factors may have raised were quickly dispelled once the game was released. From the moment Samus touches down on the surface of planet SR388, it's clear that Samus Returns is a triumphant comeback for the beloved series. Like Metroid: Zero Mission before it, Samus Returns isn't an entirely new game but a remake of a previous title, in this case Metroid's sophomore installment, Return of Samus. But while the core remains the same as the original, Samus Returns builds on it smartly with a wealth of new areas, power-ups, enemies, and more, making it a unique adventure that also points the way forward for the series.
While exploring the depths of SR388 and acquiring new tools are as satisfying as ever in Samus Returns, the best aspects of the game are the new elements it introduces, particularly the Aeion abilities. These grant Samus new powers, such as the ability to slow down time or scan the environment for invisible walls, which are utilized cleverly through the game's level design. Just as notable is the new melee counter, which makes combat more satisfying and important than before. The result is not just the best 3DS game of the year, but one of the finest to grace Nintendo's dual-screen handheld to date.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Remakes were a recurring theme on 3DS in 2017. Many of the handheld's biggest releases this past year were reworkings of older titles, but few were as exceptional as Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Despite being based on one of the series' earliest games, the Japan-exclusive Fire Emblem Gaiden, Echoes feels remarkably refreshing thanks to its beautiful visuals, memorable soundtrack, and some compelling new gameplay mechanics.
As with another big 3DS remake this year, Metroid: Samus Returns, Fire Emblem Echoes isn't a straightforward update of the original game, but a complete reimagining of it--though it retains many of the elements that made the original Gaiden unique. Echoes features dual protagonists, Alm and Celica, who each have their own army and parallel storylines, which players can freely switch between at almost any point in the adventure. Similarly, along with the usual turn-based battlefields, the game features a handful of explorable dungeons, which help break up the gameplay and give players a chance to hunt for rare loot.
Echoes also upends some of the series' oldest conventions, namely the weapon triangle, forcing even Fire Emblem veterans to rethink the way they approach battles. But its biggest addition is a new feature called Mila's Turnwheel. This item allows you to effectively rewind a battle a limited number of times to undo a potentially disastrous move, making the series even more accessible than before without diluting any of its appeal or challenge.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth
Atlus' RPG series, Etrian Odyssey, enjoyed a 10-year anniversary this year along with a new entry. With Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth, the tradition of first-person dungeon crawling is intact with a few new gameplay elements and quality-of-life improvements. This game can be rather difficult, but it provides a unique RPG experience you can't get elsewhere.
Beyond the Myth sets you up in the fantastical Arcania, where the Yggdrasil tree's branches grow all the way up to the heavens. This is where exploration happens; the labyrinths within the tree are like mazes made up of several square blocks on a map that you have to draw yourself. In proper Etrian Odyssey fashion, you have to keep track of points of interest and passageways on the bottom 3DS screen, otherwise you'll be lost.
One of the things that makes the series special is its turn-based combat system where commands for each party member are decided upon before anything happens within that turn. Once every command is set, the turn unfolds in order of character agility. It forces you to think ahead and sharpen your planning skills when facing new enemies. Don't be surprised when an enemy knocks down an ally before they get their move in. With this entry, new races and classes add another layer of depth to combat and character development. You'll be focused on hyper-specializing and min-maxing party members since effectiveness in battle is key to getting through this challenging game.
Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth isn't easy, but it's rewarding to execute perfectly planned turns in the face of powerful enemies as you explore the games gigantic, beautiful dungeons.
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga could have been ported from the Game Boy Advance to the 3DS and nobody would have complained. It's a game that still looks, plays, and sounds great today. Yet, when Nintendo decided to release the game on 3DS, it saw fit to go the extra mile and revamp it in small ways from top to bottom. Thankfully, the game's original charm remains intact; it's just been improved in the process.
Graphics are the most obvious place to look for upgrades, and people familiar with the original game will notice enhanced animations and redrawn sprites, which add a dash of new personality to the already energetic game. Likewise, the soundtrack has been expanded, with tracks running a bit longer thanks to new material from legendary composer Yoko Shimomura.
Nintendo also saw fit to add a new move in combat, adopting a mechanic from more recent games in the Mario and Luigi RPG series. Traditionally, you could opt to press a button right at the moment of impact to add a little extra damage to your attacks, but you now also have the option of pressing X before an enemy hits you to help soften the blow and save a few HP. It's a small change on paper, but one that makes the turn-based combat feel more active than before. And when you add all of these tweaks and improvements up, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga is the best it's ever been--another win for 3DS.
Pokemon Ultra Sun And Moon
The latest Pokemon titles, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, may not technically be new games, but they stand as two of the best releases for 3DS this year thanks to their lengthy adventure, charming cast, and loads of new content. Like last year's Sun and Moon versions, the pair are set in the tropical Alola region, and while their story follows the same general narrative beats as their predecessors, it has been expanded with many new narrative threads and characters, which puts a new perspective on the adventure.
More importantly, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon fix up some of the lingering issues from the original Sun and Moon versions, namely their pacing. That has been tightened up, making the opening portions of the game much brisker and easier to get into. Developer Game Freak has also introduced a variety of new areas to explore, Pokemon to capture, and features to play around with, such as the surprisingly addictive Mantine Surf mini-game, making the pair two of the most robust entries in the series.
But what fans will like best about Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are all the callbacks they make to the series' history, particularly Team Rainbow Rocket. Being able to face Giovanni and all the other leaders from past villainous teams again is a wonderful addition that reinforces how far the franchise has come in the past 20 years. Not only are Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon the definitive versions of the seventh generation titles, they're a fitting capstone for the Pokemon series' tenure on 3DS.
GameSpot will be unveiling its picks for the best games of the year throughout all of December. Check out our Best of 2017 hub for even more.
The much-anticipated second DLC expansion for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild finally has a release date--and it's already arrived. As part of The Game Awards on Thursday night, Nintendo shared a variety of news, including the fact that that The Champions' Ballad finally had a release date for Nintendo Switch and Wii U: Thursday night. Breath of the Wild's second DLC pack is now available for Expansion Pass owners, and it comes with one particularly notable feature.
Nintendo's presentation began on stage with producer Eiji Aonuma wearing a Champion's Tunic, swinging the Master Sword. From there, a trailer ran that showcased each of the titular champions in Breath of the Wild, a variety of new shrines, and new gear. You'll still play as Link, but he has a new tool at his disposal--and it's a really cool one.
The trailer ends with a look at the Master Cycle Zero, basically a motorcycle that Link can ride around Hyrule. You'll get your hands on it once you complete the new challenges that await in this DLC. Aonuma described it as essentially being Link's Divine Beast.
We'd previously gotten some brief looks at The Champions' Ballad and learned that you would still play as Link, despite the focus on the titular Champions. It will feature a brand-new dungeon, gear, and an original story. The DLC is only available through Breath of the Wild's $20 / £18 expansion pass, which also provides access to the already-released DLC. That also offers access to The Master Trials, new outfits, a harder difficulty mode, and the Trial of the Sword.
There were plenty of new trailers and videos from this year's Game Awards. Notable standouts included Death Stranding, Soul Calibur VI, Bayonetta 3, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Champions' Ballad, and more. To help you keep track of everything that was shown, we've gathered all the trailers from the ceremony below.
The new trailer for Hideo Kojima's upcoming Death Stranding reveals more details about what we can expect from the game's narrative.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Champions' Ballad
The next installment of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass: The Champions' Ballad is here. The exhilarating adventure continues with a host of new shrines, items, and armor to find.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is coming to Xbox Preview on December 12th and and PC 1.0 Launch on December 20th.
Accounting +
Accounting + is an upcoming game collaboration between The Stanley Parable dev Davey Wreden and Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland.
World War Z
World War Z is an upcoming third-person action shooter based on the film of the same name.
Untitled From Software Game
A new game by Dark Souls developer From Software was revealed at the Game Awards. It currently as no confirmed name nor are there any details about what type of game it'll be.
In The Valley Of Gods
In The Valley Of Gods is the latest game by developer Campo Santo, the creators of Firewatch.
Vacation Simulator
Vacation Simulator is the new original VR game from Owlchemy Labs, the creators of Job Simulator, and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality.
Soul Calibur VI
Soul Calibur VI is the latest entry to the long running weapons-based fighting game series.
Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnite Battle Royale's 50v50 mode is out now, but it's only available until December 17.
Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta 3 was revealed exclusively for the Nintendo Switch at The Game Awards.
Sea Of Thieves
Rare announces the release date of the upcoming pirate game Sea of Thieves, as well as showcase some of the game's customization options and ship features.
Witchfire
Witchfire is the latest game from The Astronauts, the studio behind The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
A Way Out
The latest trailer A Way Out showcases more of the relationship between its two main characters and a bit of its split-screen storytelling techniques.
Bayonetta 1+2 for Switch
Both Bayonetta 1 and 2 are heading to Switch on February 26, 2018.
GTFO
GTFO is the latest game by a former designer who worked on both Payday 1 and 2.
Metro: Exodus
The latest Metro: Exodus trailer showcases more of the game's world and the creatures the inhabit it.
Dreams
We didn't know what to expect from Dreams, the new game from LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule. That still remains something of a mystery, but the new trailer provides a look at the variety of experiences that it makes possible.
This year's Game Awards rewarded some of 2017's best games, but the show also revealed a bunch of major announcements for both existing games and entirely new ones, which includes new trailers for Death Stranding, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Soul Calibur VI, and more. To help you get up to speed with all the announcements, we've compiled all the biggest ones from the ceremony below.
What news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out our trailer roundup. If you want to re-experience what it was like to watch the show, check out our Game Awards liveblog.
Krypton is DC's latest TV show, and as the title suggests, it takes a look at life on Superman's home planet before its destruction. The show is set to premiere on SyFy in 2018, and the first teaser has now been released. It doesn't give too much away, but it certainly looks impressive--check it out above.
Krypton is executively produced by David Goyer, who has plenty of experience with DC's superheroes. He co-wrote both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel, as well as Christopher Nolan's Batman movies and the Constantine TV show.
The synopsis reads: "Syfy's Krypton, the much-anticipated Superman prequel set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel's home planet, will follow Superman's grandfather--whose House of El was ostracized and shamed--as he fights to redeem his family's honor and save his beloved world from chaos."
The show stars newcomer Cameron Cuffe as Seg-El, the grandfather of Superman. It also features Georgina Campbell (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword), Ian McElhinney (Star Wars:Rogue One), and Ann Ogbomo (World War Z).
Goyer first spoke about Krypton in 2015, when he described his plans for the show. "In terms of production value, you have to pick your moments," he told Collider. "Should we make the show, there will definitely be some big moments. It won't be wall to wall visual effects every single moment, and we'll also be digging into the characters and the culture a lot more."
The first footage from the upcoming manga adaptation Alita: Battle Angel has been revealed. The movie is produced and written by James Cameron, and is set to hit theaters in July next year. A full trailer is expected tomorrow, but in the meantime we have this short teaser.
Not unexpectedly it gives very little away, but does provide a look at star Rosa Salazar's robotic arms, plusSpectre star Christophe Waltz, who plays the cybersurgeon Dyson Ido. Check it out below:
Alita: Battle Angel is directed by Sin City's Robert Rodriguez. Cameron intended to direct the movie for many years, but last year handed over the reins to Rodriguez, who is also known for the likes of From Dusk Till Dawn, Desperado, and the Spy Kids movies. It hits theaters on July 20, 2018.
In 2015, Cameron told Variety: "Robert and I have been looking for a film to do together for years, so I was pumped when he said he wanted to do Battle Angel. He's very collaborative and we're already like two kids building a go-kart, just having fun riffing creatively and technically.
"This project is near and dear to me, and there's nobody I trust more than Robert, with his technical virtuosity and rebel style, to take over the directing reins. We're looking forward to learning a lot from each other while we make a kick-ass epic."
Battle Angel Alita is the futuristic story of an amnesiac cyborg who becomes a deadly bounty hunter. It was first published in 1990, and ran for nine volumes until 1995. In 1993, a two-episode anime version was produced, which adapted the first two volumes of the manga.
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