Thanks to the upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ, we've all been reminiscing about afternoons spent watching Dragon Ball Z on TV. But if you want to revisit the anime--or if you want to watch any of the Dragon Ball series for the first time--it can be a little tricky to know where to find them. Here, we've compiled a list of every legal streaming service for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and more for the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia and New Zealand.
Unfortunately for UK fans, most of Dragon Ball isn't available to stream legally due to licensing complications. Blu-ray or DVD are your best options and will feature the widely used Funimation dub, rather than Europe's original English dub (which was based on a French translation and refers to Piccolo as "Big Green").
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball adapts the first 194 chapters of Akira Toriyama's manga of the same name and mostly features series protagonist Goku as a child. In the US, it had a few failed runs--an original "Lost Dub" in '89 and another dub in '95, both of which were canceled due to low popularity--before Funimation's re-dubbed version began airing in 2001.
Funimation currently has the exclusive rights to the English dubbed version in the US and Canada.
Dragon Ball Z adapts the latter 325 chapters of the Dragon Ball manga. The first (censored) English dubs aired in the late '90s, and it was re-dubbed by Funimation in 2005.
There is an HD remastered and recut version of Dragon Ball Z called Dragon Ball Z Kai, which cuts out a lot of the "filler" from the original series that wasn't in the manga. Dragon Ball Z Kai isn't available to stream currently, though you can watch select episodes on theAdult Swim site in the US with a cable login.
Battle of the Gods and Resurrection F
Two recent Dragon Ball films--Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F--are available to stream only in the UK on Netflix. If you're not in the UK, there's always Dragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Super is the newest anime series based on the franchise and the first Dragon Ball anime with an original story in 18 years. It's an official sequel to Z with Toriyama involved in production, and its early episodes cover the events of the films Battle of the Gods and Resurrection F. Thanks to a partnership between Crunchyroll and Funimation, the English sub is widely available.
Lego Indiana Jones 2 follows the familiar format of other Lego action-adventure games, in an open-world environment that allows you to explore and solve puzzles in your way. The game encompasses all four movies in the Indiana Jones series, with focus placed on The Crystal Skull.
Split/Second, on the other hand, transports you to a very different world. The arcade-style racing game features multiplayer and a single-player campaign, where you're pitted against your fellow cutthroat racers on a reality TV show. The game features a unique Power Play mechanic, which allows you to trigger destructive events in the environment around you to take out your opponents, once your power bar fills up. Split/Second is also available soon as one of February's Games with Gold.
If you own a physical disc for either game, you can simply pop them into your system to begin playing. Digital copies can be found in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section on the console, or you can buy the games directly through the Xbox Store. For more, check out Gamespot's full list of the nearly 400 backwards compatible games that have been released on Xbox One. Meanwhile, check out these other upcoming Xbox One and Xbox 360 free Games with Gold, arriving this February.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix has enlisted some unexpected star power ahead of its upcoming release. Hans Zimmer, the composer behind the scores for the Dark Knight trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has signed on to provide music for the film.
Those who follow Zimmer's career closely might find this surprising, as he declared he was done creating superhero scores after Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. "I have officially retired from the superhero business," he explained to the BBC's HardTalk in 2016. "I did Batman Begins with Chris [Nolan] 12 years ago, so the Dark Knight trilogy might be three movies to you; to me, it was 11 years of my life."
Just when he thought he was out, though, they pulled him back in. During an appearance on the HappySadConfused podcast, Dark Phoenix star Evan Peters--who will reprise his role as Quicksilver--spilled the beans. " I think the film is gonna be incredible. Hans Zimmer's scoring it," he says. "I don't know if I was supposed to say that or not."
What is it aboutDark Phoenix that made Zimmer return to the superhero genre? It remains to be seen, but Peters makes it sound like working on the film was a dream. "[Director] Simon [Kinberg] directed this one and came in very prepared, very professional. It was a different energy on set and everything got done like clockwork," he says. "It was very seamless. Everybody was a little bit more level-headed, so it was a very pleasurable, light experience."
This is Kinberg's directorial debut, as he takes over the franchise from Bryan Singer. It's not his first experience with the X-Men franchise, though. After serving as a writer on X-Men: The Last Stand, he has served as a producer on each subsequent entry in the series, as well as TV spin-offs Legion and The Gifted.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix will see the returns of stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hold, Sophie Turner, Alexandra Shipp, Tye Sheridan, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. It hits theaters on November 2.
We're giving away 5 PS4 codes and 5 Xbox One codes for Railway Empire! (List Price: $59.99, scroll down below to enter)
In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modeled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories, and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition.
Competition ends Sunday, February 4 at 9:00PM PT. Ten (10) winners will be emailed. Entry is open to USA residents only on PS4 and worldwide on Xbox One. No purchase necessary.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
Monster Hunter World is a game with a simple premise: explore the world, fight huge monsters, then turn them into your own weapons and armor. And as the first Monster Hunter in many, many years on a home console that isn't the Wii U, Monster Hunter World has the potential to draw in even more players than any game in the series before. Whether this will be your first game in the series or you're a returning veteran, we'll cover Monster Hunter with in-depth guides and reviews throughout the coming weeks to help you take down the game's biggest beasts and craft the best-looking gear.
In this roundup feature, you'll find links out to all our most-relevant Monster Hunter content as it goes live, so check back for updates and Monster Hunter tips!
The final public beta has ended for Monster Hunter World, but its full release on Xbox One and PS4 is imminent. Set to launch on January 26, Monster Hunter World marks the end of the franchise's long hiatus from home consoles. The latest entry in the series is also coming to PC, but Capcom hasn't set a firm date for that launch yet. According to the game's producer, Ryozo Tsujimoto, the delay is because "rather than have it taking up resources during the console development and not being able to have our full attention on it. We want to get console out the door, and then we're going to take some extra time and try and get the PC version as good as possible." The PC date is currently set for sometime this fall.
For PS4 and Xbox One users, Monster Hunter World will have an important day one patch that adds online multiplayer, event quests, chat, and other online features. In addition, the patch will fix some bugs and add series-favorite Poogies to the game. Additional space required for the patch will be approximately 815 MB.
Our full Monster Hunter World review is now online, in which we awarded the game an 8/10. "Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large."
Pre-Order Bonuses and Special Editions
Pre-order bonuses: The Origin Set Armor (includes higher defense and gathering skills) and a Fair Wind Charm (increases your attack power).
Digital Deluxe Edition ($70/￡57.99/$115 AUD) -- includes a Samurai Set skin, three gestures, two sticker sets, and an additional face paint and hair style option. The PS4 version of the Digital Deluxe Edition also comes with 14 weapon-themed PSN avatars. All of these items will be available to purchase separately once the game launches.
Collector's Edition ($150/$300 AUD) -- includes a physical copy of the game, a voucher for the customization items included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, a hardcover art book, a monster statue, and a code for a digital soundtrack, all housed in a collector's box.
Monster Hunter World PS4 Pro ($450/£380/$660 AUD) -- The special "Rathalos" edition of the console will also come with a red controller, pre-order bonuses, a physical copy of the game, and a special PS4 dynamic theme.
Guides
We'll be going in-depth on weapon and hunting stratgies, and you'll be able to find all our guides content here when the game launches.
Gameplay
Check out Monster Hunter World in action in the videos below.
The title of the sixth Mission Impossible movie has been revealed. The film is called Mission Impossible: Fallout. It was announced by star Tom Cruise on Instagram, along with the first official photo from the movie.
The image shows Cruise as Ethan Hunt, in a typically Ethan Hunt-esque pose--hanging off the side of a helicopter, as it ascends at an alarming angle over a mountain. Check it out below:
Mission Impossible: Fallout is set to hit theaters on July 27, 2018. While we don't have any plot details yet, director Christopher McQuarrie previously stated that it will be an "emotional journey" for Ethan Hunt. "I've seen five of these movies and I don't know who Ethan Hunt is," he said last year. "One movie sort of dealt with his personal life; the other movies are about people speculating what's really going on in Ethan's head. I want to know who Ethan is in this movie, I want an emotional journey for this character, and Tom really embraced it."
The film also sees the return of previous co-stars Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin. They will be joined by Superman actor Henry Cavill who will be wearing his controversial mustache. McQuarrie previously helmed 2015's hugely successful Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.
Production on the film was delayed for several weeks last year when star Tom Cruise suffered an on-set injury while performing a stunt. There was also an earlier pay dispute between Cruise and Paramount that led to the start of production being postponed.
The end of the month is quickly approaching, which means a new batch of freebies will soon be available for Xbox Live Gold members. Microsoft has revealed February's lineup of Games with Gold titles, which subscribers will be able download for free on Xbox One and Xbox 360 throughout the month.
As usual, the batch consists of four games spread evenly across the two platforms. On the newer console, Devolver Digital's first-person shooter Shadow Warrior will be available for Gold members throughout the entire month. Beginning February 16, it'll be joined by Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India, the side-scrolling spinoff in Ubisoft's stealth series. That title will be available through the remainder of the month until March 15.
On Xbox 360, the racing game Split/Second will be available for the first half of the month. On February 16, it'll be replaced by another arcade racer: the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi, which will be available until February 28. The latter already supports Xbox One backwards compatibility, while the former is being added to the backwards compatible library today, January 25. That gives Xbox One owners a total of four freebies to snag in February.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is just a few days away from release, on January 26, and now the upcoming PS4, Xbox One, and PC game has received two new videos showing off all the combat gameplay on its way. Check out the launch trailer above, and the latest character reveal video below.
In the trailer, you get a look at some of the games characters, and the early praise the game is getting. Between cutscenes and actual gameplay, the trailer gives you an appreciation for the game's ability to recreate the look and feel of the anime.
The second video shows the latest character to join the roster of playable fighters. You can see Android 21 terrorizing the battle field, with a special nod to her tendency to devour her enemies. You can read all about the character and her abilities in our article, and watch the character reveal trailer below.
Early looks at the title suggest the game is one of the best Dragon Ball games ever created. In GameSpot's review-in-progress of Dragon Ball FighterZ, Peter Brown said the game is sure to tap into the hearts of the series' most dedicated fans and win over newcomers to the Dragon Ball universe.
"FighterZ has bottled the essence of what makes the series' characters, animation, and sense of humor so beloved and reconfigured it into something new: a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre," he said. For more, check our our guide to everything you need to know about Dragon Ball FighterZ, including info about specs and all the playable characters coming in the game.
Update: There's still no exact time for when servers will be back online, but Epic has provided a slightly more in-depth explanation of what the problem is. "During our downtime to upgrade to 2.3, we were performing recommended tasks to resolve a lingering database issue," a post on Epic's forum states. "Those tasks ended up causing the database to go into a bad state. After significant consideration, we decided our best option was to restore from a backup at the moment we took the servers down for the patch. Our first restore failed (due to issues *unrelated* with the quality of the backup) and we're working on a second attempt at the restore. Our Top People are on it and it will be up as soon as humanly possible." The original story follows.
A new update for Fortnite is scheduled to launch today on all platforms, but players on PC, PS4, and Xbox One are unable to play right now. Maintenance has taken longer than expected, and developer Epic Games says the game will still be down for a period of time as it works to complete the process.
Maintenance began at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM GMT today, January 25. Epic subsequently announced on Twitter, "We're sorry the update has gone longer than expected. We're making some changes to the backend systems to handle growth." It subsequently stated that downtime would continue as it worked on the matter: "Hi all, it is looking like we are going to be down for at least a few more hours as we scale our backend systems."
In its most recent update, which came just after 7 AM PT, that same estimate was given. "Sorry everyone, it's looking like the Fortnite servers will be down for at least a few more hours," it said. "More updates will follow."
In the meantime, players are unable to get online to play Fortnite's Battle Royale or Save the World modes. Although not as substantial as the recent map revamp, today's new patch will make changes to both game modes, with some of the more significant updates coming on the Battle Royale side, where the new Chug Jug item will be added. You can read more about what to expect in our story on the new Fortnite patch notes, or see them in full on the official website. We'll report back once maintenance is concluded and the update is available.
The recent Netflix movie Bright was the streaming giant's biggest film to date, both in terms of its budget and audience. But while a record number of viewers watched the sci-fi action thriller, it wasn't exactly warmly received by critics. Now Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has spoken about the movie's negative critical response.
Hastings addressed the issue during the streaming giant's quarterly earnings call and was dismissive of the movie's bad reviews. "The critics are pretty disconnected from the mass appeal, considering we're moving internationally at this point" said Hastings, via Variety. "Most of those critical reviews are English language and [from the] US."
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos reiterated Hastings comments. "If people are watching this movie and loving it, that's the measurement of success," he said. "And if the critics get behind it or don't, that's [just] a select group of social media influencers talking to a specific audience."
It was confirmed last month that a sequel to Bright is on the way. Stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton are returning, as is director David Ayer. Writer Max Landis is however not coming back, so Ayer will handle script-writing duties himself. The movie currently has no confirmed release date. Click here to find out how GameSpot thinks Bright 2 could be a much better film than the original.
Nintendo's first mobile game, the Mii-based social networking app Miitomo, is coming to an end. Nintendo announced it will discontinue services for the title on May 9, a little over two years after it first launched.
"We see this app as accomplishing a portion of our goal of getting Nintendo IP (in this case, Mii characters) into the hands of consumers across a variety of environments worldwide," Nintendo said on its support website. "At the same time, we've seen the number of ongoing users for the app decrease. We have decided to discontinue this service so that we can better optimize our operational resources across our entire smart device business."
Miitomo will be discontinued in all regions simultaneously at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET, after which point players will no longer be able to launch the game. Any Platinum Points you have earned from Miitomo can still be redeemed on My Nintendo, and Sidekick Miis can be saved as QR codes and transferred to the Mii Maker app on 3DS and Wii U. However, players will not be able to formally save any Miitomo content, such as conversations or answers, outside of taking screenshots of it.
Ahead of Miitomo's shutdown, Nintendo has removed all in-app purchases from the game. The company is also holding a Final Thank You Festival event leading up to its final day. Players will receive 2,000 Miitomo coins and 5 game tickets as a daily login bonus up until the service is discontinued. Nintendo is also running a final Miifoto event from now until April 18 that asks players to create a photo of their favorite Miitomo memories and share it on Twitter. The best entries will be posted on the official Miitomo website.
Update 2: Sea of Thieves' beta should now be available to everyone who is meant to have access, although some new pre-orders may have to jump through an extra step to get in. The beta was offline for a period of time for maintenance but is now back online. Rare continues to work on issues that players are running into.
Update: Rare has announced it is in the process of deploying a fix for the "too early" error message that many players have encountered when trying to access the Sea of Thieves closed beta. "Good news for those currently experiencing the 'too early' error when trying to access the Closed Beta--a fix will be rolled out for you in the next few hours! We'll let you know when this goes live," the developer tweeted. We'll update this story with any further developments.
The original story follows.
The Sea of Thieves closed beta has officially begun. The beta is going on now for select Xbox One and PC players, but it appears many are currently having issues accessing it.
Like the Sea of Thieves technical alpha that took place back in December, the closed beta is only available to those who either joined the Sea of Thieves Insider Program prior to December 1, 2017 or pre-ordered the game. Players who fell into the latter camp received the beta automatically if they pre-ordered Sea of Thieves digitally, while those who reserved the title at retail had to redeem a code in order to install the beta. However, it appears many pre-purchasers are being met with a "too early" error message when they attempt to launch the beta.
Developer Rare has addressed the problem on Twitter and says it is currently looking into a solution, though the studio didn't offer a precise timetable for when it expects the issue to be resolved. "We're aware some players are getting a 'too early' error when attempting to launch the Sea of Thieves Closed Beta. We're currently all hands on deck investigating and will provide updates ASAP," the developer tweeted.
Sea of Thieves is an open-world, co-op adventure in which players form pirate crews and search for treasure. The closed beta is currently scheduled to run until 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET / 8 AM GMT on January 29. Rather than featuring a portion of the full game, Rare says it crafted a tailored experience for the beta "that offers a true taste of the pirate life."
Following confirmation that Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah will also serve in the same role on Anthem, a new report has emerged that paints a picture of mounting pressure at BioWare. The next Dragon Age project was reportedly rebooted in the last year, and Anthem may not be released before the end of 2018, as previously announced.
According to sources speaking with Kotaku, Anthem will now launch in early 2019. The site notes the complexity of its launch, as BioWare needs to account for not just the release of the game itself, but an earlier release through EA Access, a beta test, and post-launch updates. If EA is still intent on getting the game out during the 2019 fiscal year, its launch could come no later than March 2019.
As noted above, Darrah has announced on Twitter he is now serving as the executive producer of both the new Dragon Age and Anthem, with Jonathan Warner as game director on Anthem. That's a change from last June, when Darrah stated that he was not involved with Anthem. Change at the studio has been afoot since the troubled launch of Mass Effect: Andromeda early last year, as BioWare Edmonton GM Aaryn Flynn announced his departure last summer, with Casey Hudson returning to the company to take up his position.
Kotaku says that the majority of BioWare is now working on Anthem in the lead up to its launch, with smaller teams continuing on Dragon Age and MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. There is apparently some sense that a poor performance by Anthem could result in significant changes at BioWare. A major move was made last year in the wake of Andromeda's release, with developer BioWare Montreal being absorbed into EA Motive.
As for Dragon Age, the game has not been formally announced, though it has been briefly teased previously. The project was apparently rebooted in the last year in an effort to "implement more 'live' elements," as Kotaku put it, though there were no specifics shared about what form those will take. The report also makes note of concerns about anger directed toward EA by big-name YouTubers, as well as the outcry over Star Wars Battlefront II's contentious microtransactions. You can read the full report here.
We've contacted EA for comment but have not yet received a response. The company is set to share its latest quarterly earnings report on January 30, at which point it may share further details about BioWare's projects.
With its latest update, Blizzard answered a common complaint among Overwatch fans. Rather than release new items that can only be obtained for a limited time through an event-specific loot box, it added more than 100 new cosmetics into the standard loot box. That means there's no big hurry to unlock everything--but it also means you're left hoping for a lucky drop from a loot box that contains a lot of stuff.
Since the patch's launch, many players have noticed that obtaining the new skins, in particular, is tough. In our livestream above, we opened 50 loot boxes and didn't get even a single one of the 17 new skins. This has led some to wonder if anything is wrong with the game, but according to Blizzard, it's simply because these items aren't available through an event-specific loot box, as is normally the case with new skins.
"Please keep in mind that unlike during events you're not guaranteed to get a new item in every box," the developer said on Twitter. "These items went into the pool of all available items in the base loot box." In another tweet, it stated, "The loot box odds have not changed."
That may come as little consolation to those who have already opened numerous loot boxes and gotten no new skins, but it does help to set expectations properly. It may also serve as some warning that you may not want to spend real-world money on loot boxes, at least unless you're okay with the possibility that you won't get a new skin. Bear in mind, you can also specifically buy individual skins with credits if you're eager to get your hands on specific ones.
Alongside the skins, the update also introduces new sprays, emotes, highlight intros, and player icons, as well as a new map, Blizzard World. You can check out all the new skins and sprays in our gallery, but it won't be the last of the new content in the near future. A Lunar New Year event is on the way, as are returns of the Uprising and Anniversary events.
Ubisoft has embarked on some unusual projects--a Mario-Rabbids crossover that is basically XCOM wasn't something a lot of people saw coming--but its latest announcement is particularly unusual. The games publisher has revealed a new "personal gaming assistant" called Sam that will be housed inside the Ubisoft Club mobile app.
As you'd imagine, Sam's original inspiration was Siri, and that shows through its ability to answer basic queries made through text or voice. As seen in the images below, it can share the "weather" in various Ubisoft games and can respond to questions and requests related to those titles. Examples the company cited including asking for Far Cry 5's release date, to watch a trailer for Beyond Good & Evil 2, to get help in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, or to hear a story recap of Assassin's Creed Origins.
That may all sound somewhat rote, but where Sam becomes intriguing is through its ties into Ubisoft's games. It can provide a breakdown of your play stats, recommend in-game challenges you should tackle next, or even suggest tip videos from YouTube. Eventually, the hope is that it will be able to analyze your play style to the point where it can even point out possible skill upgrades that would be of use to you.
Ubisoft also promised there will be no shortage of Easter eggs. One example is asking for the definition of insanity, which yields Voss's quote from Far Cry 3.
A beta of Sam debuts today in Canada through Ubisoft's app, which is available for free. The company plans to expand it to other countries in the "coming months."
Destiny 2's first Season 2 Faction Rally has wrapped up, and we have a winner. New Monarchy has again emerged victorious, and that means its unique reward is now available for sale as part of Victory Week, which is underway on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
As with previous events, this means the Tower is now adorned with New Monarchy decorations to celebrate the win. The victor is determined based on the Faction that collectively earned the most rewards packages during the Faction Rally event. With New Monarchy coming out on top, it's the only one of the three Factions that is now selling its Winner's Offering: a Legendary auto rifle named Loquitor IV. Anyone can purchase it for 50,000 Glimmer, but those who pledged loyalty to New Monarchy during the event can do so for a mere 1,000 Glimmer.
Victory Week--and the ability to buy Loquitor IV or cash in Faction Tokens--runs from now until the weekly reset on January 30. On that day, we'll also see the first of many of the updates on the way for the game, including the release of Masterwork armor.
This week, the sixth update for the Xbox One version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been released, and it continues to iron out bugs and refine the game's inelegant controls. Although there are no major new features in the patch, it nonetheless comes as a welcome refinement.
In terms of controls, PUBG now has a new auto-run option; when you're standing still, you can click the left stick twice to turn it on. Meanwhile, the inventory screen will let you drop a weapon you have equipped by pressing Y, and the ability to rotate through grenades by pressing right on the d-pad is back. Finally, if you have the inventory screen open, you can now cancel a casting action (such as drinking an energy drink).
Various, unspecified crash fixes and optimization improvements are also made in this update, along with a number of bug fixes. The camera now shakes less when you're riding around as a passenger in a vehicle, map markers will be updated for teammates when they're moved, and collision problems with the buildings around the military base have been addressed.
All of these changes are now live on Xbox One, where PUBG remains in the early access Game Preview program. There's still no word on how soon we'll see some of the major additions, like the desert map, arrive from the PC version, which exited early access last month. You can check out the full patch notes, courtesy of the official PUBG website, below.
Gameplay
Auto-run function has been added (from a standstill, double clicking L3 will activate auto-run)
Players can now drop equipped weapons with Y button when inventory screen is active
Grenades can once again be cycled by tapping right on D pad
Players can now cancel casting actions while the inventory screen is active
Optimization
Continued optimizations and crash fixes
Option
Game controller guide has been updated
Bug fixes
Buildings around the Military Base have had their collision adjusted
Camera shake when riding as a passenger in vehicles has been reduced
Inventory character models have returned to their normal stance
Fixed a camera issue created by unintended Aim Down Sights and Free Look interactions
"A" button will no longer refresh game results screen
Team UI will now correctly show the proper direction teammates are facing over larger distances
Player changes to markers on the in-game map will now be properly applied to their teammate's in-game map
Fixed an issue where switching to throwables under certain conditions left the player empty-handed
Adjusted character positioning when exiting vehicles and parachutes
Nintendo Switch owners looking for something new to play have a lot of options to choose from. This week sees the release of 15 new titles for Nintendo's hybrid console, the bulk of which arrive on the Eshop today, January 25.
In addition to the above titles, a pair of games released for Switch earlier this week, on January 23: the beautiful side-scrolling platformer Shu and the traditional RPG Lost Sphear. The latter is the second title by Tokyo RPG Factory, the developer behind the Chrono Trigger-inspired I Am Setsuna. This week also saw the release of ChromaGun, a Portal-like game in which you use the titular ChromaGun to solve puzzles by shooting different colors at objects.
You can find the full list of this week's new Nintendo Switch releases below. At least one notable title is in store for the system next week: the critically acclaimed adventure game Night in the Woods, which launches for Switch on February 1. A number of other high-profile titles are also coming to the system next month, including Dragon Quest Builders, Fe, and Bayonetta 2.
A new batch of games are now discounted on the US PlayStation Store. While last week's selection of deals was rather slim, players have considerably more options to choose from this week thanks to the big PlayStation Essentials sale, which offers discounts on a ton of great PS4, PS3, and Vita games.
The PS Essentials sale will be available this week and ends at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on January 30. You can see the full list of discounted titles on the PlayStation Store.
Xbox players can now find a new selection of game discounts on the Xbox Store. This week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 Deals with Gold aren't quite as extensive as last week's, but they include a handful of noteworthy titles, particularly for the newer console.
As always, the majority of this week's discounts are for Xbox One games, and unlike last week's selection of deals, all of these are exclusive to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Battlefield 1 Revolution, which includes the base game and all of its available and forthcoming DLC, is $13.20 / £22; those who already own Battlefield 1 can purchase its Premium Pass for $15 / £12. Additionally, Battlefield 4 is $5 / £3.75, and the Battlefield Anniversary Bundle--which includes both Battlefield 1 and 4, along with their DLC expansions--is $50 / £45. Xbox One owners can also pick up the Battlefield 1 & Titanfall 2 Ultimate Bundle for $26.40 / £26.40.
Xbox 360 has a much slimmer lineup of discounts, and they are likewise all reserved for Gold subscribers. Two versions of Street Fighter IV are on sale this week: the standard game is $14 / £10.49, while Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition is $12 / £8. The Ultra Street Fighter IV update is also available for $7.49 / £6. The remaining deals include Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition ($3.74 / £2.49) and the Dark Elves add-on for Blood Bowl ($2.67 / £1.80).
All of the aforementioned discounts are only available this week and will expire at 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET on January 30. You can find the full list of this week's Deals with Gold on Major Nelson's blog.
The holidays may be over, but you can still find plenty of deals on games if you're looking for something new to play. Many digital storefronts are holding New Year sales to usher in 2018, and that includes the Humble Store, which has now kicked off its annual winter sale. [Update: Humble's winter sale ends today at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, making this your last opportunity to take advantage of any discounts you find below.]
You'll have until 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET on January 25 to take advantage of the above discounts. Many publishers such as Ubisoft and Bethesda are also holding separate sales in the digital store, giving you a ton of options to choose from. You can find the full list of discounted games on Humble's website.
But how enjoyable is it? You might already have an idea if you've joined in one of the game's multiple PS4 betas. Now, however, reviews of the full game have begun to go live around the world. In our verdict, we said World is "likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been." Check out our in-depth thoughts in our Monster Hunter World review. Alternatively, read on for a selection of other critics' reviews, or head over to GameSpot sister site Metacritic for a wider view of critical reception.
Game: Monster Hunter World
Developer / Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: Out now (PS4, Xbox One) / 2018 (PC)
Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $110
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." -- Ginny Woo [Full review]
IGN -- 9.5/10
"Whether or not it's the best, this is certainly the most audacious Monster Hunter game. World takes a dramatic leap into a look, feel, and size that feels truly new, simultaneously staying true to the series' ideals by maintaining the addictive loop of combat, intimidating monsters and meaningful upgrades that fans love. The sheer depth and commitment required is still intense, but it clearly isn't Capcom's aim to court a casual crowd. This is as all-consuming and incredible a ride as ever." -- Joe Skrebels [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Essential
"Invest a little, though, and you'll get an awful lot back. The truth of Monster Hunter--and arguably its greatest strength--is that you're never truly its master, and that every player, be they novice or veteran, is always learning something new. Monster Hunter World sees 13 years of evolution come crashing together with some new influences to create a very exciting breed of beast. This has always been a superlative series; with the release of World, it's only become easier to see that's an undoubtable truth." -- Martin Robinson [Full review]
GamesBeat -- 90/100
"Monster Hunter World is one of the more rewarding action role-playing games I've played in recent years. The game is enjoyable either solo or with other players, and it manages to take advantage of modern hardware to envelop you in a beautiful world. I never got into Monster Hunter before, but now I can't wait for this game to officially be out so I have more people to play with." -- Mike Minotti [Full review]
Destructoid -- 9/10
"If you've been skipping out on Monster Hunter games for a while because they seem to blend together, jumping into World is your chance to get in. Just know that Capcom hasn't really shaken up the formula enough to piss off veterans or appeal to people who don't welcome grinding with open arms." -- Chris Carter [Full review]
Sony has announced God of War will launch for PlayStation 4 on April 20. The announcement was made on the PlayStation Blog, where a new trailer also made its debut. It focuses on Kratos as he grapples with trying to teach his son, Atreus, about restraint, responsibility, and consequence, which are all things Kratos learned the hard way in his previous life as a god-slayer.
Interestingly, his son isn't aware that Kratos is a deity, and is starting to face the same struggle with power and rage that his father did. Of course, there's also plenty of typical God of War eye candy on show, ranging from lush environments and sweeping vistas to towering monsters. Check it out below.
Also in the post, game director Cory Barlog detailed God of War's various special editions, as well as pre-order bonuses. Anyone that puts their money down for the game ahead of its release at participating retailers will get three legendary skins for Kratos's shield.
If you pre-order GameStop or EB Games, you'll also get the "Luck of Ages XP Boost," which grants +10 Luck and one Enchantment Slot. Luck increases the amount of experience and Hacksilver gained and lets you use abilities more often.
Click image to view in full screen
The Collector's Edition is $130 USD/$170 CAD (European price not yet available), and includes a 9-inch statue of Kratos and Atreus, a steelbook case, 2-inch Huldra Brothers carvings, a cloth map, and an art piece on its own. It also features the Death's Vow armor set, Exile's Guardian shield, an issue of the God of War digital comic, a digital artbook, and a dynamic theme.
The Stone Mason Edition, meanwhile, features all the content mentioned above, as well as the Stone Mason's ring, Mimir's Head talking keychain, a 2-inch Horse and Troll carving, and the Defender of the Chosen in-game shield. It costs $150 USD/$200 CAD.
Finally, the Digital Deluxe Edition has the full game, digital artbook, digital comic, dynamic theme, Death's Vow armor set, Exile's Guardian Shield, and--for those that pre-order--a Kratos and Atreus physical pin. This version will cost $70 USD/$90 CAD
You can take a look at all the versions, and their contents, in the gallery above or learn more about them here.
Having carved a path through the Greek gods, this new God of War title takes Kratos to a land dominated by Nordic gods and monsters. As the trailer above indicates, it will be a more intimate story about Kratos and his son. The game is also going to be much longer than its predecessors, taking 25-35 hours to beat.
This is an especially exciting week for game releases, as two of the year's most anticipated titles, Monster Hunter World and Dragon Ball FighterZ, are both set to launch on January 26. The latter is the new 2.5D Dragon Ball fighting game from Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, and it looks to be one of the best titles based on Akira Toriyama's popular anime and manga series.
In GameSpot's Dragon Ball FighterZ review in progress, critic Peter Brown called the game "an exciting revitalization of Dragon Ball Z's glory days." He added, "Even if you think Dragon Ball is old hat, and even if you're intimidated by fighting games, there's a good chance you'll be drawn into the explosive action and personalities that expertly evoke the anime's infectious spirit."
Other reviews for Dragon Ball FighterZ have also begun appearing online ahead of the game's release this Friday, and they've been similarly positive. We've collected a sample of Dragon Ball FighterZ reviews in our roundup below, which we'll continue to update as more reviews are published closer to the game's release. In the meantime, you can take a wider look at what critics think of Dragon Ball FighterZ on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
"FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance. Where past games attempted to get there through huge character rosters and deliberately predictable trips down memory lane, FighterZ has bottled the essence of what makes the series' characters, animation, and sense of humor so beloved and reconfigured it into something new: a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre." -- Peter Brown [Full review in progress]
IGN -- 8.5/10
"Between the accessible auto combos, homing attacks, and simplified command inputs, Dragon Ball FighterZ is an inviting gateway into the world of fighting games for newcomers--whether you're a Dragon Ball fan or not. Those easy controls can open the door to some spammy behavior, but just as often it's satisfying in a way that does right by the Dragon Ball name. Dragon Ball FighterZ has enough depth and complexity to glow as brilliantly as a Super Saiyan." -- Mitchell Saltzman [Full review]
EGM -- 9/10
"While there have been many fighting games based on the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball FighterZ marks a modern approach through the means of fast-paced action. From its breathtaking visuals to ease of gameplay mastery, the new fighter is a good stepping stone to expand the fan base of the genre. However, it may not satisfy players who are looking for complexity." -- Evan Slead [Full review]
Game Informer -- Review in Progress
"The more I delve into training mode, the more I learn about FighterZ, which is great; before playing the full game, I was a little afraid Arc System Works was going to go a bit too simple to appeal to casual Dragon Ball fans, and I'm happy to be proven wrong. Despite the simple control scheme, there are plenty of ways you can approach your opponent, and I never felt completely helpless, or that any one option was overwhelmingly powerful. Complete novices will still have to do some genre learning, but the fundamentals are simple enough that it won't be too much of a chore." -- Suriel Vazquez [Full review in progress]
Eurogamer -- Review in Progress
"Dragon Ball FighterZ, then, is the fighting game for everyone. Sure, it's a fast-paced game, and with three-versus-three action the screen can get pretty busy at times, but Arc System Works' effort to make the combat accessible means pretty much anyone can pick up their favourite few characters from Dragon Ball and get them to do cool and exciting stuff straight away. A few minutes spent in training mode and you'll find yourself doing combos that approach the 100-hit mark--just from a few basic input commands." -- Wesley Yin-Poole [Full review in progress]
VideoGamer -- Review in Progress
"We've still got to do some online testing when the servers are up, but the offline lobby for Dragon Ball FighterZ suggests this is going to be a good 'un. Whether or not you like fighting games or Dragon Ball, extremely dramatic villains and hench dudes with giant hair hurling fireballs at each other (all set to unceasing guitar solos) is kind of inherently enjoyable." -- Alice Bell [Full review in progress]
TrustedReviews -- 4.5/5
"For Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a chance at real mainstream success. The Guilty Gear games are universally excellent, and have a dedicated fanbase, but their hardcore nature meant they always lost to the Street Fighters and Tekkens of the world when it came to sales. The Dragon Ball license could be what gets the masses interested in the studio's particular brand of air-dashing, spectacular combat." -- Andi Hamilton [Full review]
EA DICE is working on a "revamped progression system" for Star Wars Battlefront II. In a blog post, the company said it is preparing "significant changes to progression that will address many of the things we've seen players asking for," with more details coming in March.
Before that, Star Wars Battlefront II will add a new game mode, called Jetpack Cargo, in February. The limited-time mode will see two teams of eight players (all of which come equipped with a jetpack) face off. Finally, EA has announced a new Season of DLC is coming "soon," though no more details as to what this will include have yet been revealed.
A revamped progression system could be a welcome change for Battlefront II. Some fans didn't like the progression system present in the game at launch, which necessitated the unlocking of loot crates and tied much of a player's growth to Star Cards. After a negative reception, DICE removed microtransactions--another source of anger from fans--from Battlefront II very shortly before launch. DICE has continued to tweak progression since, but right now microtransactions are still absent from Battlefront II. It's unclear whether this upcoming revamp will signal their return. For more on the issues, read our explainer on all the Star Wars Battlefront II loot box controversy.
As promised, Blizzard has released the next big update for Overwatch. Players on PC, PS4, and Xbox One can now jump into the game's newest map, the unique Blizzard World, and get their hands on a ton of new cosmetics--including a variety of skins.
Blizzard World takes the form of an amusement park based on Blizzard's franchises (outside of Overwatch, because that would be weird). There are areas dedicated to Diablo, Warcraft, and StarCraft, with plenty of nods and references for long-time fans of those series. It's a hybrid map, tasking players with escorting or defending a payload as it makes its way through the park.
In terms of cosmetics, there's a wide range available, including skins (some of which are Legendary), sprays, highlight intros, and emotes. Blizzard has been teasing these in the days prior to release; you can see some in the video below or check out all the new Overwatch skins in our gallery.
What's especially notable about the new items is that none of them are tied to an event, as is typically the case. There's no time-limited loot box that these are available through; instead, they've simply been added to the base loot box, meaning you can get your hands on them at any time.
This update is rolling out now on all platforms, so you may have some issues getting online as the process is completed. It's just one of several Overwatch updates we know are on the way, as a Lunar New Year event is also set to take place again this year, and both the Uprising and Anniversary events will return. It's also not too late to pick up the new Overwatch League skins--of which there are quite a few--and Blizzard has plans to further tweak Competitive Play. New maps and heroes (at least one of which is already in testing) are also in the works, though we don't know exactly when to expect those to launch.
With the release of Dragon Ball FighterZ drawing closer, Bandai Namco Games took to Twitter to release info about the required specs needed for the game's PC version. The game will release for PC, PS4, and Xbox One on January 25. Developed by Arc System Works, the same team behind the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series, Dragon Ball FighterZ possesses a visual style that mimics the popular anime.
In addition to the specs listed below, the publisher offered more details about pre-order bonuses for the game, which include early access to Goku and Vegeta's Super Saiyan Blue forms, along with exclusive avatars to use in the in-game lobby. Moreover, pre-ordering the game gave you access to the pre-launch beta, which has now passed. The game is currently available to pre-order on Steam.
The PC specs are surprisingly modest, potentially allowing older machines to run the game well. And the game's Unreal 4 graphics engine is also used by other notable fighting games, including Tekken 7 and Street Fighter V, which are all well-optimized on PC.
For more info on Dragon Ball FighterZ, stay up to date with us on GameSpot, where we'll have our full review later this month. And be sure to check out the opening cinematic and all the Dramatic Finishes so far.
Arc System Works' highly-anticipated fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ, is almost here. The cel-shaded 2.5D fighter follows a 3v3 format similar to Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and it's packed with Easter eggs and references for Dragon Ball fans to find. Here, we're collecting all the details you need to know about Dragon Ball FighterZ, from the release date to gameplay, tips, and more.
We'll continue to update this feature with the final review, guides, and more as they're published, so stay tuned both before and after the game's launch!
Dragon Ball FighterZ releases on January 26 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A pre-release beta has already wrapped up.
Review
GameSpot's Dragon Ball Fighter Z review-in-progress is now online. In it, critic Peter Brown states, "FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance." You can read the full review here.
The roster primarily includes Dragon Ball Z characters, though there are a few introduced in the recent films and Dragon Ball Super--including Goku Black, Beerus, and Hit--and an entirely new character, the mysterious Android 21, who is locked behind completion of the story mode.
What About The Story Mode?
Dragon Ball FighterZ includes a new story mode that takes place after the end of Dragon Ball Z and sometime during the events of Dragon Ball Super. The new character, Android 21, seems to play a major part in the story.
Note that in any mode, you can opt to use either the Japanese or English voice acting.
We've assembled a Dragon Ball FighterZ beginner's guide to help you grasp the game's fundamentals. We touch on a variety of subjects, including managing your Ki energy, assembling a strong team of fighters, and much more. You can also check out the video version with the best tips to know before starting.
This week, developer Niantic added a new set of Pokemon to Pokemon Go, all from Generation 3's Hoenn region. Recently, the studio also revealed that, for a limited time, any egg you find will hatch a Pokemon from Hoenn.
This means that there's another way to grab Hoenn Pokemon that doesn't involve stumbling across them by chance. Niantic announced the news on Twitter alongside a video of an egg hatching into Torchic, one of the starting Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire.
Get hatching, Trainers. For a limited time, every Egg you hatch will feature a Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region. pic.twitter.com/WOWdLzyPpj
23 new Hoenn Pokemon were added this week. In the past month, Niantic has added 70 additional Gen 3 Pokemon. In addition, a Gen 3 Legendary, Kyogre, is also available right now. Players can encounter the Pokemon in Raid Battles until February 14.
In other Pokemon Go news, Niantic recently began a series of real-world events called Community Days. The first event, which took place last weekend, allowed players to try and catch a Pikachu that can use Surf. The next Pokemon Go Community Day will take place on February 24 and will focus on Dratini.
Chances are good that you went to Toys R Us at least once when you were growing up. The chain of toy stores was once the place to go for kids dreaming of Nerf Guns, lego sets, and video games. However, the company has been facing financial trouble lately, forcing it to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of those proceedings, Toys R Us announced this week that it'll be closing up to 182 stores.
This does not mean that the company is going out of business altogether, though. The store closures are a necessary part of its plan to rebound from its financial woes and to rebrand itself as a smaller and more strategic retailer.
There will still be hundreds of Toys R Us locations left across the United States after the closures, as well. And there's a chance that not all 182 stores will shutter, if the company can successfully renegotiate its leases. But most of them are expected to close.
Toys R Us declared bankruptcy back in September 2017, as a result of several straight years of losses. The company has not turned a profit since 2013, and as a result it needed the bankruptcy restructuring in order to deal with $5 billion in outstanding debt.
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