Rockstar Games has confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2 will launch on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on October 26, 2018. The announcement was made on the official Rockstar Games blog where the company apologised for a delay. The game was originally due out during Spring 2018, following an earlier delay from fall 2017. According to Rockstar, this new delay affords the studio extra time to improve the game.
"We are excited to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26 2018," it said. "We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time for polish."
It continued: "We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you get to play the game, you will agree the wait will have been worth it. In the meantime, please check out these screenshots from the game. We look forward to sharing a lot more information with you in the coming weeks." Alongside the release date announcement, a selection of new screenshots have also been released, which you can check out below.
Click image to view in full screen gallery
As previously detailed, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows protagonist Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang "as they rob, fight and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive."
Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming to both PS4 and Xbox One; however there's no word on a PC version as of yet. The first Red Dead Redemption has not been released on PC, but Rockstar's last major release, Grand Theft Auto V, made its way to PC.
Interestingly, in December 2017, Grand Theft Auto V players discovered references to secret missions in an update that connects to Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar later sent GTA Online players an email in-game that provides a clue to help them pursue "rumors of a lost relic from the frontier." Completing this mission awarded players with a Double-Action Revolver for use in Red Dead Redemption 2.
One of the big questions surrounding Red Dead Redemption 2 is how the huge success of GTA Online will factor into it. Although Rockstar hasn't announced an online component to the game, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of the studio's parent company Take-Two, previously said to expect a "recurrent consumer spending" element to be included in most if not all of the company's games going forward. He left the exact form this model will take ambiguous, however.
"We've said that we aim to have recurrent consumer spending options for every title that we put out at this company," Zelnick said. "It may not always be an online model. It may not, probably won't always be, a virtual currency model, but there'll be some ability to engage on an ongoing basis with our titles after release across the board."
When The Dark Knight first hit theaters in 2008, fans were immediately taken with Heath Ledger's The Joker. The now-iconic portrayal of Batman's biggest villain overshadowed just about anything else in the movie.
Unfortunately, the one thing it didn't overshadow was Ledger's untimely death months before the film's release. While it was never confirmed, many fans believed the original plan was to feature Ledger once again in Christopher Nolan's third Batman movie. After all, at the end of The Dark Knight, The Joker is left dangling from a building.
Now, Ledger's intentions to wear The Joker's face paint for the director once again are becoming more clear. In 2016, Kate Ledger--the actor's sister--spoke with Australian press outlet news.com.au about a documentary on her brother's life. While the interview is nearly a year old, it's definitely new to some and provides some very interesting insight into Ledger's mind after production wrapped on the film.
"He was so proud of what he had done in Batman. And I know he had plans for another Batman," she says. "He loved working with Chris Nolan and Christian Bale and Gary Oldman. He just had the best time ever doing that film. When he came home at Christmas, he couldn't wait to tell us all about it, and he was doing the voice and laughing, showing me all the rushes. We had a great time."
Regardless of the circumstances of his death, to his family, Ledger was quite pleased with the character he was able to create and was eager to revisit it. Unfortunately, any plans he had never came to pass.
In the aftermath of Ledger's death, Nolan instead cast Tom Hardy to play the antagonist Bane in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. Sadly, that leaves the world with no idea about what a second movie featuring Ledger as The Joker would be like. There's still The Dark Knight, though, which the actor posthumously won an Oscar for.
With three major Xbox One consoles out on the market, it's easy to be a little confused as to the different specs and features of each model. We're going to clear that situation up in this article and break down which of Microsoft's systems is right for you. Make sure you also check out our review of the original Xbox One, our Xbox One S review, and our Xbox One X review. To see how all the modern consoles compare, check out our in-depth system spec chart.
Xbox One Specs
Xbox One
Xbox One S
Xbox One X
CPU
1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU
1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU
2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU
GPU
Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 853MHz with 1.31 teraflops of performance
Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 914MHz
Integrated AMD graphics with 6 teraflops of performance
RAM
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
12GB GDDR5
Storage
500GB (5,400rpm) hard drive, supports external hard drive storage
500GB, 1TB, 2TB (5,400rpm) hard drive options, supports external hard drive storage
1TB hard drive
Dimensions
13.1x10.8x3.1 inches
11.6x8.9x2.5 inches
11.8x9.5x2.4 inches
Weight
7.8 pounds
6.4 pounds
8.4 pounds
Color
Black
Black and white
Black
Optical Drive
Blu-ray/DVD
4K/HDR Blu-ray drive
4K/HDR Blu-ray drive
Networking
Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N/AC 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac dual band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Internet Subscription
Xbox Live required to play online
Xbox Live required to play online
Xbox Live required to play online
Ports
Power, HDMI in, HDMI out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, Kinect port, IR out
Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, Kinect port, IR out
Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, IR out
4K Support
No
Yes (video)
Yes
HDR Support
No
Yes
Yes
Release Date
November 22, 2013
August 2, 2016
November 7, 2017
Release Price
$499.99
$299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)
$500 / £449 / AU $649
Current Price
$249.99
$299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)
$500 / £449 / AU $649
What are the differences between the Xbox One and Xbox One S?
Released in 2016, the Xbox One S represents a smaller, marginally more powerful version of the 2013-released Xbox One. With its 11.6x8.9x2.5 inch chassis, the black and white redesign is 40 percent smaller. It's also 1.4 pounds lighter, weighing 6.4 pounds. This is impressive when you consider that the S has an integrated PSU, unlike the original Xbox One, which came with a large external power brick.
There S has several design tweaks. For instance, it replaces the capacitive power button with a physical one, which helps prevent accidental shutdowns. The S also removes the Kinect port. Unlike the original Xbox One, which was designed to lay horizontally, the S can also stand vertically.
In terms of specs, the Xbox One S has an overclocked GPU that got boosted from 853MHz to 914MHz. There's a chance you may see a slight performance improvement in games that don't have locked frame rates, but Microsoft primarily implemented the higher frequency to provide more overhead to support 4K HDR video playback, which is a feature the original Xbox One lacks. To supplement this new feature, the S also comes with a 4K HDR blu-ray player. While the original Xbox One debuted with a 500GB hard drive, the S features 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB variants.
The S model also comes with a slightly more refined controller that features a new textured grip. It also now supports Bluetooth, so users can use it with their Windows 10 PCs.
Should you upgrade to an Xbox One S if you have an Xbox One?
While the Xbox One S offers a small performance boost over the original, if you have a perfectly functional Xbox One, a more meaningful upgrade would be a move to the Xbox One X, which is significantly more powerful than either system.
Xbox One/Xbox One S vs Xbox One X
Formerly codenamed Project Scorpio, the Xbox One X represents a significantly more powerful version of the Xbox One that's tailormade to take advantage of the burgeoning 4K TV market. Like the S model before it, it also supports HDR and comes with a 4K HDR Blu-ray drive.
Measuring 11.8 x 9.5 x 2.4 inches (30 x 24 x 6 cm), the Xbox One X is the smallest Xbox yet. This is especially impressive when you consider that, like the S model, it also has an integrated PSU. Aesthetically, it looks like a black version of the S and maintains its physical power button. It also doesn't have a Kinect port.
In terms of specs, it features improved hardware across the board. While it still uses a custom 8-core CPU from AMD, it's frequency has been boosted from 1.75GHz to 2.3GHz, which is 550MHz faster than the Xbox One/S before it. It also features a new integrated GPU from AMD that's capable of delivering six teraflops of graphics performance, which is more than 4.5 times as much as the original Xbox One. In terms of memory, the Xbox One X eschews the 8GB of slower DDR3 RAM for 12GB of GDDR5 memory. Microsoft says that 9GB of it is allocated for games with the rest of the 3GB going to the operating system.
While the Xbox One X still uses a hard drive as opposed to an SSD, its HDD is faster than its Xbox One equivalent and can load games more quickly.
What are some of Xbox One X's advantages?
The Xbox One X has specialized hardware that will allow every game to run with anisotropic filtering, which will allow textures off in the distance to look cleaner and sharper.
Games that carry the Xbox One X Enhanced label have been tweaked to take advantage of the console's superior hardware. These improvements may take the form of native 4K rendering, added HDR support, or an FPS boost.
While the Xbox One X works best with 4K HDR TVs, 1080p TVs can also benefit by using the extra processing power to bolster frame rate or add extra graphical features like improved lighting and textures. 1080p TVs can also benefit from the Xbox One X's ability to enable supersampling, which is a potent form of anti-aliasing that mitigates unwanted jaggies.
Which Xbox One consoles support HDR?
Both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X support HDR. The original Xbox One does not.
Are there any user interface differences among the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X?
No. All versions of the Xbox One use the same operating system and user interface.
Which Xbox One console should you get?
If you don't already have an Xbox One and have a 1080p TV and just want an affordable option to play Xbox One games, the Xbox One S is a sensible choice. We wouldn't suggest upgrading to an Xbox One S if you already have an Xbox One, however, considering you won't get a significant performance boost. If you have a 4K TV, or are interested in getting one in the near future and have the extra cash to spare, the Xbox One X is a better long-term investment. It's the most powerful console out today and can potentially provide sharper visuals, more vibrant colors, better performance, and added graphical bells and whistles. Should you upgrade to an Xbox One X if you already own an Xbox One? We would generally only recommend upgrading if you have a 4K TV and the disposable income to spare.
Another new batch of games have arrived for Nintendo Switch. Switch owners have a lot of great options to choose from this week, as 12 new titles are now available on the Eshop, as is the first DLC for the Pokemon fighting game Pokken Tournament DX.
In addition to the above releases, the first wave of Pokken Tournament DX DLC is now available. On top of new customization items for your avatar, the DLC adds a new playable Pokemon, Aegislash, as well as two support characters: Mega Rayquaza and Mimikyu. The DLC can only be purchased as part of the game's $15 Battle Pack, which will also get you access to a second wave of add-on content in March. That consists of another new playable Pokemon, Blastoise, and two more support Pokemon: Mew and Celebi.
Bendis makes his debut in April with Jim Lee in Action Comics #1000, but in the following month, he will be helming Man of Steel, a six-issue weekly miniseries. The comic, which features six interconnected covers by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado--seen below--is a retelling of Krypton's final days as well as Kal-El's journey to becoming Superman. In addition, a new villain will be introduced to the DCU and a secret about Krypton's destruction will be revealed. Joining Bendis for this miniseries are artists Ivan Reis, Evan "Doc" Shaner, Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, Adam Hughes, and Jason Fabok.
Covers 1-4 for Man of Steel. Courtesy of DC Comics
Following Man of Steel, Bendis will be writing Superman #1, which debuts on July 11. Ivan Reis will be supplying the art for the book. In addition, Bendis will join artist Patrick Gleason when he takes over for Action Comics, starting with issue #1001 on July 25.
In addition to Superman, Bendis' noir crime titles, including Jinx, Powers,Scarlet, and more will find a new home at DC. Some of his Jinxworld series like Brilliant, Total Sellout, and Fire, Fortune, & Glory will be available in the digital format this spring. DC revealed that there will be new stories from the Powers, Scarlet, and The United States of Murder INC series throughout 2018.
Brian Michael Bendis is best known for his long comic runs at Marvel, which primarily includes Ultimate Spider-Man, which kickstarted the Ultimate Comics line at the publisher. He and artist Sara Pichelli are credited for the creation of the second Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Bendis' work has also made it to the small screen, with Powers, a show about a former superhero turned police officer that ran for two seasons on the PlayStation Network.
If you've paid any attention to recent trends in games, you're aware of the exploding popularity of the battle royale game mode. This is due in large part to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which sold several millions of copies in its early access period alone, and consistently tops Steam concurrent players numbers on PC today. PUBG is also taking the Xbox One by storm with over three million players. There was bound to be something soon after to capitalize on this trend, and Fortnite was first in line; it's also free to play on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. By adapting its original Save the World mode to the 100-player deathmatch of battle royale, Fortnite presents a distinct twist on the genre.
In the video above, we break down what makes these two seemingly similar games drastically different. If you want to read instead of watch, be sure to read our full feature on what makes PUBG and Fortnite unique and which game you should play.
In a nutshell, Fortnite: Battle Royale offers a fast and loose feel, much like an arena shooter, with simple crafting/building mechanics that are absolutely necessary to master. Being able to construct a makeshift house in the heat of battle or even just a wall for cover are some of the basic practices that give you an advantage. On the other hand, PUBG plays much closer to a tactical shooter: it maintains its military sim roots while giving you a more accessible, streamlined experience. PUBG is all about tension and precision.
We can go on with comparing and contrasting these two wildly popular games, but we'll leave it up to you to watch our video feature above. If you're still waiting for the right game to jump in, check out five games that could use a battle royale mode. For more on Fortnite, be sure to keep with our coverage: Epic is offering players a little something for recent server issues and a limited-time sniper-only event is currently going on. If PUBG is more your style, check out what's new for the game in its latest update or our PUBG review.
It is so common for big movies to be previewed, teased, and trailered months in advance that it's surprising to be less than four months away from one of the year's biggest blockbusters without even an official image. But this is the case with the upcoming Star Wars spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story, which arrives in May. However, it has now been reported that we will finally see the first trailer this weekend.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trailer will screen on Sunday night during the Super Bowl. It is not surprising that Disney will use the Super Bowl to debut the trailer, as that has long been one of the most important slots for studios to trailer upcoming movies. However, Solo is likely to be the only movie featured that we have seen literally nothing of in advance, making anticipation even higher.
THR also states that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Mission Impossible:Fallout will also screen on Sunday, the latter of which ha snow been confirmed. However, three studios will reportedly skip the game entirely--Fox, Sony, and Warner. So don't expect to see trailers for the likes of X-Men: Phoenix, Deadpool 2, Fantastic Beasts: The Curse of Grindelwald, or The Predator.
Solo has had a troubled production, with Ron Howard taking over directorial duties from Chris Miller and Phil Lord in June last year. There have been rumors that Howard has reshot a lot more of the movie than initially expected. At least one role had to be recast, with Paul Bettany replacing Michael K. Williams. Bettany himself commented in the issue, and said that Howard "reshot a lot more than was originally intended."
However, Donald Glover, who plays Lando in the movie, last month stated that despite the lengthy production, little about the film altered after Howard came on board. "It didn't really [change]," he said. "I think we were never faced with anything like that and [Howard] did a good job of coming in and didn't want us to change what we were doing at all. He wanted us to be comfortable with our vision."
Solo: A Star WarsStory stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca. Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Emilia Clarke also star. It hits theaters on May 25, 2018.
Last week's Xbox Deals with Gold may have expired, but a new selection of discounts is now available in the Xbox Store. Microsoft has rolled out the latest batch of game deals for Xbox Live Gold members, offering discounts on a handful of titles for both Xbox One and Xbox 360.
In addition to the above deals, a handful of discounts are available to all Xbox One owners, even if you don't have an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Every edition of Forza Horizon 3 is on sale this week; the standard version costs $30 / £24, while the Deluxe and Ultimate editions are available for $35 / £29 and $45 / £40, respectively. A bunch of Naruto Shippuden titles are likewise on sale; Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is $14 / £11.19, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst is $14 / £11.19, and Ultimate Ninja Storm 4: Road to Boruto is $25 / £20. You can also pick up the complete series in the Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy Bundle, which is on sale for $49 / £35.
Several Xbox 360 games will also be on sale this week for Gold members, but Major Nelson has yet to reveal which ones. We'll update this story with the Xbox 360 Deals with Gold as they're announced.
You can find the full list of this week's Xbox Deals with Gold on Major Nelson's blog. All of the above discounts are only available until 3 AM PT / 6 AM ET on February 6, after which time they'll be replaced by a new selection of Deals with Gold. Gold members also only have one more day to claim January's free Games with Gold. Most of those return to their regular price on January 31; the following day, they'll be replaced by February's Games with Gold lineup, which includes Shadow Warrior and Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India.
Based on the potential success of this game, Sega and Creative Assembly have plans in making the Total War Saga a spin-off series that hones in on major conflicts spanning a couple hundred years, rather than the longer wars that the franchise is known for. Although no price point has been set, Sega and Creative Assembly said that it will be lower than the standard $60/£40 price point, reflective of the smaller, yet substantial content the Total War Saga games are designed to offer. That said, Thrones of Britannia will still be as feature-rich as any other Total War game, employing the franchise's familiar gameplay mechanics like Faction Politics, War Fervour, and Diplomacy.
A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia will be available as a digital download. For those who prefer a boxed product, there will also be a limited edition physical version available in some territories from selected retailers. It comes in an embossed steelbook inspired by ornately decorated Anglo Saxon helmets of the period. Along with the game discs, the limited edition will include a double-sided poster showing the campaign map and collectable art cards featuring five of the most prominent in-game faction leaders.
Developer Creative Assembly is primed for a busy 2018 as it makes a return to historical warfare after two Warhammer spin-offs in 2016 and 2017. The last Total War game based on history was Total War: Attila in 2015, which was set at the beginning of the Dark Ages. Creative Assembly is also due to release Total War: Three Kingdoms later this fall, which marks the series' debut in Ancient China.
Sega has also shared the game's system requirements:
The PlayStation Essentials sale may be over, but a new selection of game discounts are now available on the US PlayStation Store. This week, Sony is holding a PS Plus Specials sale that's available exclusively to PS Plus subscribers, and it offers discounts on a variety of PS4, PS3, and Vita titles.
PS3 owners have a much slimmer selection to choose from, as only two titles are included in the PS Plus Specials sale: BlazBlue: Central Fiction ($25) and R-Type Dimensions ($3). While those discounts are only available to PS Plus subscribers, all PS3 owners can also pick up Demon's Souls for $10, Space Hulk for $14, and FIFA 18 Legacy Edition for $30 ($27 for Plus members).
Most of these deals will only be available until 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on February 6, so you should take advantage of any that may interest you soon, before they're replaced by next week's discounts. You can find the full list of this week's deals on the PlayStation Store.
Last week it was announced that the title of the next movie in the long-running Mission Impossible series is Mission Impossible: Fallout. It has now been confirmed that the first trailer will screen during the Super Bowl this weekend. While we wait for that, the movie's poster has been revealed.
The poster is more subdued than those of previous entries in the franchise and is dominated by the silhouette of star Tom Cruise, with a helicopter stunt placed on top of the image. Check it out below:
Mission Impossible: Fallout hits theaters on July 27, 2018. While we don't have many 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."
Mission Impossible: Fallout will pair Cruise once again with co-stars Rebecca Ferguson--the breakout star of the last movie--Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Alec Baldwin. Interestingly, Michelle Monaghan will also appear. The actress has previously played Julia, Ethan's wife. After being a major figure in Mission Impossible III, she made an uncredited cameo in 2011's Ghost Protocol but was nowhere to be seen in Rogue Nation.
Konami, the publisher of the Metal Gear series, has reported a rise in both revenue and profits. The company stated its strong results were due in part to Western economies' continued recovery and "stable performance" of its games lineup.
For the nine months ending December 31, 2017, the company's revenue stood at $1.6 billion, a 9% rise over the same period last year. Operating profit for the same timeframe increased by 30% to $351 million. Its digital entertainment division was the strongest performer for the period in terms of revenue, accounting for over 50% of the company's total earnings.
The publisher attributed its success to "strong performance" of its Japanese mobile games and "stable" performance of its console lineup, specifically citing PES 2018 and Super Bomberman R. Konami also has a substantial health and fitness division, its second-biggest section in terms of revenue.
Despite celebrating Western economies' recovery, the company did warn that "the future remains uncertain because of concerns about political and policy movements and a heightening of geopolitical risks."
Team Ico's PS2 classic Shadow of the Colossus was one of the most breathtaking games of its generation when it debuted in 2005, pushing the limits of the console's power with its sprawling world and towering bosses. As beautiful as the game looked at the time, it is even more stunning on PS4 thanks to Bluepoint's forthcoming Shadow of the Colossus remake, which breathes new life into the acclaimed adventure by rebuilding it from the ground up for modern hardware.
While the core of Shadow of the Colossus remains almost untouched, the upcoming PS4 remake features a few new things for players to do when they're not tracking down colossi, in particular a rather extensive Photo mode. Additionally, more than a dozen filters are available to let you adjust the look of the game as you're playing. Some were available in the original game as unlockables, but there are even more here.
In the video above, we show off the many different filters available in Shadow of the Colossus. These can make the stunning environments even more visually striking and allow you to see the world of Shadow of the Colossus in a new light, both figuratively and literally. There's an even wider array of tools and filters at your disposal in Photo mode, including an optional film grain setting.
Looking to wrap up the Switch's first 12-months on a high note, Nintendo will release Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 on its hybrid console on February 16, 2018. GameSpot recently got an early hands-on look at the second game and it's been confirmed that it will perform at a locked frame rate of 60 frames per second. You can see for yourself at the video above.
Developed by Platinum Games, both Bayonetta releases have been recognized as two of the best hack-and-slash games in the last decade. Due to its mix of stylish melee combat and over-the-top gunplay, the series is considered an unofficial successor to Devil May Cry, especially since the first games in both series were directed by Hideki Kamiya.
Both Bayonetta 1 and 2 will bolster an already strong and diverse Switch games library. These two are expected to join the likes of Skyrim, Stardew Valley, and Rocket League--critically acclaimed games that are seeing new life and continued success on the Switch. Both games reviewed well on GameSpot, the sequel earning the rare 10 out of 10 rating; check those verdicts out in the links below.
Bayonetta 1 and 2 arrive ahead of the newest installment in the series, Bayonetta 3, which will be exclusive to Switch. Nintendo hasn't announced release date for Bayonetta 3 yet, but the company did share a brief teaser trailer for the game, which you can watch here. You can also catch up on all our other Bayonetta Switch news below.
Anthem, the new IP from BioWare, will not be released in 2018 as previously planned. Instead, the Destiny-esque action game will launch in early 2019, EA confirmed today during its quarterly earnings call with investors. For its part, the company claims this is not a delay.
Prior to the call, it shared this with the Wall Street Journal, confirming a recent report from Kotaku that said Anthem had been delayed. Speaking with the WSJ, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen stated this was not actually a delay. However, that appears to be untrue, given the company had previously cited a 2018 release for the game, which is headed to PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
EA didn't go into great deal about the reasoning behind the delay. Kotaku's report suggested it was due at least in part to issues with development, though the statement to the WSJ attributes it instead to a desire to release the game during a less crowded period. EA only briefly addressed the subject during this afternoon's conference call with investors, and it was presented as if this were not a delay. We'll report back with anything it has to say during the Q&A portion of the call. Its actual earnings report made no mention of the news.
Bungie has concluded its server maintenance routine, and Destiny 2 servers are back online. The first Iron Banner event of Season 2, which began in early December with Curse of Osiris's release, is now live for a limited time, and a major new update has been released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Here's exactly what it does.
As Bungie detailed previously, update 1.1.2 introduces Masterwork armor. This is a rare quality that all Legendary armor can take on, and it operates similarly to the Masterwork weapons system added in December. Essentially, Legendary armor can drop as (or be upgraded to) a Masterwork version, which provides you with an additional stat bonus that can be re-rolled. Each piece of Masterwork armor also offers a 3% damage resistance bonus while your Super is active; this effect stacks, offering a maximum of 15% if all five of your armor pieces are Masterworks. These items can be obtained through all of the normal means, though Trials of the Nine and Raid activities are more likely to drop them. Dismantling them provides you with materials that can then be used to upgrade a Legendary item into a Masterwork.
Drops related to the Raid have also changed in a number of ways. By completing a corresponding activity in a given week, you'll be able to purchase a rotating selection of armor or weapons from Benedict 99-40. Raid encounters are now guaranteed to drop a piece of armor or a weapon, and completing a Prestige Raid encounter before doing the normal version will get you rewards from both the Prestige and normal versions. A new Exotic Ghost exclusive to Leviathan can now be found during Raid activities' final encounter. Finally, as pictured below, Raid armor all now have unique mods with new perks that only work when on the Leviathan. These can be rotated in and out by spending a Raid Token, and even existing Raid armor will have a spot to equip these mods.
This patch kicks off the Iron Banner event, which features new gear to earn. Other notable changes include a reduction in the amount of XP needed to receive an Illuminated Engram; it now takes 120,000, rather than 160,000. Both the Gleaming Boon of the Crucible and Vanguard have seen their Bright Dust prices slashed. And several individual items have seen balance fixes or changes; Prometheus Lens, for instance, which was a major problem in Crucible after its release and was later nerfed, has seen its damage increased. Additionally, its Flame Refraction perk no longer pulls ammo from your reserves; instead, it generates fresh ammo to use.
There are a ton of other tweaks made in this update too, and the patch notes are quite long. You can see them in full on Bungie's website.
The name of the game in Monster Hunter is, obviously, hunting monsters. But whether you're assigned to hunt down a particular creature or you happen upon one during an Expedition, you don't necessarily have to kill it. Capturing monsters is often the best way to go, and in some cases it's a mandatory aspect of a given quest. Monster Hunter World makes strides in welcoming in new players, but the process still might be unclear. Here's exactly how to do it.
First, it's important to note that not all monsters can be captured. Smaller monsters can't be, though minor wildlife--ants, birds and rabbit-like creatures, and so on--can be easily snagged with the Capture Net (and some can then be freed in your living quarters). It's the creatures known as Large Monsters that you'll be able to properly capture, and doing so requires a few items.
In the video above, we run through the exact process. Essentially it boils down to a few steps: wear the monster's health way down without killing it, deploy a trap (such as the Shock Trap or Pitfall Trap), and then tranquilize the monster after it gets stuck in the trap. The process of tranquilizing can be done with Tranq Bombs or Tranq ammo from ranged weapons; the effects from these last a short time, so it's possible to capture a monster by trapping it after it's been tranquilized.
If you enroll in a quest where you goal is to explicitly capture a monster, the item box will provide the necessary items for free, though you may want to come equipped with extras. However you do it, capturing a monster can net you more monster parts than killing it. It's a more involved process, but the rewards can be worth the effort.
Monster Hunter has always been an intimidating series to dive into. Although the community surrounding it is quite friendly and helpful, the games themselves often lack the kind of assistance that a newcomer requires to fully grasp what's going on. Monster Hunter World makes strides in that direction, but going in with an idea of what to expect will make the entire experience much easier to deal with.
In the video above, we run through some beginner's tips that will help you to get started, whether you're a newcomer to the series or a lapsed played who's forgotten some of the essentials. Although every weapon is viable, some are friendlier to those just getting acquainted with the series. And something like pre-hunt preparation, while not the sexiest-sounding activity in the world, is essential to excelling at the game. We also have a text-based Monster Hunter World beginner's guide that will walk you through all the key information you should have before playing, as well as a guide on how to capture monsters.
As noted above, World does a better job of welcoming in new players than past titles, but that's not its only improvement. It also features much larger and more beautiful environments, thanks to being built for current-gen consoles and PC (the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X experience is particularly nice). There are also smaller quality-of-life improvements that are extremely welcome, such as the addition of scoutflies, which make the process of locating and tracking your target much easier.
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.
Review
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."
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.
Arc System Works' highly-anticipated fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ, is officially 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.
Dragon Ball FighterZ released on January 26 and is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It also had a pre-release open beta, during which only 11 of its characters were playable. The game is out, but we'll continue to update this feature with the final review, guides, and more as they're published. We'll also update with information about the DLC as it arrives, so stay tuned!
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, or check out our FighterZ review roundup.
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.
Guides
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.
We've covered a lot Dragon Ball FighterZ's Easter eggs--which you can see below--but if you want to see them for yourself, we detail how to trigger all the game's anime references in our Easter eggs gallery.
Gameplay and Features
Watch Dragon Ball FighterZ gameplay, see all the Easter eggs, test your Dragon Ball knowledge, and more.
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.
Capcom has released details on its financial performance for the nine month spanning April 1 to December 31, 2017. It reported lower sales than the same period in 2016, but improved profits thanks to its digital content business.
Sales for the nine months were reported as $439 million, which is an 11% decrease when compared to the same timeframe in 2016, during which sales were cited as $492 million. Profits, meanwhile, were $65 million in 2017, which is a 38% increase over 2016's $47 million.
Monster Hunter Frontier Z, an online game available in Japan, celebrated its 10th anniversary and was said to have given a "solid performance." In terms of mobile titles Monster Hunter Explore was called out as a key performer, as Capcom conducts "business reforms including alliance strategies."
In its fourth quarter, which ends March 31, 2018, Capcom says it plans an "aggressive sales campaign with the release of its flagship title, Monster Hunter World." Capcom has shipped 5 million units of Monster Hunter World to retailers, marking a new record for the series. Although we haven't received sales numbers for the game, early signs are promising.
The critical reception for the game has also been positive. In GameSpot's Monster Hunter World review Ginny Woo awarded it an 8/10, saying it is "the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been."
"It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative," she continued, "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.
Nintendo has detailed its financial performance for the nine-month period ending December 2017. In the year the company released the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it should come as no surprise that it has reported significant increases in both sales and profit.
Sales were cited as $7.9 billion, which represents an increase of 176% over the same period in 2016. Profit, meanwhile, reached $1.4 billion, which is a 494% improvement when compared to 2016. Nintendo attributed this strong performance to Switch hardware sales, which it said "sold well following the launch and sales rose substantially during the holiday season."
In total, Nintendo Switch hardware sales for this period reached 12.13 million units, which when added to the 2.74 million unit sold in its launch month brings lifetime Switch sales to 14.87 million units. This means that, in just 10 months, Nintendo Switch has almost certainly outsold the Wii U (Nintendo has not yet provided updated Wii U sales figures), which has been available since 2012.
In terms of software, Super Mario Odyssey sales reached 9 million units globally in the nine-month period. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which launched in April 2017, sold 7.3 million units and Splatoon 2 reached 4.9 million units sold. According to Nintendo, eight Switch titles reach the million units sold mark the fiscal year, but that figure does include games published by third parties. Total software sales were listed as 47 million units.
Nintendo 3DS also contributed and the company noted that "hardware sales did not weaken after the launch of Nintendo Switch." Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon, both of which launched in November 2017, sold 7 million units combined, but 3DS software sales overall declined by 33% year-on-year.
Other notable contributors mentioned in Nintendo financial report include the SNES Classic Edition and Amiibo. Digital content sales were described as "brisk" thanks to Nintendo Switch software, and also showed a year-on-year improvement.
In terms of mobile games, Nintendo said "consumers not only continued to enjoy Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes, which became available for download during the previous fiscal year, but also had fun with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, released globally during October and November." Income from mobile games was 172% increase on a year-on-year basis.
Looking ahead, Nintendo highlighted Bayonetta 2's Switch launch in February, as well as Kirby Star Allies coming in March and Detective Pikachu for 3DS also launching in March. This is alongside "major titles" from third-party publishers. "We aim to broaden the platform's user base by continuing to introduce compelling new software in addition to the stable of popular titles that already have been released," Nintendo said.
Moving to Xbox 360, the Disney-published high-octane racing game Split/Second is free through February 15. It is playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility, so you can pick it up and play even if you don't have an Xbox 360.
Then on February 16, a new set of freebies will be available. On Xbox One, the side-scrolling Assassin's Creed spinoff, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India, will be free, while the wacky driving game Crazy Taxi will drop to the low, low price of $0.00 on Xbox 360.
You can see February 2018's full Games With Gold lineup below.
February 2018 Games With Gold
Xbox One
Shadow Warrior (February 1-28)
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India (February 16-March 15)
Last week, a report claimed that the next Dragon Age game was rebooted in 2017 in an effort to add more "live elements." Given EA's belief in and commitment to microtransactions, some took this to mean that the new Dragon Age title would feature microtransactions. This might end up being the case, but now producer Casey Hudson has weighed in to quell concerns.
Posting on Twitter, Hudson said players will be "relieved" when EA shows off the next Dragon Age, adding that the game is "story and character focused." While he said it is "too early" to talk specifics, he did apparently confirm that there will be "live" elements. Hudson said this "just means designing a game for continued storytelling after the main story."
Reading lots of feedback regarding Dragon Age, and I think you'll be relieved to see what the team is working on. Story & character focused. Too early to talk details, but when we talk about "live" it just means designing a game for continued storytelling after the main story.
Earlier this week, EA CEO Andrew Wilson addressed the situation regarding the controversy over Star Wars: Battlefront II's use of microtransactions. While Battlefront II might have stumbled in this department, he said EA took the game as some of a learning experience. As such, EA still believes in microtransactions, but wants to make sure they are "done right" in future titles. Indeed, many gamers might agree that optional microtransactions that do not affect gameplay aren't such a bad thing--just look at Overwatch.
The new Dragon age game has not been officially announced. Last June, creative director Mike Laidlaw, who has since left the company, said "something is happening" with Dragon Age. The latest game in the series was 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, which enjoyed the "most successful launch in BioWare history" at the time.
What would you like to see from the next Dragon age? Let us know in the comments below!
Wrestlemania 34 is coming to the Big Easy, New Orleans on April 8, and while we're still a couple months away from WWE's biggest event of the year, it's never too early to think about dream matches for the final card.
As of this writing, there is only one confirmed match for the card: AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship. After winning the men's Royal Rumble match, Nakamura declared he'd like to challenge Styles for this title. In addition, women's Royal Rumble winner Asuka will face either Charlotte or Alexa Bliss for one of their titles, depending on who the Empress of Tomorrow chooses. Ignoring these confirmed matches for Wrestlemania 34, here are five other matches we'd love to see, even if they aren't too plausible.
Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus
The women's 2018 Royal Rumble match got a lot of people talking and not just because Asuka won. We saw Mickie James and Trish Stratus face off for the first time in years. Trish eliminated Mickie, but it got fans thinking, "Could we see them square off again?" Many people remember their Wrestlemania 22 match, which included one infamous moment with Mickie licking her hand.
Now, with Trish eliminating Mickie at this year's Rumble, it could renew the bad blood between these legends, and this would be an amazing way to kick off the event, even if it's on the Kickoff show. Wrestlemania is all about combining current talent with some big names, and this match could be a perfect example of it.
Undertaker vs Kane
With Kane running for Knox County Mayor and the Undertaker possibly retiring again, I can't think a better way for both of these legends to go out on a high note by facing each other one more time. Since Kane's debut in 1997, he and the Undertaker have been bitter rivals, best friends, and two dominating forces in the WWE.
The Undertaker is a large part of Wrestlemania, and there is no way to ignore that, even if Taker now has two losses on his Wrestlemania record. But instead of watching newer talent fumble their way through a match with an aging Deadman, why not have these demonic brothers face each other? To make things even more interesting, why not have Taker and Kane battle in either a casket or buried alive match?
The Miz vs Daniel Bryan
Remember back in August 2016, when The Miz went off on his former NXT rookie Daniel Bryan during an episode of Talking Smack? Since that intense, emotional moment, I have been dying to see the two get into the ring with each other. Recently, on Raw 25, The Miz starred down Bryan during a General Manager segment, which reminded me of the enormous potential these two have.
As far as we know, Daniel Bryan has not been cleared to wrestle by WWE, but this is a match that needs to happen. It's been a year and a half of solid yet subtle build-up, which includes things like The Miz stealing Daniel Bryan's moveset. This match is a longshot, but there is no denying it could be an incredibly brilliant Wrestlemania match featuring two of the company's best workers.
Triple H & Stephanie vs The Rock & Ronda Rousey
"How will Ronda Rousey be utilized at this year's Wrestlemania?" That is the question on everyone's mind since she showed up during the Royal Rumble. Hopefully, she doesn't get a title shot right away, as there is still unfinished business between herself and Stephanie McMahon. Their first confrontation took place at Wrestlemania 31, where Rousey was brought into the ring by the Rock. Stephanie got mad at his, and after a shoving match, Rousey almost broke Stephanie's arm.
I would love to see The Rock and Rousey team up against Triple H and Stephanie. That's a lot of big names that will draw people to watch the event. Wrestlemania has always included celebrities in their matches, whether it was Mr. T, Cindy Lauper, Arnold Schwarzenegger or the many other that have appeared on the event over the past three decades. Rousey is the perfect celebrity fit for this year, especially when teamed with The Rock. More importantly, this dream match keeps Rousey out of a championship match for now, as there are quite a few women who deserve a shot at Wrestlemania.
Brock vs Braun Strowman
Brock Lesnar has been the Universal Champion for quite some time, and I feel like I've been saying "I want the title on anyone but Brock Lesnar" for way too long at this point. He's a part-time wrestler who uses a manager to speak for him. Frankly, he's run his course and I, like most fans, want something new. In the past year, Raw has been pushing Braun Strowman, the man whose gimmick is "I flip things over." It has been wildly entertaining both in and out of the ring.
Strowman has fought Lesnar in the past on several occasions, but there were other people involved in those matches, and what fans want to see is a one-on-one match for the Universal Championship, with the hopes that Strowman will claim victory. Wrestlemania is the perfect place for this match to take place, and hopefully, WWE doesn't add anyone else to the match. Even if this battle is less than 15 minutes, which it more than likely will be, it will be entertaining, as long as both men are hellbent on destroying each other.
Hopefully, we'll see one or more of these matches on the upcoming Wrestlemania card. Chances of them happening may be slim, but we can hope. Let us know who you'd like to see on the final Wrestlemania card in the comment section below.
The SNES Classic is selling really well. Nintendo announced today in an earnings report that the micro-system has now reached 4 million units sold worldwide following its release at the end of September. By comparison, the NES Classic shipped 2.3 million units before it was discontinued, Reggie Fils-Aime revealed to Time last year.
Nintendo will resume production of the NES Classic this year, so sales will grow further. The SNES Classic will remain on sale, too. Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said Nintendo views these retro consoles as a means to help drive interested in the Nintendo Switch.
"We view them as an opportunity to garner interest in Nintendo Switch from those who have not interacted with video games in a long time, or ever," he said.
The SNES Classic is a micro-sized version of the iconic Nintendo console. It comes with 21 games, including the previously unreleased Star Fox 2. The NES Classic has 30 games, including some of Nintendo's most famous games like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong.
Given the huge success of the NES and SNES Classic consoles, many are wondering if Nintendo might release an N64 Classic next. Interestingly, a trademark filing suggested that this might be happening, though no official announcement has come as of yet.
For more on today's big Nintendo news, check out the stories linked below.
The games-as-a-service model is becoming increasingly popular in games today, and now Nintendo has said it is interested in this as well. Speaking today during an earnings presentation, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said Nintendo is planning to release "even more" DLC for its games, and hold more in-game events, to keep players coming back.
"To promote longer gameplay for individual software titles, we plan to implement even more downloadable content and events that build excitement for games," Kimishima said.
Nintendo of course is no stranger to DLC. Many of its games over the years have been supported with extra content with the aim of keeping the experience fresh (and making money more money beyond the initial game sale in the process). The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's latest DLC, The Champions' Ballad, launched in December.
Nintendo has confirmed more details about its upcoming animated Super Mario movie. As suspected, Despicable Me and Minions studio Illumination will produce the film. This was confirmed during an earnings presentation today by Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima.
Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Despicable Me franchise producer Chris Meladandri are co-producing the untitled film.
Nintendo and Illumination are partnering on a movie starring Mario, co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri! pic.twitter.com/wVRPLIzcGJ
Universal Pictures and Nintendo will finance the movie together, with Universal Pictures handling the worldwide distribution.
"With this project, Nintendo will pursue its goals of effectively leveraging its intellectual properties in mediums outside of video games, and of bringing smiles to people around the world," Nintendo said in a press release.
1993's live-action Super Mario Bros. movie was a critical and commercial failure, with star Bob Hoskins--who played Mario--said it was the worst movie he's ever been a part of.
Over the years, Nintendo has been very hesitant to bring its franchises--which with Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and others are among the biggest names in all of entertainment--to movies and TV. Given their prominence in the entertainment world, Hollywood has surely come knocking for adapatations, and now it appears Nintendo is finally moving ahead. Netflix was reportedly interested in making a Zelda TV show, though this never happened.
A new Mario Kart game has been announced. Mario Kart Tour, as it's called, is now in development and will launch by the end of March 2019, Nintendo announced today.
"The checkered flag has been raised and the finish line is near," Nintendo wrote in a tweet. There are no other details available currently about Mario Kart Tour, but we will of course report back with more information as it becomes available.
The checkered flag has been raised and the finish line is near. A new mobile application is now in development: Mario Kart Tour! #MarioKartTour Releasing in the fiscal year ending in March 2019. pic.twitter.com/8GIyR7ZM4z
In December, a report from the Wall Street Journal claimed that Nintendo was seeking more partners to release more mobile games, and faster, in an attempt to catch up.
The newest mainline Mario Kart game for consoles is Mario Kart 8, which originally came out for Wii U before its Deluxe edition arrived for the Nintendo Switch in 2017.
For more on today's big Nintendo news, check out the stories linked below.
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