Xbox One's UI is ever-changing, but the latest update isn't about a visual makeover. Instead, this update is more about ease of access, making small changes to game hubs, do not disturb and inactivity options, and next achievements.
Game Hubs and Next Achievements have found a new home in the guide in this update. Now instead of leaving your game, having to track it down, and then go to the game hub to find all that extra community content you love, you'll find your favorite hubs with just a press of the home button.
Next Achievements works in a similar way in terms of ease of access. But, instead of giving you all the information you could possibly want for a game, it's all about achievement hunting. Not only can it show you which achievements you're closest to unlocking, the function can also be sorted by common, rare, most common rare, and highest gamerscore.
Stepping away from the guide, muting notifications and power saving just got easier. Do not disturb mode mutes your notifications for as long as you have it on, and lets your pals know it might not be the right time to bombard you with party requests.
This update also added additional inactivity options. Instead of your Xbox turning off after one or six hours of inactivity, you can choose to have it automatically switch off and save you some power after two, three, four, or five hours.
As expected with Disney's D23 event taking place in Tokyo, Japan this weekend, more of Kingdom Hearts III, Square Enix's upcoming crossover RPG, has been revealed. During a special event held in Disneyland the publisher showed a new trailer which confirmed there will be a new Monsters Inc world in the game.
The trailer opened with Sora, Donald, and Goofy meeting Marluxia, a member of New Organization XIII. The character was first introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, but this is his debut in a mainline entry in the series. Although Marluxia knows about Sora and the gang, they're not familiar with him. After this, the video brings in Sully, Mike, and Boo of Monsters Inc fame.
Of course, Sora has been transformed into a monster version of himself, and now sports furry blue skin and red spiky hair. Donald now has a single eye, much like Mike, while Goofy's monster transformation is ... goofy looking.
The trailer transitions into quick cuts between different sections from throughout the game, and we're given very fleeting glimpses at the Tangled world and The Little Mermaid's Ariel making an appearance, as well as Vanitas, the Keyblade wielder that made his debut in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep.
The trailer also showed Rapunzel, who interacts with the world by swinging her hair. She uses it to traverse environments and can also whip enemies with it. According to Square Enix she has a number of ways to use her hair in the game. There's also a new minigame styled after a Game & Watch title, but an official name for the game hasn't been revealed yet. Check out the full trailer above.
During the event Square Enix revealed some further details about the game, including that Gummi Ship segments will return. This time, however, it has been split into two phases. There's an exploration phase, which was likened to being more open-world, and there's a combat phase. Combat has been increased in scale, with more enemies than ever before.
According to Square Enix, everyone in the Osaka studio is working on Kingdom Hearts 3, with 100 people from its Tokyo studio also involved. Development is split into three sections: Early, middle, and late. There's around three worlds per section, but Square Enix noted that this doesn't mean there's nine worlds in total. The early phase worlds are 90 percent complete, while middle section worlds are at around 60 percent. It didn't confirm what stage the end section is, but Tetsuya Nomura, director of the series, said it was "something he's always wanted to do and put into Kingdom Hearts, ever since the days of working on Final Fantasy." He added: "It is bound to surprise everyone."
Finally, Square Enix confirmed that Utada Hikaru will be returning for the third game's theme song, which is called "Don't Think Twice." You can hear the song in this second new Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer, which ends with Rikku leaving his Keyblade behind for the other version of him to use.
It's been an incredibly long wait for Kingdom Hearts III, which concludes the story of the trilogy. Kingdom Hearts II was released way back in 2005, though there have been some spin-offs and remakes in the meantime. Kingdom Hearts III promises to be exciting for many reasons, including the larger party size (you can now have up to five members at once), new Keyblade transformations, summons that are based on Disney theme parks, and the introduction of the first Pixar world (Toy Story). Other new worlds include those based on Big Hero 6 and Tangled.
Notably, Kingdom Hearts III is coming to Xbox One in addition to PS4; no previous entry has been released on an Xbox platform. The game is still without an exact release date, though it is due out sometime in 2018.
Arcade gamer Billy Mitchell is not an easy man to get ahold of, despite the wide, mainstream coverage that he's received this month. Donkey Kong Forum moderator Jeremy Young concluded that Mitchell cheated to attain his famous Donkey Kong scores. Twin Galaxies, which has been recording game scores since 1981 and partners with Guinness World Records, is launching a separate investigation.
In layman's terms, the core allegation is this: Three of Mitchell's scores--1,047,200 (the infamous sent "tape" from the documentary The King of Kong), 1,050,200 (achieved at a mortgage brokers meeting in Florida), and 1,062,800 (achieved at the Boomers arcade close to Mitchell's home) were captured on a PC running MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) rather than a traditional arcade machine. There is a separate leaderboard for MAME scores, and the emulator is more susceptible to cheating, such as splicing together multiple playthroughs.
Young and others in the community rest the brunt of their argument on the way the images load on an arcade versus on MAME. An arcade loads images from side to side. MAME, meanwhile, loads images in large portions. You can see the difference in the images below, which are taken from Young's explanation on the Donkey Kong Forums.
This first one below is from test footage that Young captured of a genuine arcade machine.
And this second image to right is captured from Mitchell's 1.05M run.
Aside from a meandering, bizarre interview on the East Side Dave Show, Mitchell has been mum about the scandal, and he has declined opportunities to speak to the press. Mitchell would only speak to GameSpot via a conference call that also included Richie Knucklez, the man who organizes the Donkey Kong community's annual Kong-Off. Knucklez orchestrated the interview; Mitchell did not pick up the phone when I called him directly several times.
Mitchell has always had a penchant for theatrics. It's baked into every element of his presentation, from his retro, long-styled haircut, to his patriotic neckties, to the salesman's thumbs up he gives when posing for pictures. And his gameplay is similarly confident and dramatic. He was the first person to achieve a perfect game of Pac-Man. He was the first person to reach the Donkey Kong "kill screen." And for years, he held the highest recorded Donkey Kong score--until Steve Wiebe came along.
The conflict between the two men competing for the highest Donkey Kong score was immortalized in the aforementioned The King of Kong documentary. Directed by Seth Gordon, it portrayed Wiebe as the outsider and underdog, and Mitchell as the villain, protected by an insular community of old-school gamers.
This new controversy is a continuation of that perception--that Mitchell's scores have been afforded a level of leeway that other gamers' scores would not have been afforded. Mitchell, however, is insistent that his scores are real and were captured on an original arcade machine. He claims that he doesn't even have MAME installed on his computer.
"I'm the least tech savvy guy in the world, so I'd be lost without the kindness of people I've never met before, calling me with information and insight," says Mitchell in his interview with GameSpot. "In some ways, it's a bummer. There's a lot of other fun stuff I would rather be doing [than clearing my name]. But if it's a cross I have to bear for a little while, that's okay."
Mitchell has two primary objectives at the moment. The first is getting original tapes of the scores' direct feeds, which Twin Galaxies should have, according to Mitchell. One, the 1.06M points tape, was recorded by former Twin Galaxies referee Michael Sroka. Mitchell believes there is another tape--one that shows a pullback crowd shot of the entire room--which will prove there was no shady business going on. No one, thus far, has been able to locate this tape, though several people in the community have allegedly heard about it before.
Two of the original tapes--the 1.04M and the 1.05M tapes--were uploaded to YouTube by a man named Dwayne Richard, before they were turned over to Twin Galaxies. Richard appeared in The King of Kong, but he was also involved in the creation of two post-documentaries--the King of Con (2012), which purports that Mitchell received payoffs from the King of Kong filmmakers, and The Perfect Fraudman (2012), which questions Mitchell's claim of having the first perfect Pac-Man game.
Knucklez characterizes Richard as someone with an axe to grind against Mitchell. And he proposes that this bias--and any suspicion of doctored or altered footage--can be eliminated by simply cutting Richard out of the equation. Knucklez reasons that if the critics can watch the original tapes--the ones Richard turned over to Twin Galaxies, rather than Richards' uploads--that would be fairer.
Knucklez recalls an incident from years ago, when Richard asked Knucklez for help in faking MAME footage. He also repeated this anecdote on his Facebook account (which we've lightly edited for grammar and spelling):
"I remember it well. I was in the parking lot of a Walmart when [Richard] called and asked me to participate in a MAME Donkey Kong ruse. In his exact words, 'To put egg on Twin Galaxies' face.' I told him I was not interested."
Knucklez concedes, however, that the original Kong footage could be exactly the same as Richards' upload, or even prove Mitchell guilty. And in the last couple of days, a former Twin Galaxies referee, who Knucklez declined to name, came forward with one of the original tapes.
"He reached out to me and said, 'I still have the original copy. If it'll help Bill in any way, I can send it to you," says Knucklez. "In Dwayne Richards' letter to Twin Galaxies, he listed the people who received the tape, and [this referee's] name is on the list."
Knucklez estimates that the tape should arrive and be in his possession within the next day or two. He believes Mitchell's denial and says he is supporting his friend.
Mitchell claims that the arcade tape footage may also have a technical explanation for looking like MAME. Mitchell says he has spoken with experts, who explained to him how the visual look of the arcade footage could have been altered due to Mitchell's use of a direct feed--one that takes its signal straight off the arcade's board rather than from the monitor.
"I talked to the company that manufactured it, and I asked, 'Why would the right look different from the left?'" says Mitchell. "And he explained it to me--not that I understood. And I said, 'Oh, you've got to explain it to these other guys.' So they're in the process of quickly putting that together. [They said that because I was] obsessed with capturing the screenplay this way, that's why I'm having this mess. Every single time, I recorded it that way."
Billy Mitchell (Left) and Richie Knucklez (Right) Image Credit: Non-Sport Update Magazine
Mitchell, who repeatedly states that he is not a tech-savvy person, declines to explain further, deferring to the aforementioned experts.
"If I sit here and try and explain it to you, I'm going to sound like an idiot, and people are going to pick it apart, because I don't know what I'm talking about," says Mitchell. "These answers require presentation and research. It takes two minutes to tell a lie. It takes a lot longer to give a proper response that's acceptable."
Mitchell says the reasons for him getting involved in this latest fracas have less to do with him and more to do with the community.
"This is the first time I've had to answer, because people like Richie, people like Rob [Childs, the tech support present at the Boomers Arcade DK high score run]...and many [other] people are being called liars," says Mitchell. "And if my friends are being kicked between the knees, I have to respond, and I am responsible....There are a lot of good people who have legitimate questions, and that's who we're catering to."
"I have become known as an advocate of competitive games and an ambassador for competitive video games," continues Mitchell. "And for that reason? Yes, this is important to me."
One can see the ongoing drama on Donkey Kong forums, where many posters are going through an existential grieving process over Mitchell's scores. Without Mitchell and these scores, there would be no The King of Kong. And thus, the community, as it currently exists today, would have never developed. Has it all been based on a lie?
Near the end of our conversation, Mitchell's tone turns more emotional.
I have to present what any fair-minded person would look at and go, 'Oh. I see.' I can help the people who want to know exactly what happened and how it happened.
Billy Mitchell
"Rob was there when this happened," reiterates Mitchell about his 1.06M score. "The technician from the arcade was there when this happened. They were the ones who set up everything and set the board. There were Twin Galaxies people there. They set this up. There were cameras set up. There was an event set up. There were crowds. There were people. There was media. So all of those people are in on a big conspiracy? That's just stupid."
"So now," Mitchell concludes, "I have to present what any fair-minded person would look at and go, 'Oh. I see.' I can help the people who want to know exactly what happened and how it happened. And they will--very shortly."
There's an irony to all this. All this hay is being made over records that are not even the world record anymore. Mitchell was long ago surpassed by younger players. The current record holder is Robbie Lakeman, who beat Wes Copeland's 1,218,000 score with a 1,247,700 score on February 2, 2018. This current fight over frames of animation, direct feeds, and circuit boards is being waged entirely on principle. And it might cause an outsider to question whether Mitchell's belief--that people are targeting him--is ego-driven paranoia rather than fact.
But then you step back, and you realize that if Billy Mitchell was dedicated enough to get a high score (legitimately or illegitimately), it would stand to reason that someone else is dedicated enough to tear it down. Mitchell gets a lot of flak for his outsized persona, and for exerting such charismatic power over his small fiefdom. But are the people criticizing him, who created two anti-Mitchell documentaries in the space of a year, any more down-to-earth? Whether or not Mitchell proves that his scores are valid, there's no doubt that there will be another conspiracy, and another coverup, and another follow-up. Because when things reach this pitch, it's no longer about the scores. It's about something more personal.
There's a common observation that Batman, by existing, has empowered and created his enemies. The presence of a superhero is an implicit challenge, and it leads to the creation of a supervillain. Batman and Joker are symbiotic, in a sense. They are doomed to fight, over and over again, because on some level they thrive off the conflict. Maybe Mitchell is legit; maybe he isn't. Maybe he's a villain, or perhaps, he's created some villains along the way.
Along with Sony's upcoming version 5.5 firmware update for the PlayStation 4, PS4 Pro owners that aren't on 4K televisions will be getting a significant graphical enhancement: supersample anti-aliasing (SSAA). PS4 Pro consoles will soon be able to leverage its extra power for non-4K displays and force SSAA when it outputs a 1080p resolution. This will be an option users have to enable manually, and it has been put into action with mostly positive results.
SSAA is a form of anti-aliasing that forces a game to render a higher resolution then downscale it to fit the proper screen resolution. The result is a smoother picture with less "jaggies" since you're essentially getting a shrunken version of a finer image. According Eurogamer's Digital Foundry, the PS4 Pro will act as if its connected to a 4K display and work to downscale the improved image to 1080p. While there are a few games that offer benefits with 1080p displays, some games (such as Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) would lock out 1080p users from accessing any PS4 Pro benefits; an example of the inconsistency of the enhancements from the more powerful console. This will not be the case anymore with the new anti-aliasing option.
Digital Foundry was able to put this to the test and rounded up some early results. One example is Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, which now supersamples a 4K image for 1080p, instead of locking itself to 1080p. The game also runs at a locked 30 FPS regardless of resolution, so there's now some benefit for non-4K-ers. The Last of Us Remastered now gives 1080p users the option for supersampling instead of only offering the 60 FPS improvement (but not both).
Resolution sizes relative to each other. Downscaling a 4K image produces better quality on 1080p displays.
However, it's not a perfect solution for all games. For example, The Last Guardian offers a stable 30 FPS at 1080p, while the 4K enhancement can cause frame drops to around 20 FPS. Since PS4 Pro supersampling essentially imitates the Pro-enhanced resolution available, the potential frame drops translate as well. The same goes for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, a game where framerate is arguably more important than resolution; its 4K option doesn't offer as stable a framerate as it would at 1080p.
Keep in mind that games are still subject to the specific PS4 Pro enhancements. The 5.5 firmware update simply gives you access to the finer image quality that 4K users get, but in the form of antialiasing at 1080p. Whether or not it works well will be on a game-by-game basis, but the bottom line is that PS4 Pro users will have more options, regardless of the display they use. Firmware 5.5 for the PlayStation 4 is currently in beta testing and there's no word on when the final version releases.
The battle royale game mode isn't exactly new, but its current mainstream spotlight can be attributed to the virality of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. After it sold tens of millions of copies on Steam during its early access period alone, there was bound to be a wave of games trying to capitalize on the genre's exploding popularity. As of now, though, Fortnite: Battle Royale is the frontrunner in challenging PUBG's dominance. And while many have dubbed Fortnite's rendition a PUBG clone, there are just as many stark differences as there are similarities between the two.
A drastic contrast in presentation will hit you first. PUBG has a realistic, military-inspired look that's layered on top of the already nerve-racking concept. Fortnite looks like a cartoon; it's bright, colorful, and animated in a way that takes the edge off the imposing battle royale mode. Oddly enough, both games use Epic's Unreal Engine 4 despite the divergent graphical styles. These games were also born out of disparate foundations.
At its core, PUBG shares much of the same DNA as its predecessors. Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene himself helped create the original battle royale mods for Arma, and through several iterations these mods eventually led to H1Z1: King of the Kill, which became the premiere battle royale game just before PUBG came onto the scene. However, PUBG offers a more accessible and streamlined experience than its forebears while retaining the military sim framework that taps into your tactical instincts.
This begs the question: How did Fortnite, of all games, become the one to go toe-to-toe with PUBG? Fortnite has its own tumultuous development history, but its initial vision was a mashup of Gears of War's Horde mode and Minecraft's construction mechanics, driven by a loot grind to hook players. At first, a game that controls fast and loose, almost like an arena shooter, doesn't seem ripe for battle royale. However, Epic was able to adapt Fortnite into its own battle royal mode early on and capitalize on the trend, carving out its own piece of the pie.
There are a number of things that make each game unique, but the ultimate goal is to be the last one standing.
Fortnite also had two key advantages over PUBG when its battle royale mode launched: it was both free to play and available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. PUBG recently hit the Xbox One in an early access phase, but it has a long way to go to match how smooth and stable Fortnite runs. Even on PC, you're likely to run higher framerates and have a lower chance of experiencing game-breaking bugs.
When it comes to the overall concept, PUBG's influence on Fortnite is clear. In both games, a 60-second warm-up takes place on an isolated island off the shore of the main island. 100 players are crammed into an air vessel and parachute down to the main island where a single-life deathmatch takes place. You're continuously forced into smaller zones at random via a lethal circle as the match progresses; you'll never know exactly where the final firefight will take place, either. Everyone scrambles for weapons, ammo, and health items across the map's numerous towns and structures. You can either do this alone, as a duo, or with a squad of four, but it ends the same: the last person or squad standing is declared the winner. Conceptually, these games are the same, but in practice, they play very differently.
Regardless of your weapon of choice, you have to be precise. PUBG is all about precision.
Most noticeably, PUBG's rules of engagement are in sharp contrast with Fortnite's. When it comes to PUBG, player movement and the act of firing a gun are very deliberate and calculated. Tactical situations rely on positioning and working the given environment to your advantage; lying prone in brush to stay concealed in a open field, peeking around rocks or trees to take shots, and checking corners when entering houses are just a few of the basic (and best) practices. Guns fire with impact and have distinct recoil patterns and damage models in relation to the armor your target has equipped. Regardless of your weapon of choice, you have to be precise. PUBG is all about precision. You can't say the same about Fortnite, at least to the same degree.
Fortnite's building mechanics are remarkably easy to use and crucial to master.
Of course, aiming is key to winning in Fortnite, but the way assault rifles and shotguns work is closer to Unreal Tournament than it is to Arma. Rocket and grenade launchers are also part of Fortnite's arsenal, and traps give players a chance to exercise a different type of cleverness. Because of the nature of its style, Fortnite feels much more chaotic and kinetic, and you can't overlook the importance of building structures to stay competitive.
Players can build structures and change a game of Fortnite: Battle Royale.
Fortnite retains crafting from its original Save the World mode, and getting a grasp of it is essential for victory. A pickaxe that functions as your only melee weapon is also used to destroy structures and vegetation which turn into wood, brick, or steel. With these elements, you build walls, stairs, or a roof, and can then be altered with windows and doors. It's almost a guarantee that firing upon an enemy in an open field will lead to them throwing up a wall out of instinct to protect themselves and heighten their chance of survival. Scaling mountains and seemingly hard-to-reach places is made possible with an ad-libbed staircase. Fortnite's building mechanics are remarkably easy to use and crucial to master.
On the other hand, part of PUBG's appeal is that the clumsy crafting elements of its predecessors are gone, allowing players to focus on gearing up and executing tactics to survive each firefight. Ditching granular mechanics helps keep a relatively fast pace and lower barrier to entry while maintaining the realistic tactical shooter vibe. You need to strap on an armored vest and helmet to protect yourself, and weapon attachments help get the most out of the deep roster of firearms. Inventory management is relatively streamlined in PUBG, but Fortnite simplifies it to such a degree that you only have to worry about five inventory slots instead of a managing a weight limit.
Both games have large, sprawling maps, but PUBG incorporates vehicles that are of utmost importance to reach advantageous positions without getting swallowed up by the circle of death or gunned down by a preying squad. However, close-quarters encounters are a microcosm of how much PUBG and Fortnite diverge. If you fight in and around the buildings and towns of PUBG as if it were Rainbow Six--scouting enemy movement, peeking for sightlines--you'll improve your odds of survival. In Fortnite, destruction is around every corner; if you know an enemy is on the second floor of a building, you can blow apart the floor beneath them for a surprise. You rack up kills by getting the jump on opponents in either game, but you can't play PUBG like Fortnite, and approaching Fortnite like PUBG will only get you so far.
In Fortnite's late-game, when it comes down to a single-digit player count, you'll often see enemies creating their own fort-like structures in the safe zones, essentially building makeshift houses to leverage their resources and wit. It's not much of a mystery where the last players are when you see them exercising their architectural prowess. Often times, PUBG's final moments boil down to a waiting game, who gets spotted first, or a risky push with smoke grenades as your last bit of cover; it's about seizing a short window of opportunity where things go from 0 to 100 real quick. It's intense and frightening.
The more you dig into both games, the more you'll see how their takes on battle royale offer unique experiences and tap into different skills, even though one is closely modeled after the other. The thirst can be quenched with either PUBG or Fortnite (or both), because the thrill of besting 90-plus other players is rewarding in a way unlike other multiplayer shooters. If you have to choose one over the other, keep in mind that Fortnite is best for those who want to engage in a form of base-building within a chaotic shooter that doesn't rely so much on precision and realism, whereas PUBG has the look and feel of a tactical shooter to drive home the uneasy tension of battle royale.
Fortnite's free-to-play Battle Royale mode has surged in popularity over the past few weeks, recently hitting a new record of 3.4 million concurrent users. Unfortunately, the influx of players has also resulted in a number of server issues across PS4, Xbox One, and PC, which developer Epic has addressed in a new post on its website.
"We were not able to stay ahead of our continued growth and multiple of our backend services have been struggling under load the last several weeks. And we also shipped v2.3.0 with significant bugs. We don't consider either acceptable," Epic wrote. As a result, the developer says it has "changed [its] release plans [and] processes to help improve quality of client builds."
Among the areas Epic looks to improve are load times. The developer says it is "testing and bug fixing improvements that will deliver better level streaming with less hitches." Similarly, Epic says it is "close" to the point it can test a major optimization of its networking code, which would bring the developer "closer to running the server at a solid 20 Hz."
Additionally, Epic has announced it will roll out an optional 60 FPS mode for PS4 and Xbox One (as well as PS4 Pro and Xbox One X) later this month. "This 60 FPS mode is tuned for each console to maximize frame rate while minimizing loss of visual quality," Epic says. The studio has also added West Coast servers and will add Brazilian Xbox servers in order to further improve the game's connection.
You can read more on Epic's website. In the same post, the developer teased several upcoming limited-time modes for Battle Royale, among them the return of the 50v50 event. Epic also shared concept art of several new items and outfits that will be available in Battle Royale soon, such as a Glider modeled after a Chinese dragon.
Bungie's purveyor of Exotic wares and face obfuscation enthusiast, Xur, has returned once again for another visit in Destiny 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. As this week's Flashpoint is on Io, that's where you'll find him with a new set of Exotic gear for sale, including a weapon that was added in Curse of Osiris.
Reaching Xur is relatively easy. Head to Io and spawn at the Giant's Scar Landing Zone. From there, hop on your Sparrow and follow the path through the building just to the right of where you spawn. Take it to the left when you exit the building, and you'll be able to head just off the road ahead to enter a cave, where Xur has taken up residence from now until the weekly reset on February 13.
In terms of items, he has one piece of Exotic gear for each class: Titan, Warlock, and Hunter. All of it is gear from the base game, so you won't need to own the Curse of Osiris DLC expansion in order to acquire it. However, that's not the case with Xur's one weapon, the Exotic Scout Rifle The Jade Rabbit. The unique effect with this gun is The Fate of All Fools, which lets you fire body shots in order to gain bonus damage with your next precision shot (and return ammo directly into the magazine). Here's everything he has for sale:
The Jade Rabbit (Exotic Scout Rifle) -- 29 Legendary Shards
As always, besides the specific pieces of gear, Xur offers the Three of Coins, which increases your odds of securing an Exotic item drop for four hours. You can also pick up a Fated Engram, which--while pricey--guarantees to decrypt into an Exotic you don't already own.
Following this appearance by Xur, Bungie will kick off Destiny 2's first Crimson Days event to celebrate Valentine's Day. This primarily consists of a unique 2v2 Crucible mode that encourages players to stay close to their partners. It also introduces a bunch of new items that you can obtain both by playing this Crucible mode and by simply leveling up (provided you've reached the level cap). Beyond that, Bungie has a ton of other new changes on the way to Destiny 2, following the recent addition of Masterwork armor and Raid armor perks.
A new Overwatch event is now underway, as the latest update for the game has kicked off the Year of the Dog. This is the new iteration of the Lunar New Year event that was held last year, and it introduces a bunch of new content across all platforms: PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
As is often the case for many players, the most exciting addition will be new skins. There are a total of six new skins, including those for Genji, Mercy, Zarya, and Pharah. There are also more than 50 new seasonal items in all. You can see all the new Year of the Dog Legendary skins (and more) in our gallery. The event runs from now through March 5.
Also new is a map set in Thailand called Ayutthaya. This is the first Overwatch map made specifically for Capture the Flag, which has undergone some changes as part of its return in this update. Flags are now picked up immediately but are dropped when using certain abilities (such as Winston's leap). Additionally, ties are no longer possible since matches will go to sudden death, if necessary. During this phase, teams flags are positioned closer to the center of the map so that flag carriers won't have to run as far to score.
In addition to the standard CTF mode, a new competitive season centered around CTF is being launched. This will run for four weeks, and those who make it into the top 500 will receive a special spray and icon.
One other change of note in this update is a fan-requested feature. Before starting a match, you'll now be able to easily change between any of the skins you own for a given character. This is done from the Assemble Your Team screen and can't be accessed mid-match, but it's still a welcome addition, particularly as players continue to amass increasingly large collections of skins.
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.
Last week's PlayStation Plus Specials sale may have ended, but a new selection of game deals are now available in the US PlayStation Store. This week, PS4, PS3, and Vita owners can find discounts on a handful of Ubisoft titles, as well as a variety of anime-based games from publisher Bandai Namco.
PS4 owners in particular have a lot of deals to choose from this week, as all of the Ubisoft-published games on sale right now are for the current-gen console. That includes the latest installment in the Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed Origins. The standard release is available for $40.19, while the Deluxe and Gold Editions run for $46.89 and $67, respectively.
Several other Assassin's Creed games are likewise on sale for PS4 this week. The standard version of Assassin's Creed Syndicate is $20 (while the Gold Edition is available for $28), Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection is $20, and the Assassin's Creed Trilogy Pack, which includes Syndicate along with Black Flag and Unity, is $40.49.
It's a new week which means Microsoft has rolled out a fresh set of deals on Xbox Live. There are sold solid deals to be had across Xbox One and Xbox 360, including quite a few offers on numerous Ubisoft titles.
All offers are good through February 12. Go to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of the deals, including local pricing for where you live.
In other Xbox news, the first of February 2018's free Games With Gold titles for subscribers are now available. These include the shooter Shadow Warrior on Xbox One and the backwards-compatible racing game Split/Second for Xbox 360.
The Pokemon Company has a ton of giveaways lined up for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon this year as part of its Year of Legendary Pokemon, which will give players a chance to receive a free Legendary each month in 2018. That starts this month with the first pair of free Legendaries, Dialga and Palkia.
From now until February 28, players can pick up a download code for the Space and Time Pokemon from a participating GameStop location in the US; UK residents will be able to obtain a code from Game stores during the same time frame. The code can be redeemed in either Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, or the original Sun and Moon versions, but the Pokemon you receive will depend will depend on which game you have. You can see which Pokemon you can get and their moveset below:
Pokemon Ultra Sun / Pokemon Sun
Palkia
Spacial Rend
Aura Sphere
Draco Meteor
Hyrdo Pump
Pokemon Ultra Moon / Pokemon Moon
Dialga
Roar of Time
Aura Sphere
Draco Meteor
Flash Cannon
To claim your Pokemon, select Mystery Gift from the games' main menu and choose the option to receive your gift via a code/password. Input the code you received when prompted and the game will download your Legendary. You'll then be able to pick it up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center.
The Pokemon Company will continue offering new Legendary Pokemon for free through November; next month, players will be able to get another pair of Legendaries from the Sinnoh region, Regigigas and Heatran, while Entei and Raikou from Pokemon Gold and Silver will be the Legendaries on offer in April. You can see the full Legendary Pokemon distribution schedule here.
In addition to Dialga and Palkia, players still have a chance to add a couple of free Mythical Pokemon to their collections. You can read more about those in our roundup of every free Pokemon available in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon right now. The series' third Gen 2 title, Pokemon Crystal, is also now available to purchase on the 3DS Eshop. Any Pokemon captured in that game can be transferred to the newer Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon versions.
Since the launch of its Battle Royale mode last year, Fortnite's popularity has exploded. That's no doubt thanks in part to being free-to-play, but while it follows the same basic format as other games in the increasingly popular sub-genre, it does offer a unique twist with its building mechanics. At the press of a button, you can build walls, floors, and stairs, and that ability is key to success.
However, with no tutorial and players eager to kill you, actually getting the hang of building is not especially easy. Building can generate a lot of noise, which invariably attracts unwanted attention. To help you get started, we've put together the video above in which we run through the basics of gathering materials and building. We cover both the small so-called "panic forts" that you'll build during the course of a match to protect yourself, as well as the towers that are frequently used at the end of a game.
In the video, you'll also get a look at the recently added minigun. Epic continues to make changes and add new content to Battle Royale, some of which can have a significant effect on building. The minigun is one such case, as it makes for an ideal way to rapidly destroy the cover that enemies are hiding behind.
A new update for Fortnite introduced the Crossbow, which, while packing unlimited ammo, doesn't offer the kind of firepower that's ideal for demolishing structures. It does, however, allow for stealthy takedowns, something that can provide you with a real edge. We'll have more tips and guides for Fortnite soon, but in the meantime, check out Battle Royale's new skins and upcoming Valentine's Day-themed content.
Rockstar has announced everything that's that new in GTA Online this week--and there's quite a lot, spanning a new vehicle, a free t-shirt, and double RP opportunities.
The new car this week is the Canis Kamacho. It's described by Rockstar as a "throwback to the glory days of the American 4X4," and it sure does fit the bill. "With a rock solid chassis and the suitably Spartan interior of a real off-roader, look down on your friends from on high in the Canis Kamacho," reads a line from Rockstar's description.
CANIS KAMACHO
A throwback to the glory days of the American 4X4 – delivering the reliability of a pickup and the resilience of a small battleship.
You can get the Canis Kamacho right now through the Super Autos store in Southern San Andreas.
Also new to GTA Online this week is the black Ammu-Nation t-shirt, which you can get for free simply by logging in by February 27. It's free as part of "Battle Week," which is the name that Rockstar gave to this week of new content and specials.
You can earn double RP and GTA$ in the Motor Wars mode this week. This is GTA Online's PUBG-style mode where players parachute in and fight until only one team is left standing. Also paying double RP and GTA$ this week are the modes Hardest Target, Slashes, and Occupy.
In terms of sales, GTA Online is offer sales on weaponised vehicles, guns, upgrades, and more. You can see a full rundown of this week's discounts below; they are good through February 12.
Warstock Cache & Carry Discounts
Mammoth Avenger - 25% off
HVY Chernobog (Weaponized) - 25% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Bravado Half-Track (Weaponized) - 40% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Vom Feuer Anti-Aircraft Trailer (Weaponized) - 35% off (Buy it Now & Trade Price)
Weaponized Declasse Tampa (Weaponized) - 40% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Mk II Discounts
Mk II Upgrades - 30% off (cost to upgrade to Mk II weapon)
Mk II Ammo (all types) - 50% off
Mk II Magazines - 25% off
Mk II Scopes - 25% off
Mk II Muzzles - 25% off
Mk II Weapon Liveries - 25% off
Ammu-Nation Discounts
Ammo - 50% off
Assault Rifles - 30% off
Sniper Rifles - 30% off
Melee Weapons - 30% off
Body Armor - 30% off
RPG - 30% off
Other
30% off all Aircraft weapons in your Hangar Workshop
25% off Security Room upgrade in your Facility
Finally, this week's Premium Race is "Bumblebee" with the Rocket Voltic vehicle, while the Time Trial is "Route 68." As usual, the top three finishers in the Premium Race get GTA$ while everyone earns triple RP. For the Time Trial, beating the par time earns you an allotment of GTA$ and RP. Go to Rockstar's Newswire to see a full rundown of what's new in GTA Online this week.
Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, will report earnings for the latest quarter tomorrow. The company is expected to talk about GTA V and other projects, so keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
Following a period of downtime, developer Epic Games has launched the new update for Fortnite. It specifically deals with introducing new content and changes for the Battle Royale mode on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with Save the World mode set to receive some additions in the near future.
In terms of what's new in Battle Royale, update 2.4.2's biggest feature is a new weapon, the Crossbow. This was teased as a silent weapon recently in-game, and it's not only stealthy, but it also has another perk: It fires arrows, which are a new type of ammo that are unlimited in supply. Crossbows can be found as ground loot or in chests, with Rare and Epic versions also available. You can see a Valentine's-themed version of the weapon, as well as upcoming Valentine's skins, in the images below.
There are also changes to the current Limited-Time Mode, Shooting Test #1. It's been turned from a squad playlist into a solo activity, and some of its balance changes have been further altered. For instance, the shotgun now deals more damage when it headshots a player, while the Scoped Assault Rifle is now 100% accurate when you aim down the sights and doesn't have any damage falloff when firing at long range. However, be aware that Epic notes the mode currently has an issue where stat and challenge progress is not saved.
Save the World sees very little in the way of changes, with the new Valentine's Day event having to wait for the upcoming 2.5.0 patch. Epic also recently provided a brief preview of what to expect in the two patches that will follow that, including the launch of the Spring It On event. You can also check out the full patch notes for the 2.4.2 patch here.
Since the short-lived 50v50 mode it introduced back in December, Fortnite developer Epic has been regularly holding limited-time events for the game's free Battle Royale mode, and even more are on the way in the near future. In an update on its official website, Epic gave players a peek at some of the limited-time modes it plans to hold for Battle Royale soon, including the return of the 50v50 event.
According to Epic, approximately five limited-time modes will run in Fortnite: Battle Royale "in the next month or so." The developer hasn't detailed which of the events will be held first, nor has it provided a time table for when they'll roll out, but one of the modes players can expect to play is another 50v50 event. Unlike the previous version, Epic says this one will be "closer to the 50v50 trailer experience," with more supply drops and a bus for each team.
In addition to that, Epic plans to hold a limited-time Blitz Mode in Battle Royale, which will feature shorter matches than usual. Epic also says it will introduce modes that feature team sizes in between 50v50 and squads (which features four-player groups). You can read more about some of Fortnite: Battle Royale's upcoming limited-time modes on Epic's website.
On top of the new limited-time modes, Epic has also teased some new items that are coming to Battle Royale. These include a Glider modeled after a Chinese dragon, a spacesuit outfit, and a Llama Unicorn Pickaxe. Epic hasn't announced when the items will be available in Battle Royale, but it has shared concept art for them, which you can take a look at above.
We've come to expect copious amounts of violence and nudity on premium TV these days thanks to shows like Game of Thrones, but Altered Carbon takes it to a whole new level. It can feel a little excessive, especially in the first few episodes.
But the further you get into Altered Carbon, the more you realize how smart the show actually is--how effectively it gets across its themes and ideas, often by showing rather than telling. It makes you wonder: Why is there so much nudity and violence in Altered Carbon?
The Netflix show's writer, executive producer, and showrunner, Laeta Kalogridis, has a very good answer.
"There's a lot of bravery on the part of our cast, male and female, and a lot of commitment in trying to get across one of the core premises--because there are a great many interlocking ideas that we're trying to bring forward. One of them is that there is a disposability to the human body once you create this kind of technology," Kalogridis told GameSpot.
In the world of Altered Carbon, human consciousness has been digitized, each person's mind and memories residing on a "cortical stack" located at the base of their skull. Bodies, called "sleeves," are replaceable. Even if your sleeve dies, your stack can be inserted into a new one--as long as the stack itself remains intact. The show raises a lot of questions about how that would affect the gap between the rich and the poor.
"Our worst instincts as human beings have to do with our carelessness with natural resources, and when the body itself becomes just one more of those resources, how will we treat it? Will we treat it with such indifference and with such depersonalization that it becomes more like a very fancy car than a repository of the self?" Kalogridis continued. "And that, I think, is one reason that the nudity itself is not gratuitous; it's meant to reinforce to you, as a viewer, that the advent of this technology fundamentally and substantially changes people's relationships with their idea of their own body."
In other words, in a world in which bodies are interchangeable, what does nudity even matter? It's not really "you" being seen naked--it's just your sleeve. Depending how wealthy you are, it might not even be the one you were born in--or even a real human body, since synthetic sleeves are also a thing.
As Kalogridis pointed out, Altered Carbon's nudity is "equal opportunity"--the show features a comparable number of naked male bodies as female. She emphasized that the whole thing only works because so many of the actors were onboard to strip down.
"There's no way to overstate how brave it is for one actor--much less this group of people--to decide together that they're going to make this statement about this world, because it only works when they do it together," she said.
"Naturally, when you pick something to tell a cautionary tale about, normally what you want to do is show the thing you're cautioning against," she quipped.
One of the things Altered Carbon cautions against is what Kalogridis sees as humanity's very real obsession with immortality--one she's afraid will have unforeseen consequences as technology continues to build toward something that may wind up looking very like the fictional cortical stack.
"It's a disruptive technology that much of Silicon Valley is--if you ask me--unhealthily focused on," she said. "Anything that you invent that is disruptive, any new technology that is created, I can guarantee you absolutely there will be unintended consequences--and annoying people who say, 'Well, who could have seen that coming?'"
"Imagine what could go wrong--all you have to do is apply human nature to it," she continued.
That thinking manifests in Altered Carbon in countless ways, from the carelessness with which some characters charge into combat, to the null-G knife fights between a husband and wife team who battle to the death for rich people's amusement. The most egregious example is probably how prostitutes are treated--throughout the season it's revealed that violence against prostitutes (both female and male, although mostly female) can be bought for the right price. The women have to hope their pimps bother to spin them back up in replacement sleeves.
Kalogridis believes that's just part of the reality of this world--not to mention noir as a genre.
"Noir has a history of holding up a mirror to the darker side of human society, and I will be thrilled to remove the violence from noir when we remove the violence from our lives," she said. "It's necessary to point out a thing in order to make progress on changing the thing. And if there's something that I think we maybe have all noticed in the last couple of years--maybe--when you just pretend that something's not happening, that will not affect change. Acting as if it's not happening because you are uncomfortable in looking at it has very little value if what you want is to make things better. If what you want is to stay comfortable and feel good, I suppose it's fine."
"But that's not what interests me," she concluded.
We're still coming to grips with how Monster Hunter World will engage players long-term with its endgame. New monsters to fight and new video game-themed gear are on the way, but in the meantime, Capcom will provide a regular supply of new limited-time quests and bounties to keep players busy. Here's what's new this week on PS4 and Xbox One.
In terms of event quests, the next batch of three have rotated into the game and will be available until February 15. All of them involve hunting multiple monsters, but the first two are five-star quests that can be taken on starting at Hunter Rank 8. Kirin the Myth, as the name suggests, involves slaying two Kirin in Coral Highlands; there is a faint limit of three, a 50-minute time limit, and a reward of 14,400 Zenny. Wicked Wildspire Warfare has the same failure conditions but a reward of 9,360 Zenny (plus some Armor Spheres). You'll have to hunt two Barroths and a Diablos to emerge victorious.
Those looking for a higher-end challenge can take on the Triple Threat Throwdown event quest. This is a Special Arena mission where you'll have to hunt a Great Girros, Great Jagras, and Dodogama. You again have 50 minutes to complete this and will fail after three faints, and you'll need to reach HR 13 in order to take this on. The reward is 14,040 Zenny in addition to unspecified decorations.
Also new are the latest set of Limited Bounties. If you're unfamiliar with these, they're bounties which are automatically assigned to you from the Resource Center and provide specific challenges to complete during the week. (The exact timing for the reset seems to differ between Xbox One on Thursday and PS4 on Friday, US time.) All three Limited Bounties are Ecology Surveys that call for you to hunt specific monsters (or categories of monsters). You'll have to hunt three Great Girros, four Rathalos, and five Elder Dragons. Completing each of these objectives rewards you with some combination of Research Points, Armor Spheres, and trade-in items, and completing all three nets you an additional reward. Here's exactly what's on tap:
Ecology Survey: Hunt Great Girros
350 Research Points
2 Armor Sphere+
1 First Wyverian Print
Ecology Survey: Hunt Rathalos
450 Research Points
4x Armor Sphere+
1x Steel Wyverian Print
Ecology Survey: Slay Elder Dragon (high rank)
600 Research Points
4x Hard Armor Sphere
1x Silver Wyverian Print
General: Limited Bounty
500 Research Points
1x Gold Wyverian Print
1x Golden Egg
Finally, there's a limited-time mission--Challenge Quest 1: Beginner--which you can access from the Arena Counter in the Gathering Hub once you hit HR 2. You'll have to slay a Kulu-Ya-Ku and Pukei-Pukei with one of a handful of weapons, with the goal being to finish as quickly as possible. The faint limit is nine, and the reward is 1,080 Zenny.
Also of note right now is a new update that's been released on both platforms. It makes some balance changes to Bowguns, resolves Squad issues on PS4, and addresses various other issues. That includes fixing an issue that prevented some players from accessing the free 5 Million Celebration Item Pack; as a result, its availability has been extended through February 22. There's also a new pack now available to celebrate the game's 6 million milestone; you can grab both by playing online and claiming your Daily Login Bonus.
There is a lot of of hoopla surrounding Spectre and Meltdown, the names given to vulnerabilities that affect practically every processor produced in the past two decades. Without taking a deep dive into the technical details, the short of it is that they could allow an attacker to pluck what was previously considered protected data from your CPU's cache, including passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information.
Security researchers from Google's Project Zero team discovered the vulnerabilities in 2017 and disclosed them to the public in early 2018. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, as Spectre and Meltdown are part of the fundamental design of most modern processors. In fact, Intel takes issue with referring to these vulnerabilities as a "bug" or "flaw" in the actual design, though the semantics hardly matter—the bottom line is, your PC is probably affected.
Should you be worried? The good news in all of this is that there are no known exploits in the wild based on Spectre and Meltdown. However, at least two cybersecurity firms have identified proof-of-concept samples based on these vulnerabilities, most likely from security researchers scrambling to stay ahead of the situation.
Nevertheless, it's a safe bet that attackers will eventually attempt to leverage Spectre and Meltdown. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. The biggest one is to make sure your OS has the latest updates. Microsoft is pretty aggressive about doling out automatic updates to Windows, so most users can sit back and let the OS patch itself. If you want to be proactive, however, manually check for updates to make sure you're fully patched. The same goes for Linux, Chrome OS, and macOS—Spectre and Meltdown affect all operating systems, not just Windows.
You should also make sure your browsers are all up to date. Google recently updated its Chrome browser to version 64, and it incorporates patches to protect against Spectre and Meltdown. To make sure you're running the latest build, click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner and go to Help > About Google Chrome. This will tell you what version you're running, and initiate an update if one is available.
In Chrome 63 and later, there is also an experimental feature called Site Isolation that is disabled by default. Turning it on offers additional protection against certain types of web attacks based on Meltdown and Spectre, though it increases Chrome's memory use by around 10-20 percent. If you're okay with that, you can turn the feature on by typing chrome://flags into the URL bar, then scroll down to Strict site isolation and press the Enable button. Another way is to type (or copy and paste) chrome://flags/#enable-site-per-process into the URL bar.
There are no special flags in Firefox, Edge, Opera, or Safari. However, you should make sure you're running the latest version of each. In Firefox, open up the menu and navigate to Help > About Firefox. Updating Opera is similar—click on the menu and select About Opera. Both Edge and Safari are updated by their respective OSes, Windows and MacOS.
One other thing you can do is check for BIOS updates for your motherboard. Several motherboard vendors have begun releasing updated firmware specifically to protect against Spectre and Meltdown. You can check for new BIOS releases by going to your motherboard manufacturer's website and either looking up your motherboard model, or navigate to the support section.
Given that this is all rather new, it's a good idea to do some research before applying a BIOS update. Specifically, you want to see if other users have reported any problems with the new BIOS, if one is available. Also, you should only attempt this if you are comfortable updating the BIOS. Otherwise, either skip this step, or have a tech-savvy friend help you. Either way, take note of your current BIOS settings before updating, as they don't always carry over.
Beyond staying up to date, standard safe computing practices apply—avoid shadier sides of the web, be wary of clicking on links in emails and instant messages, and keep your antivirus software turned on.
Ahead of the digital release of Justice League comes a deleted scene that will have fans of the DC Extended Universe wondering why it wasn't in the film. In the scene, Superman (Henry Cavill) is in the Fortress of Solitude after returning from the dead. While there, he sees a completely black version of his classic suit.
It's the same suit that was teased by Cavill on Instagram over a year ago, during the movie's production. At the time, many believed Superman would suit up in the darker costume in Justice League. However, once the film was released it was nowhere to be seen.
One other element of the deleted scene is yet another costume, this one wildly different from what Superman usually wears. Instead of the form-fitting suit you'd expect from the superhero, the other costume is metallic and looks like some kind of spacesuit. This particular look is similar to a suit introduced in Superman: The Animated Series. It allowed the Man of Steel to venture around in space, breathe, and also record his words for transmission back to Earth.
Perhaps when the movie finally releases on digital on February 13, more deleted scenes will paint a clearer picture of the movie Justice League could have been. Until then, though, fans are left wondering what role either of these suits would have played--and which one would look better with Cavill's mustache.
Another wave of Gen 3 Pokemon have arrived in Pokemon Go. Beginning today, February 9, players can find and catch more monsters originally from Ruby and Sapphire in the mobile game, while the Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza will be available for a limited time.
From February 9 to March 16, players will be able to encounter the powerful Dragon-type Pokemon as a Raid Battle at Gyms. Rayquaza is the third Legendary Pokemon from Gen 3 thus far, following Groudon (which was available from December-January) and the current Legendary Kyogre.
In addition to Rayquaza, Niantic is introducing another new wave of Hoenn Pokemon to Go. This wave consists primarily of Flying- and Dragon-types, such as Salamence, Altaria, Tropius, and Metagross. The previous batch of Gen 3 Pokemon included a number of Ground-types like Flygon, Aggron, and Camerupt.
With the new update, more than 100 Gen 3 Pokemon are now available in Pokemon Go. To celebrate the milestone, every Pokemon that players encounter in the wild from February 9-13 will originate from the Hoenn region. Niantic is also offering special boxes that include Raid Passes, Incubators, and Star Pieces from the in-game store until February 23.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she says, "I think these guys are hilarious, but they come from a background of animation and sketch comedy and when you are making these movies you can do that and there's plenty of room for improvisation, we do that all the time, but it has to be inside of a highly structured process or you can't get the work done and you can't move the armies of people to anticipate and have things ready. So, it literally came down to process. Just getting it done."
However, when it came time to actually replace them, even Howard wasn't sure if he was the man for the job. "I know Chris and Phil. They're incredibly talented guys... But when I learned that this change was happening, it just came in a moment where I was working on lots of new projects for Imagine [the film and TV production company], and I had not planned to direct anything last year," he explains. "So then this came my way... I was reluctant, but I also began to feel that I could help."
As for how much of the movie was reshot and how much of Lord and Miller's original version will remain in the final cut, there is no clear answer. Howard doesn't think it's important. "I don't really want to be specific about that because, again, I don't even want that to matter to fans," he says. "I could understand why you'd ask, and some might even be curious, but look, everybody who has been involved in this has done nothing but love what this movie could be, and that's been the vibe around it."
However, he does admit that "Phil and Chris's fingerprints are all over the movie, given how much they put into it and the time they put into it." Whether that's a good thing is up to the audience. Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25.
A live-action version of Cable blessed homes across the world recently when the trailer for Deadpool 2 hit the internet, and oh boy, Josh Brolin looks awesome as the time-travelling leader of X-Force. He's going to be a major part of the newest superhero starring super-powered mutants.
But who is Cable, and where does he come from? Those answers aren't simple, as many characters from the X-Men comics have overly complicated and convoluted backstories, especially Cable. We'll do out best to fill you in and let you know everything you need to know about Cable.
Nathan Summers--the baby who would eventually become Cable--made his debut in The Uncanny X-Men #201 in 1986. His parents were Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey. During the child's early years, Mr. Sinister wanted to use Nathan as a weapon to destroy Apocalypse.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned, and Nathan fell into the hands of Apocalypse. Being a bad guy in the X-Men world, Apocalypse infected Nathan with a techno-organic virus. It was incurable. In order to save the boy from dying, Askani--a women from the future who leads the fight against Apocalypse--instructs Cyclops to take Nathan 2000 years into the future.
It turns out Askani is Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from an alternate reality. Askani clones Nathan in case he doesn't survive the virus. That clone was abducted by Apocalypse loyalists during an attack (more on that later). The real Nathan survives the disease and for some time, is raised by Askani.
The version of Cable we all know and love (created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld) debuted in New Mutants #87 in 1990. He was a really cool-looking character with a military mindset, who tried to take down the Mutant Liberation Front. Cable has several confrontations with the leader of the MLF, Stryfe. In issue #100 of New Mutants, Stryfe removed his helmet to reveal that he looks exactly like Cable. You probably know where this is going.
Cable moved on to lead a new X-Force team, with a slew of new mutants. During X-Cutioner's Song, Stryfe goes undercover as Cable and attempts to kill Professor X. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey get kidnapped, and the X-Men learn that Stryfe is behind it all. It turns out that Stryfe was that cloned baby of Cable from the future, which, at the time, was a shocker. Eventually, the story leads to an epic battle on the Moon where Cable seemingly sacrifices himself in order to kill Stryfe.
However, it turns out Cable wasn't dead, and he was displaced in the future. For more than 20 years, there are stories with Cable teaming up and fighting other members of his lineage, taking on a new Mutant Liberation Front, and working with unlikely foes. It wasn't until 2004 that comic fans got one of the character's best series: Cable & Deadpool.
While the two characters met during Deadpool's first appearance in New Mutants #98 back in 1991, the 2004 Cable & Deadpool series explored the relationship between them. It's funny, bizarre, and while there aren't any Earth-shattering stories that completely change the course of either character, it's widely considered to be a brilliant, entertaining, and engaging series.
Back to the serious part of Cable's history, one of his bigger stories comes in the aftermath of "Decimation," a storyline where Scarlet Witch said the words "No more mutants," thus causing all but 198 mutants in the Marvel Universe to disappear. Then, one day, a new mutant was born named Hope. Her town was attacked by The Purifiers--yet another anti-mutant terrorist group--but Cable showed up and saved her. He believed Hope was destined to save all of mutant-kind. However, others--like Bishop--thought differently, so Cable was tasked with taking care of her.
During this story, Stryfe shows back up and tries to kill Hope. He was stopped time and time again by Bishop, Cable, and the X-Force. After saving Hope again, Cable parted ways with her and went on to start a new X-Force team.
Cable's abilities are a mixture of mutant powers and technological enhancements. As a mutant, he has telepathy and telekinesis, much like his mother--minus the whole demonic black magic thing Madelyne had as Goblin Queen. Cable's mutant abilities are extremely powerful, and he has variations on both telepathy and telekinesis that many other mutants with his abilities don't have, like precognition: being able to get visions from the past or--on occasion--being able to transfer his mind and powers into other people.
On the tech side of things, Cable has a metallic arm which gives him enhanced strength. In addition, he has a force field that protects him, like we saw in the Deadpool 2 trailer when someone shoots at him. (Depending on the comic, some creators have said this is part of his telekinetic powers though) Cable has a cybernetic eye. This eye allows him to see different spectrums that a human eye wouldn't be able to see, and in addition, he's been known to fire a laser out of it. Of course, he has other technological advantages, but none of them is more important than being able to travel through time, which doesn't happen as often as you'd think in the comics.
Looking for some recommended reading? Check these storylines out!
Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix: Cyclops and Jean Grey travel to the future to raise Cable. They meet Askani and Cable gets cloned in case he dies from the virus infecting him. Takes place in The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4.
X-Cutioner's Song: A man named Stryfe is trying to tear the X-Men apart and kill Cable. It's a major story for the character that journeys through all the X-Men titles. Takes place in Uncanny X-Men #294-#297, X-Men #14-16, X-Factor #85-86, X-Force #17-19, and Stryfe's Strike File.
Cable & Deadpool: If Looks Could Kill: Cable and Deadpool's first story from their new series. Deadpool is hired by a religious group to steal a virus, and Cable is learning how to used his newly-enhanced abilities. Of course, the two end up working together, and it's just as bizarre as you think it is. Takes place in Cable & Deadpool #1-6.
Messiah War: Set 1000 years in the future, X-Force is on a mission to retrieve Cable and Hope--the baby Cable has been protecting. However, Bishop, Apocalypse, and Stryfe are all after them as well. Takes place in X-Force/Cable: Messiah War, Cable #13-15, and X-Force #14-16.
Ultimate X-Men: Cable: Cable appears in the Ultimate Universe, but with a big spin on the character. Takes place in Ultimate X-Men #75-78.
Are you ready to binge watch? The new week on Netflix brings new originals shows and movies, as well as a comedy special, a new season of an anime, and even The Emoji Movie--just in case you're interested in that sort of thing.
First and foremost, the second season of Fate/Apocrypha will begin streaming on February 9. The anime series based on the Japanese light novels debuted its first season on Netflix in November and is one of the many titles Netflix has as part of its massive anime offering.
On the originals front, February 7 sees the arrival of the first season of the streamer's Queer Eye reboot. The reality series follows five homosexual men as they give advice on fashion, food, grooming, and culture to those in dire need of it. The week will also see the arrival of Fred Armisen's new comedy special Standup For Drummers, and the latest episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. In it, Letterman sits down with George Clooney.
The launch of the special new Outbreak co-op event in Rainbow Six Siege is drawing near, and Ubisoft is continuing to tease new details about what to expect. We've now gotten a new CG trailer that sets up some of the backstory of what's going on in the new mode, which is dramatically unlike anything that's been offered in Siege previously.
Dubbed Ash's Briefing, the video provides a rundown on what's happening with the quarantine zone located in the city of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. As we learned recently, the threat involves "an infestation of unknown origin" centering around the Apex parasite, which was unleashed when a space capsule crashes. Apex begins infecting humans, and the zombie-like menace threatens to pour over into Mexico, which is located just south of Truth or Consequences. Select Rainbow Six Operators are brought in to contain the situation.
Additionally, Ubisoft has detailed what to expect from the different enemy types. There are a total of five key variations, including the basic grunts that you'll presumably be fighting the most. Here's how Ubisoft describes them:
Grunts
Grunts are common hostiles that become highly resistant when the parasite detects an enemy presence. To protect its host, the parasite armors its body and becomes more resistant to bullet wounds. Caution and stealth is recommended.
Breachers
Breachers are proximity bombs that crater anything in their path. They make for a very agile opponent, but they launch themselves into the fray and blow holes in indestructible walls. Make sure you are nowhere close to them.
Rooters
Rooters are a rarer type of hostile. They send out coral spikes from the ground to injure and immobilize their targets. Rooters are always on the move and will keep you on edge. Beware when dealing them the final blow; they become extremely lethal when on the brink of death.
Smashers
Smashers are not discreet. The parasite reinforces its body under a massively thick hide, making it practically impervious to bullet wounds. They will also tear down walls without suffering any injuries.
Apex
Apex is at the top of the hostile food chain. It sends waves of hostiles your way rather than attack you head-on. They can hurl blinding projectiles, which can only be countered by Finka and Doc. This opponent is a real test on your team's communication skills.
Outbreak launches on March 6 and introduces a new three-player co-op mode. The action plays out on three exclusive maps that are described as larger and "more open" than those found in Siege's PvP and Terrorist Hunt modes. You can expect the maps to also offer some sense of progression as you make your way through them, and you'll still be able to take multiple paths and leverage the usual level destruction to do so.
As noted above, not every Operator in Siege can be played in Outbreak. Not everyone's gadget lends itself to the style of gameplay here, so only a small group are supported. Aside from Ash, you'll also be able to jump in with Smoke, Ying, Buck, Kapkan, Doc, Tachanka, and Glaz. Additionally, the two new Operators being introduced in Operation Chimera--the broader update for Siege that includes the Outbreak event--will be playable. If you don't own any of these, or someone claims a character that you want to use, you can always use the generic Recruit character.
Outbreak will only be available for a limited time, running from March 6 - April 3 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. During the event, special loot boxes containing new cosmetics will be available that you'll primarily obtain by purchasing them with real-world money. More details on Outbreak and Chimera are set to be announced during the upcoming Rainbow Six Invitational, which begins on February 13.
In Monster Hunter World, you can always use some extra help in taking down the big marks. Throughout your many adventures when not partnered up with other hunters, it'll just be you and your Palico companion at your side, who's ready to help out when you need it. While their cat-like looks and short stature might make them look out of their element, the Palico are totally capable of keeping up with your high-flying and weapon-wielding antics, and they even bring some useful skills of their own into the fold.
In this guide, we'll show you how to find new gadgets for your Palico, and how they will help you during the more intense battles. Over the course of your travels, you'll come across several Palico tribes that have their own aversion to outsiders--and you'll have to jump through a few hoops in order to win them over. Here's a quick rundown of all the gadgets and how you can get them.
Vigorwasp Spray
How it works: With the default gadget, your Palico companion can administer healing effects to you during battles. After increasing your proficiency to level 5, you will be able to manually call in a heal from your ally. At level 10, you can place a vigorwasp station to receive healing at a dedicated spot in the field.
Flashfly Cage
Location: In the Ancient Forest, you'll need to reach the top of the giant tree in the center of the map to find the second gadget. After making it to the top, you'll come across another Palico who will lead you to the new item.
How it works: Your companion throws a flashfly at your enemies, momentarily blinding them. At level 5 proficiency, you can activate the gadget on command, with the chance of your companion placing a Shock Trap as well. At level 10, Shock Traps from your ally can be placed manually.
Shieldspire
Location: In the northeastern end of area 8 in Wildspire Wastes, you'll find a hole leading to a hidden cavern with a Palico protector offering a quest to look for his fellow companions. You'll need to find all three of his protectors in Wildspire Wastes to complete the quest and earn the next gadget.
How it works: With this shield gadget, your Palico can defend itself against an attack and can also provoke nearby monsters. As your proficiency goes up, your ally can withstand more damage and can even attack enemies with the shield.
Plunderblade
Location: In order to find this gadget, you'll need to clear through the story mission that unlocks the lower areas of the Rotten Vale and have a piece of raw meat in your possession. Speak to the Lynian Researcher who will inform you of the nearby Grimalkyne tribe known as the Plunderers. After leaving, explore the area and farm until a random event with a Odogaron occurs. Note that this event is time specific, so you may need to exit the area and re-enter to engage the scene.
Afterwards, explore further until you find a Grimalkyne lurking about. Follow it into the lower areas, and then place the raw meat on the ground where you lose sight of it. Move away from the meat and watch as the Grimalkyne return to eat the raw meat. Approach them to engage in conversation with them, and they will reward you with the Plunderblade.
How it works: This item will allow your Palico to steal items from monsters they attack. As your proficiency goes up, the number of items attained from their theft goes up.
Coral Orchestra
Location: In area 10 of the Coral Highlands, you'll find a cave and encounter a pack of Shamos-riding Palico. Defeat the group and then follow them to their hideout to speak with them to earn a new quest. After completing the quest to hunt two Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, return to the Palico to claim your new item.
How it works: This gadget allows your Palico companion to buff your hunter with a number of attack and defense boosts, alongside resistances to negative status effects. Increasing your proficiency will allow these buffs to become more effective.
Meowlotov Cocktail
Location: In order to acquire this final gadget, you'll need to have found all other Palico items. In Astera, talk to the Lynian Researcher to receive a quest for the Gajalaka Linguistics critical bounty. You'll need to find 10 Gajalaka markings around the map (they'll be marked) to complete the quest. You'll immediately get another bounty tasking you to travel to the Elder Crossing. This portion of the mission must done at night, as you'll have to sneak through the Palico camp to meet the leader. Once you do, you'll complete the next portion of the bounty. Travel back to the Researcher to finish up and gain the final gadget.
How it works: The Meowlotov Cocktail is a bomb that causes explosive and fire damage to monsters. As you improve your proficiency, the blast strength will increase, making it more effective against breakable parts of the monster's body.
Altered Carbon spoilers below--for both the show, and the book!
Netflix'sAltered Carbon is a fairly faithful adaptation of Richard K. Morgan's original book. But there are some major changes too, some of which have fans of the book up in arms.
The show's writer, executive producer, and showrunner, Laeta Kalogridis, told io9 about one major change--the decision to leave protagonist Takeshi Kovacs in his own sleeve during the torture scene, rather than putting him in the body of a young girl.
Given how much thought clearly went into this show, we figured there must be good reasons for all the other changes, too. Why did the Envoys' backstory change? Why was Lizzie Elliott's role expanded so profoundly? Why does Kovacs stay at The Raven instead of The Hendrix?
It turns out Kalogridis did indeed have her reasons for making these changes, and she was kind enough to elaborate on them for GameSpot.
Jimi Hendrix, Man of Peace
That last one--why Kovacs stays at The Raven in the show instead of the book's Hendrix--is the easiest to answer.
"[The Hendrix estate] has very specific rules about how much violence can be associated with any character that looks like Jimi Hendrix, and as you might have noticed, there's a lot of violence [in Altered Carbon]," Kalogridis told GameSpot. "They took one look at the script--and they were very polite--and they were like, 'We're afraid this doesn't really meet our standards.' I mean, and they're right; it does not. So we changed it."
Why Edgar Allan Poe?
"It really was just looking at it going, 'You know, father of the modern detective story, I mean, who can you think of who's about as far from Jimi Hendrix as you can get--let's just go the opposite direction!' and that's where Poe came from," she said. "I just love Edgar Allan Poe. I love his writing, I love his voice--the things we could write for him that did not feel like they belonged in the future were really a great pleasure. You know, 'Ask this of your microwave, miscreant!' I mean, who gets to write that stuff? So fun!"
The Envoys: Rebellion or Protectorate Special Forces?
The changes to the Envoys' backstory are more complex. In the show, Kovacs is the last remaining Envoy--a highly trained group of guerrilla rebels based on Kovacs' home, Harlan's World. In the book, the Envoys are a special forces branch of the U.N. Protectorate, Altered Carbon's galaxy-spanning government. In addition, the show combines two characters from the books--Kovacs' Envoy leader, Virginia Vidaura, and Quellcrist Falconer, a semi-mystical historical figure who becomes more important in later books.
Kalogridis explained why: She felt she was "f***ing crazy" for trying to adapt Altered Carbon in the first place, and wasn't confident that she'd ever get a Season 2. She didn't want to wait until a later season to introduce Quellcrist Falconer (like the books do), so she started brainstorming ways to get Quell into Season 1.
"Once we made that decision, everything that's in the first book, Virginia Vidaura teaching the Envoys, started to feel like Quell's voice," she said. "[Quell's] uprising felt like it fit with the idea of Envoys really well, so I put the uprising and Envoys together."
That also ties in with the fact that more time has passed since Kovacs was put on stack in the show than in the books. Quell is a historical figure, so the gap between Kovacs' capture and his re-sleeving had to be larger. Luckily, that fit with the changes Kalogridis wanted to make regarding the Envoys.
"When you actually got down into the book itself and the way Kovacs experiences himself as such an outsider, he didn't feel like a person from their present day," Kalogridis said. "So I thought, 'How much time could I put between him and then?' And that's when I sort of realized, well, all I really need on the Protectorate side is CTAC, which is sort of their Seal Team 6, you know--I just need some sort of assault corps with some specialized soldiers, and then Envoys [can] become a very different thing."
"The simple answer is: It bonded him and Quell together, and it exacerbated the divide between him and the present day world," she continued. "That's why I did it."
The Curious Case of Lizzie Elliott
Lastly, and possibly the biggest change from the book to the show, is the story of Lizzie Elliott. In the book, she's a footnote--another victim of violence who never gets a chance for revenge. The show expands on her story and, by the end, makes her a major character.
"The straightforward reason was that within the book an awful lot of discussion exists around the women who are the victims of Bancroft's violence, whether directly or indirectly. And for me, I wasn't really interested in them having no voices, or very little voice," Kalogridis said. "I really am not that interested in creating narratives where women don't fight back when they are victimized or brutalized."
For the show, she combined Lizzie's character with a book-only character, Leila Begin, who in the book received a large cash settlement some years ago after being impregnated by Laurens Bancroft. Then Kalogridis gave Lizzie--and by extension, Leila--the opportunity for vengeance.
"The idea that there's not going to be violence in this kind of world, that isn't something that I feel is emotionally true or authentic to this kind of story. Noir is noir is noir. It is violent. It is dark. But what my stories do have is women who fight back, and frequently fight back successfully," she said. "In the original novel, Kovacs goes up there [to Head in the Clouds] and wins all on his own. In the series, Lizzie saves his ass. If it weren't for Lizzie coming up to get him, and Ortega going back for him, he wouldn't have won. They would not have triumphed if it weren't for the women."
"What happens to Lizzie in the story is horrible," she concluded. "But instead of making it kind of a backburner thing that you talk about it, we put it front and center, and then we give her a voice and a chance to change and do something about what happened to her."
Altered Carbon is available now on Netflix. There's been no announcement so far of a second season, but if the show does move forward, it will no doubt be interesting to see how Kalogridis continues to adapt the books.
PC gamers looking for something new to play this weekend have a couple of options to choose from right now, courtesy of Steam. Two great games, Cities: Skylines and Disc Jam, are both free to play on the digital store for the next couple of days.
From now until Sunday, February 11, Steam users can install and play the aforementioned titles at no cost. Cities: Skylines is a city-management sim in the vein of SimCity. GameSpot called it "the best city-builder on the market right now" in our Cities: Skylines review. Disc Jam, meanwhile, is a fast-paced frisbee game reminiscent of Windjammers. Two to four players compete to throw a disc into the opposing team's end zone, using a variety of over-the-top abilities.
If you like what you've played of the titles and are interested in picking either up, you also have a chance to snag them at a nice discount. Both games are on sale in Steam until Monday, February 12. The base version of Cities: Skylines runs for $7.49, while Disc Jam is available for $9. You can also pick up the Cities: Skylines Collection bundle, which includes all of the game's expansion packs such as After Dark and Natural Disasters, at a discount. The bundle typically costs $121.89, but it has been reduced to $55.90 until Monday.
You can download Cities: Skylines from Steam here and Disc Jam here. Both games have also been released for other platforms; Cities: Skylines is available for PS4 and Xbox One, while Disc Jam is on PS4 and now Switch, arriving to Nintendo's console as part of the 13 new Switch games released this week.
Now that the first month of the new year is behind us, Sony has revealed the list of best-selling games on the PlayStation Store for January 2018. Last month saw two major releases arrive for PS4--Monster Hunter World and Dragon Ball FighterZ--and unsurprisingly, the pair took the top two spots for the month in the US.
Capcom's co-op action RPG was the most-download PS4 title in January 2018, edging out the Arc System Works'-developed Dragon Ball fighting game. Coming in at No. 3 for the month was Madden NFL 18, with Call of Duty: WWII and Human Fall Flat following at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. The rest of the top ten is comprised of the usual suspects, with Grand Theft Auto V, Rainbow Six Siege, and The Last of Us Remastered all appearing on the chart.
Monster Hunter World also proved to be popular across the pond, taking the top spot on Europe's best-sellers chart. Horizon Zero Dawn came in at No. 2 for the month, while FIFA 18 rounded out the top three. You can find the full list of Europe's best-selling games on the PlayStation Store here.
This time around, rather than highlighting the month's best-selling DLC, Sony shared the most-downloaded free-to-play games. This, unsurprisingly, was topped by Fortnite: Battle Royale, Epic's incredibly popular PUBG-like shooter. Following Fortnite were the fighting game Brawlhalla and PES 2018 Lite, while Paladins and America's Army: Proving Grounds rounded out the top five.
January's most-downloaded PSVR game was Job Simulator, while the best-selling Vita title for the month was Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory. You can see the top 10 most downloaded PS4 and free-to-play games for January 2018 below, while the full charts of the US's best-selling PSN games can be found on the PlayStation Blog.
January 2018's Best-Selling PS4 Games On PSN In The US
Monster Hunter World
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Madden NFL 18
Call of Duty: WWII
Human Fall Flat
Grand Theft Auto V
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Need for Speed Rivals
Battlefield 4
The Last of Us Remastered
January 2018's Top Free-To-Play PSN Games In The US
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Brawlhalla
PES 2018 Lite
Paladins
America's Army: Proving Grounds
Warframe
3on3 FreesStyle
Crossout
Fishing Planet
Trove
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