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.
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.
Star Wars Battlefront II developer DICE has shared some details on the game's next update, which is slated to roll out on PS4, Xbox One, and PC soon. While patch 1.2 doesn't yet have an estimated release date, DICE outlined the gameplay changes and improvements coming to the shooter in a post on the Battlefront II forums.
Among other things, patch 1.2 will mark the start of Battlefront II's Jetpack Cargo mode. Jetpack Cargo is a "frantic, fast-paced" mode for two teams of eight players, each of whom is equipped with a jetpack. Unlike most other modes in Battlefront II, Jetpack Cargo will only be available to play for a limited time.
DICE is also making balance changes to nearly the full roster of Heroes and Villains in Battlefront II. The developer didn't specify what these adjustments will be, but it singles out Boba Fett, Emperor Palpatine, Iden Versio, Bossk, Rey, Kylo Ren, Luke, Chewbacca, Yoda, Lando Calrissian, Darth Vader, and Captain Phasma as getting buffs, nerfs, or other tweaks.
Additionally, patch 1.2 will make an assortment of bug fixes and balance changes to the level design, although DICE hasn't detailed what those will entail yet. The update will also make other general improvements and bug fixes related to performance and stability, blaster and lightsaber glow, and colorblind settings.
DICE will release the full patch notes for update 1.2 when it's deployed; in the meantime, you can read more about the changes coming to Battlefront II in its next patch on the game's forums. Beyond the forthcoming update, DICE has said it is preparing "significant" progression changes for the game; more details on those will be shared in March. EA has also reconfirmed that microtransactions are coming back to Star Wars Battlefront II.
Capcom has announced that the next DLC character for Street Fighter 5 is Blanka and he'll be available from February 20. A new trailer for the character provides us with a showcase of the latest iteration of the beast, whose visual design looks mostly the same, other than some longer arm and leg hair.
"In SFV: AE, Blanka is living peacefully with his mother, and has adapted well to being introduced back into society," Capcom explains on its website. "One day, a suspicious salesman approaches him and offers a way to make Blanka famous by mass producing a doll made in Blanka's likeness. Will it work? Find out in his character story mode."
Click image to view in full screen
He's also as savage as ever in battle, biting, head butting, clawing at enemies. His Coward Crouch ability is now his V-Skill and, according to Capcom, can be used to "avoid many attacks, including fireballs." After the Coward Crouch, Blanka can execute either Wild Lift with a punch button or Raid Jump with a kick button. The former will move Blanka forward while attacking to launch the opponent into the air. The latter, meanwhile, allows Blanka to leap into the air "where he can use any mid-air attack to advance."
His V-Trigger I is called Jungle Dynamo and is a roll attack that does more damage can then be followed up by additional attacks, including the Critical Art. Additionally, Jungle DynamoIt "powers up his Electric Thunder and changes the animation so Blanka steps forward while unleashing the electric current." If it hits, the enemy is popped into the air and can be hit with a Blanka ball.
His V-Trigger II is Lightning Beast, which "unlocks a special move, Rolling Cannon (Direction + HP+HK), which can be performed after using Rolling Attack, Back Step Rolling, and Vertical Rolling." This new move can extend combos or move Blanka into more advantageous positions. Finally, his Dynamic Rolling Critical Art combines electricity with rolling for devastating results. Check him out in the video above.
Blanka is available for $6/£6 or 100,000 Fight Money. For those who have the Season 3 Character Pass he's available at no additional cost. The pass also includes Sakura (available now), Falke, Cody, G, and Sagat, who will become available at a later date. If you purchase Blanka is purchased as part of the Season 3 Character Pass or with real money, his Battle Costume with colors 3-10 and default costume colors 3-10 are also included.
It's going to be quite a while before another season of Stranger Things arrives. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of things to be afraid of, including one movie starring a fan-favorite from the streaming series.
The first trailer for Marrowbone, the upcoming horror movie featuring both Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers) and Anna Taylor-Joy--best known for her scary roles in Split and The Witch--has arrived and it's downright terrifying. A synopsis for the film reads, "Four siblings seek refuge in an old home after the death of their mother, only to discover that the house has another, more sinister, inhabitant."
Marrowbone is the directorial debut for Sergio G. Sánchez, who also wrote the film, but it's nowhere near his first time working in the genre. He previously penned the script for 2006's The Orphanage, along with the 2012 disaster film The Impossible.
Joining Heaton and Taylor-Joy for the film are George MacKay (11.22.63), Mia Goth (Everest), and Matthew Stagg (War & Peace). Marrowbone arrives in theaters and on demand on April 13.
There's a wide selection of VR headsets out on the market, which can make it difficult to parse which one is right for you with varied pricing and spec information. That's why we've compiled comprehensive lists below that break down resolution, refresh rate, and other specs across all the major VR headsets. We've separated our lists by four categories: major VR headsets, Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets, mobile VR headsets, and all-in-one mobile solutions that don't require external hardware.
Major VR Headsets
HTC Vive
HTC Vive Pro
Oculus Rift
PSVR
Pimax 8K
LG VR Headset
Resolution
2160x1200 (1080x1200 resolution per eye)
2880x1600 (1440x1600 resolution per eye)
2160x1200 (1080x1200 resolution per eye)
1920x1080
Two 3840x2160
2880x1280
Refresh rate
90Hz
90Hz
90Hz
120Hz
90Hz
90Hz
Display type
PenTile OLED
AMOLED
PenTile OLED
5.7" OLED
LCD
Convex, non-Fresnel OLED
Field of view
About 110 degrees
About 110 degrees
About 110 degrees
About 100 degrees
About 200 degrees
About 110 degrees
Tracking System
Vive Base Stations
Vive Base Stations
Constellation
PlayStation Camera
Inside-out or Vive Base Stations
Vive Base Stations
Room scale support
Yes
Yes
Requires a third sensor
No
Yes
Yes
Weight
470 grams (new model), 555 grams (old model)
TBA
470 grams
610 grams
Approximately one pound
TBD
Integrated Headphones
Only with optional Deluxe Audio Strap attachment
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
TBD
Built-in Mic
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
TBD
External camera
Yes
Yes (two)
No
No
No
TBD
Official controllers
Vive controller
Vive controller
Xbox One controller, Oculus remote, and Oculus Touch controllers
DualShock 4, PlayStation Move, Aim Controller
Vive controller, Pimax controller
TBD
Store compatibility
SteamVR, HTC Viveport
SteamVR, HTC Viveport
SteamVR, Oculus Store
PlayStation Store
SteamVR
SteamVR
Release date
April 5, 2016
TBA
March 28, 2016
October 13, 2016
Q2 2018
TBA
Launch Price
US$799/£769.99
TBA
$599.99
$399, €399, £349, A$549
$799
TBA
Current Price
$599
NA
$399
$350
NA
NA
Windows Mixed Reality Headsets
Windows Mixed Reality headsets are VR headsets specced out by Microsoft and manufactured by several PC OEMs. One major feature that distinguishes them is that they all feature external cameras that enable inside-out tracking of both the headset and controllers. This means you can get six degrees of positional movement without the use of external sensors.
Modern Android and iPhones between 4.7 and 5.5 inches
Controllers
Handheld controller
Bluetooth controller
Bluetooth wireless controllers
Store compatibility
Oculus Store, Gear VR
Google Play Store
SteamVR, Google Play, Apple Store
Release date
November 27, 2015
November 10, 2016
May 2018
Launch Price
$99.99
$79 (first gen)/$89 (second gen)
$150 (with controllers)
Current Price
$99.99
$79 (first gen)/$89 (second gen)
NA
All-in-one VR headsets
All-in-one VR headsets are mobile VR headsets that don't require a smartphone. This means they feature built-in processors, RAM, and batteries.
Oculus Go is an example of an all-in-one VR headset.
Oculus Go
Oculus Santa Cruz
Pico Neo
Lenovo Mirage Solo Daydream
Resolution
2560x1440
TBD
2880x1600 (1440x1600 resolution per eye)
2560x1440
Refresh rate
TBD
TBD
90Hz
TBD
Display type
LCD, "fast switch"
TBD
TBD
5.5-inch display
Field of view
About 110 degrees
TBD
TBD
About 110 degrees
Processor
Snapdragon 821
TBA mobile processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with 4GB of RAM
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 with 4GB of RAM
Built-in storage
32GB
TBD
SD card support up to 128GB
64GB + MicroSD card slot
Battery size
TBD
TBD
TBD
4,000 mAh
Tracking System
Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
Seven sensors + Constellation
6DoF tracking
WorldSense's inside-out positional tracking
Room scale support
No
Yes
TBD
TBD
Weight
TBD
TBD
TBD
644.1g
Integrated Headphones
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Built-in Mic
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Controllers
Wireless remote
Wireless tracked controllers
6DoF wireless hand controllers
Wireless Daydream controller
Store compatibility
Oculus Store, Gear VR
Oculus Store
TBD
TBD
Release date
Early 2018
TBD
TBD
Spring 2018
Launch Price
$199
TBD
$749
TBD
Current Price
NA
NA
NA
NA
With so many VR specs to parse, we've highlighted some interesting tidbits below:
Which VR head-mounted display (HMD) has the sharpest resolution screen? Currently, the Samsung Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality headset offers the highest resolution with a 2880x1600 panel. The forthcoming HTC Vive Pro will also use the same resolution, but the Pimax 8K headset, set to release later this year, will feature two 3840x2160p panels.
Which VR headset offers the widest field-of-view? Most of the VR headsets currently out on the market feature FOVs around 100 to 110 degrees. It's difficult to pinpoint an exact degree because your FOV will vary depending how close your eyes get to the lenses. Pimax's 8K headset is advertising a 200 degree FOV when it releases.
Which headset has the highest refresh rate?PlayStation VR's panel is capable of reaching 120Hz, whereas most other VR headsets refresh at 90Hz.
Why does a high refresh rate matter for VR? While most monitors use a 60Hz refresh rate, research thus far dictates that 90Hz or higher is desired for a smooth VR experience that mitigates judder and motion sickness.
What is the difference between an OLED and LCD screen? OLED screens feature individually backlit pixels, which allow them to reach deeper black levels than LCD equivalents.
Which VR headset is the lightest? If you're counting mobile VR headsets, then Google's Daydream View is currently the lightest, weighing 261 grams without a phone. On the desktop side, Acer's Windows Mixed Reality headset is the lightest at 350 grams.
Which VR headset is the heaviest? HP's Mixed Reality headset is the heaviest at 834 grams.
Which VR headset is the cheapest? The first-generation Google Daydream headset is the cheapest at $79. If you're not including mobile VR HMDs then it's Sony's PSVR at $350.
Which VR headset is the most expensive? The HTC Vive is currently the most expensive VR headset at $599.
What is room scale VR? Unlike seated or standing experiences, room scale tracking allows you to walk around your tracked physical environment, which can bolster your VR experience.
What VR headsets are capable of room scale VR? The HTC Vive is the only VR system that supports room scale right out of the box right now. The Oculus Rift also supports room scale, but requires the purchase of a third optional sensor. Forthcoming headsets that will support room scale include the HTC Vive Pro, Pimax, LG VR headset, and Oculus Santa Cruz.
Can the Oculus Rift play SteamVR games? Yes. Not all, but the majority of SteamVR games support the Oculus Rift.
Can the HTC Vive play games on the Oculus store? Kind of. It requires a third-party mod called Revive and the quality can vary from game to game.
What are the VR system requirements for the Oculus Rift?
NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or greater
Intel i5-4590 processor equivalent or greater
8GB+ RAM
Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
2 USB 3.0 ports
Windows 7 SP1 or newer
What are the VR system requirements for the HTC Vive?
NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or greater
Intel i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 processor equivalent or greater
4GB+ RAM
One HDMI 1.4 or one DisplayPort 1.2
One USB 2.0
Windows 7 SP1 or newer
What are the VR system requirements for Windows Mixed Reality headsets?
Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 620 (GT2) equivalent or greater DX12 API Capable GPU
Intel Mobile Core i5 (e.g. 7200U) Dual-Core with Hyperthreading equivalent
8GB+ Dual Channel required for integrated Graphics
HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90Hz head-mounted displays
USB 3.0 Type-A or USB 3.1 Type-C Port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode
Will PlayStation VR games look or perform better with the PlayStation 4 Pro? In games that are optimized to take advantage of the PS4 Pro's extra processing power, users can experience a crisper image via supersampling, improved graphics, or sometimes both.
PS4 owners have two new games to download this month: the PS4 launch title Knack and the Ico-esque adventure game Rime. Additionally, one of last month's freebies, the PSVR shooter Starblood Arena, is also still available at no cost for PS Plus subscribers until March 6.
PS3 owners likewise have two games to choose from this month: the 2D platformer Spelunker HD and the turn-based RPG Mugen Souls Z. Those with a Vita, meanwhile, will be able to download the side-scrolling adventure game Exile's End and the tactical RPG Grand Kingdom for no cost. The latter is also playable on PS4 thanks to Cross-Buy, giving PS4 owners three potential freebies to download this month.
Square Enix has released new screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 3, showing off more of the gameplay from its upcoming action RPG, as well as the new characters and worlds it revealed recently. During the D23 event held on February 12, a new trailer confirmed there will be a Monsters Inc. world in Kingdom Hearts, complete with Mike, Sully, and Boo making an appearance. The new screenshots below feature these iconic characters, in addition to monster versions of Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
Click image to view in full screen
There's also another look at The Little Mermaid's Ariel, who looks to appear in the game as a summon. Traditionally, summon characters can be called into battle to lend a hand, similar to the way they're used in Final Fantasy. The screenshots also include scenes from the Tangled world, where Sora, Donald, and Goofy team up with Rapunzel. If you'd like to see all this in motion, instead of static screenshots, you can watch the latest Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer at the top of the page.
During D23 Square Enix said development of Kingdom Hearts is split into three sections: early, middle, and late. The early phase worlds are around 90 percent complete, while middle section worlds are at roughly 60 percent done. The company didn't confirm what stage the end section is at, 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."
Although it is expected to launch in 2018, Kingdom Hearts 3's release date hasn't been confirmed yet. Nomura--who is also working directing the Final Fantasy VII Remake--explained the extremely long wait last year, saying there were numerous factors, including a change in engines. As for directing the two games at once, he actually thinks it's proven advantageous for him.
Click image to view in full screen
For fans of the music in the Kingdom Hearts series, 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 released at D23.
A wide variety of anime games are now on sale on the US PlayStation Store. The Bandai Namco Play Anime Sale is available now through February 13 and includes PlayStation 4 and PS Vita games based on and inspired by anime, though it does not include the recent Dragon Ball FighterZ.
You can see the full list of games on sale on the PlayStation Store. You can also see everything discounted this week in our full roundup of PS4's weekly game sales.
The Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza may have just arrived in Pokemon Go, but another Gen 3 Legendary is on its way out very soon. The cover monster from Pokemon Sapphire, Kyogre, will disappear from the mobile game on February 14, making this your last opportunity to catch one if you still haven't.
Like most other Legendaries to appear in Pokemon Go thus far, Kyogre can only be encountered as a Raid Battle at Gyms. You'll first need to battle and defeat the Pokemon before you have an opportunity to capture it. As one of the most powerful Water-types in Pokemon Go, players will want to bring Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon such as Jolteon, Zapdos, and Exeggutor to gain the advantage over Kyogre.
Kyogre was the second Gen 3 Legendary to arrive in Pokemon Go, following Groudon, which appeared in the game from December to January. Along with Rayquaza, the three Legendaries make up what is informally known as the "weather trio." Rayquaza will be available as a Raid Battle until March 16.
Alongside Rayquaza, Pokemon Go developer Niantic recently introduced another wave of Gen 3 Pokemon to the mobile game, which consists primarily of Flying- and Dragon-types, such as Salamence, Altaria, and Tropius. With this most recent batch, more than 100 Gen 3 Pokemon have now been added to Pokemon Go. To celebrate this milestone, every wild Pokemon that players encounter until February 3 will originate from the Hoenn region.
Pokemon Go's next Community Day takes place later this month, on February 24. Like last month's event, which featured a Pikachu that can use Surf, the upcoming Community Day will give players a short window of opportunity to capture a rare Pokemon with a special move. Niantic hasn't revealed which move that will be yet, but the Pokemon in question is the Dragon-type Dratini.
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. [Update: It's now Monday, making today your last chance to take advantage of these deals.]
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.
Monster Hunter World is notable in a number of ways. It was the first new core Monster Hunter entry to appear on consoles in the better part of a decade and--while still challenging--it's more welcoming of newcomers than previous installments. Through its first two weeks, those decisions have paid off.
Capcom announced last month that Monster Hunter World enjoyed the strongest first three days of any entry in the series, with 5 million units shipped worldwide across PS4 and Xbox One. As of February 9, that figure has now reached 6 million units--something it's done faster than any game in Capcom's history, according to the publisher. Bear in mind, this number accounts for digital sales and the number of units shipped to retailers (but not necessarily sold through to consumers).
The series record came as little surprise, given that the game launched for PS4 and Xbox One, the combined install base of which eclipsed 3DS, which recent entries were exclusive to. World also had the benefit of a simultaneous worldwide launch, thereby bolstering its launch sales figures. Nonetheless, it's clear that interest in the new RPG has been strong.
As we've noted previously, Monster Hunter World is a great place for newcomers to jump onboard with the series. It's also just a strong game in general, as you can read about in our Monster Hunter World review.
Backwards compatibility remains a point of emphasis for Microsoft, and those efforts continue today. Although new additions to the Xbox One's backwards compatible library have been somewhat slow in the new year, today marks the release of another Xbox 360 game that's now playable on the current-gen console.
Splinter Cell: Conviction, the 2010 entry in Ubisoft's long-running stealth-action series, is now backwards compatible on Xbox One. If you already own the game physically, you can just pop the disc into your Xbox One to begin playing. Alternatively, if you own a digital copy, it'll now be located in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section. You can also purchase it through the Xbox Store, and perhaps not so coincidentally, it's actually included in this week's Xbox game deals. You can pick it up for $10/£4.49 from now through February 12, regardless of whether you're an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.
The game marked somewhat of a departure from the more stealth-oriented nature of its predecessors, which came as a disappointment to some series fans. Its campaign is enjoyable, if a bit on the short side, but the real highlight is the game's co-op mode; it allows you to play through a story that's separate from the main campaign with a friend, coordinating takedowns and supporting one another.
In our Splinter Cell: Conviction review, Kevin Van Ord wrote, "Stellar storytelling, fantastic co-op play, and rewarding executions make Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction a legitimately great game that delivers frequent surges of excitement."
We're coming up on the first Valentine's Day since the launch of Destiny 2. Much as it did with the previous game, Bungie will mark the occasion with a special Crimson Days event that introduces a variety of new rewards to get your hands on.
Crimson Days begins on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on February 13. Like the Destiny 1 incarnation, it centers around a 2v2 Crucible gametype. You'll be playing a round-based Clash mode where staying close to your teammate causes your abilities to recharge faster. By moving away from your partner, you'll not only lose that buff, but the enemy will be notified about your whereabouts with a waypoint. You'll always have a marker to guide you to your teammate, which will be particularly useful when playing with random players, as you can join solo and be matched up with someone.
This is all played out on a new version of the Burning Shrine map. Called The Burnout, Bungie describes it as "set in a future timeline where the Vex have succeeded in altering our reality." You can get a glimpse of it in the gallery below.
Bungie says in a blog post that taking part in this playlist is the optimal way to get your hands on the event's new rewards, also noting that it's "tuned the experience to focus on rewarding single-character play." The Crimson Engram contains "most" of the new rewards and will not hand out any duplicates until you've obtained all of the new gear. The playlist isn't the only way to get items, however, as you'll get both a Crimson Engram and an Illuminated Engram each time you level up while playing any Destiny 2 activity during the event.
Crimson Engrams will only be obtainable through gameplay, meaning there shouldn't be any complaints that players are being pressured into purchasing them with real-world money. That said, you can purchase a "selection" of items directly from Eververse using Bright Dust. There's no cap on the number of Crimson Engrams you can earn, but you'll need to be at the level cap (20 for non-DLC owners, 25 for those with Curse of Osiris) in order to get the level-up reward Engrams. The rewards inside, including shaders from the event, can be dismantled into Bright Dust.
Bungie qualifies that "most" of the rewards come through the Engrams because there are also five others that are obtained in other ways. Things like an Exotic sparrow and Ornament can only be had through specific means. Here are the goals, as described by Bungie:
Complete the milestone Welcome to Crimson Days by finishing five Crimson Days matches and visiting Lord Shaxx in the Tower to earn the Fire of the Crimson Days Emblem and the Tirastrella Ghost Shell.
Complete matches in the Crimson Days Crucible playlist for a chance to earn the Undeterred Exotic Sparrow.
Complete either the Leviathan Raid or the Raid Lair: Eater of Worlds to claim the Dieselpunk Exotic Ornament for Wardcliff Coil from the final chest.
Complete the Nightfall Strike during the Crimson Days event to earn the Flaunting Dance Emote.
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. [Update: The following deals expire tomorrow, February 13, making this your last opportunity to take advantage of them before the games return to their regular prices.]
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.
Continuing Marvel's ten year tradition of post-credits stingers and teases for upcoming movies, Black Panther included two end credits scenes.
With the movie out in the UK and hitting worldwide this week, it's time to talk about them.
This is your last warning: If you haven't seen Black Panther yet, stop reading now!
Ready?
Civic Duty
The first is what you might have expected, given the end of the movie itself. T'Challa presents Wakanda's anti-isolationist shift to a United Nations-style government body, announcing that his nation will now be open to sharing their resources with the world. Of course, remembering that as far as the rest of the world is concerned in the MCU, Wakanda is a third world, underdeveloped country, he's met with some confusion--all while his new friend CIA Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) smiles knowingly from the back of the crowd.
The stinger doesn't overstay its welcome. T'Challa isn't actually shown dropping the proverbial Vibranium bombshell on the poor unsuspecting world leaders, but the implication is enough. The landscape of the MCU, both politically and technologically, is about to change in a major way. This is a deceptively important detail, especially given the MCU's upcoming movie slate.
With Wakandan tech made more accessible, the landscape for both superheroes and civilians is about to take a major leap forward--and it's a safe bet that not every change will be positive, especially with the possibility of villains appropriating new tech too.
The real question is when--rather than if--we'll start seeing the impact of publicized Vibranium and Wakandan tech. After all, we can venture a guess that Wakandan weapons stand a better chance against Thanos than standard military faire--but will they be ready in time for Infinity War?
The White Wolf
Black Panther's second post-credits scene is a bit more direct with its Infinity War connections. We see, first in first-person perspective, someone waking up in an isolated Wakandan village, surrounded by curious Wakandan children. That someone is revealed to be none other than Bucky Barnes, last seen being put back into cryostasis in--surprise--Wakanda, during one of Captain America: Civil War's post-credits scenes.
The Civil War stinger didn't offer much context for Bucky's decision to be returned to stasis, outside of his own fear that he may be "activated" and manipulated by his Hydra-implanted trigger word programming all over again. But thankfully, between the end of Civil War and the end of Black Panther, Shuri, T'Challa's 16-year-old engineering genius sister, has been hard at work trying to solve Bucky's unique psychological problem.
We get a wink to Shuri's involvement during the movie itself when she offhandedly comments about being given "another broken white boy to fix" and an extrapolated look in Infinity War: Prelude #1, part one of a two part prequel comic released in January--not to mention the fact that Bucky was shown standing with the Wakandan army in the Infinity War trailer--so none of this is really all that surprising.
However, during the scene as Bucky walks from the tent to greet and thank Shuri outside, the children scatter around him playfully calling him "the white wolf" as they dash away. Cute as it sounds in context, that's a nickname with some genuine weight to it in the scope of Black Panther mythology.
The White Wolf, over in the comics, is actually the nickname given to a man named Hunter, who was orphaned as a baby in a plane crash on the outskirts of Wakanda. King T'Chaka, father of T'Challa, found Hunter and adopted him despite his people's concerns that Hunter was both white and an outsider to Wakanda in general. Hunter was raised to adulthood under T'Chaka's protection to become one of the leaders of the Hatut Zeraze, or the "Dogs of War"--a Wakandan covert special forces group.
Now, obviously, that story isn't going to translate over to the MCU in its entirety. The War Dogs are used in Black Panther as international spies, and T'Chaka clearly didn't raise a secret orphaned baby to lead them, but the role and significance of the "White Wolf," and the loose parallels between Bucky and Hunter, are definitely worth noting.
Given Bucky's training as a spy and assassin, him finding a way to either work for or with the War Dogs during Infinity War and into the future seems like a logical narrative step--and one that could dovetail into an expanded role for other Wakandan special forces like the Dora Milaje in the future, especially if Bucky finally picks up Cap's shield for keeps in Phase Four.
Regardless, we know that there's more to come for Bucky and Shuri before Infinity War really picks up, considering he was still short a cybernetic arm in the post-credits stinger and can be seen sporting a new model in the trailer. He's definitely due for a Vibranium upgrade.
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.
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.
This month's free PS Plus games are now available, but those aren't the only freebies Plus subscribers can get right now. Those who claimed the 2D shoot-'em-up Mercenary Kings when it was free on PS Plus can now upgrade to the game's Reloaded Edition for no cost.
Mercenary Kings originally launched for PlayStation 4 back in 2014 and was part of the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection, allowing PS Plus subscribers to download the title for free immediately on its release. The Reloaded Edition arrived earlier this month and introduced two additional characters, new guns and knives to craft, and an assortment of gameplay improvements.
If you downloaded Mercenary Kings when it was first available on PS Plus, you can snag the free upgrade here. The Reloaded Edition also supports Cross-Buy and comes with a version for Vita. You can learn more about the Metal Slug-inspired shooter in our original Mercenary Kings review.
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
Shadow of the Colossus's PS4 remake was a critical success when it launched last week, and now it appears it's also performed well at retail. The game has finished top of the UK physical sales chart for its debut week (ending February 10).
Sales monitor Chart-Track says the PS2 original also finished at No.1 when it was released in 2006, but the remake's first week sales were up 73% over its ancestor. Elsewhere, EA Sports UFC 3 maintains its position at No.2, although Monster Hunter World slips to No.3. The rest of the top five remains the same, with FIFA 18 staying at No.4 and Grand Theft Auto V at No.5.
In our Shadow of the Colossus PS4 remake review, critic Edmond Tran said the game is a "tremendous journey, and one well worth taking and retaking." He continued: "The visual overhaul is stunning, thoroughly enhancing every facet of Wander and Agro's excellent adventure. Galloping through the tranquil world is always breathtaking; felling a monumental colossus is always humbling. Shadow of the Colossus is a beautiful reconstruction of an already exceptional title. It continues to be a modern classic and is an extraordinary game that everyone must experience."
You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
In the English translation of a recent investor Q&A, Shigeru Miyamoto, who is producing the film, started off by saying he has been thinking about an animated movie for "many years now." He said some wondered why Nintendo didn't do this faster, as some believe "making a game is like making a movie." But that's not necessarily the case.
"Interactive experiences are completely different from non-interactive media, and to make a movie I want a film expert to do the work," Miyamoto said about Illumination.
Miyamoto went on to say that he began discussions with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (who picked up an Oscar nomination for Despicable Me 2) more than two years ago. "Chris is extremely cost-conscious and time-conscious in his quest to make successful movies," Miyamoto said. Meledandri is also producing the untitled Mario movie.
Perhaps more notably, Miyamoto added that Nintendo and Illumination might decide to back away from making a Mario movie if the script doesn't live up to their standards. Right now, the screenplay is "progressing," Miyamoto said, though it remains to be seen who the writers are. In Hollywood, just because a movie has been announced, doesn't mean it will ever happen.
"We've talked together and share the feeling that if we can't make something interesting we'll just call it quits," Miyamoto said. "But we've already met a number of times to hash out the screenplay, our talks together are progressing, and I hope to make an announcement once we've ironed out some things like the schedule."
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.
Typically, console generations run for around 5-6 years. With some amount of deviation, this has generally been true for consoles from the big three: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo.
But Nintendo believes its new system, the Switch, could potentially run for a longer period of time. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto said during a recent investor Q&A that he believes the Switch stands to be successful for a long time to come due to its unique hybrid nature and Nintendo's efforts to create compelling content that leverages the system's unique attributes.
"When you think about what can be done with the Nintendo Switch as a device that can be taken on the go and that every person has in their hands to play, you realise it has many features not available on any other hardware to date," Miyamoto said. "Nintendo also has a system in place whereby the software developers focus on these hardware features in their development efforts for the continuation of the Nintendo Switch business."
He added: "Up until now, the hardware lifecycle has trended at around five or six years, but it would be very interesting if we could prolong that life cycle, and I think you should be looking forward to that."
Nintendo director Shinya Takahashi went on to say that the company is working with "junior" developers inside the company to continue to "create interesting products" that are both fun to play and reach a wide audience.
"Behind the unceasing stream of Nintendo Switch software releases to date is an approach to development that concentrates on development, itself the fruit of efforts several years ago to integrate the software development teams, which has made it easier to organise teams."
Some of Nintendo's biggest franchises have already been released on the Switch (Super Mario, Mario Kart, and Zelda are among them) but fans are still waiting for a Super Smash Bros. game. Given that it is one of Nintendo's biggest and best-known franchises, we can expect it to eventually come to Switch, though it remains to be seen when that may happen.
For more on Nintendo's latest investor Q&A, check out the stories linked below.
Last week, Fortnite developer Epic Games announced that some changes are coming to the popular Battle Royale game's matchmaking system. Some voiced concerns about the proposed changes, and now Epic has said it will take this feedback into "careful consideration" before making any concrete changes to matchmaking.
In a tweet, Epic said, "We heard you loud and clear concerning changes to matchmaking! We'll be sorting through all of the feedback we've been given and take it into careful consideration before taking any steps."
We heard you loud and clear concerning changes to matchmaking! We'll be sorting through all of the feedback we've been given and take it into careful consideration before taking any steps.
The root of the concerns come from a single line in a recent Fortnite "State of Development" blog post. Epic said said in the post, "We are working on changes to matchmaking that are aimed at creating matches with a more balanced distribution of skill."
The suggestion here is that Fortnite might be adopting a skill-based matchmaking system, meaning that players would be matched with those who have a comparable skill level. Many games used skill-based matchmaking, so it wouldn't be a new phenomenon. But for Fortnite, some expressed concerns that such a system would make the game feel more serious in nature instead of a more casual experience.
We have followed up with Epic Games in an attempt to get more details about what might be changing in Fortnite's matchmaking system. We'll report back with anything we hear from the developer.
If Fortnite does end up adopting a skill-based matchmaking system, one possibility is that this is limited to a specific playlist. Other games have "serious" and "casual" playlists, giving players an option for how they want to play. It could be that Epic adopts something similar for Fortnite, though no announcements have been made as of yet.
Following rumours from last week, Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has now all but confirmed that it will be attending E3 2018 in June. The Polish developer's director of PR and global communication confirmed the news to GameSpot in a coy statement.
Last week it was discovered that the list of "Participating Companies" for E3 2018 included CD Projekt Red. This led some to believe that the studio might have plans to show off or discuss Cyberpunk 2077 in some manner at the big-time gaming show in Los Angeles. Given that it has been years since we've heard anything official about the game, people got understandably excited about this development.
However, CD Projekt Red's name being on the list of "Participating Companies" does not necessarily mean the studio will have any news to share on Cyberpunk 2077 or any of its other games. It could be that CD Projekt Red is attending E3 for the purposes of meeting with business partners or showing things behind closed doors, outside of the public eye.
The studio has yet to confirm any specifics plans for the show, but those details may come into focus in the weeks and months ahead. E3 2018 runs June 12-14, though briefings from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are expected to take place earlier that week.
In January, the Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter accountcame alive for the first time in four years, leading some to believe that news about the much-anticipated game might be coming soon. The game was initially announced in 2012, with a teaser trailer debuting the next year. It's been a long wait for any news or update on the game's development.
In addition to Cyberpunk 2077 and the continued support of Gwent, CD Projekt Red plans to release another AAA RPG in the 2017-2021 window. CD Projekt Red was tight-lipped about Cyberpunk 2077, the studio has said absolutely nothing about this other game.
Nintendo has announced plans for a new Switch marketing strategy focused around showing that "every single person" should buy the system instead of having one per household.
In a recent Q&A with investors, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto talked about the company's plans to help the Switch reach a wider base. "The marketing strategy going forward is to instill a desire to purchase Nintendo Switch among a wide consumer base in all regions of Japan, the US, and Europe," he said. On a longer timeline, Miyamoto explained that Nintendo's "ultimate ambition" is for a Nintendo Switch "to be owned not just by every family, but by every single person."
What makes the Switch so appealing, Miyamoto said, is its hybrid nature. The more Switch consoles there are in the market--instead of just one per household--the more types of new genres and play patterns that could theoretically exist, Miyamoto said. He went on to say that if Nintendo is successful, people might elect to play Switch games on the go instead of smartphone games.
"If consumers come to take it for granted that everybody has a Nintendo Switch, then we can create new and very Nintendo genres of play, and Nintendo Switch can have a life apart from smart devices and other video game systems," Miyamoto explained.
Nintendo managing executive director Shinya Takahashi added, "The question going forward is how to convey the allure of Nintendo Switch to a wider range of age groups, regardless of gender." Takahashi added that Nintendo Labo--a wacky, wonderful, and weird project involving actual cardboard--is one part of Nintendo's plan to address the "issue" of broadening the Switch's playerbase.
Originally pegged to launch in late 2017, the Nintendo Switch's paid online service will finally go live in September. We know how much a membership will cost, but, outside of access to online play and voice chat, Nintendo hasn't shared all the details yet regarding what you get for your dollars. Now, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima and managing executive officer Shinya Takahashi have teased some of the "appealing" bonuses that players can expect.
During a recent investor Q&A, Kimishima laid out Nintendo's ambitions for the service. He said, "We view the online service as one component of our efforts to diversity how our games are played and to get people to play more of our games. That is why we want to apply substantial resources to the online service, with the thinking that we will devote our energies to making this a for-pay service."
Regarding how Nintendo plans to popularise the Switch's online membership, Kimishima teased that Nintendo will offer "products" that gamers hopefully find appealing. "It is less about the mechanism and more a question of what kinds of products we can offer, and the spread of the service will depend on whether consumers want what we offer."
"Please give us a bit more time to announce more details about the service. I think that announcement will convey to you how we plan to popularise the service."
Takahashi went on to tease that Nintendo's upcoming announcement about the Switch's online service will be some big news. "We have some ideas about how to make Nintendo Switch Online appealing when it becomes a for-pay service, so I think our next announcement will be worth the wait," Takahashi said.
By comparison, the paid memberships for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 offer things like free games every month and discounts, among other benefits.
Online play for Switch games has been free since the system launched in March 2017. Initially, Nintendo planned to launch its paid service in Fall 2017, but it was delayed to 2018. At the time, Nintendo announced it would offer memberships for 1 month ($4), 3 months ($8), and 12 months ($20), but it remains to be seen if those prices are still accurate. By comparison, Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus cost $60/year.
What are you hoping to see from the Nintendo Switch Online membership? Let us know in the comments below!
Short and sweet, this week's Switch news roundup doesn't cover quite as much as Xbox One's or PS4's, but there are still plenty of headlines you won't want to miss. Two new amiibo figures are set to launch soon, and we finally got some answers about what's really up with Toad's head and Mario's missing belly button.
If you're looking to getting a Switch, there's a deal this week that includes two games. And speaking of saving, you might not have to reach for your wallet as often if you're buying from the Eshop. In March, you'll be able to use your gold My Nintendo points towards digital games. Dragon Quest Builders, 2020 Super Baseball, Crazy Climber, Disc Jam, and more are now available on the Eshop.
As always, there's a lot to eat up with this week's PS4 new roundup. This week we saw tons of new updates and patches to games, more information on the upcoming system updates, and some interesting tid-bits from around the industry.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life may have been delayed, but that doesn't mean it's not still in our hearts; if you're a die-hard fan or haven't had a chance to get your hands on it, be sure to check out The History of Yakuza down below. The PS4 system is about to get a little smoother for everyone with a firmware update as well as one specifically for PS4 Pro. The next Call of Duty has been confirmed to be in the works, but it may or may not be Black Ops 4, and Take-Two's made it clear that its highly anticipated title Red Dead Redemption 2 will not be delayed any further.
This week is home to Valentine's Day, so let New Releases suggest a few gifts for that special someone. For the history buff, you can explore China in Dynasty Warriors 9, or roam the Kingdom of Bohemia in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. For the old-school RPG fan, there's the Secret of Mana remake. You can also step into the gun-shoes of Bayonetta 1 and 2 on Nintendo Switch, or save the forest in Fe.
Dynasty Warriors 9 -- February 13
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The latest entry in the long-running Dynasty Warriors saga is going open world. That means you can roam the kingdom and attack enemy garrisons at your own pace, instigating those massive battles with thousands of troops.
If you've ever wanted to play a medieval RPG without all the fictional wizards and dragons, this is it. Deliverance's goal is to deliver a historical adventure with period-accurate armor, combat, and castle designs.
The Super Nintendo classic is coming to the modern generation, with improved HD visuals. But no matter which current platform you play on, you're still in for the classic story of a heroic trio protecting the Sacred Mana tree.
Fe is the first in the EA Originals lineup, and this indie action-adventure game has a gorgeous art style. Beyond the looks, your goal is to help a little fox in getting the forest creatures to sing and protect their land from the dark Silent Ones.
Bayonetta 3 was announced for Nintendo's hybrid console, but if you missed out on the first two, here's you chance to catch up. If you've already completed the journey, it's a chance to jump back into Witch Time and throw down with another army of angels.
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