We're just about halfway through February, which means a few of this month's free Games with Gold will be returning to their normal price very soon. Xbox Live Gold members have a little time left to get a pair of titles for Xbox One and Xbox 360 before they're replaced by the second half of February's freebies.
On Xbox One, a holdover from January's Games with Gold lineup, Ubisoft's survival-horror game Zombi, is still free to download through February 15. Meanwhile, the fast-paced Xbox 360 racer Split/Second is likewise set to return to its normal price on February 15. The latter game is also playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
With Zombi and Split/Second on their way out, two more Xbox One and 360 games are slated to take their place. Beginning February 16, Xbox One players can download the Assassin's Creed spin-off, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India, for free until March 15. On 360, the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi will be free through the end of the month. Gold members can also still grab the Xbox One first-person shooter Shadow Warrior.
Science fiction is always about the present day. Highly advanced technology or aliens aside, sci-fi authors are always telling stories inspired by the world they live in and where they see it going in the future. Altered Carbon, both Richard K. Morgan's book and Netflix's adaptation, is no different.
The story's introduction is as bewildering as most sci-fi--the audience's attention is whipped around, trying to figure out the rules of the fiction as we're thrown from an otherworldly vista of flying cars zipping between glowing neon skyscrapers to a naked man flopping out of an amniotic sac, alive and in a new body centuries after his apparent death. Once Altered Carbon establishes its ground rules, though (immortality is possible now, thanks to "stacks" that contain a person's mind and can be transferred from body to body), the confusion fades. And it starts to feel more than a little familiar.
The characters, mainly former elite soldier Takeshi Kovacs and police officer Kristen Ortega, don't seem too different from real people, despite their familiarity with virtual reality worlds, the communication tech built into their eyes, and acceptance of the unnatural rules guiding the ways in which life and death function in this world. They still love and hate one another just as people have always done. They still fight for money or various ideologies. They're still human, for all the good and bad that represents.
The world they inhabit, too, may look unlike our own, but only on a surface level. Still, hundreds of years into the future, people murder each other for petty reasons, scramble for economic and political power, and recreate age-old occupations like hired killer or sex worker, even if the ways they do so are different than the present day. It's here, on the larger scale, that Altered Carbon makes its feelings on the future known.
In the TV show's second episode, Kovacs monologues: "Technology advances, but humans don't. We're smart monkeys and what we want is always the same: food, shelter, sex, and, in all its forms, escape." As the plot advances, this point ends up feeling like the cornerstone of the story's understanding of humanity. Readers and viewers follow a mystery that details enormous class disparity, the wealthy enjoying access to immortality on a far greater scale than the poor. It also shows wars for control over how stack technology is employed, guerilla groups fighting government forces for ideological and religious reasons. We see, too, the sex trade continue, even as it takes a horrifying new form that pushes beyond the limits of the human body.
Each of these plot elements is easy to compare to our real world. Even though the technology involves switching bodies throughout centuries, the influence money has on Altered Carbon's world is only a sci-fi extension of modern day inequality when it comes to health care access (we already live longer if we have the means to afford it). Though we don't travel from planet to planet to fight, our world is full of wars meant to acquire territory or propagate various worldviews through political power. Modern sex trafficking doesn't involve all the complexities of sleeve switching, cloning, and virtual reality, but it does, as in Altered Carbon, consist of exerting power over vulnerable women and turning human beings into chattel.
Over centuries of humanity, we haven't necessarily progressed as much as found new ways to exercise our base impulses. Altered Carbon says that even though the way its characters do so may look wildly different from our present day, our behavior remains the same. It's an honest, if pessimistic, vision of where we're going as a species.
Though history does show instances of actual breakthroughs in advancing human rights, it's still not a linear process that has led us to total enlightenment. At our darkest moments, basically, it's hard to believe the message, quoted most famously by Martin Luther King Jr., that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." More often it feels like the world is shaped, as Kovacs says, by smart monkeys chasing the same things we always want, no matter the cost.
Altered Carbon says that this is a process that will continue on far into the future, beyond death itself. Even if we advance to the point that we craft ways to overcome the limits of natural life, humanity will still remain the same as we've ever been. This makes its fiction fairly dystopian--a grimly cynical look at where the promises of technological breakthrough will bring us.
Despite this darkness, though, Altered Carbon is also a story about people who, beaten down by the worst of their world, try to overcome inequality and wanton violence by working toward something like justice. In that, there's still the faintest glimmer of optimism, no matter how dark everything surrounding it may be.
February has been a busy month for Nintendo Switch owners so far, and that only continues this week with the release of Bayonetta 2. Platinum Games' acclaimed action game arrives on Switch nearly four years after it originally debuted on Wii U back in 2014, and it has the distinction of being one of the few games to earn a rare 10 out of 10 from GameSpot.
"Bayonetta 2 never strives to be anything less than the purest, rarest kind of action-game experience, one that values skill, reaction times, and sheer spectacle over all else--realism and storytelling be damned," critic Mark Walton wrote in GameSpot's original Bayonetta 2 review. "Sure, you can feel the influence of the likes of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden in Bayonetta 2's combat, and see it in its wonderfully outlandish visuals. But neither of those games, nor the many that followed in their footsteps, come close to the brilliance of Bayonetta 2."
Ahead of its release, other outlets have begun publishing reviews of Bayonetta 2. As always, we've rounded up a sample of them below to give you an idea of what critics have to say about the action game. For a broader look at Bayonetta 2's reception, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Alongside Bayonetta 2, the original Bayonetta also arrives on Switch this week, and it likewise remains one of the most highly regarded action games ever released, as you can read about in our original Bayonetta review. Both titles are available individually on the Switch Eshop, but those who pick up a physical copy of Bayonetta 2 will also receive a download code for the original Bayonetta, giving fans a chance to catch up on the series before Bayonetta 3 launches exclusively for the console.
Game: Bayonetta 2
Developer: Platinum Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release date: February 16
Price: $60
GameSpot -- 10/10
"Bayonetta 2 arrives on Switch with everything intact from the Wii U version, but with the added convenience of portability and a more consistent frame rate, making it the definitive version of the game. Thanks to the confident execution of seemingly unbridled creativity, Bayonetta 2 remains a game that shouldn't be missed, just as it was when we first reviewed the game on Wii U." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 9/10
"Playing through Bayonetta 2 on Nintendo Switch allowed me to relive some of the most exhilarating, action-packed, hack-and-slash moments from the last decade of gaming. The framerate improvements alone make it a better experience than the Wii U version, and the Amiibo-activated costumes at least put a fun spin on it even if there's no substantial new content for returning players. It's disappointing that the Switch version can't manage more than 720p on a big screen, but with that said, Bayonetta 2's fantastic art style holds up well." -- Filip Miucin [Full review]
Trusted Reviews -- 4.5/5
"Bayonetta 1 and 2 remain a fantastic duo of action titles that feel perfectly at home on Nintendo Switch. Being able to play two of Platinum Games' finest efforts whenever you like is hugely appealing, and the abundance of content on offer here only makes it even better." -- Jordan King [Full review]
Vooks -- 5/5
"There's a reason Bayonetta is revered amongst fans of character action games. While Bayonetta as a character might deter some people from giving the franchise a chance, there's an incredible set of action games in this collection. As I said right at the beginning, after playing both Bayonetta games for the first time on Switch I was kicking myself for not trying them sooner. The characters and utter spectacle of the environments and encounters are impressive, and the flow of combat is immensely satisfying whether you keep it to basic dodges and ripostes or get experimental with combining techniques. Both games are adjustable to your preferences as far as difficulty, game speed, and complexity--even if you've been intimidated by similar games in the past, you can get in on the action here." -- Steven Impson [Full review]
Since the launch of Fortnite's free-to-play, PUBG-esque Battle Royale mode last year, it's become tremendously popular. If you're among the people playing the PS4 version, you can grab some free cosmetic items right now, provided you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber.
A new PS Plus bonus quietly surfaced on the PlayStation Store today. Dubbed the PlayStation Plus Celebration Pack, it consists of two exclusive items: a glider and an outfit, both of which are pictured below. These are not available for purchase and can only be claimed if you're a PS Plus member. You can grab the pack here.
The pack becomes available ahead of the next Fortnite update. It will only be available for a limited time, but you've got much more time to claim it than the typical PS Plus freebie--the offer expires on February 1, 2019. We've reached out to Epic to find out the exact details of this promotion and whether PC or Xbox One players will also have access to these items.
February's standard lineup of free PS Plus games are still available and include PS4 launch game Knack. Meanwhile, if you were subscribed in the past to PS Plus, a new freebie recently became available thanks to the launch of Mercenary Kings' new Reloaded Edition. Additionally, another smaller perk is out now for Gems of War. And finally, the ongoing PSVR game giveaway continues, with the latest being Starblood Arena.
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.
Microsoft has rolled out a fresh set of deals on Xbox Live, and there are some solid offers to be had across Xbox One and Xbox 360. Starting with Xbox One, the newest Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: WWII, is on sale for one of the first times since release. Right now, you can get it for $39, which is 35 percent off its normal $60 price.
Go to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of this week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals, including country-specific price points and more. The offers, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership, are good through February 19.
What are you watching on Netflix this week? If you're not sure, perhaps it's time to try something new. The streaming service as plenty of options being added this week, in case you're looking for the perfect Valentine's Day binge.
The most notable arrival is the first season of the original series Everything Sucks. The coming-of-age comedy is set in the mid-1990s and, if the trailer is any indication, is going to hit many viewers right in the nostalgia. With nods to everything from Alanis Morissette to Beavis and Butthead to dating in a pre-social media and texting world, Everything Sucks aims to capture what it was like to be a freshman in 1996. Whether it succeeds it nor is something you'll have to find out.
Other titles coming to Netflix include the movies Evan Almighty and Blood Money. Additionally, originals like Irreplaceable You, DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge, and Greenhouse Academy will premiere as well.
You can take the full list of what's coming to Netflix this week below. Alternatively, you can check out the list of everything being added in February.
February 14
Greenhouse Academy: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Love Per Square Foot (Netflix Original)
February 15
Deep Undercover Collection: Collection 2
Re:Mind: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
February 16
DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 6 (Netflix Original)
For those who fantasize about becoming a professional athlete, sports video games provide the closest route to ever realizing that dream. As a result, the ability to accurately create yourself in-game just as you wish is always a key feature. For this year's new PS4 entry of MLB The Show 18, much of Sony's focus on create-a-player has involved a particular aspect of the create-a-player feature.
As showcased in the video above, MLB 18 introduces a batting stance creator. This provides you with a great deal of control over exactly how your player looks while at the plate. You can move the exact positioning of your hands on three different axes in addition to tweaking the rotation of your hands, the position of each elbow, how much your knees and hips are bent, where your feet are placed, and the amount of waggling your hands do. Based on what Sony showed us, this allows for a wide range of possibilities, including some extremely goofy-looking stances, though it stops short of letting you cause the bat to go through your head or body.
Later in the video, there's a look at some of the other customization options that should also help in your pursuit to create exactly the player you have in mind. Two areas that Sony highlighted specifically involve skin tones and the color density of hair. It also addressed a frequent fan request in adding dreadlocks as a hair style.
Sony just recently began to share what fans can expect from this year's MLB game. We learned that the tagging system has been completely reworked, and catchers should now more appropriately react to passed balls, among other things. The Yankees' Aaron Judge is on the cover of MLB 18, which releases on March 27. Pre-ordering the game gets you early access that begins on March 23.
Year 3 of Rainbow Six Siege is set to kick off soon with the launch of the Chimera update. While it will bring some of the features we're accustomed to seeing with each new season of content, like new Operators and maps, this one will be even bigger than usual, due to the Outbreak event.
In the video above, we recap everything that we've learned so far about Chimera and--in particular--Outbreak. There's a lot to look forward to on both the PvP and, for a change, PvE sides of the game. PvP will benefit from the introduction of the aforementioned map and character releases, which tend to offer dramatic shake-ups of the meta.
For PvE players, the Outbreak event is an exciting addition that is unlike anything Siege has seen before. Currently, the only co-op mode is Terrorist Hunt, but Outbreak presents three-person missions where you're taking down zombie-like monsters. However, this mode will only be available for a limited time, and it'll only be playable with select Operators (plus the default Recruit character). It features three exclusive new maps that are more open than the standard PvP maps.
In addition to the new playable content, there will also be a special event loot box that offers new cosmetics. 50 unique items can be obtained through these new Outbreak packs, none of which will have any impact on gameplay, according to Ubisoft. These packs will cost 300 R6 Credits, though a few rewards will be obtainable just by playing. And by simply logging in during the event, you'll get four Outbreak packs for free. Among the included items are a new Elite uniform, universal weapon skins, headgear, charms, and more.
For much more on what to expect from Siege's forthcoming update, check out the video above. If you're eager to try the game out but don't already own it, you'll soon have the opportunity to try Siege for free.
The Seven Deadly Sins started out as a manga series in Japan before being adapted into an anime. Knights of Britannia marks the first console video game adaptation of the series, following an earlier 3DS game. Like that title, this was developed by Namco Bandai, and it takes the form of a third-person action game.
As we note in the video, Knights of Britannia offers more for fans of the manga or anime as opposed to those just coming to the series. It features a cartoonish art style that's reminiscent of Valkyria Chronicles, but it has the benefit of including an incredibly cute pig. You'll also get to assume control of a variety of characters, though you'll start with Meliodas as your lone option.
Much like the source material, Knights of Britannia centers around a story where you're tasked with bringing together the titular Seven Deadly Sins, a group that's being pursued after taking the blame for overthrowing the Liones Kingdom. If you'd prefer to catch up on the show before playing, the anime is now streaming on Netflix in the US.
Whether Knights of Britannia is up your alley or not, it won't be your last opportunity to play a game based on an anime. It's one of more than a dozen notable anime games coming this year; we've already seen Dragon Ball FighterZ, and there are titles based on Naruto and One Piece still to come, among others.
Microsoft has again expanded the lineup of backwards compatible games on Xbox One. Two more Xbox 360 titles are now playable on the current-gen console, and they're fairly big-name games.
First up is Mafia II, the 2011 sequel to 2K Games' original Mafia from 2002. It's an open-world action game in the basic mold of Grand Theft Auto, but it's perhaps most notable for its mid-20th century setting. Also now playable is 2006's Prey, not to be confused with last year's game of the same name (which otherwise bears no connection to the 2006 title). It's a first-person shooter that tells the story of a Cherokee who is abducted by aliens.
If you already own a physical copy of these games, you can simply pop it into your Xbox One to initiate a download and start playing. Alternatively, if you own digital copies, you can find them waiting in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section on the console. They're also both available for purchase on the Xbox Store. As with Splinter Cell: Conviction when it was added to the backwards compatibility library last week, they're also currently discounted as part of this week's Xbox game deals.
Destiny 2's first Valentine's Day-themed event is officially live. Following a period of server downtime, Bungie has launched a new update that marks the start of the Crimson Days event on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Among other things, that means there are new rewards to now get your hands on.
As outlined recently, Crimson Days centers around a new 2v2 Crucible mode. You can join up solo or with a friend, but either way, you're strongly encouraged to stay physically close to your partner. Doing so causes your abilities to recharge more quickly than usual, while straying far apart will provide the enemy team with waypoints directing them to your location.
Taking part in the Crimson Days playlist is described as the "best" way to earn rewards, though it isn't the only path. Most of the new items are found in the Crimson Engram, which is guaranteed to not decrypt into any duplicates until you've gotten everything it contains. In addition to earning them through the Crucible mode, you'll receive a Crimson Engram (as well as the usual Illuminated Engram) each time you level up, provided you've hit the level cap. You'll also get one just by logging in and speaking with Tess at The Tower.
Among the items you'll find in the Crimson Engram are weapon ornaments, Sparrows, Ghosts, and shaders. There are also five other rewards that are each obtained by completing a specific objective. Here's how Bungie describes those:
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.
Crimson Engrams are handed out only by playing--they can't be purchased. However, some of the included items will be sold for Bright Dust through the Eververse store. Crimson Days items you obtain can be broken down for Bright Dust, so it's possible you can recycle those into something you do want.
Additionally, this event's launch coincides with the release of update 1.1.2.1. This relatively minor update ditches throttles in Lost Sectors and makes it so that you can only open a Lost Sector chest once per boss kill.
All of this is available now and runs until the weekly reset on February 20. Beyond that, many more updates are on the way to Destiny 2, including major changes to Nightfalls.
If you're a fan of the SMG in Fortnite's Battle Royale mode, you should get some time in with the game now. Epic Games plans to at least temporarily remove it from the popular online shooter on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, although some variants of it will remain usable for the time being.
As part of its recent development update, Epic shared some plans it has for the game, including a 60 FPS mode on consoles and the introduction of new items. It also noted that a specific gun--the SMG--will be put into the "Vault." The developer has since expanded on what this means exactly.
Effectively, the SMG will be gone completely from the game, though it will return in the future. "As we add more weapons, consumables, and other item types, we want to make sure that the balance of itemization isn't ruined," an Epic representative wrote on Reddit. "Expect more items to be released (and likewise vaulted!) in the future. And of course, items will often come back out of the Vault when the timing is right."
It's important to note that this change specifically involves the basic SMG; another post from Epic on Reddit confirmed, "Tactical SMG and the Suppressed SMG will still drop." Unfortunately there's no indication provided of just how long a stay in the Vault may last, be it days, weeks, or months.
Fortnite's new update just added a weapon type in the Crossbow, which is silent and features unlimited ammo. New weapons and consumables are also in the works, Epic confirmed in its development update, though it also teased, "Additionally, we're looking to add different types of items down the road (beyond just weapons and consumables) that will allow for exciting new ways to play."
Beyond that, Epic also has plans for many new Limited-Time Modes. Among those on the way in the near future are a modified version of 50v50, Blitz (where matches are shorter), and one where there is less time between circles. The studio is also listening to feedback regarding proposed changes to Fortnite's matchmaking.
The Evil Within 2 will now let you play through the entire game in first-person, thanks to a new update available right now. The first-person option is in addition to the previous third-person mode, and it's accessible at any time via the in-game menu on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
"A lot of players like playing horror games in first-person, so for those who want to see some of the game's situations through Sebastian's eyes, it's a really neat experience," said Tango Gameworks producer Shinsaku Ohara. "I think exploring Union in first-person makes the scale feel even bigger than it does when you're in third-person. Also, being able to see our environments and enemies up close allows players to get an even better look at how much effort went into their designs."
The mode offers another option for those who haven't yet tried The Evil Within 2, or potentially a reason to play the game again for those who have. It's worth picking up, too: critical reception was positive upon its launch in October, and it earned an 8/10 in GameSpot's The Evil Within 2 review.
"Though there's some occasional technical hiccups that result in some particularly frustrating moments and weird pacing issues," wrote Alessandro Fillari, "this horror sequel elevates the tense and impactful survival horror experience in ways that feel fresh and exciting. What this cerebral horror game does isn't totally new, but it rarely feels routine, and offers plenty of surprises. Coming in at a lengthy and surprisingly packed 15-hour campaign, the sequel does an admirable job of ratcheting up the tension and scares when it needs to, while also giving you the freedom to explore and proceed how you want. It's a tough thing to balance, but The Evil Within 2 does it remarkably well, and in a way that leaves a strong and lasting impression after its touching conclusion."
Valentine's Day is upon us, and a lot of video games are celebrating the holiday by holding special Valentine's Day-themed events for a limited time. That includes Pokemon Go, which has now kicked off its own Valentine's event, giving players a chance to capture some very rare pink Pokemon and earn extra bonuses.
From now until February 15, Pokemon Go players will encounter increased spawns of the heart-shaped Pokemon Luvdisc, one of the many Gen 3 Pokemon that were recently added to Pokemon Go. Chansey will also appear more frequently for the duration of the event. Players will be rewarded with triple the usual amount of Stardust for each Luvdisc and Chansey that they catch.
Valentine's Day also marks the end of Kyogre's run as a Raid Boss, making this your last opportunity to capture the Legendary Pokemon. Another Gen 3 Legendary, Rayquaza, is also available right now in Pokemon Go; the Dragon-type will appear in Raid Battles until March 16. Rayquaza arrived alongside another batch of Gen 3 monsters, which primarily consisted of Flying- and Dragon-types such as Altaria, Salamence, and Tropius.
Beyond the Valentine's Day event, players also have the next Pokemon Go Community Day event to look forward to this month. That event takes place on February 24. Like the first Community Day in January, players will have a chance to capture a rare Pokemon that knows a move it cannot typically use during the event. Niantic hasn't revealed what that exclusive move is yet, but the Pokemon in question this time is the Dragon-type Dratini.
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.
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 today, 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.
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.
THQ Nordic, the Austria-based company currently in possession of the Darksiders, Red Faction, and de Blob properties, has acquired Koch Media, the parent company of Dead Island, Saints Row, and Metro publisher Deep Silver. The deal, which is set for approval later today, was worth €121 million (approximately $149 million).
The acquisition means that THQ Nordic now owns all of Koch Media's assets, which includes its studios, intellectual properties, and licenses, such as the Metro game series. Koch Media's business also includes films, which are created "primarily for German and Italian speaking territories."
Noteworthy studios that are part of the acquisition include Volition, which is responsible for the Saints Row series; Dambuster, which is behind Homefront; and Fishlabs Entertainment, known for the Galaxy on Fire series.
"I strongly believe that THQ Nordic is a great strategic fit with Koch Media," said Klemens Kundratitz, Koch Media CEO, who will continue in his role as chief executive. "In addition to having long experience within games development and publishing, THQ Nordic has the skills, willingness and capital to deliver growth in the future."
Lars Wingefors, CEO THQ Nordic, indicated that Koch's studios will continue to operate as normal, with both Volition and Dambuster working on new, unannounced AAA games, in addition to 4A's Metro Exodus.
"Koch Media has a long history of profitability despite losses incurred from some less successful game releases," he said. "THQ Nordic is convinced that the development studios of Deep Silver as part of THQ Nordic will successfully deliver at least four ongoing AAA game projects including Metro Exodus as well as the next Volition Studio AAA release and the next Dambuster Studio AAA release, together with a number of other game development and publishing titles."
Last year THQ Nordic announced Biomutant, a third-person action game set in a fantasy universe. It is also has Darksiders 3 in the pipeline, which is being developed by Gunfire Games, a studio made up of many ex-Vigil Games employees, all of which worked on the original Darksiders and its sequel.
Lawmakers in Hawaii have put forth a pair of bills that, if enacted, would limit the sale of video games with "gambling mechanisms" to minors and require that loot box odds be disclosed. The bills were introduced into Hawaii's legislature recently by Democrat Chris Lee, who you may remember was the politician who called out Star Wars: Battlefront II for being "predatory."
The first bill is HB2686. It states that video game publishers have recently begun to use "predatory mechanisms" in their games that are "designed to exploit human psychology to compel players to keep spending money in the same way casino games are designed." It goes on to say that things like loot boxes--which are popular and prevalent in games today--are similar to slot machines because they let users pay money for a chance at winning something.
"One common variety of this type of predatory mechanism, known as a loot box, can present the same psychology, addictive, and financial risks as gambling," reads a line from the bill. The document goes on to note that digital stores exist where players can sell the items they acquired through loot boxes and other "gambling-like mechanisms." In turn, this gives players the ability to "effectively cash out their winnings," as they might in a casino, the author wrote.
HB2686 goes on to reference the World Health Organisation's recent announcement that "gaming disorder" is a real mental condition that requires more clinical research. "Mental health experts have raised particular concern about the exposure of youth and young adults to gambling-like mechanisms, which can affect cognitive development and lead to addiction, and to which youth and young adults are particularly vulnerable," reads a line from the bill.
This bill's main focus is to prohibit the sale of video games that include a "system of further purchasing, including randomised reward or a virtual item that can be redeemed to directly or indirectly receive a randomised reward," to people under the age of 21.
The other bill, HB2727, includes much of the same text as HB2686, but it goes further to say that video games with loot boxes should be required to making "certain disclosure[s]" about the odds that players will receive a certain item. More, specifically, this disclosure must be featured "prominently" at the time of purchase and in the game itself when loot boxes appear. If this bill becomes a law, Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, potentially in conjunction with a third-party, may conduct audits on video games sold in Hawaii to ensure that accurate probability rates are disclosed clearly and transparently.
Both bills note that it is not uncommon for video games to get frequent updates after release. However, HB2727 states that "no video game publisher shall at any time modify a game to contain or otherwise permit the inclusion of additional content for which the game was not appropriately labeled at the time of original sale."
In the United States and most other parts of the world, video games generally do not disclose things like loot box odds, though regulators in China recently started enforcing this.
Bear in mind that these bills, if they become law, would only apply to games and gamers in Hawaii, whose population is only around 1.4 million. That being said, lawmakers from other states, such as Washington, have also put forth bills with similar language. Lee told GameSpot in an interview that it will be a combined effort to enact the kind of change he wants to see. Already, Lee tells us that he has seen bipartisan support for these efforts. More significantly, he said other elected officials across the country, including US Senators and members of Congress, have reached out to voice their support.
If the new bills introduced in Hawaii and Washington, as well as other parts of the country and world, become law, it could significantly impact the world's biggest publishers such as EA, Activision, Take-Two, and others. Just recently, we learned that Activision Blizzard made $4 billion from microtransactions in 2017, while Ubisoft makes lots of money from add-on content as well. Not all of this money comes from loot boxes or what Lee and others might call "predatory" mechanics, but a portion does. So it stands to reason that these companies, and organisations that represent them in Washington--such as the ESA--would want to protect their interests. This is all to say, this is a story that we don't imagine will fade away anytime soon, but will rather pick up steam and debate in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
We will have more from our interview with Lee in the days ahead. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
AMD put out a new version of its Radeon Adrenalin software suite, and with this 18.2.2 update comes a driver that boosts performance in a few popular PC games. Two of the top battle royale games, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite, are getting some extra frames per second on AMD cards. In addition, the newly released Kingdom Come: Deliverance gets proper support and improved framerates.
The benchmarks were performed by AMD internally and the results come out of a system consisting of an Intel Core i7-7700K CPU clocked at 4.2GHz and 16GB of DDR4-3000 RAM on the Windows 10 64-bit operating system. Tests were done with the RX 580 at 1080p and RX Vega 56 at 1440p, and comparisons were made between previous driver versions and the latest version 18.2.2. The following is a breakdown of the benchmark results.
Fortnite
Fortnite is getting a slight boost for AMD users; the new driver shows up to 3% faster performance on the RX Vega 56 video card compared to driver version 17.12.1 at 2560x1440p (1440p) and Epic graphics settings (jumping from an average of 63 FPS to 65 FPS). With the RX 580 at 1920x1080 (1080p) and Epic graphics settings, results show up to 6% faster performance using the new driver, going from a 72 FPS average to 76 FPS.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
When looking at PUBG, the RX Vega 56 showed up to 5% faster performance using the 18.2.2 driver compared to version 17.12.1 at 2560x1440p (1440p) and High settings; the improvement was from 76 FPS to 80 FPS. In testing the RX 580 at 1920x1080 (1080p) and High settings, AMD indicates that you can see up to 7% faster performance with the new driver; results showed the average framerate go from 81 FPS to 87 FPS.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The RX Vega 56 will get up to 3% faster performance using the new 18.2.2 driver at 2560x1440p (1440p) with Ultra High settings; the average framerate went from 46.1 FPS to 47.4 FPS. When it comes to the RX 580, the new driver shows up to 4% faster performance with 1080p and Ultra High settings, by jumping from an average of 53.5 FPS to 55.9 FPS.
Big day-one updates have become relatively commonplace over the past few years, but it's still notable to see one come in at the size of some games. To play medieval role-playing game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you'll have to download a colossal, 23GB day-one patch on PS4--but it includes a whole lot of performance, quest, and mechanics improvements.
Reports of the huge update surfaced recently on ResetEra, where players posted screenshots of their PS4 download screens with hours left before the patch finished downloading. To respond to complaints and frustration, Executive Producer Martin Kilma explained that developer Warhorse has made many improvements and additions since it had to submit a version of the game for certification. As a result, it needed a large first-day patch.
"The production realities of game development mean that a 'release' version has to be finalized some time before the actual release date," he wrote. "We could have used this time to get some rest, or we could use it to create some additional content and sell it to you as DLC, but we went back to the version-to-be-released and worked on it. The results are obvious: quests are more balanced, RPG progression is smoother, the game runs faster and every facet of the game got more polish."
Further, Will Powers from publisher Deep Silver explained that the patch isn't entirely composed of new data--in other words, you won't have 23GB on top of the size of the base game downloaded to your system.
"The way that I've been told that the engine works, is it takes the entire game and separates the PKG or ISO into 2GB archives," Powers said. "If during a patch you so much as alter a 1KB text file within any of these 2GB archives, then you need to reupload the entire 2GB portion... Essentially you are having to redownload the game to replace the existing files. It shouldn't stack them and inflate on your harddrive, but rather replace the previously downloaded build files."
Kingdom Come: Deliverance launches tomorrow for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and you can check out its launch trailer at the top of this article. It's been in development for a long time: it was originally Kickstarted back in 2014, and you can read our 2014 preview of Kingdom Come here.
Pokemon Go is celebrating Valentine's Day this week with a higher chance of catching certain Pokemon and earning extra Stardust. Alongside this special holiday event, Pokemon Go also received a new update.
Update 0.91.2 on Android devices and 1.61.2 on iOS was released today, announced on developer Niantic's Twitter account. It's a small update, and the iOS and Google Play stores haven't listed patch notes yet, but Niantic states that it focuses on fixing bugs.
Trainers, Pokémon GO is being updated to version 0.91.2 for Android and 1.61.2 for iOS to implement bug fixes.
Meanwhile, the big holiday event is happening from now until Thursday, February 15. It increases the chances of running into the Pokemon Luvdisc and Chansey, and it grants triple Stardust for each of those that you capture.
In other news, the next Pokemon Go Community Day event is coming up soon. It'll take place on February 24 and, like the first Community Day in January, players will have a chance to capture a special Dratini that knows a move normal Dratinis don't know.
Devil May Cry HD Collection is launching soon on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and today it got a new trailer. But DMC fans still have something to look forward to before it is released: later this month, you can check out the first Devil May Cry game on PC for free through Twitch Prime.
Capcom announced on its blog recently that all subscribers of Amazon/Twitch Prime can snag the freebie starting on February 27. After claiming it, you'll be able to download the full game through the Twitch desktop app.
Devil May Cry originally launched back in 2001 for PS2, so some players may find it a bit dated. But it's still cool to see where the series began, especially if your first exposure to the series was the reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry, which was released in 2013. Previous Twitch Prime free games have sometimes been free for only a few days, so be sure to jump on this promotion when it goes live. It's free to anyone with a Twitch Prime membership, which comes with an Amazon Prime subscription.
The Devil May Cry HD Collection, meanwhile, launches on March 13 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It includes remastered versions of the first three games in the series, all of which run at 60 frames per second. You can check out the new trailer for the collection in the embed above.
Rockstar is continuing its weekly support of Grand Theft Auto V with a new batch of content for GTA Online on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Along with another assortment of bonuses and discounts, players can now add a fiery new car to their collections, just in time for Valentine's Day.
This week's new vehicle is the Vapid Hustler, which is available to purchase from Legendary Motorsport. Here's how Rockstar describes the car: "When you see that running board swooping low over the front wheels, that high-set radiator grill and the holder for your cigarette holder, you'll feel like you're back in the 1920s. But then you see the carbon steel reinforcements to the chassis, the turbo charger and the bullbar, and you realize you're somewhere else altogether."
In addition to that, players can earn double GTA$ and RP from a variety of modes from now until February 19. The playlist is very loosely themed around Valentine's Day and includes Till Death Do Us Part, Slasher, Resurrection, Deadline, and Lost vs. Damned.
This week's batch of in-game deals are likewise loosely themed around Valentine's Day, offering discounts on "love nests," Valentine's clothing, and other items. Players can get 25% off of all of the following through February 19:
Vehicles
Albany Roosevelt (Sports Classic)
Albany Roosevelt Valor (Sports Classic)
Nagasaki Shotaro (Motorcycle - available for purchase after completing a round of Deadline)
Ocelot Stromberg (Sports Classic/Weaponized)
Nagasaki Buzzard (Attack Helicopter)
Dynasty8
All 10-car Properties (including High-End Apartments, Garages and Stilt Houses)
Executive Offices
Clothing and Accessories
All Valentine's clothing
Doomsday Heist Tattoos
Smuggler's Run clothing
The Premium Race this week is Turbine, which is locked to off-road class vehicles. Everyone who participates in the race will earn triple RP, while those who finish in the top three will get a big GTA$ payout. This week's Time Trial is LSIA, which will reward players with GTA$ and RP if they manage to beat the target time. You can read more about this week's new GTA Online content on Rockstar's website.
As with the previous On the House titles, once you download Dead Space it is yours to keep forever. The only catch is that EA doesn't say when On the House titles cycle out, so if you're interested, you may want to grab the game right now instead of putting it off until later.
Dead Space was already in the Origin Access free game library on PC, so if you subscribe to that service you have been able to play the game at no cost for a while now. The game was also released on Xbox 360, and it is playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility. The Xbox 360 edition is in the Xbox One EA Access library.
Dead Space was in fact the very first EA On the House freebie, kicking off the freebie campaign back in 2014. It appears to be the first title to have two runs in the On the House hopper.
In Dead Space, you play as a space engineer named Isaac Clarke who must fight all manner of ghastly creatures on a spaceship. Sequels Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 were released in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey, who now lead Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games, worked on Dead Space before starting their own studio.
The frenzied mobile MOBA hit Vainglory is about to get more chaotic. Developer Super Evil Megacorp has just launch a major new update dubbed Vainglory 5v5, expanding team sizes from three to five. This change marks a fundamental but welcome addition to the mobile blockbuster, without sacrificing the three-lane-map experience, online performance, and frame rate. Note that this updates will still allow for 3v3 matches.
While other 5v5 MOBA games have long existed in the mobile space, Vainglory has sustained its popularity since its debut in 2015, thanks in large part to its expansive roster of over 25 heroes and variety of match times. Super Evil Megacorp is commemorating this 3.0 update with a Lunar New Year event, running from February 15 to 22, where players will have a chance to win in-game and New Year-themed skins.
For game music aficionados, Vainglory will feature a new 5v5 score by Joris de Man, whose credits include music for the Killzone franchise and Horizon Zero Dawn. Moreover, 5v5 will have adaptive music that changes based on how the match unfolds.
Super Evil Megacorp isn't wasting any time integrating 5v5 into its esports program. The April 2018 preseason plus the regular season of Vainglory Premier League (formally Vainglory8) will shift to the 5v5 format. Season 1 will be set on the new Sovereign's Rise map, built specifically for Vainglory 5v5. The format will be a double-round-robin with midseason with end-of-season playoffs, along with a single relegation tournament and regional championships will determine which teams qualify for the World Championship.
Vainglory is available free to play for iOS and Android devices.
Need a new DualShock 4? Amazon is currently selling the PlayStation 4 controller for only $36, which is a nice markdown from its normal $60 price point. The standard jet black DualShock 4 is on sale, but none of the other colors are marked down as substantially.
However, the silver, blue, gold, and camo, controllers are discounted to around $45 instead of their normal $65 price points. These are all Amazon Prime items, so subscribers get free two-day shipping (or faster in some areas). Go to Amazon's DualShock 4 landing page here to buy any of the controllers if you're interested. Right now, it looks like this deal is only available in the US, and other retailers do not appear to have matched Amazon's prices.
What's more, this week's PSN deals have now become available. Now through February 20, a lot of 2K Games titles are marked down, including games in the Borderlands and XCOM franchises. Check out GameSpot's rundown of all the deals here.
While practically every movie has deleted scenes, few of them are as sought after as moments cut out of Star Wars films. That's why a simple birthday greeting from Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Mark Hamill to his co-star in the film Laura Dern is getting so much attention. Warning: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
In the message, which Hamill posted to Instagram, he writes, "SHOUT OUT to [Laura Dern] for no particular reason other than being one of my all-time favorite actors & for being a genuinely nice person. It was nice almost working with you. xoxo from your deleted-scene partner."
A deleted scene featuring both Hamill's Luke Skywalker and Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo could dramatically change so much about The Last Jedi. After all, by the time Skywalker uses the Force to project himself to the Resistance, Dern's Holdo had already sacrificed her life to destroy Snoke's ship. Sharing a scene means either Holdo was meant to survive longer or Luke was originally supposed to join the fight much sooner--perhaps in person.
While Hamill has yet to explain exactly what that scene entails, the implications are that it would have led to a very different movie. While it's entirely possible that the scene--and maybe others-could end up on the Blu-ray or digital release of the film, it will be impossible to know how much the movie changed without director Rian Johnson's input.
No comments:
Post a Comment