Diablo creator David Brevik recently revealed his upcoming solo project, It Lurks Below, with a brief trailer. The game blends elements of Terraria and Minecraft, including an emphasis on crafting the tools you need to survive, with the randomly generated dungeons and looting of Diablo. Brevik recently stopped by the GameSpot office to show off the game and let us play the closed beta.
You start by creating a character and choosing one of several RPG classes--rogue, bard, and so on--before you're dropped in a very Terraria-esque 2D loop of a world. Right away, your main priorities are finding food, crafting a wand (which functions as a magical gun), and making some sort of shelter to protect yourself from nighttime monsters. If you're not taking damage, you might be critically tired or hungry, and dealing with all three at once is a hectic balancing act at first.
Once you've got your bearings on the crafting and basic survival front, it's time to start heading...below. We died pretty much instantly thanks to a combination of overconfidence, a lack of equipment, and a little bit of panic, so we mined some iron and crafted some armor and tried again. We successfully defeated a boss before our time was up, and it dropped an impressive area-of-effect item that would make future excursions a lot less daunting.
We've only scratched the surface (literally), so it remains to be seen what's in store on the more Diablo-like end of It Lurks Below's gameplay loop. But the tried-and-true combination of managing resources, crafting, and basic survival was engaging and relatively easy to pick up. The next step is digging deeper, and if there are some Diablo-style twists waiting below, the game could really set itself apart from the likes of Terraria and Minecraft.
It Lurks Below currently doesn't have a set release date, but it's supposed to come to Steam later this year. Brevik is developing the game solo as part of his studio Graybeard Games.
If you were watching TV in 2004, chances are you or someone else you knew was completely and utterly obsessed with Lost. ABC's drama series took the world by storm, creating a passionate fanbase that took to the internet to discuss each episode and theorize about what it all means.
In 2018 that might not sound like anything special, but it's important to note that this was the very first show to capture the hearts and minds of TV audiences living in the internet age. It wasn't easy to congregate on places like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube because, well, they didn't exist in any meaningful way.
But part of being a Lost fan was engaging with others, and it was undoubtedly a show that gave its audience plenty of material to work with. Lost was filled with characters to love--and hate--mysteries to consider, and wild twists that shocked us. Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, the fact that it was a cultural phenomenon is undeniable.
And now, it's available to stream in its entirety on Hulu. To celebrate its arrival on the streaming service we decided to put together a video looking back at what made Lost so unique. If you'd like to read instead of watch, you can check out our gallery on the 8 Ways Lost Changed TV.
Battlefield 1 has received another new update, with some players also receiving access to Apocalypse, the game's fourth DLC expansion, on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The latter introduces a variety of new content, including new maps, weapons, and gadgets.
Early access to Apocalypse is available to everyone who owns the game's Premium Pass, as well as those who have bought Battlefield 1 Revolution (which consists of the base game and access to all of the DLC expansions). The DLC will be available for purchase individually after two weeks, beginning on March 6. Even if you only own the base game, you'll still need to download the new update in order to play online. Patch notes for the update have not yet been released, but we'll report back once we have them.
As for Apocalypse itself, it introduces five new maps. Three of these (River Somme, Caporetto, and Passchendaele) are standard multiplayer maps, whereas the other two (London Calling and Razor's Edge) are designed specifically for Air Assault, a new aircraft-only game mode. This centers around dogfights but can culminate in a battle between giant Airships.
There are also a variety of new tools as your disposal: six weapons, including the RSC SMG; melee weapons, such as the meat cleaver; gadgets, like the AA Rocket Gun for the Assault class; two bombers, the Hansa Brandenburg GI and the Airco DH10; and a stationary weapon that fires poison gas. Additionally, Apocalypse adds new assignments and cosmetics to unlock, including dog tags, codex entries, ribbons, medals, and so on.
The trailer above briefly showcases much of what's new in Battlefield 1. This is the last confirmed expansion for the game, though developer DICE has shown no signs of stopping its support for it altogether. Meanwhile, a new Battlefield game has been confirmed for release before the end of 2018, though EA has yet to officially announce any details about it.
Rainbow Six Siege fans who are eager to try out the game's upcoming limited time co-op mode, Outbreak, can now do so, provided they own the game on PC. Following the launch of the new Chimera Operators on the technical test server, another update has arrived that introduces Outbreak.
Ahead of the big update's launch in early March, which kicks off Year 3 of Siege, all of its major content is now available to try out on the TTS. That includes both of the new Operators (Lion and Finka) and the Outbreak mode, which is quite unlike anything else in Siege. It's a three-player mode in which you fight off waves of zombies using select Operators. You can get a glimpse of all this in the video above.
A wave of other changes are also coming to the game, as outlined in the Chimera patch notes. Several Operators are being changed, including a nerf to Ela and some tweaks to Kapkan. Blitz has also been changed to have less armor but be quicker. However, a bug on the TTS is currently causing him to move much too quickly with his shield deployed. Ubisoft is aware of the problem and is in the process of releasing a fix.
As outlined by Ubisoft in Siege's TTS Reddit page, there are a number of known issues to be aware of if you're planning to dive in. The bomb defuser can't be disarmed if a shield falls on it, and players can fire straight immediately after canceling a gadget deploy, even before the gun is in their hands. On the Outbreak side, you might not be properly teleported on Resort after vaulting during the countdown, and you'll sometimes be mistakenly presented with the Outbreak loadout in the Operator's screen.
The Chimera update launches for PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 6. That includes the launch of the Outbreak event, which will be playable until April 3.
Although it isn't confirming specifics just yet, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds developer PUBG Corp. has talked a little about what's to come in the months ahead for the popular battle royale game. Among other things, a new map is in the works that should be out before July.
As part of its latest development updated shared on Steam, PUBG Corp. explained that it had to delay "development of some of the major features and systems" in order to deal with the game's serious cheating issue. PUBG Corp. also said that because of "other reasons," it wasn't able to share PUBG's roadmap for 2018 as specific timing was changed. It now plans to share details on what's headed to game on PC from now through June as part of an announcement in March--including specifics regarding the next map.
"We do have a lot of exciting things that we want to share with you, including new content to provide more extensive battle royale experiences as well as improvements and modifications to create a deeper and more realistic gameplay," it said. "In March, the team will reveal what you can expect from us in the first half of 2018 in terms of our development and new content plans which, by the way, include a new map. "
While not as thrilling as a new map, it also shared some details about a change coming to limit high-ping players from wrecking a session. The previously announced plans to impose a maximum ping limit were delayed by the studio's anti-cheat efforts, but now it has a new solution that it believes will provide "even better results."
"Unlike the method considered earlier, we are going to divide the matching pool depending on ping," it explained. "This means that the users with lower pings will be prioritized during matchmaking. The team is expecting to improve the overall play experience by splitting the matching pool rather than restricting connection depending on ping. Preparations are underway to test this method in some regions, with first trials planned to start this week. Specific dates will be shared when ready."
In the meantime, a new update is arriving on PC test servers ahead of a full launch. Among other things, it seeks to improve performance early in matches by not allowing players to view inside the plane. To compensate for this, a new UI element has been added while riding in the plane that lets you know how many people are still inside.
While Marvel is not in business of making movie flops, the huge commercial success of Black Panther has surpassed many expectations. The movie made $202 million in its opening weekend, setting a new record for a film released in February, and has now made more than DC's Justice League did in its entire run. Director Ryan Coogler has now released an emotional letter thanking fans of their support of the film.
Coogler explains that he never expected audiences to turn out in the volume they have, and stated that the overwhelming response "moved me and my wife to tears." Check out his tweet below:
Cooger writes: "I am struggling to find the words to express my gratitude at this moment but I will try. Filmmaking is a team sport. And our team was made up of amazing people from all over the world who believed in this story. Deep down we all hoped that people would come see a film about a fictional country on the continent of Africa, made up of people of African descent.
"Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong. It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film--but to see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theaters--moved me and my wife to tears.
"For all the people who bought out theaters, who posted on social about how lit the film would be, bragged about our awesome cast, picked out outfits to wear, and who stood in line in theaters all over the world--all before even seeing the film. To the press who wrote about the film for the folks who hadn't seen it, and encouraged audiences to come out.
"And to the young ones who came out with their parents, with their mentors, and with their friends... thank you for giving our team of filmmakers the greatest gift: The opportunity to share this film, that we poured our hearts and souls into, with you."
In related news, Captain American star Chris Evans this week seemed to confirm that the rumored Black Widow movie is in development at Marvel. Evans was asked about the success of Black Panther, and said, "There's nothing they can't do, man," he said. "I'm sure it's going to have the exact same effect when Captain Marvel comes out, and then the Black Widow movie comes out. Marvel just has the winning recipe."
Mixer has announced plans to introduce a new feature that allows streamers to sell games directly to viewers. Much like what Twitch added last year, this will provide streamers with a cut of the sale and allow you to make a purchase without leaving Mixer itself.
Mixer Direct Purchase has to be specifically enabled by a streamer, and it allows the game currently being streamed to be bought for Xbox One or PC (Windows 10, specifically). Once the process is complete, which can be done without exiting the stream, the new purchase is added directly to your game library without having to redeem a code. This includes anything that's sold on the Microsoft Store, which spans all games and DLC for Xbox One and Windows 10.
Sales through this process will earn the streamer a 5% cut "at launch" of the program, the phrasing of which suggests it could change in the future. (That 5% matches what Twitch offers to streamers.) Mixer partners will begin having the ability to sell games and DLC "in the next few days." Others will gain access to this in the months ahead. Streamers can choose whether they're promoting a purchase of a specific edition, the base game itself, or specific DLC.
Mixer is the streaming service formerly known as Beam. In 2016, Microsoft acquired the company, which distinguishes itself from Twitch with an emphasis on real-time player interaction. Aside from continuing to play that up, it's also attempted the close the gap with Twitch over the last year-plus, launching a Mixer mobile app and now providing similar incentives for streamers to make use of the service.
Rainbow Six Siege has enjoyed an incredible comeback, as Ubisoft's strong support for the game has not only kept players coming back but actually increased the size of its player base over time in a way we rarely see. That support will continue in the upcoming Year 3 of Siege, with two new Operators set to shake up the game's meta once again. But perhaps more exciting than the more traditional additions we're seeing in the Operation Chimera update is Outbreak, a limited-time PvE game mode.
Ahead of its release next month, we got to go hands on with Outbreak and found it to be a great deal unlike anything else in Siege. Ubisoft has delivered an update to the PC version's technical test servers, giving players an early look at not just the new Operators, but also Outbreak. In the video above, you can check out the opening cutscene for the mode, as well as three others where Ash talks to another of the game's characters. Her conversation with Doc shows him wanting to find a cure, while Tachanka is looking for a Russian connection. Thermite, unsurprisingly, just wants to blow things up.
Outbreak is played out on three new maps that have been made specifically for the mode. They're more open than the standard PvP maps and feature some degree of progression, while still seeking to provide multiple paths and ways for Operators to use their respective gadgets. Only certain Operators can be used in this mode--including Recruit, if you don't have access to any of the supported ones. This is because Ubisoft limits players to Operators whose gadgets make sense in the context of these maps. That presumably explains why Chimera's new Operators--both of which are usable in Outbreak--are attackers, rather than the usual arrangement of each new expansion adding one attacker and one defender.
The Chimera update--and Outbreak along with it--debuts on March 6. Outbreak is accompanied by a new set of loot boxes you can purchase to gain exclusive cosmetic gear. These will only be available for the duration of the event, which runs until April 3. After that, the mode will disappear.
To coincide with the launch of the Overwatch League in January, Blizzard released a big update for Overwatch that introduced a ton of new League-themed skins. But unlike any other skin in the game, these could only be obtained by purchasing them, an arrangement meant to generate revenue that could be shared with teams. Soon, however, you'll have a new route to get your hands on skins.
Twitch, which owns the broadcast rights to Overwatch League, has partnered with Blizzard to reward League viewers with Overwatch Tokens. This is the new type of currency introduced alongside the League skins, which each cost 100 Tokens (or about $5, if you buy the smallest bundle available). Watching Overwatch League won't get you any skins in a hurry--you'll receive one Token for each "live map finish" you view--but it's a free bonus for those already watching, and a small incentive for others to give the burgeoning esports league a chance.
Although that one-Token-per-match reward may not be huge, there's also the potential for something more. Watching the end of the final match during a live broadcast will enter you in the running to win 100 Tokens. Twitch only says that a "percentage" of viewers will randomly win this prize, leaving the specifics unclear.
At least at first, Token rewards will only be available to PC, PS4, and Xbox One players in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan. To qualify, you'll need to connect your Battle.net account with Twitch, MLG.com, OverwatchLeague.com, all of which allow you to watch live matches.
Twitch also announced Overwatch League Cheering, which allows viewers to spend Bits purchased with real-world money to support teams and players. This, in turn, can unlock "in-game hero skins that will be exclusive for a period of time, as well as emotes and team-branded items," which are pictured above.
Say whatever else you want about last year's Ghost in the Shell adaptation, which pissed off most fans by changing the ending and allegedly missing the point. At least it looked great, sporting the budget, design, and effects it deserved. The same can't be said for director Fumihiko Sori's live-action Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation, which manages to feel cheap in every imaginable way.
Fullmetal Alchemist follows the Elric brothers Al and Ed in a pseudo-European world where the science of "alchemy" is nearly indistinguishable from magic. As kids, the brothers became disfigured after an alchemical ritual gone wrong--Ed loses an arm and a leg, and Al his entire body, his soul coming to rest inside a hulking suit of armor. Years later, the boys have joined the army as official State Alchemists in the hopes their adventures will lead them to the Philosopher's Stone, which Ed can theoretically use to reunite Al with his real body.
The movie's issues start immediately, as it brushes over the Elrics' origin story in a weird hurry to get it over with. The scene of the ritual gone wrong cuts off halfway through, followed by a jarring jump several years into the future. Audience members unfamiliar with the source material are likely to simply scratch their heads at the ensuing action scenes, in which a young man in an ill-fitting blonde wig chases down a magic priest with the help of an empty suit of armor. When the movie finally revisits that opening scene, it's as a flashback Ed sees while dreaming. And to add to the confusion, it's the adult version of the character--not the child--who loses his limbs and strikes a deal to get his brother's soul back.
There are some things that simply seem less plausible in live action than in an animated format, and Fullmetal Alchemist seems eager to brush past as many of them as possible. The movie uses multiple early scene info dumps to lamely get its core rules across: Alchemy isn't magic, despite looking like it, because of the "law of equivalent exchange," which doesn't seem to have an actual definition except in rare instances the plot requires it to. Someone early on marvels at Ed's ability to do alchemy "without a transmutation circle," but characters throughout the movie snap their fingers to summon fireballs and perform other unexplained feats.
Fullmetal Alchemist is infinitely more interested in parroting the sights and sounds of its source material than in exploring the anime's ideas or adding anything original to the formula. Unfortunately, those sensory elements are poorly imitated as well. The movie's ample CG effects, from alchemical spells like rippling cobblestones to a goopy army of groaning golems, look so bad you'll actually marvel that this was made last year and not in the late '90s. Al's suit of armor is the one exception, as it looks like they mixed some practical effects with the CG there.
Fullmetal Alchemist overall suffers from unimaginative visual design, particularly in the characters' outfits and many terrible wigs, neither of which ever seem to fit right. The "Homonculi" Lust, Envy, and Gluttony--three ghoulish baddies whose motivations or purposes the movie never bothers to explain--are especially corny, with cheap-looking outfits and terrible CG "powers."
To top it off, what little alchemy the Elric brothers actually perform in the movie boils down almost entirely to laying their hands limply on the ground and summoning barriers from the pavement. These boys--especially Ed--are supposed to be inhumanly skilled alchemists, and yet they remain totally unimpressive for the entire film.
This is more than just cutting things out to fit dozens of hours of story into a two hour-plus movie; what they did cram in meanders between poorly set-up, rushed emotional pivots, like the infamous Nina twist, to scenes that simply feel boring or pointless. There's one extended fight scene between the brothers themselves that manages to simultaneously make no sense, feel completely pointless, have no bearing on the story, and break the already vaguely defined rules of this world all in one.
Despite its high profile and fan hunger, Fullmetal Alchemist is everything wrong with live-action anime adaptations. It both adds nothing to the original and does a poor job imitating it. If you've never experienced FMA before, go watch the anime (preferably the Brotherhood series); if you're already a fan, boot up Netflix and watch the Fullmetal Alchemist live action movie at your own risk.
Although the next Bond movie is currently untitled, we do know that Daniel Craig will return as the legendary superspy. With the director's chair currently empty after the departure of Sam Mendes from the series, MGM is looking for a new director. It has now been reported that the studio has Danny Boyle in its sights.
According to Variety, Boyle is high on the studio's list of potential directors. Although no formal offer has been made to the fillmmaker, the sites notes that "he has keen interest in the project and has always wanted to direct a Bond film." Boyle is best known for the likes of Slumdog Millionnaire, Trainspotting, Steve Jobs, and 127 Hours.
This news follows the confirmation earlier this week that another high-profile British director--Christopher Nolan--will not be directing the 25th Bond movie. Despite meeting with producers last year, Nolan stated: "I won't be the man. No, categorically. I think every time they hire a new director I'm rumored to be doing it. They don't particularly need me. But I've always been very inspired by the films and would love to do one someday."
Mendes directed the previous two movies in the series--Skyfall and Spectre. In 2016 he announced that he would no longer be involved with the franchise. "It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it," he said. "But I think it's time for somebody else. At the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters."
It's been a busy month for PlayStation Plus members. In addition to the usual slate of free games to download, we've seen several other bonuses pop up for subscribers, and now there's yet another to claim if you're a Plus member on PS4.
Periodically, Sony will offer some kind of free DLC pack to PS Plus members, usually for a free-to-play game--we've seen them for the likes of Smite and Orcs Must Die: Unchained. The latest of these is now available for a limited time. Gems of War, a free-to-play puzzle game from some of the same talent behind Puzzle Quest, has gotten a new DLC pack you can grab here for free if you're a PS Plus subscriber.
The Gems of War PS Plus Starter Pack effectively acts as a booster pack. It provides you with the Nobend Brothers troop in addition to 2,500 Souls and 10 Gem Keys, both of which are in-game currencies. This is not to be confused with the existing PlayStation Plus Bundle, which is also still available to Plus members and provides an assortment of Souls, Keys, and other bonuses. (Grab that here.) The new Starter Pack is only available for a limited time--it expires along with the rest of February's PS Plus freebies on March 5.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched for 3DS back in November, marking the mainline series' swan song on Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. As it did for the original Sun and Moon versions, The Pokemon Company is continuing to support the pair in the months following their release with free items and Pokemon. The company has a lot of giveaways lined up for 2018, which it has dubbed the Year of Legendary Pokemon, though those certainly won't be the only freebies players can expect to find this year.
We've rounded up all of the free distributions currently running for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon below, many of which are also open to Sun and Moon players. We'll be updating this list as more giveaways are announced, so check back often to see what free items and Pokemon you can get. In the meantime, you can learn more about the latest Pokemon games in our rundown of everything new in Pokemon Ultra Sun And Ultra Moon. We also break down the differences between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, if you're still unsure of which version to pick up.
Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Free Gifts
Dialga/Palkia -- Feb. 2-28
Kicking off the Year of Legendary Pokemon are the Space and Time Pokemon, Palkia and Dialga. The two are being distributed in the US at GameStop from February 2-28, while UK residents can pick them up from participating Game stores. The Legendary you receive will depend on which version you have: players with either Sun or Ultra Sun receive Palkia, while those playing either Moon or Ultra Moon get Dialga. You'll need to redeem your download code by May 23 to claim the Legendaries.
Magearna
Unlike most other gift Pokemon, the Mythical Steel/Fairy-type, Magearna, is not available through the Mystery Gift feature, but via a QR code, which is compatible with Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, you can use the QR Scanner to scan the code below. Once you've done that, visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City and pick your Magearna up from the deliveryman waiting there.
Celebi -- Ends Sep. 21
Players who purchase either Pokemon Gold or Silver from the 3DS Eshop by September 21, 2018 will receive a bonus download code for the Mythical Pokemon Celebi. The code can be redeemed in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. We've outlined the steps you need to take to find and redeem the code here.
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.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, McKay is in negotiations with the studio to helm the film. McKay was the animation director on the hugely successful The Lego Movie, and was a producer on last year's Lego Ninjago Movie. He is also developing a Nightwing movie at DC.
The Dungeons & Dragons reboot currently has a release date of July 23, 2021. Baby Driver lead Ansel Elgort has reportedly been in talks to star, but beyond that, no further news is known about the project. An earlier Dungeons & Dragons movie was released in 2001, but it was a commercial failure and poorly received by critics.
McKay's Nightwing movie hasn't currently got a release date, but the director has previously spoken about his plans for it. In December he explained why he was drawn to the character. "I think that [Nightwing] is so unique in the history of comics, because no other character really grows up," he said.
"Spider-Man kind of perpetually stays within an age range. All these other characters--Reed Richards' greying temples are always that. Robin grew up from being a kid and working with Batman, and then leaving Batman, and then going off and becoming his own thing and several versions of his own things."
Microsoft has added another new batch of games to Xbox One's backwards compatibility catalogue. Three more Xbox 360 titles are now playable on the current-gen console, including a critically acclaimed shooter from Bayonetta developer Platinum Games.
Headlining the newest backwards compatible titles is Vanquish, Platinum's stylish, fast-paced third-person shooter. Joining it is Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, the co-op Tomb Raider spin-off released for Xbox Live Arcade in 2010. Rounding out the batch is Brave, the video game adaptation of the Disney/Pixar film of the same name. The latter is also one of March's free Games with Gold titles for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.
As usual, if you own a physical copy of any of these titles, you can now pop the disc into your Xbox One and start playing. If you happen to own any of the games digitally, it will automatically appear in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section. You can also purchase any of the backwards compatible games from the Xbox Store, though unlike last week's additions, none are included in the latest selection of Xbox game deals.
Microsoft has been regularly expanding Xbox One's backwards compatible library with new Xbox 360 games. Most recently, Mafia II and 2006's Prey were added to the catalogue. Microsoft also rolled out the first batch of original Xbox backwards compatible games back in October, though those won't be added as frequently as 360 titles. The next wave of original Xbox games is slated to arrive sometime this spring. You can find the full list of Xbox One backwards compatible games here.
Bandai Namco has released a couple of very short teasers for Broly and Bardock, the first DLC fighters for Dragon Ball FighterZ. There's no combat gameplay but we do see the legendary Super Saiyan and the father of Goku gearing up for a fight. These short animations look to be pre-fight intros which have been edited down.
For fans of Dragon Ball Z the inclusion of Broly is exciting, as he's incredibly powerful and, in the series' lore, is believed to be a mythical warrior that only appears once every 1000 years. No doubt there will be some awe-inspiring combo videos made with him. It'll be interesting to see his fighting style as, despite his overwhelming size, Broly manages to remain quite light on his feet.
Bardock, meanwhile, is the father of Dragon Ball Z protagonist Goku, but hasn't had as many opportunities to show off his fighting ability. In Dragon Ball FighterZ, however, not only will he be able to take on some the series' most iconic fighters, but he'll also be able to transform into a Super Saiyan.
Images of both characters as well as some brief details (below) have also appeared on the Japanese Dragon Ball FighterZ website. Broly is described as being super powerful with long reach and has his signature energy attack: "Eraser Cannon." Bardock, meanwhile, is a rush character that combines speed and power. He excels in close distances and has a move called "Riot Javelin," which is likely similar to his Final Spirit Cannon from the series.
Broly and Bardock are included in Dragon Ball FighterZ's season pass, along with the other six yet-to-be-revealed DLC characters coming to the fighting game. Bandai Namco hasn't announced individual pricing for the two fighters, but the season pass costs $35 USD / £29 / $52.95 AU.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Critic Peter Brown awarded the title a 9/10 in GameSpot's Dragon Ball FighterZ review and said, "Even if you think Dragon Ball is old hat, and even if you're intimidated by fighting games, there's a good chance you'll be drawn into the explosive action and personalities that expertly evoke the anime's infectious spirit."
Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man are as close to royalty as the gaming world gets, and now the two legends are crossing over for a limited time. For one month, you'll be able to play as Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man in Sonic Dash and as Sonic in Pac-Man for iOS and Android.
Sonic Dash's fifth anniversary will see the game host four one-week-long special events, each allowing you to play as the Pac-Man couple to defeat Bash the Ghost. Dr Eggman, meanwhile, has invaded a special Pac-Man world that looks like Green Hill Zone, so Sonic must chase after him to save his friends.
Sega and Bandai Namco say fans who play any of the six Sonic stages in Pac-Man before March 20 will unlock those mazes forever. It's also possible to keep Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man in Sonic Dash, provided you collect enough fruits, bells, and keys.
Burnout Paradise Remastered will not, it seems, include microtransactions. After the PS4, Xbox One, and PCremaster was announced yesterday, some fans spotted that the game's PlayStation Store listing stated it would include optional "in-game purchases." The message is still present on the store listing, but EA says the note is a mistake.
"The store listing for Burnout Paradise that mentions 'in-game purchases optional' is an error," said EA's community engagement manager, Ben Walke. "There is no MTX or any additional paid for content. Pitchforks down please."
The original Burnout Paradise received a number of DLC packs, and the eight main ones that launched during the Year of Paradise are included in the remaster. They are Big Surf Island, the Party Pack, Burnout Bikes, Boost Special, Legendary Cars, Cagney Update, Toys, and the Cops & Robbers Pack. All that will set you back US $40 / £35 / AU $48 on PS4 and Xbox One.
The remaster's release date has been set for March 16, with a PC version coming "later this year." The current-gen edition includes "high resolution textures" and 4K / 60 FPS support for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.
Burnout Paradise is getting a current-gen remaster, publisher EA has confirmed. The racing game has been given a PS4 and Xbox One release date of March 16, while the PC version is coming "later this year."
Burnout Paradise Remastered will include the base game and eight add-on packs--including the open-world expansion Big Surf Island--as well as the Legendary Cars pack, which brought vehicles based on those from movies such as Back to the Future and Ghostbusters. EA says this new edition includes technical enhancements that include "high resolution textures" and 4K / 60 FPS support for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. It will cost US $40 / £35 / AU $48.
With March drawing near, Microsoft has announced the lineup of games that Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free next month. There's the usual total of four new games being introduced across Xbox One and Xbox 360, with an especially good one up for grabs on the newer console.
On Xbox One, the month starts out with Trials of the Blood Dragon, a more action-oriented take on the Trials series that's somewhat in the vein of Far Cry 3's Blood Dragon spin-off. It will be available for free for the entire month. From March 16 through April 15, Superhot will be free. The excellent shooter sports a distinct visual style and an even more novel concept, as time (mostly) freezes when you stop moving, allowing you to set up some Matrix-style bullet-dodging sequences.
Xbox 360 owners also get two games to download in March. During the first half of the month, it's Brave: The Video Game, which is based on Disney's film of the same name and was just added to the Xbox One's backwards compatibility list. It's then followed in the second half by Quantum Conundrum, the puzzle-based first-person game from Airtight Games and Kim Swift, one of the key developers behind Portal and Left 4 Dead. As always, both Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
In the meantime, it's not too late to grab some of February's free Games With Gold titles. One of the Xbox One games, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India, will also remain free for the first half of March. Claiming any of these games allows you to continue playing them for as long as you're an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.
The last full week of February brings a bunch of new shows and movies to watch on Netflix. From talk shows to original movies to animate adaptations, there's more than enough to binge if you've got the time.
Likely the biggest addition of the week is the live-action movie adaptation of FullMetal Alchemist. The film, based on the popular anime, was released in Japan back in December. In lieu of a theatrical release in the United States, it will instead stream on Netflix.
Joining it are new seasons of Netflix originals Marseille, Seven Seconds, and Ugly Delicious. Additionally, February 18 saw the premiere of the streamer's new weekly talk show, The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale. Based on what's been revealed about the series thus far, it sounds like a hybrid of a traditional talk show and McHale's former E! series The Soup.
Rounding out the week is Mute, the new film from Moon and World of Warcraft director Duncan Jones. The sci-fi movie stars Alexander Skarsgard as a mute bartender searching for his missing girlfriend in the near-future. Joining Skarsgard on the project are Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, and Sam Rockwell.
You can take a look at what is coming to Netflix this week below. After that, go ahead and take a look everything added in February.
February 18
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (Netflix Original)
February 19
Dismissed
FullMetal Alchemist (Netflix Original)
February 20
Bates Motel: Season 5
The Frankenstein Chronicles: Season 1 and Season 2 (Netflix Original)
If you've spent any time on the internet over the last week you'll know that Marvel's Black Panther has had what can only be described as a sensational reception. Reviews for the superhero flick have been overwhelmingly positive and, based on early figures, it's on track to be one of Marvel and Disney's most successful movies yet.
In our Black Panther review Michael Rougeau said it is "a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody." Not to mention "a cultural event that's going to be hard for Marvel to top."
We've been thinking about where the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes from here, and while we can only take guesses at how the story plays out, we're confident that Marvel is going to change the way they make films. The success of Black Panther, which feels different to previous entries in the MCU, could serve as a new template for Marvel's movies, much like 2008's Iron Man established the framework for most of the films up until now.
That's the argument that Tamoor makes in the video above, where he talks through how he feels main character T'Challa is different from other heroes like Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Stephen Strange, and what makes his first standalone film unique from a characterization perspective. On top of that, he discusses why, alongside Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel is starting to lean towards creating films with a unique identity, instead of a bunch of flicks that feel uniform.
In related news, Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the MCU, has indicated that a standalone Black Widow film starring Scarlett Johansson is in the works. Prior to this, it was reported that writer Jac Schaeffer had been hired to pen the script. However, as of yet, there has not been official confirmation from Disney or Marvel.
The first trailer for Onrush, a new racing game from Codemasters, has been released. The title is being developed by the company's new Cheshire, UK studio, formerly the team behind PlayStation-exclusive racing series' Motorstorm, and the similarities between the two games are immediately apparent.
The gameplay trailer shows a variety of vehicles including buggies and dirt bikes tearing through snowy alps and picturesque caverns at high-speed. They're weaving in and out of naturally formed obstacles in the environment, launching themselves off ramps and, of course, slamming into each other.
"Onrush is a celebration of sensational speed, outright fun and over the top spectacle," Codemasters explains in a press release. "Players battle it out on track to power up their Rush meter which enables them to unleash the ultimate manifestation of boost and power as they wreak havoc on their opponents by performing death defying takedowns and stunts."
There will be eight vehicle classes in Onrush and each one will have its own "unique style, feel, and advantages." Each class of vehicle will also have different effects and abilities when they activate their Rush state.
"Onrush is not about racing to the finish line," Codemasters continues. "Racing with style and flair is what counts as you perform incredible takedowns and put everything on the line in order to power up your all important Rush bar."
Onrush's release date has been confirmed as June 5 on PS4 and Xbox One. The game is available to pre-order now, and anyone who puts their money down early will get access to the beta before it opens up to everyone else in May.
Sony announced plans to close Motorstorm and Driveclub developer Evolution in March, 2016. However, a month later Codemasters established a new team with some of the talent from Evolution. The success of F1 2015 and Dirt Rally "re-positioned [Codemasters] for growth," it said, and this growth started with the acquisition.
The upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie now has an official release date--and it's a bit later than originally expected. The film, which is coming from Sony's Paramount film studio, will come to theatres on November 15, 2019, which is just before Thanksgiving.
The release date news comes by way of The Hollywood Reporter. When the film was originally announced in 2016, Sega said it was expected in 2018, so this is a delay. The last we heard, the untitled movie is expected to mix animation and live-action, though details about the plot and cast are being kept under wraps for now.
Sonic Forces
Jeff Fowler is directing the Sonic movie, making his directorial debut for a feature-length film with the project. He has experience and has captured acclaim with animated projects before, however. He directed the 2004 Oscar-nominated animated short Gopher Broke, the animation for which was done by the prolific and celebrated video game effects studio Blur.
The Fast and the Furious producer Neal H. Moritz is producing the Sonic movie. The Sonic movie's script is being written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the duo who created the Fox show Golan the Insatiable.
2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the Sonic franchise. The latest instalments in the series were Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces, both of which were released in 2017.
While you have to wait a bit longer for the Sonic movie, the new Tomb Raider movie starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft is coming out in March. You can watch the newest trailer for the movie here.
Once you beat the main story, you can create a NG+ save and keep all of your existing progression, including things like weapons and outfits, along with abilities, XP, inventory items such as crafting materials and tools, and of course your character level.
Of course, some things won't carry over such as all of the maps and discovered territories, as well as quest competition status and Senu's perception level. Activities tied to progression are reset, so things like Trials of the Gods and the Hippodrome won't be available until you unlock them as part of normal gameplay progression.
Additionally, you'll find the experience more difficult as the difficulty level will go up one notch compared to your previous campaign. So for example, Easy will go to Normal and Normal to Hard, etc. Enemy scaling is on by default in NG+, but you can deactivate it.
There will be a "unique reward" for when you beat the NG+ version of the game, but Ubisoft is keeping this a surprise for now. For a full, detailed breakdown of the NG+ mode, check out this FAQ on Ubisoft's website.
The second and final expansion for Origins, The Curse of the Pharaohs, is coming in March for all platforms. However, an update on February 27 will include a new quest, "Lights Among the Dunes," that serves as an introduction before the full expansion lands on March 6.
There was a wealth of amazing games to play in 2017. However, it seems 2018 is primed with its own roster of exciting new games, including big-budget adventures like Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Sea of Thieves, Kingdom Hearts III, Crackdown 3, and a whole lot more. To help you keep track of all the games coming out, we've compiled all the release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2018 so far.
Be sure to check back often as we update this article with more release dates or any potential changes to any of the dates below. And if you're eager to figure out the release dates from games last year, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2017.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime this year. There are also games listed that we expect to launch in 2018. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
Here's a run-through of what you can expect in the month of February, along with its most notable releases. For a full list of all the big games coming out during the rest of this year, check out our comprehensive 2018 game release date list.
Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) -- February 6
Shadow of the Colossus is a remake of the acclaimed 2005 classic. The game takes place in an ancient world, where a young boy named Wander must destroy 16 colossi in the hope of resurrecting a dead loved one. Developer Bluepoint Games has rebuilt the game from the ground up while maintaining its underlying structure and mechanics.
A Bayonetta 1-2 bundle was announced for Switch at last year's Game Awards. The bundle will come with a physical copy of Bayonetta 2, while the first game will be available digitally. Both are critically acclaimed action games from developer Platinum Games.
Metal Gear Survive (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- February 20
Metal Gear Survive is an action-adventure survival spinoff in the Metal Gear universe. It takes place sometime after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (in an alternate timeline, of course) and will include single-player, co-op, and multiplayer. It is the first Metal Gear game since series creator Hideo Kojima left Konami.
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V continues to receive new content for its online mode. The newest weekly update for GTA Online is out now, and it adds a new vehicle and offers sales and discounts on a number of items. Starting with the new vehicle, you can now purchase the Karin 190Z from Legendary Motorsport.
As you can see in the video below, it's a classic-looking sports car that has a classic, cheeky Rockstar description. "As elegant as the most refined Grotti and as classy as the suavest Ocelot, this Sports Classic is a cup of piping hot sake in the face of fifty years of complacency," reads a line from the description.
In terms of sales, Rockstar is offering 25 percent off Biker Business upgrades and supplies, while Special Cargo create are marked down by 25 percent this week. The sales go further still, with discounts available on vehicles, clothing, tattoos, yachts, and more.
Here is a rundown of what's on sale in GTA Online this week:
YACHTS, MOCs & MORE
All Yachts – 30% off
Yacht Renovations – 30% off
Mobile Operations Center Cabs – 30% off
Mobile Operations Center Renovations – 30% off
Bunker Renovations – 30% off
Aircraft Workshop – 25% off
HIGH-END VEHICLES
Ocelot Pariah (Sports) – 30% off
Ocelot XA-21 (Super) – 30% off
Coil Raiden (Sports) – 30% off
CLOTHING & TATTOOS
The Doomsday Heist clothing – 25% off
Import/Export tattoos – 25% off
GTA Online is also offering double GTA$ and RP for some Smuggler's Run missions, while Biker Business sales will pay out 25 percent extra GTA$ this week. We have also learned this week's Premium Race and Time Trial event; the Premium Race is "Damned," featuring the Ruiner 2000 vehicle, while the Time Trial is "Calafia Way." As always, the Premium Race rewards the top three finishers with GTA$, while everyone gets triple RP. For the Time Trial, you will earn double GTA$ and RP if you beat the par time.
Nintendo Switch owners may soon find themselves unable to use some of the console's online features for periods of time. Nintendo will once again be performing maintenance on Switch servers this week, which will take place over the next few days and affect various games and services.
The first round of server maintenance takes place tonight, February 20. It begins at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET and is scheduled to conclude at 7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET. Nintendo didn't specify which games and services will be impacted by this bout of downtime, except that online features for some titles "may become unavailable." While no specific games were singled out, it's safe to assume that online titles like Splatoon 2 could be impacted.
A second round of maintenance is slated to follow that later tonight, this one specifically for Minecraft. The maintenance is scheduled to begin at 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET and runs until 10:30 PM PT / 1:30 AM ET. During this window of time, "all network services" for the game will be unavailable.
Another maintenance period is scheduled to take place tomorrow, February 21. This round will last longer than the previous two, beginning at 8:50 PM and running until midnight PT. This will likewise impact online play for some unspecified titles.
One more round of maintenance will follow that on Monday, February 26. That is scheduled to run from 5-7 PM PT and will impact the Eshop, specifically players' ability to use credit cards to make purchases. You can read more about this week's scheduled Switch maintenance below and on Nintendo's support website.
Nintendo Switch Online Maintenance Schedule
Tuesday, February 20
Nintendo Switch / 3DS
From 5 PM - 7:30 PM Pacific Time
"Certain network services" may become unavailable
Minecraft
From 9 PM - 10:30 PM Pacific Time
All network services will be unavailable
Wednesday, February 21
Nintendo Switch
From 8:50 PM - 12 AM Pacific Time
"Certain network services" may become unavailable
Monday, February 26
Nintendo Switch Eshop
From 5 PM - 7 PM Pacific Time
Using credit cards unavailable
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