It's been nearly 10 years since Iron Man shot onto the big screen on May 2, 2008. Since then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown to include 18 films--including the upcoming Black Panther--and a long list of superheroes whose only goal is to keep the world safe.
In celebration of those ten years, Marvel Studios gathered its roster of stars and filmmakers for a class photo. "It felt like being at the Academy Awards or something," Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok) says in a behind-the-scenes video. "Every person has been in one or all of my favorite films."
While the photo is loaded with familiar faces, it's hard not to notice those that aren't there. Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgard--all of whom starred in the first two Thor films, with Skarsgard also appearing in Avengers--are nowhere to be seen.
Still, it's an impressive gathering of stars from the MCU's past, present, and future. Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, and Linda Cardellini--all of whom haven't been seen since 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron-- appear in the photo, and Brie Larson (2019's Captain Marvel) is there as well.
Clearly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe at 10 years old is massive and only growing more by the day. With no sign of slowing down, they are going to need room for a lot more people by the time they need to take the 20th anniversary photo.
Backwards compatibility remains a point of emphasis for Microsoft, and those efforts continue today. Although new additions to the Xbox One's backwards compatible library have been somewhat slow in the new year, today marks the release of another Xbox 360 game that's now playable on the current-gen console.
Splinter Cell: Conviction, the 2010 entry in Ubisoft's long-running stealth-action series, is now backwards compatible on Xbox One. If you already own the game physically, you can just pop the disc into your Xbox One to begin playing. Alternatively, if you own a digital copy, it'll now be located in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section. You can also purchase it through the Xbox Store, and perhaps not so coincidentally, it's actually included in this week's Xbox game deals. You can pick it up for $10/£4.49 from now through February 12, regardless of whether you're an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.
The game marked somewhat of a departure from the more stealth-oriented nature of its predecessors, which came as a disappointment to some series fans. Its campaign is enjoyable, if a bit on the short side, but the real highlight is the game's co-op mode; it allows you to play through a story that's separate from the main campaign with a friend, coordinating takedowns and supporting one another.
In our Splinter Cell: Conviction review, Kevin Van Ord wrote, "Stellar storytelling, fantastic co-op play, and rewarding executions make Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction a legitimately great game that delivers frequent surges of excitement."
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play original Xbox and Xbox 360 games on the current-gen console. But what games are available? We've rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available to the extensive list. More are added regularly, although new original Xbox games will be less common. [Updated February 8 with one more game.]
Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Lineup:
Xbox
New titles are bolded
Black
BloodRayne 2
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Dead to Rights
Fuzion Frenzy
Grabbed by the Ghoulies
The King of Fighters Neowave
Ninja Gaiden Black
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Psychonauts
Red Faction II
Sid Meier's Pirates
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Xbox 360
New titles are bolded
0 Day Attack on Earth
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
A Kingdom for Keflings
A World of Keflings
Aegis Wing
Age of Booty
Alan Wake
Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Alice: Madness Returns
Alien Hominid HD
Altered Beast
Anomaly Warzone Earth
Arkanoid Live
Army of Two
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed III
Assassin's Creed Revelations
Assassin's Creed Rogue
Assault Heroes 2
Asteroids & Deluxe
AstroPop
Aqua
Babel Rising
Band of Bugs
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts
Banjo Tooie
Banjo Kazooie
Batman: Arkham Origins
Battlefield: Bad Company
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield 3
BattleBlock Theater
Battlestations: Midway
Bayonetta
Beat'n Groovy
Bejeweled 2
Bejeweled 3
Bellator: MMA Onslaught
Beyond Good & Evil HD
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
BioShock
BioShock 2
BioShock Infinite
Bloodforge
Blood Knights
Blood of the Werewolf
BloodRayne: Betrayal
Blue Dragon
Bomberman Live: Battlefest
Boom Boom Rocket
Borderlands
Borderlands 2
Bound by Flame
Braid
Brain Challenge
Bullet Soul
Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst
Bully: Scholarship Edition
Burnout Paradise
Cabela's Alaskan Adventures
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
Cabela's Hunting Expeditions
Cabela's Survival: Shadows of Katmai
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 3
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Juarez Gunslinger
Capcom Arcade Cabinet
Carcassonne
Cars: Mater-National Championship
Cars 2
Castle Crashers
Castlestorm
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Catherine
The Cave
Centipede & Millipede
Child of Light
Civilization: Revolution
Clannad
Commanders: Attack of the Genos
Comic Jumper
Comix Zone
Condemned
Contra
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Crazy Taxi
Crystal Quest
Crystal Defenders
Cyber Troopers Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram
The Darkness II -- added January 30
Dark Souls
Dark Void
Darksiders
Darksiders II
Daytona USA
de Blob 2
Dead Rising 2: Case West
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Dead Space Ignition
Deadfall Adventures
Deadliest Warrior: Legends
Deadliest Warrior: The Game
Deadly Premonition
Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue
Defense Grid
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
Dig Dug
Dirt 3
Dirt Showdown
Discs of Tron
Disney Bolt
Disney Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Domino Master
Doom
Doom II
Doom 3: BFG Edition
Doritos Crash Course
Double Dragon: Neon
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon's Lair
Driver: San Franciso
DuckTales Remastered
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
Dungeon Siege III
E4: Every Extend Extra Extreme
Earthworm Jim HD
Earth Defense Force 2017
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Encleverment Experiment
Escape Dead Island
F1 2014
Fable Anniversary
Fable II
Fable II Pub Games
Fable III
Faery: Legends of Avalon
Fallout 3
Fallout: New Vegas
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy 2
Fighting Vipers
Final Fight: Double Impact
Flashback
Flock
Forza Horizon
Fret Nice
Frogger
Frogger 2
FunTown Mahjong
Galaga
Galaga Legions
Galaga Legions DX
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Gatling Gears
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
Gin Rummy
Girl Fight
Goat Simulator
Golden Axe
Go! Go! Break Steady
Golf: Tee It Up
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grid 2
Gripshift
Guardian Heroes
Gunstar Heroes
Guwange
Gyromancer
Gyruss
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo 3
Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition
Halo 4
Halo: Reach
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo Wars
Hard Corps: Uprising
Hardwood Backgammon
Hardwood Hearts
Hardwood Spades
Harms Way
Haunted House
Heavy Weapon
Hexic 2
Hexic HD
Hitman: Absolution
Hydro Thunder
I Am Alive
Ikaruga
Ilomilo
Injustice: Gods Among Us + disc-only Ultimate Edition
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos
Iron Brigade
Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
Jet Set Radio
Jetpac Refuelled
Jewel Quest
Joe Danger Special Edition
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Joust
Joy Ride Turbo
Juju
Jurassic Park: The Game
Just Cause 2
Kameo
Kane & Lynch 2
Killer Is Dead
The King of Fighters '98
The King of Fighters 2002
KOF Sky Stage
Lazy Raiders
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2
Lego Batman
Lego Indiana Jones
Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Limbo
Lode Runner
Lost Odyssey
Lumines Live!
Luxor 2
Mad Tracks
Magic: The Gathering 2012
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
Mars: War Logs
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
Matt Hazard: Blood, Bath, and Beyond
The Maw
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Meet the Robinsons
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 10
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug XX
Midway Arcade Origins
Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
Military Madness
Mirror's Edge
The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom -- added January 30
Missile Command
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
Monday Night Combat
Monkey Island: SE
Monkey Island 2: SE
Monopoly Deal
Moon Diver
Motocross Madness
Ms. Splosion Man
Ms Pac-Man
Mutant Blobs Attack
Mutant Storm Empire
Mutant Storm Reloaded
MX vs. ATV Reflex
N+
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Neogeo Battle Coliseum
Nights Into Dreams
Of Orcs and Men
Omega Five
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Operation Flashpoint: Red River
The Orange Box
Outland
Pac-Man
Pac-Man C.E
Pac-Man CE DX+
Pac-Man Museum
Peggle
Peggle 2
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark Zero
Persona 4 Arena
Phantasy Star II
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Pinball FX
Planets Under Attack
Plants vs. Zombies
Poker Smash
Portal: Still Alive
Portal 2
Prince of Persia
Pure
Putty Squad
Puzzle Quest
Puzzle Quest 2
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
QIX++ Puzzlegeddon
Rage
Raiden IV
Raskulls
Rayman 3 HD
Rayman Legends
Rayman Origins
Red Dead Redemption
Red Faction: Armageddon
Red Faction: Battlegrounds
RoboBlitz
Rocket Knight
R-Type Dimensions
Runner 2
Sacred 3
Sacred Citadel
Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row IV
Sam & Max: Beyond Time & Space
Sam & Max Save the World
Samurai Shodown II
Scarygirl
Scrap Metal
ScreamRide
Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl
Shadow Assault/Tenchu
Shadow Complex
Shadowrun
Shadows of the Damned
Shank 2
Shinobi
Shred Nebula
Shotest Shogi
Silent Hill: Downpour
Skate 3
Skullgirls
Skydive
Slender: The Arrival
Small Arms
Sniper Elite V2
Soltrio Solitaire
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic CD
Sonic The Fighters
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Soulcalibur
Soulcalibur II
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Space Ark
Space Giraffe
Space Invaders Infinity Gene
Spec Ops: The Line -- added January 30
Spelunky
The Splatters
Splinter Cell: Conviction -- added February 8
Split/Second
Splosion Man
SSX
Stacking
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Steins; Gate 比翼恋理のだーりん (Japan only)
Steins; Gate (オリジナル版) (Japan only)
Steins; Gate 線形拘束のフェノグラム (Japan-only, requires game disc)
Strania
Street Fighter IV
Stuntman: Ignition
Super Contra
Super Meat Boy
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition
Supreme Commander 2
Syberia
Tecmo Bowl Throwback
Tekken 6
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Texas Hold 'Em
Ticket to Ride
TimeShift
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Torchlight
Tour de France 2009
Tour de France 2011
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers Cold War
Toy Story 3
Tower Bloxx Deluxe
Trials HD
Trine 2
Tron: Evolution
Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon
Unbound Saga
Undertow
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Viva Piñata
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series
The Walking Dead: Season 2 - A Telltale Games Series
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries
The first trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story was finally released this week, and while didn't disappoint, it was also fairly light on story details. But Entertainment Weekly has now revealed a little more about what we can expect from the upcoming Star Wars spin-off, as well as showcasing some new images.
Director Ron Howard explained that much of the movie would focus on the relationship between Solo and his trusty Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca. "To me, this is a love story between Han and Chewie," he said. "Their relationship has always been my favorite part of the saga, and the fact that only Han understands what Chewie is saying, I find a very funny possibility for comedy."
EW also revealed that original Han Solo actor Harrison Ford was a secret advisor on the movie. Ford read the script an at early stage of pre-production and met with actor Alden Ehrenreich, who plays the young Han in the movie. "What [Ford] did so beautifully for Alden was he talked a lot about what he remembered when he first read Star Wars, and what George had done with Han," Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy said.
"Who the character was, and the conversations he had for so many years with George [Lucas] about how that character developed. He gave Alden that kind of insight which was invaluable. There were several times in the course of making the movie where Alden would actually recount some of the things that Harrison had pointed out. I think that was really, really helpful to him."
We also now know a little more about the new character Qi'Ra, played by Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke. The character was a close friend of Solo's when they were much younger, but Clarke hinted the older character we meet in the movie has some secrets.
"The whole way through, she is surviving," she said. "And surviving in the underworld that we know to be [filled with] smuggling, aloof gamblers, wrong-side-of-the-tracks nasty ones. If you have got a really glamorous lady in a really sordid environment you kind of know that maybe the glamour is hiding a few rough roads."
Solo: A Star Wars Story also stars Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, Donald Glover as Lando, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It hits theaters on May 25, 2018. Check out GameSpot's full Solo trailer breakdown here.
In related news, it was also announced this week that Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will write and produce a new series of Star Wars movies. Disney confirmed that these films will be separate from the current Skywalker saga and the trilogy of movies that Star Wars: The Last Jedidirector Rian Johnson is working on. "David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting."
Niantic is rolling out a new update for Pokemon Go very soon. Beginning February 9, players will be able to catch even more Pokemon originally from Ruby and Sapphire in the mobile game, while the Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza will be available for a limited time.
From February 9 to March 16, players will be able to encounter the powerful Dragon-type Pokemon as a Raid Battle at Gyms. Rayquaza is the third Legendary Pokemon from Gen 3 thus far, following Groudon (which was available from December-January) and the current Legendary Kyogre.
In addition to Rayquaza, Niantic is introducing another new wave of Hoenn Pokemon to Go. This wave consists primarily of Flying- and Dragon-types, such as Salamence, Altaria, Tropius, and Metagross. The previous batch of Gen 3 Pokemon included a number of Ground-types like Flygon, Aggron, and Camerupt.
With the new update, more than 100 Gen 3 Pokemon are now available in Pokemon Go. To celebrate the milestone, every Pokemon that players encounter in the wild from February 9-13 will originate from the Hoenn region. Niantic is also offering special boxes that include Raid Passes, Incubators, and Star Pieces from the in-game store until February 23.
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.
Last week's PlayStation Plus Specials sale may have ended, but a new selection of game deals are now available in the US PlayStation Store. This week, PS4, PS3, and Vita owners can find discounts on a handful of Ubisoft titles, as well as a variety of anime-based games from publisher Bandai Namco.
PS4 owners in particular have a lot of deals to choose from this week, as all of the Ubisoft-published games on sale right now are for the current-gen console. That includes the latest installment in the Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed Origins. The standard release is available for $40.19, while the Deluxe and Gold Editions run for $46.89 and $67, respectively.
Several other Assassin's Creed games are likewise on sale for PS4 this week. The standard version of Assassin's Creed Syndicate is $20 (while the Gold Edition is available for $28), Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection is $20, and the Assassin's Creed Trilogy Pack, which includes Syndicate along with Black Flag and Unity, is $40.49.
Are you ready to binge watch? The new week on Netflix brings new originals shows and movies, as well as a comedy special, a new season of an anime, and even The Emoji Movie--just in case you're interested in that sort of thing.
First and foremost, the second season of Fate/Apocrypha will begin streaming on February 9. The anime series based on the Japanese light novels debuted its first season on Netflix in November and is one of the many titles Netflix has as part of its massive anime offering.
On the originals front, February 7 sees the arrival of the first season of the streamer's Queer Eye reboot. The reality series follows five homosexual men as they give advice on fashion, food, grooming, and culture to those in dire need of it. The week will also see the arrival of Fred Armisen's new comedy special Standup For Drummers, and the latest episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. In it, Letterman sits down with George Clooney.
PS4 owners have two new games to download this month: the PS4 launch title Knack and the Ico-esque adventure game Rime. Additionally, one of last month's freebies, the PSVR shooter Starblood Arena, is also still available at no cost for PS Plus subscribers until March 6.
PS3 owners likewise have two games to choose from this month: the 2D platformer Spelunker HD and the turn-based RPG Mugen Souls Z. Those with a Vita, meanwhile, will be able to download the side-scrolling adventure game Exile's End and the tactical RPG Grand Kingdom for no cost. The latter is also playable on PS4 thanks to Cross-Buy, giving PS4 owners three potential freebies to download this month.
We're coming up on the first Valentine's Day since the launch of Destiny 2. Much as it did with the previous game, Bungie will mark the occasion with a special Crimson Days event that introduces a variety of new rewards to get your hands on.
Crimson Days begins on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on February 13. Like the Destiny 1 incarnation, it centers around a 2v2 Crucible gametype. You'll be playing a round-based Clash mode where staying close to your teammate causes your abilities to recharge faster. By moving away from your partner, you'll not only lose that buff, but the enemy will be notified about your whereabouts with a waypoint. You'll always have a marker to guide you to your teammate, which will be particularly useful when playing with random players, as you can join solo and be matched up with someone.
This is all played out on a new version of the Burning Shrine map. Called The Burnout, Bungie describes it as "set in a future timeline where the Vex have succeeded in altering our reality." You can get a glimpse of it in the gallery below.
Bungie says in a blog post that taking part in this playlist is the optimal way to get your hands on the event's new rewards, also noting that it's "tuned the experience to focus on rewarding single-character play." The Crimson Engram contains "most" of the new rewards and will not hand out any duplicates until you've obtained all of the new gear. The playlist isn't the only way to get items, however, as you'll get both a Crimson Engram and an Illuminated Engram each time you level up while playing any Destiny 2 activity during the event.
Crimson Engrams will only be obtainable through gameplay, meaning there shouldn't be any complaints that players are being pressured into purchasing them with real-world money. That said, you can purchase a "selection" of items directly from Eververse using Bright Dust. There's no cap on the number of Crimson Engrams you can earn, but you'll need to be at the level cap (20 for non-DLC owners, 25 for those with Curse of Osiris) in order to get the level-up reward Engrams. The rewards inside, including shaders from the event, can be dismantled into Bright Dust.
Bungie qualifies that "most" of the rewards come through the Engrams because there are also five others that are obtained in other ways. Things like an Exotic sparrow and Ornament can only be had through specific means. Here are the goals, as described by Bungie:
Complete the milestone Welcome to Crimson Days by finishing five Crimson Days matches and visiting Lord Shaxx in the Tower to earn the Fire of the Crimson Days Emblem and the Tirastrella Ghost Shell.
Complete matches in the Crimson Days Crucible playlist for a chance to earn the Undeterred Exotic Sparrow.
Complete either the Leviathan Raid or the Raid Lair: Eater of Worlds to claim the Dieselpunk Exotic Ornament for Wardcliff Coil from the final chest.
Complete the Nightfall Strike during the Crimson Days event to earn the Flaunting Dance Emote.
After a strong 2017 with prequel title Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Kiwami, Sega is continuing Kazuma Kiryu's journey through the Japanese underworld in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life this year. The game picks up some time after the events of Yakuza 5, with Kiryu returning to the Sunflower Orphanage to find Haruka is missing. Naturally, Kiryu takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of her disappearance, which inevitably embroils him in Yakuza politics once again.
We recently got to spend some hands-on time with Yakuza 6 and have put together a video of the first 30 minutes of gameplay for you to watch. It must be clarified that this isn't actually the opening of the game, as much of that is spent recounting the events of previous titles and catching players up on the various characters that have been involved in Kiryu's journey so far. This is instead the first significant chunk of gameplay that becomes available to the player.
As you'll be able to tell, it's a familiar setup to previous titles in the series, with players exploring a large, detailed depiction of Kamurocho to find missions, fight gangs of no-goodniks, engage in weird but entertaining side stories, and pump hours into activities such as bowling and karaoke. In the video, we get a decent look at a small slice of the game, mainly focused on combat and exploration, as well as an introduction to the main antagonists.
Early impressions are good, Kamurocho looks better than ever, there's a greater amount of voiced dialogue, and the game is overflowing with that eccentric Yakuza charm that fans love. Combat has also been streamlined to place less of an emphasis on switching styles, but still feels rewarding and, most importantly, brutal.
Following a period of downtime, developer Epic Games has launched the new update for Fortnite. It specifically deals with introducing new content and changes for the Battle Royale mode on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with Save the World mode set to receive some additions in the near future.
In terms of what's new in Battle Royale, update 2.4.2's biggest feature is a new weapon, the Crossbow. This was teased as a silent weapon recently in-game, and it's not only stealthy, but it also has another perk: It fires arrows, which are a new type of ammo that are unlimited in supply. Crossbows can be found as ground loot or in chests, with Rare and Epic versions also available. You can see a Valentine's-themed version of the weapon, as well as upcoming Valentine's skins, in the images below.
There are also changes to the current Limited-Time Mode, Shooting Test #1. It's been turned from a squad playlist into a solo activity, and some of its balance changes have been further altered. For instance, the shotgun now deals more damage when it headshots a player, while the Scoped Assault Rifle is now 100% accurate when you aim down the sights and doesn't have any damage falloff when firing at long range. However, be aware that Epic notes the mode currently has an issue where stat and challenge progress is not saved.
Save the World sees very little in the way of changes, with the new Valentine's Day event having to wait for the upcoming 2.5.0 patch. Epic also recently provided a brief preview of what to expect in the two patches that will follow that, including the launch of the Spring It On event. You can also check out the full patch notes for the 2.4.2 patch here.
Monster Hunter World released for PS4 and Xbox One last month, but one of the biggest incentives to pick the game up on Sony's console is an exclusive set of Horizon Zero Dawn DLC armor. The gear has been available since launch through a limited-time Event Quest, but it won't be around for much longer.
The first round of Monster Hunter World's Horizon collaboration event ends at 3:59 PT / 6:59 ET / 11:59 UTC on February 8, making this your last opportunity to embark on the quest. The mission is called Lessons of the Wild, and it's a five-star quest available to players who've attained a Hunter Rank of 6 or higher. The object is to hunt eight Barnos, which will net you the materials needed to craft the Watcher armor and Felyn Watcher Grinder weapon for your Palico. You can take a look at the gear below.
While the Lessons of the Wild quest sounds simple on paper, you'll also have to contend with a Tzitzi-Ya-Ku during the mission. Once you've defeated the Barnos and gathered the required materials, you can forge the Watcher gear at the Smithy. For more details on how to craft the armor, we've put together a guide on exactly how to get Monster Hunter World's Horizon Palico gear.
The second round of the Horizon event begins at the end of the month, on February 28, and runs until March 5. Capcom hasn't detailed what that quest will entail or what Hunter Rank you'll need to reach in order to accept it, but your reward will be materials to craft Aloy's Bow and armor set. When the latter is equipped, it will change your hunter's appearance to look like the Horizon protagonist.
While the Horizon Zero Dawn gear is exclusive to the PS4 version of Monster Hunter World, all players will be able to get the recently announced Street Fighter V crossover costumes. An upcoming Event Quest will reward players with materials to craft Ryu and Sakura costumes for their hunter. Capcom hasn't announced what date the Event Quest will begin, but PS4 players who have a save file for Street Fighter V on their consoles will be able to embark on the mission before everyone else.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom makes its long-awaited debut on PS4 and PC next month, and it's shaping up to be one of the biggest RPGs of 2018. Despite being a follow-up to 2013's beloved PS3 game, Wrath of the White Witch, Revenant Kingdom is a bold departure for the series, featuring a new cast of characters, a completely revamped combat system, and even kingdom-building and real-time strategy elements.
Set hundreds of years after the events of the first Ni no Kuni, Revenant Kingdom follows the story of Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, the deposed boy-king of Ding Dong Dell. After his throne is usurped, Evan embarks on a journey to prove his worth as a king and found his own kingdom, befriending a new band of companions along the way, including Tani, daughter of the head Sky Pirate, and Roland, a mysterious swordsman hailing from another world.
The biggest difference between Revenant Kingdom and its predecessor is the game's battle system, which trades the Pokemon-like Familiars of the original Ni no Kuni for elemental sprites called Higgledies. Battles also unfold in real-time in Ni no Kuni II, placing a much greater emphasis on action than the previous title. You can get a closer look at these changes in the video above, in which we take on one of Ni no Kuni II's never-before-seen bosses, the Incineraptor. The fire-spewing dragon puts up a tough fight; on top of being able to fly across the battlefield, it can take to the sky and rain meteors down on the field.
We also got to try our hand at Skirmishes, a new type of battle in Ni no Kuni II. Unlike our encounter with the Incineraptor, Skirmishes unfold on the game's overworld, where every character takes on a more chibi-like appearance. These battles place you in command of a small band of troops and task you with routing an opposing army, lending Ni no Kuni II some real-time strategy elements. You can see us battle against an army of the bandit-like whamsters in the video below.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom launches for PS4 and PC on March 23. The game is being released in standard, Premium, and Collector's Editions; the latter two include physical bonuses and the Ni no Kuni II season pass, which gives players access to two "large DLC releases." The season pass can also be purchased separately for $20. For more on the game, check out our complete Ni no Kuni II coverage.
The first trailer for Venom has arrived. The movie focuses on the character taken from Marvel's Spider-Man comics, an alien symbiote who takes over a photographer named Eddie Brock. Tom Hardy plays Brock, and the movie hits theaters in October.
The trailer doesn't give much away, but it feels more like a dark sci-fi thriller than comic book movie. It shows Hardy waking up in a hospital, presumably after Venom has taken over his body. There's the discovery of some sort of alien ship, a hint of the powers that Venom has given Brock, and while we don't seen Venom himself, there is a quick shot of the gooey black matter that forms the creature. Check it out below:
The trailer follows the first poster, which was revealed yesterday. Venom releases on October 5, 2018, and also stars Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams, and Woody Harrelson. Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer is directing.
Although Sony made a deal with Disney in 2015 to allow Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the former studio still retains the overall movie rights to characters from the comics. In terms of other Spidey spin-offs, Venom will be followed by Silver & Black. That movie will focus on Silver Sable and the Black Cat and is currently set for a February 8, 2019 release.
Update 2: Fortnite is back online, and the 2.4.2 update is now available. The new Crossbow weapon is now available in Battle Royale, among other things.
Update: Fortnite's servers are currently down to prepare for its upcoming update. We'll update when the game is back online. Original story follows.
Epic Games is bringing down Fortnite's servers soon ahead of the release of a new patch coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The studio announced on Twitter today that matchmaking for Battle Royale will go down starting at 4:25 AM ET / 7:25 AM PT on February 8. Total downtime across the game will then begin at 4:50 AM ET / 7:50 AM PT.
The developer did not say how long it anticipates the downtime will run for, but we'll report back with more details as they become available.
Ready to feel the love? Downtime for Patch V.2.4.2 will begin on February 8 at 4:50AM ET(0950 GMT). Matchmaking for Battle Royale will be disabled at 4:25AM ET(0925 GMT).
The downtime comes just ahead of the launch of Fortnite's 2.4.2 update. As announced previously, this update will add Valentine's Day-themed skins, as well as a Crossbow that fires arrows with unlimited supply. Bug fixes are also included in the new patch, while shotgun headshot damage will be 200 percent instead of 150 percent.
For lots more on the new Fortnite patch, check out GameSpot's previous report that covers more of what to expect in the new update.
Epic Games has also announced the next two Fortnite updates. 2.5.0 will see the launch of its Valentine's Day event, which includes a new questline described as "a love story, told the Fortnite way." After that, update 3.0.0 will bring an overhaul to the game's music, while patch 3.1.0 will bring another week of Sprint It On content, improvements to the quest map, and more.
Konami has announced another Metal Gear Survive beta, which is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC next week. The trial--which marks the first opportunity for PC players to try the game--starts on February 16 and ends on February 18.
The beta will include three missions set across two maps, and you can play the game in co-op with up to four players during the beta period. Special daily missions will also be offered over the three days. Those who take part will receive a FOXHOUND name plate, Metal Gear Rex Head accessory, and a bandana--all of which are cosmetic items that can be equipped to your in-game avatar. It's unclear if there will be a way to unlock these without having played the beta.
This new beta follows another that came in January, though that was only for PS4 and Xbox One. We don't yet know if the maps and missions on offer this time are the same as those playable last month.
Lara Croft is one of the greatest video game characters ever created, but the two films based on the Tomb Raider games that were released in the early 2000s were extremely disappointing. Hopes are high that the upcoming movie reboot Tomb Raider will finally deliver on the promise of the games.
Two new posters for the movie have now been released. They follow the theme of the poster released in December and not the one from a few months earlier, which drew a criticism from fans for making star Alicia Vikander's neck look weird. Check them out below:
These posters follow the latest trailer, which was released last month. Tomb Raider hits theaters on March 16, 2018, and it also stars Dominic West (The Wire), Walton Goggins (Sons of Anarchy, The Hateful Eight), and Daniel Wu (Warcraft). The director is Roar Uthaug, who previously helmed the acclaimed disaster movie The Wave.
It In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last year, Vikander spoke about taking on the role of Lara Croft and what would set her apart from both the Lara of the games, as well as Angelina Jolie's previous movie portrayal. "She has all the fierce, tough, curious, intelligent traits," she said. "But we've stripped away all of her experience. She hasn't gone on an adventure just yet. She thought she was a stuck up businessperson living in the modern youth culture of suburban London, but then this whole box of information. This is the beginning."
The full trailer for the second season of Jessica Jones has been released. The Marvel Netflix show sees Kristen Ritter return as the troubled, hard-drinking private detective, who is forced to deal with consequences of her traumatic experiences in Season 1. Check it out above.
Jessica Jones Season 2 hits Netflix on March 8. The show also stars Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, and Leah Gibson. David Tennant is set to make a return as the villainous Kilgrave too, although given his fate in Season 1, it's not yet clear how exactly.
Last year, Jessica Jones showrunner Melissa Rosenberg spoke about her plans for Season 2 and revealed that her time on the acclaimed serial killer drama Dexter was influencing her approach. "I learned from working on Dexter that you can advance the character, but you never want to cure the character," she said. "With Dexter, the moment he felt guilt or accepted that he was 'bad,' the show's over. He's no longer a sociopath.
"The equivalent for us would be if Jessica somehow recovered from the damage that had been done to her. People don't just heal, you don't go through that just to say, 'Oh, he got arrested, he's in jail, I'm OK now.' That trauma is a huge part of who she is now. She was kind of messed up even before Kilgrave came along, and so in Season 2 we can explore what's possible for her moving forward."
Following yesterday's Flashdance-inspired poster, a new promo for Deadpool 2 has arrived. It's not quite a trailer, but given the inventive marketing campaign so far, it might be as near as we get. It puts the spotlight on time-travelling cyber-mercenary Cable, played by Josh Brolin.
The video kicks off like a generic superhero trailer, giving us a bit of Cable's backstory, before Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) steps in and recreates the rest with dolls while the movie's VFX crew finish off their work on Cable's robotic arm. We then get a quickly cut montage of action from the movie, including the first proper footage of Domino (Zazie Beetz). There's also a hilarious reference to the problems caused by Superman's infamous mustache in Justice League. Check it out above, and then head over to our Deadpool 2 trailer breakdown.
Deadpool 2 also stars Morena Baccarin, TJ Miller, and Brianna Hildebrand. David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) is directing, replacing Tim Miller, who reportedly clashed with Reynolds over the direction of the movie.
In related news, the troubled and much-delayed X-Men spin-off Gambit has now been removed entirely from the studio's schedule. The movie lost director Gore Verbinski last month; he is the third director to quit the project over the past couple of years. The Channing Tatum-starring film was due to start production this year ahead of a June 2019 release, but it is now unknown if or when this will happen.
Disney launches its streaming service in 2019, and as well as making many of its movies and TV shows available, the studio is planning to develop new shows exclusively for the service. Inevitably one of these is to be a Star Wars live-action series. Disney boss Bob Iger has now revealed that the studio is in fact developing more than one Star Wars show.
During Disney's quarterly investors call, Iger stated that it won't be long before we get more details about the studio's plans. "We are developing not just one, but a few Star Wars series specifically for the Disney direct to consumer app," he said, via Collider. "We've mentioned that and we are close to being able to reveal at least one of the entities that is developing that for us. Because the deal isn't completely closed, we can't be specific about that, [but] I think you'll find the level of talent on the television front will be rather significant as well."
A Star Wars live-action show was in development for several years prior to Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. Star Wars creator George Lucas was planning a series called Underworld, that was to take place between Episode III and Episode IV, and reportedly 50 scripts were written before the Disney deal canceled the project.
In related news, it was also announced this week that Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will write and produce a new series of Star Wars movies. Disney confirmed that these films will be separate from the current Skywalker saga and the trilogy of movies that Star Wars: The Last Jedidirector Rian Johnson is working on. "David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting."
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games and 2K Games, reported earnings for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2017. It's good times for the company, as it posted gains for revenue, while GTA V's online mode continued to make a lot of money.
During the holiday season, GTA Online and NBA 2K18 set records for "recurrent consumer spending." This is Take-Two's terminology to describe revenue from microtransactions, subscriptions, DLC, and other forms of digital content.
Take-Two CFO Lainie Goldstein said during an earnings call that the company is committed to recurrent consumer spending. The goal for the company, as it has stated for years now, is to have all of its games feature microtransactions in some form. This would also include Red Dead Redemption 2, though no specific details on how microtransactions may be featured in that game have been announced.
Regarding microtransactions in general, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said, "We're focused on players, not payers." Giving people great content for free is part of what is making GTA Online so successful, he added. Zelnick went on to say that when you create compelling content, "the monetisation will take care of itself."
Additionally, GTA V the base game continues to see "robust ongoing sales," which is remarkable given that the title originally launched back in 2013. GTA V has shipped more than 90 million copies, Take-Two announced today, making it one of the most commercially successful games ever in the United States.
In December 2017, GTA Online set a new player record. More people played GTA Online during the month than ever before in the game's history, Take-Two said. The game is enduringly successful, Take-Two said, due in part to Rockstar's commitment to regularly releasing new and engaging content such as the Doomsday Heist and content themed around Halloween and Christmas.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick at one time referred to GTA Online as "the gift that keeps on giving" as it relates to the money it makes from the game's microtransactions.
Given the massive success of GTA Online, it stands to reason that Rockstar's next big game, this October's Red Dead Redemption 2, may offer something similar. All that we know for sure, however, is that the western will have a "brand-new online multiplayer experience."
Take-Two's net revenue for the quarter was $480.8 million, up from $476.5 million during the same period last year. Revenue from recurrent consumer spending jumped by 64 percent year-over-year and made up 32 percent of Take-Two's total net revenue. Unsurprisingly, GTA Online was called out as one of the main contributors.
Take-Two's profit for the quarter was $25.1 million, which is down from $29.8 million during the same period last year. Similar to many other companies, Take-Two incurred an tax expense related to Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22. Take-Two's expense for this was $11.9 million, so the company would have made a profit instead of a loss under normal circumstances.
During an earnings call, Take-Two shared some further details on the company's performance during the quarter. Here are some takeaways:
NBA 2K18 has sold 8 million copies and is expected to become 2K's best-selling sports game ever.
Management said the WWE brand remains popular so there is an opportunity in the future to release more games. However, Take-Two did not share a sales number for WWE 2K8.
Take-Two reaffirmed that a "highly anticipated new title from one of 2K's biggest franchises" is still on the way. This is likely a reference to Borderlands 3.
Take-Two has been impressed with the success of the Switch so far. The company will consider bringing more titles to it where it makes sense.
It looks like tomorrow's big Overwatch Year of the Dog update will also include a welcome new feature. Starting tomorrow, February 8, you will have the option to change your character's skin at the start of a match. This is a feature that fans have been asking for, so it's nice to see it finally come to the game.
You can see an animated GIF of this below, which Blizzard shared on Twitter today when it announced the new feature. The footage below is from the PC edition, but Blizzard confirmed on Twitter that the feature will also be available on PS4 and Xbox One.
Fashion-forward heroes, rejoice! 👏 👏 Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to change skins at the start of a match. pic.twitter.com/XNweMKFZFw
The developer also clarified that you can only change at the start of a match, not when it's already in progress. Some worried that changing mid-match could interrupt the flow of play if people hung around too long deciding on a skin before jumping back in to play.
This new skin-changing feature is coming to Overwatch tomorrow, February 8, which is also when the Year of the Dog event kicks off. As announced previously, this event adds a new map set in Thailand and made specifically for Capture the Flag. It is the first Overwatch map made specifically for Capture the Flag.
As you'd expect, Year of the Dog skins are coming to Overwatch as well in the update. Check back with GameSpot soon to see a breakdown of the new skins.
One major trend in game currently is the Battle Royale experience. PUBG really put this on the map, while Epic's Fortnite: Battle Royale is another example. Other games will surely follow, or add Battle Royale modes to their existing formula, and now the publisher Take-Two Interactive has responded to the Battle Royale phenomenon. Speaking on an earnings call today, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick it has been "really interesting" to see the explosion in popularity around the Battle Royale genre. However, Zelnick pointed out that Take-Two, comprising its labels Rockstar Games and 2K Games, generally speaking wants to blaze its own trail instead of being "derivative" by following in the footsteps of something that came before it.
"I would just observe that someone else's success is really interesting and we are obviously informed by what our competitors do. But our goal is to be as innovative as possible," Zelnick said. "And titles, even really good titles that are derivative, never seem to do as well as innovations that are unexpected."
As an example, Zelnick pointed to Red Dead Redemption. He said many might have bet against this game, which was released in 2010, because at the time the thinking was that Westerns couldn't be successful. That game ended up being a smash hit, critically and commercially, leading to a huge amount of hype around this year's sequel.
"When we came out with the first Red Dead Redemption, the conventional wisdom was was that Westerns don't work," Zelnick said. "It had been an awfully long time since a Western-themed video game had come out. Rockstar took a massive creative risk and the result was extraordinary."
Zelnick went on to say that he doesn't anticipate that Rockstar and 2K would be all that enthusiastic about being "derivative" with what they make. However, Zelnick acknowledged that if gamers are calling for a PUBG-like game, Take-Two might bring it to them. "Of course we play in the world and we're informed by what's going on. It is our job to bring consumers what they want," Zelnick said.
For what it's worth, GTA Online, the multiplayer mode for GTA V, has a PUBG-style mode called Motor Wars. In this mode (watch our extended gameplay video embedded above), players parachute in to a map and fight to do the death. It's called Motor Wars because the focus is more on vehicular combat that boots-on-the-ground fighting.
For more on today's Take-Two news, check out the stories linked below.
Seagate has announced the next of its special edition game drives, this one themed around Rare's upcoming Xbox One and PC pirate game Sea of Thieves. The 2 TB drive is pretty cool-looking, featuring the "Reaper's Mark" logo on the purple case.
It also comes with in-game content in the form of the weapon The Midnight Blunderbuss, which I am also calling dibs on now for my sludge-rock band that I want to form. Additionally, it includes a one-month Xbox Game Pass membership. That's notable because, with that membership, you'll be able to get Sea of Thieves at launch on March 20 at no extra cost because first-party Xbox games are now launching into Game Pass right away. However, you must keep your subscription active or buy the game outright to continue playing after the first month.
Seagate says the drive's USB 3.0 speed means you won't notice any slowdown for games playing off the drive compared to the Xbox One's internal hard drive. The $90 Sea of Thieves drive launches on March 20 alongside the game.
In other news, Xbox has announced a $75 Sea of Thieves Xbox One controller, which is shipping to retailers now. It also features the Reaper's Mark logo and it comes with the Ferryman Clothing Set, which you can unlock in the game on March 20. Also included are 14-day trials for Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass.
And related to that, Microsoft also announced the "Xbox Pro Charging Stand" from Controller Gear. Described as a "premium charging stand," it comes with a battery cover, a rechargeable battery, and a six-foot power cord. launches on April 5 for $50. Finally, Controller Gear is also launching a $15 standard controller stand featuring the same design. You can see all of the newly announced Sea of Thieves devices in the gallery above.
Update 2: A representative for Bandai Namco told GameSpot, "Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. cannot confirm nor deny rumors or speculation about its products."
Update: In the same LinkedIn bio, the developer claims it's working on Ridge Racer 8, a game which has so far not been announced. The bio describes the title as a "drift-based high speed car racing [game] exclusive to the Nintendo Switch." Original story follows.
It looks like Japanese publisher Bandai Namco is working on a new first-person shooter/adventure game that will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. A developer at Bandai Namco's Singapore studio posted on their LinkedIn page that they are working on an "Unannounced IP (First Person Shooter/Adventure Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch)."
It's intriguing to think about Bandai Namco, which hasn't done all that much in the FPS space, making a game in the genre that is exclusive to Switch. The company published the shooter Get Even in 2017, though it is perhaps best known for its non-FPS franchises like Dragon Ball, Dark Souls, and Tekken.
A scene from Bandai Namco's Get Even
During a Bandai Namco earnings briefing in November last year, management talked about how the company is adding more resources to Switch game development. President Mitsuaki Taguchi said, according to the Wall Street Journal, "It's a shame, but we didn't think the Switch [would] be accepted this fast."
Bandai Namco Singapore's jobs page shows at least five open positions. However, none of the listings say what kind of game the candidate would be working on. The job ads call for people with experience working on AAA games. We have contacted Bandai Namco in an attempt to get more details. We'll report back with more details as they come to light.
One high-profile upcoming Switch release from Bandai Namco is Dark Souls: Remastered, which is due out in May. It will include the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, along with a better frame rate and improved resolution.
Last week, Rockstar Games delayed Red Dead Redemption 2 for the second time, pushing the much-anticipated western to October 2018. Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, today held its first earnings call since that announcement. CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on the delay, reiterating what Rockstar said--that it needed more time to polish the game--adding some further words of his own on the news. Perhaps most notably, Zelnick said he is "confident" that the game won't be delayed again.
"The entire focus of this organisation is on delivering the highest quality entertainment experiences of any kind," Zelnick said. "More often than not, we feel proud that we're able to do that. All of our labels are focused on releasing a title when they reach that apex of effort and perfection. And in this instance, Rockstar Games felt more polish was required, and naturally we are in favour of that decision [to delay Red Dead Redemption 2]. The date of October 26 is set, and I am confident that will be the release date. We are incredibly excited about it."
Red Dead Redemption 2 was previously scheduled for a springtime release. Regarding its new date, Zelnick said Take-Two as a company has experience releasing games throughout the year. The holiday season, however, can be advantageous, Zelnick said, as consumers tend to spend more during that time of the year. And while Red Dead Redemption 2 will go up against new instalments in the Battlefield and Call of Duty franchises, there is less competition than there was a decade ago, Zelnick observed.
"We release titles all over the calendar. Heading into the holiday season can be a particularly powerful time and I'd observe that while there are some competitive releases, it's a lot more of an open field today then it was 10 years ago," he said. "There's plenty of opportunity to go around So we're really excited about [Red Dead Redemption 2] and the timing related to the launch."
Finally, Zelnick discussed Rockstar's ambition to never rest on its laurels but instead continually push forward with new and innovative ideas. Rockstar stands alone in this regard, Zelnick argued.
"[Rockstar Games] never ever rests on the past and is utterly focused on innovation and breaking barriers, with an eye towards an amazing entertainment experience," he said. "It's easy for me to say those words [but] exceedingly hard to do. And I would argue impossible for others to replicate [what Rockstar Games does]. What we mostly feel around here is a sense of enormous gratitude to our colleagues at Rockstar Games…"
Zelnick went on to say that Take-Two, as a company, is not driven by financial considerations as its main focus.
"A genuine, not financially driven commitment to quality comes first," Zelnick said. "Thankfully, we run what we believe is a highly rational, exceedingly disciplined business environment, which gives people who are creative a very safe place to do their very best work."
A new update for Fortnite is on the way soon, and it features new content for the explosively popular, free-to-play Battle Royale mode on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Epic Games has provided a full rundown on what to expect from update 2.4.2, as well as a look at what's coming soon. [Update: The new Fortnite update is out now.]
For Battle Royale players, new Valentine's Day-themed skins are being added, as you can see in the image below. More significantly, the update marks the addition of the new "silent" weapon that's been teased by the New Updates screen recently. That's turned out to be the Crossbow, which fires arrows, a new ammo type that is unlimited in supply. It can be found in treasure chests or as loot on the ground; Rare and Epic versions are also available.
This patch also features some bug fixes for Battle Royale, such as preventing players from sliding off of rooftops and dealing with a collision issue related to corners in basements. It also updates the recently launched Shooting Test #1 Limited-Time mode. Rather than being a squad activity, it'll now only be playable solo. Headshots with shotguns will now do 200% damage (rather than 150%), and the Scoped Assault Rifle gets some buffs. Additionally, Epic notes that it's aware that stat and challenge progress is not saved when playing the mode, so you may not want to bother with it in the meantime if that's a concern for you.
As noted recently, the Valentine's Day event for Fortnite's co-op mode, Save the World, had to be pushed back. The upcoming 2.5.0 patch will see the launch of its Valentine's Day event, which includes a new questline described as "a love story, told the Fortnite way." There are new heroes tied to the event, as well as the Cupid Crossbow weapon. Separate from that, there's a new "reactive" quest type and an option to increase the difficulty to receive better rewards.
Subsequently, update 3.0.0 will launch the Spring It On event and bring an overhaul to the game's music, while patch 3.1.0 will bring another week of Sprint It On content, improvements to the quest map, and more. You can check out the full patch for update 2.4.2, as well as previews of the following patches, on Epic's website. In the meantime, you can see the newly added Fortnite skins.
Cryptocurrency mining has been dominating headlines when it comes to the PC hardware world with GPU prices rising well beyond MSRP. But the current market for video cards has reached a new level with vendors selling cards in packs of six on Amazon and Newegg. Anything from Nvidia's GeForce GTX 10 series and AMD's RX 400/500 series are available in bundles. It hasn't stopped there; PC cases designed to house up to eight video cards at once are have also hit the marketplace.
When taking the average cost per unit, the inflated prices of individual cards are reflected in the bundles. The aforementioned GTX 1080 Founder's Edition six-pack costs $1,050 per card, which is exactly its price for the same model on Newegg (keep in mind that MSRP is $550). However, these Amazon and Newegg bundles aren't necessarily about saving money. Instead, it's an easy way for miners to scoop up multiple cards and skirt around retailer limits on how many individual units you can purchase at once.
To further cater to cryptocurrency miners, PC cases specifically for mining have been surfacing on retailer websites. These cases sport open-air designs with up to 19 video card slots, which almost look like server racks. Manufacturers also have no qualms advertising their cases alongside explicit calls to certain currencies like Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Altcoin.
One of the several multi-GPU cases specifically designed for cryptocurrency mining.
When we caught up with CyberpowerPC (a pre-built PC manufacturer) at CES 2018, the company mentioned that it cannot raise the prices of its systems even as video cards become increasingly scarce and expensive. Companies like CyberpowerPC operate on strict pricing guidelines. This appears to be the case with other vendors. For example, Dell is offering its Alienware Aurora PC with a GTX 1080 for $1400 ($1260 after a coupon code). Meanwhile, the card itself is selling for $1050, nearly covering the price of the system itself. In theory, those looking for a specific video card without breaking the bank could purchase a pre-built system, pull the video card, and resell the rest of the system. If you're looking for a new PC entirely, it seems that pre-built systems are the way to go for now.
The cryptocurrency game is changing by the day, but the GPU market remains in a state like it's never been before. Check out our previous look at current video card prices against their original MSRP to get an idea of how much the market has changed recently. For more on how these cards perform in games, be sure to read through our reviews of the GTX 1080, GTX 1060, RX 580, and RX 570.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment