Call of Duty: WWII is rolling out its latest community event, along with a long list of content updates and additions for players. This includes a new re-imagining of a classic multiplayer map and a game mode where you hunt a terrifying enemy: a leprechaun.
The St. Patrick's Day event, called Shamrock & Awe, starts now and goes until April 3. There is St. Patrick's Day-themed gear, which you can see in the video above, and the introduction of two new weapons: the M-38 Submachine Gun and the MG 81 Light Machine Gun. There are St. Patrick's Day variants of both guns, available for a limited time, but other variants of the guns will be around after the community event ends.
Shamrock & Awe also comes with a new game mode called The Leprechaun Hunt Moshpit, which puts a twist on the traditional Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Domination modes; a zombie leprechaun will now be hiding somewhere in each map. Any player who kills the creature will be rewarded by having all their equipped Scorestreaks filled and ready to deploy. The mode will be available as a Featured Public Match playlist through the community event and will also offer 2XP from 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT on March 16 until 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT on March 19.
Another new map is available to download for free starting today, providing you have the WWII Season Pass. Shipment 1944 is a re-imagining of the classic close-quarters multiplayer map. It'll be available for free to everyone starting March 16.
On top of the community event, developer Sledgehammer Games has also rolled out new content and bug fixes in its latest update. Here are some of the key changes that have just been rolled out in the game:
Increased number of weapons and premium content per update - New ranged weapons, more cosmetic weapon variants, and themed uniforms with a commitment to double-down on these categories moving forward.
More ways to earn weapons – A variety of paths to obtain the most-wanted weapons and weapon variants in-game as more will be made available via Orders and Contracts, in addition to existing Weapon Collections and Supply Drops.
Lowered duplicate rates – A reduction to the frequency of duplicates you'll receive within Supply Drops to deliver more new content in every drop.
Rebalanced category reward rates – A wider variety of content categories within every drop, which will make the unboxing experience more satisfying.
New special orders - After feedback that certain weapons were available only via Common Supply Drops and difficult to get, these are moving into Special Orders so that they are easier to access.
New categories of items – More ways to customize your solider and loadout with the introduction of weapon charms, camos, and reticles.
Content changes – T removal of gold foil calling cards, and no more new pistol grips to the loot pool.
Armory drops – A new Supply Drop type "Armory Drops," which will function a lot like Bribes but can be obtained for Armory Credits to provide yet another way to get content.
Following a slight delay, the second and final DLC expansion for Assassin's Creed Origins is finally here. The Curse of the Pharaohs has launched for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, introducing a new story, environments, and other content to the stealth-action game.
Unlike Origins' previous DLC expansion, The Curse of the Pharaohs features a brand-new storyline that's set four years after the events of the main game. Players again assume the role of Bayek, who has embarked on a journey to the ancient city of Thebes to investigate a curse plaguing the region. Along the way, he'll battle a variety of mythological beasts and famous Egyptian pharaohs, including Nefertiti and giant scorpions.
"The Curse of the Pharaohs immerses players in Egyptian mythology, challenging them to battle famous pharaohs and mystical beasts as they investigate the temples of Karnak and Luxor, and the secret tombs of the Valley of the Kings to uncover the cause of the curse that has brought dead pharaohs back to life," reads Ubisoft's press release. You can watch the launch trailer for the expansion below.
The Curse of the Pharaohs was originally slated to release on March 6, but Ubisoft delayed it by one week in order to "deliver the best experience possible to our players." Those who've purchased the Assassin's Creed Origins season pass will receive the DLC at no additional charge; everyone else will be able to download it separately for $20.
Ubisoft recently rolled out a New Game Plus mode for Assassin's Creed Origins, which features a "unique reward" for players who are able to overcome its challenges. The publisher also released the combat-free Discovery Tour mode, allowing players to explore the world of Egypt at their own pace and take guided "tours" that were created with the help of history experts.
Now, nine new photos from the movie have been released to give fans a better idea of what it looks like when a universe of superheroes comes together. Marvel Studios released the images on Twitter, showing several team-ups that are going to make this movie wildly entertaining.
Take the foursome of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and Wong (Benedict Wong), for instance. The pure snark in a group like that is going to be off the charts. There are also some interesting details to take away from the photos. For instance, Rhodey (Don Cheadle) clearly never regained the full use of his legs after crashing in his War Machine armor in Captain America: Civil War. In a photo with Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), he is clearly wearing mechanized leg braces to help him. There are also looks at both Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston)--villains in the movie.
Another photo shows the exciting possibilities of adding characters from Black Panther into the Avengers crew. While the trailers for Infinity War have shown a battle taking place in Wakanda, one of these images lets T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) genius sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) get in on the action as she meets with Bruce. Putting those two brains together in one room will surely lead to something amazing.
This Friday, March 16, Alicia Vikander steps into the role of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, the third movie based on the fictional archaeologist. Only this time, instead of toting twin pistols, she's notching a bow and arrow.
The most recent video games and film constitute a reboot, and they cover Lara's younger years, when she was more of a survivor than a matured heroine. But these aren't the first new interpretations the character's had over the years. Here's a brief history of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft from her humble beginnings to today.
24. Preliminary Sketch of Lara Croft
Date: 1995
Toby Gard was the creator of Lara Croft. Here is an early sketch of what would eventually become the famous English archaeologist. Gard originally envisioned her as a South American woman named Laura Cruz, and already, signature elements of her look--her arched eyebrows, her long braid--were in place. Her breasts were also notably smaller; they got much bigger during Tomb Raider's production phase, when Gard accidentally enlarged them by 150%. The rest of the team pushed to keep the alteration, and it stuck.
Image Credit: Living Tomb Raider
23. Tomb Raider
Date: 1996
The original Tomb Raider is widely considered a classic game. It combined cinematic gameplay--the type that would later be co-opted by Uncharted--with atmospheric tension. Tomb Raider was an Indiana Jones adventure serial for a new generation, and Lara became an immediate gaming icon, prompting both praise and critical think pieces. But Gard left the series after this first installment. He was displeased with how Lara's sexuality was being marketed outside of the game; he wanted to work on her characterization. He would finally get that chance one decade later.
Image Credit: Square Enix
22. Nathalie Cook
Date: 1996-1997
From the very beginning, Eidos hired real-life models to play Lara Croft in photoshoots and promotional live events. Nathalie Cook was the first of these models; prior to her job as Lara, she was a live-action Snow White for Disney. She wasn't given much direction about how to perform the character--just that she was supposed to be "badass" and "kick-ass."
Image Credit: Square Enix
21. Tomb Raider II
Date: 1997
Despite lacking Gard's creative input, Tomb Raider II was the equal of its predecessor, and sold close to 8 million copies. The graphics were improved, the levels were more massive, and the puzzles were more abstract. With two critically acclaimed, commercially successful games under its belt, Eidos had a booming franchise on its hands.
Image Credit: Square Enix
20. Rhona Mitra
Date: 1997-1998
The next real-life model Eidos hired to portray Lara was Rhona Mitra. She even released two albums in-character as Lara Croft, with the help of Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. This was the era of Lara Croft saturation; several years later, the bubble would burst.
Image Credit: Square Enix
19. Tomb Raider III
Date: 1998
Also critically and commercially successful, Tomb Raider III was criticized by some for adhering to the same formula. Still, when the formula is this solid, why tinker with it? Tomb Raider III was also far more difficult than its predecessors. The strategy guide was a near-necessary tool to success.
Image Credit: Square Enix
18. Vanessa Demouy
Date: 1998
A French actress and model, Vanessa Demouy briefly served as the Lara Croft real-life model for a handful of appearances. She would be replaced by Nell McAndrew by the end of the year.
Image Credit: VSD Magazine
17. Nell McAndrew
Date: 1998-1999
Nell McAndrew portrayed Lara until she was fired by Eidos for posing in Playboy and using the Tomb Raider name to market her appearance. Eidos filed and won an injunction against Playboy, who were ordered to cover up 'Tomb Raider' on their magazine's cover with a sticker. McAndrew would subsequently go on to become a fitness model and instructor.
Image Credit: Square Enix
16. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
Date: 1999
The Last Revelation was the last commercially successful Tomb Raider of the "first era." It sold 5 million copies, which is nothing to sneeze at. But as the fourth Tomb Raider game in only four years, both the Core Design team and the audience were getting burnt out. Hoping to pivot to a different project, the team "killed" Lara at the game's conclusion, much to the chagrin of blindsided executives.
Image Credit: Square Enix
15. Lara Weller
Date: 1999-2000
Dutch lingerie model Lara Weller portrayed Lara throughout the Last Revelation marketing cycle. She made her first appearance in character at the 1999 E3 Expo.
Designer Andy Sandham referred to Chronicles as a "load of old s**t." The fifth Tomb Raider title in five years also came at the tail end of the Sony Playstation's life cycle; the developers were working off an old engine because there was no time to develop a new one. The game sold only 1.5 million copies; fans were no longer content with getting more of the same.
Image Credit: Square Enix
13. Lucy Clarkson
Date: 2000-2002
Fashion and magazine model Lucy Clarkson became the new Lara Croft real-life model when she was 17 years old. Clarkson was instrumental to the Chronicles marketing campaign, and she stayed on afterwards for two-and-a-half years total--more than any Lara model before her.
Image Credit: Square Enix
12. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Date: 2001
When Lara was set to make her big-screen debut, many actresses were considered for the role, including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ashley Judd, and Denise Richards. The filmmakers ultimately chose Angelina Jolie. But despite signing an Oscar-winning actress, they didn't have the script to match. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was a critical disaster, though it made over $250 million worldwide. Jolie was key to that popularity.
Image Credit: BBC Films
11. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
Date: 2003
At last, we arrive at the worst Tomb Raider home console game of all time--so bad, in fact, that it nearly killed off the franchise. This was the first Tomb Raider game developed for the Playstation 2, and the developers bit off more than they could chew. They attempted to add RPG elements, melee combat, and stealth mechanics, but they ran out of time to do any of these well. The Angel of Darkness shipped with multiple bugs and a half-explained story, and multiple critics described the controls as dated, especially when compared to other next-gen offerings.
Image Credit: Square Enix
10. Jill de Jong
Date: 2002-2004
Jill de Jong was the Lara Croft real-life model for the Angel of Darkness marketing cycle. After getting the role, de Jong worked with a choreographer to master some basic hand-to-hand combat, and she would flip men upside down as part of her public gig.
Image Credit: Square Enix
9. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider -- The Cradle of Life
Date: 2003
Angelina Jolie's second stint as Lara Croft went better than her first stint, at least critically. The Cradle of Life received mixed reviews instead of uniformly negative ones, though it did not make as much money as its predecessor. Jolie had the option of playing Lara in a third film, but she declined, and the producers chose not replace her. Perhaps they knew they could not get another starring actress with the same wattage. This would be the last feature film in the Tomb Raider franchise for 15 years.
Image Credit: BBC Films
8. Tomb Raider: Legend
Date: 2006
Legend was the first Tomb Raider game that Core Design did not develop. Instead, Crystal Dynamics took over development duties, and Lara creator Toby Gard returned as a creative consultant; his role eventually evolved to the point where he was a credited writer. Legend was a return to form for the franchise, and Lara's acrobatic fluidity was a vast improvement over prior games' controls.
Image Credit: Square Enix
7. Karima Adebibe
Date(s): 2006-2008
One of the most popular and well-known Lara Croft real-life models, Karima Adebibe portrayed Lara for both the Legend and Anniversary marketing cycles. Not only did the Moroccan-Irish-Greek-English actress undergo basic combat training, but she also underwent etiquette and elocution lessons. Unlike many of the prior Laras, who were under Eidos orders to remain silent while in costume, Adebibe was expected to converse and interact in-character, which made her a popular media presence.
Credit: Square Enix
6. Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Date: 2007
Coming on the heels of Legend, Anniversary was a extensive remake of the original 1996 game, with extended climbing sequences, animated cutscenes, and an updated Legend move arsenal. It received positive critical reviews though it was the least commercially successful Tomb Raider game, with 1.3 million copies sold.
Credit: Square Enix
5. Tomb Raider: Underworld
Date: 2008
The final game in the Legend trilogy, Underworld bridged the gap between the PS3/Xbox 360 seventh generation and the PS2/Xbox sixth generation. Although the seventh generation iteration received positive reviews and praise, the older, sixth generation iteration was lambasted for its oversimplification. It would be another five years before Tomb Raider fans received a game that took full advantage of the seventh generation's processing power.
Image Credit: Square Enix
4. Alison Carroll
Date: 2008-2010
Professional display gymnast and gymnastics coach Alison Carroll was the final official Lara Croft real-life model, and she represented the character during the Underworld marketing cycle. Eidos discontinued the job when they rebooted the franchise for the third time. Carroll is currently the founder and head coach of Lightning Gymnastics, and she still works with video games; she most recently performed motion capture work for Horizon Zero Dawn.
Image Credit: Georges Seguin
3. Tomb Raider (reboot)
Date: 2013
The most recent franchise reboot goes back to Lara's earlier years, before she was a cool, calculated heroine. In Tomb Raider (2013), she's a young survivor from a shipwreck, and she goes through a gauntlet of physically grueling obstacles to rescue her friends and uncover the secrets of Yamatai island. Tomb Raider introduced Lara's bow and arrow, which have become as iconic as her twin pistols. The game also had a more realistic visual style than prior titles, and Lara's eyes-to-face ratio and body proportions reflected that.
Image Credit: Square Enix
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider
Date: 2015
The most recent Tomb Raider game, Rise of the Tomb Raider, furthered Lara's character development and transplanted her to the frigid climate of Siberia. Rise took the revitalized formula established by its predecessor and deepened it. Now, there were crafting options and hunting options. There were also more tombs to explore, which was appropriate to the franchise's namesake. Another sequel, reportedly called Shadow of the Tomb Raider, will be released later this year.
Image Credit: Square Enix
1. Tomb Raider (film)
Date: 2018
The new Tomb Raider (2018) film starring Oscar winner Alicia Vikander will release on March 16. It is clearly based off the latest "survivor" video game reboot. In the varioustrailers, we've seen Lara sporting both her signature bow and her climbing axe. And as she does in the Tomb Raider (2013) game, Vikander's Lara is also exploring a mysterious island off the coast of Japan. Early reviews are mixed. But hopefully, this film is the start of something greater.
If the notion of a new Jurassic Park simulation game from the makers of Planet Coaster weren't enough to win you over, developer Frontier Developments has now upped the ante. The studio has announced that actor Jeff Goldblum will reprise his film role and be featured in the new game, Jurassic World Evolution.
Yes, Chef Goldblum himself will again star as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Evolution. His exact role remains unclear; in the announcement video below, Goldblum says he'll "be with you the whole game," and an accompanying press release suggests he'll serve as some kind of advisor. "Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm guides players through the moral choices and tactical decisions that will test their building and management skills as they attempt to successfully run their own Jurassic World," Frontier explains.
Evolution allows players to run their own Jurassic Park, taking control of Isla Nublar and the nearby islands. You're able to create new breeds of dinosaur and attractions to show them off, along with the necessary facilities to house them and do research. Frontier has also promised an "an all-new story that touches on key characters and events from across the Jurassic World film franchise." It's slated for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One sometime this summer.
Jurassic Park has received a new lease on life thanks to the tremendous success of 2015's Jurassic World. A sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, is due out on June 22 and will also feature the return of Goldblum to his role as Malcolm.
Microsoft has bolstered the Xbox One library once again, adding more games to the backwards compatibility list. A total of three new Xbox 360 titles are all now playable on Xbox One, including a Metal Gear Solid and a Ghost Recon title.
Also now playable is Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, which, as the name suggests, takes the traditionally realism-focused Ghost Recon and sets it in the future with advanced weaponry and technology. Finally, rounding out the list is Axel & Pixel, a point-and-click adventure game with hand-drawn graphics.
As always, physical copies of these games can be popped into the system to initiate a download so they can be played on Xbox One. Alternatively, you'll find digital copies in the the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps section on the console. If you don't already own them, all three are also for sale right through the Xbox Store. You can check out everything that's playable in our full Xbox One backwards compatibility list.
By Anonymous on Mar 13, 2018 10:17 pm Jake and Jean-Luc head to Thebes to try to fight some Giant Scorpions, undead mummies, Anubis themed guards and more in the latest DLC for Assassin's Creed Origins the Curse of the Pharaohs.
The first trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has been released. The sequel to 2016's hugely successful Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them hits theaters in November and stars Eddie Redmayne as young magizoologist Newt Scamander, with Jude Law as the younger Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp as the villainous Gellert Grindelwald.
The trailer doesn't reveal too much about the plot, but it does show that Newt is going on missions for Dumbledore, this time to Paris, and that he must face Grindelwald on behalf of his mentor. Vinda Rosier (Poppy Corby-Tuech), Tina (Katherine Waterston), and Jacob (Dan Fogler) are all back too, and the movie looks set to deliver the same mix of magic and mystery that Harry Potter fans have come to expect. Check it out above.
There had been some controversy about the casting of Depp, following allegations of domestic abuse made against the actor by his now-ex-wife Amber Heard. In December, director David Yates defended Depp's involvement. "There was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something," he said. "I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He's full of decency and kindness, and that's all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn't tally with the kind of human being I've been working with."
In addition, Yates has also stated that although it has been long established that Dumbledore is gay, the film wouldn't address his sexuality directly. "But I think all the fans are aware of that," he told Entertainment Weekly. "He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other's ideas and ideology and each other."
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald releases on November 16, 2018 release, and, according to Potter creator JK Rowling, will be the second of five movies.
Capcom has unveiled a new crossover costume for Monster Hunter World. Coinciding with the release of Devil May Cry HD Collection, the publisher announced a set of Devil May Cry-inspired gear for the monster-slaying co-op game, which will allow players to dress their hunters like Dante. You can watch the fittingly bizarre announcement trailer for the gear above.
Along with Dante's distinctive leather coat and hair, players can get his sword, the Force Edge. The sword falls under the Charge Blade category in Monster Hunter World, though it functions a bit differently from others of its kind. Where other Charge Blades typically come with a shield that can be combined with the sword into a giant axe, the Force Edge eschews a shield completely (although Capcom says you'll still be able to guard while it's equipped), and it can instead turn into a giant Alastor.
Capcom hasn't detailed when the Dante gear will be available in Monster Hunter World, but players will have to craft it with the materials earned from completing a related Event Quest, as has been the case with the other crossover costumes in the game. Unlike the PS4-exclusive Horizon Zero Dawn gear, the Devil May Cry armor will be available to all Monster Hunter World players on PS4 and Xbox One.
This reveal coincides with the launch of Devil May Cry HD Collection, which is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is a re-release of the 2012 HD Collection, which assembled the first three Devil May Cry titles together into one package. "The HD Collection is a solid way to experience the original games for those that haven't already," GameSpot critic Alessandro Fillari said of the compilation. You can read more in our Devil May Cry HD Collection impressions.
In addition to the Devil May Cry gear, Capcom has previously announced a set of Street Fighter costumes for Monster Hunter World. PS4 players who had save data for Street Fighter V had a chance to get the Ryu armor early, although it will return again at a later date for all Monster Hunter World players. The second Horizon event quest, meanwhile, is available right now until March 15 exclusively for the PS4 version. You can find out exactly how to unlock Aloy's armor and bow in our guide.
2017 was a great year for movies, but 2018 is shaping up to be even better. Black Panther has already become a critical and commercial phenomenon, and there are another two Marvel movies to look forward to. The second Star Wars spin-off arrives in the shape of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which will focus on the early adventures of the iconic space smuggler, and Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in the sixth Mission: Impossible movie, Fallout.
Beyond these big tentpole franchises, other crowd-pleasing favourites are set to return. There's more dinosaur action in the Jurassic World sequel, two more films in the X-Men universe, DC's Aquaman, and several movies from cinema's busiest star, Dwayne Johnson. Lara Croft returns to the screen, the first of Sony's Spider-Man spin-offs arrives in the shape of Venom, and we'll find out if there's life in the Predator franchise. So with more than nine months of the year to go, here's what to watch for in 2018...
Tomb Raider
While the previous two Tomb Raider movies were box office hits, neither are fondly remembered, and it's been 15 years since Lara Croft last appeared on a movie screen. But there are a number of reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming reboot. The film seems to be heavily influenced by the games--particularly the 2013 reboot--and star Alicia Vikander will bring some Oscar-winning clout to the lead role. Could this finally be the movie that breaks the cycle of terrible video game movie adaptations?
Release date: March 16, 2018
Pacific Rim: Uprising
For a long time, it looked as if the Pacific Rim sequel wouldn't actually happen. The original film had a mediocre US box office performance, and despite its popularity overseas, the film was hit with a series of delays and changing personnel. But Pacific Rim: Uprising finally arrives in March. Director Stephen DeKnight is unlikely to bring the same level of dazzling visual artistry as Guillermo Del Toro, but with with Star Wars favorite John Boyega in the lead role and a whole new range of awesome Kaiju-killing Jaegers, Uprising should deliver some crowd-pleasing monster mayhem.
Release date: March 23, 2018
Ready Player One
The acclaimed 2012 novel Ready Player One focuses upon a teenager who enters a virtual reality world to try to win the ultimate game, and it is packed with pop culture references to the 1980s. Who better to adapt the film version than Steven Spielberg, who defined '80s Hollywood as much as any filmmaker? The trailers released to date look spectacular, although don't expect to see much of Spielberg's own work in there. "I've cut most of my movies out," he said last year. "I was very happy to see there was enough without me that made the '80s a great time to grow up. I think one of the reasons I decided to make the movie was that it brought me back to the '80s and lets me do anything I want, except for with my own movies."
Release date: March 30, 2018
A Quiet Place
This creepy-looking horror movie is the second film directed by former Office star John Krasinski (who will also be seen next year in Amazon's Jack Ryan reboot). It's got a great premise--a family forced to communicate using sign language to avoid some mysterious supernatural evil attracted to sound--and a seriously spooky trailer. Krasinski stars alongside his real-life wife Emily Blunt.
Release date: April 6, 2018
Rampage
One of several movies that will star the ever-busy Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2018, this is an adaptation of the classic '80s arcade game. Johnson plays a scientist who must face dozens of huge, crazed mutated animals as they run amok across America. From the trailers so far it looks the wild stuff, as our hero does battle with marauding wolves, crocodiles, and gorillas. Rampage is directed by Johnson's San Andreas director Brad Peyton and also stars Naomie Harris, Malin Åkerman, Joe Manganiello, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Release date: April 20
Super Troopers 2
Hitting theaters on the very appropriate date of April 20, Super Troopers 2 is the crowd-funded sequel to the cult 2001 comedy. All the key members of the Broken Lizard comedy team return for this second movie, which sees the hapless Vermont troopers sent to the Canadian border, to a town that was thought to be Canadian soil but is actually part of the US. "We essentially have to impose US law on a bunch of Canadians that aren't at all happy about it," Broken Lizard member Paul Soter said about the movie.
Release date: April 20
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther is amazing and Ant-Man and the Wasp looks like huge fun, but it's Avengers: Infinity War that promises to be the defining Marvel movie of 2018. The culmination of a decade of interconnected superhero storytelling, the movie will feature every major hero from the MCU to date in a fight to stop the evil Thanos and the universe-threatening Infinity Stones. Captain America: Civil War proved that directors Joe and Anthony Russo are adept at juggling multiple characters, and if the first trailer is anything to go by, this will easily be the most spectacular Marvel movie to date. Until Avengers 4 arrives in 2019 that is.
Release date: May 4, 2018
Solo: A Star Wars Story
The second Star Wars spin-off has been marked by much behind-the-scenes turmoil, with original directors Chris Lord and Phil Miller being replaced during production by Ron Howard, leading to months of extensive reshoots. But last year's Rogue One emerged unscathed after similar production problems, and Howard is an experienced veteran of dozens of crowd-pleasing movies. The adventures of a young Han Solo is something that Star Wars fans have wanted to see for decades, and with a hugely talented supporting cast (Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton) backing up Alden Ehrenreich (Han) and Donald Glover (Lando), we're excited for this one.
Release date: May 25, 2018
Deadpool 2
Deadpool was one of the 2016's biggest cinematic surprises--not only was it the most successful R-rated movie of all time, it outgrossed every other movie in the X-Men universe. So expectations are high for the sequel. The movie lost original director Tim Miller early on due to creative disagreements with star/producer Ryan Reynolds. But with John Wick co-director David Leitch on board and a cast that includes the return of Morena Baccarat, T.J. Miller, and Brianna Hildebrand, including the much-anticipated movie debuts of Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beetz's Domino, everything is in place for bigger, badder, and more outrageous follow-up. The marketing campaign is already refusing to play by the rules; expect the movie to do the same.
Release date: June 1, 2018
Ocean's Eight
The long-awaited reboot of the hit heist comedy series, Ocean's Eight showcases an all-female team, led by Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister of George Clooney's Danny Ocean from the previous trilogy. She assisted by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Helen Bonham Carter, Rihanna, and Mindy Kaling, and the first trailer suggests that it will match the fast-moving funny style of the earlier movies. It's directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games).
Release date: June 8
The Incredibles 2
Pixar's long-awaited sequel to its 2004 superhero family smash The Incredibles was originally set for a 2019 release but having switched places with Toy Story 4, we now get it a whole year earlier. Although the first teaser gives little away, we do know a few plot details. At Disney's D23 convention this summer, director Brad Bird revealed that the movie take place immediately after the end of the first movie, and will focus more on Elastigirl's superhero adventures, while Mr. Incredible is now a stay-at-home dad, trying to deal with the increasingly powerful baby Jack-Jack. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, and Samuel L. Jackson all reprise their roles, with Toy Story veteran John Ratzenberger playing the villainous Underminer.
Release date: June 15, 2018
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World wasn't just the fourth part in a series of big dinosaur movies; it was an absolute box office monster, and currently stands as the fourth biggest film of all time. For the follow-up, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona takes over from Colin Trevorrow, who remains on-board as producer and co-writer. Meanwhile Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. Trevorrow has described the movie as a "Spanish horror thriller"(in reference to Bayona's earlier hit Mama) but most exciting is the return of Jeff Goldblum, who starred in Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park way back in 1993.
Release date: June 22, 2018
Sicario 2: Soldado
The drug cartel thriller Sicario was one of the most gripping movies of recent years, and hopes are high for this follow-up. Director Denis Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt aren't returning, but the movie is in good hands. Director Stefano Sollima is best known for the brilliant Italian crime drama series Gomorrha, and Benicio Del Toro is set to reprise his role as a former undercover agent turned morally ambiguous enforcer Alejandro. This time the movie focuses on attempts by the CIA to incite an all-out war between rival drug gangs in Mexico; writer Taylor Sheridan has said that "if Sicario is a film about the militarization of police and that blending over, this is removing the policing aspect from it."
Release date: June 29
The First Purge
The Purge series has proved to be one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years, and expectations are high for this fourth entry. The First Purge looks set to continue the mix of scares, action, and biting social commentary, and while we're yet to see any footage, the first poster certainly suggests that its satirical bite remains as strong as ever. As the title indicates, it's a prequel that looks at the creation of the single night of legalised crime known as The Purge.
Release date: July 4
Ant-Man and The Wasp
The first Ant-Man was a welcome contrast to the likes of The Avengers and Captain America: Civil War. As much of a heist comedy as a superhero movie, it featured a winning lead role from Paul Rudd and put the emphasis much more on character and humor than huge CG-driven action sequences. With Avengers: Infinity War due in May, Ant-Man and the Wasp should be a good follow-up two months later. Evangeline Lily reprises her role as Hope Van Dyne, who now fights alongside Ant-Man as The Wasp, with Michael Douglas and Michael Pfeiffer as her parents. We don't know what direction the movie will go in this time, just that director Peyton Reed promises "an entirely different genre template."
Release date: July 6, 2018
The Nun
James Wan's The Conjuring was one of most successful horror movies of recent years, inspiring not only a prequel, but two spin-offs focusing on spooky doll Annabelle. The latest movie in this horror series is The Nun. It's set before the other four movies in the series so far, and focuses on the investigation into the earlier life (and death) of Valak, the terrifying demon nun from The Conjuring 2. Wan co-wrote the screenplay, and it's directed by Corin Hardy, who previously helmed the acclaimed low-budget shocker The Hallow and is about to start shooting the remake of The Crow. Expect plenty of scares.
Release date: July 13, 2018
Skyscraper
Another of Dwayne Johnson's 2018 action epics, this China-set thriller stars Johnson as a retired FBI hostage rescue agent who now works as a security assessor for the world's biggest skyscraper. While the first trailer doesn't reveal the specific dangers he must face while working in the world's most advanced building, we know they involve explosions, shooting, and lots of jumping. That said, it looks a bit less comedic than many of The Rock's other movies, as evidenced by the fact he has a prosthetic leg and a greying beard. All will be revealed in July.
Release date: July 13
Mission Impossible 6: Fallout
The Mission: Impossible series might be more than 20-years old, but on-set injuries aside, star Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down. Fallout sees Rogue Nation's Chris McQuarrie return to the directors chair, with Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Alec Baldwin all reprising their roles from previous movies. Superman star Henry Cavill joins the cast, as does his controversial moustache. Expect plenty of insane action.
Release date: July 27, 2018
The Predator
Although the original Predator is an '80s action classic, the movies that have followed have ranged from interesting but flawed (Predator 2) to completely terrible (Alien vs Predator). The Predator is writer/director Shane Black's attempt to get the franchise back on track. Black's impressive resume ranges from writing Lethal Weapon to directing Iron Man 3, and as a young actor he even had a role in original Predator. We're yet to see any footage from the movie, but the plot details we know so far suggest that it will focus upon a group of traumatised prisoners who do battle with Predators in a suburban setting. Black himself has said that he only agreed to make the film if he could do it on a big, blockbuster scale, while still delivering the sci-fi horror goods.
Release date: August 3, 2018
The Meg
Based on the best-selling 1997 novel, this big-budget shark thriller has been in development for several years and finally arrives this summer. Expendables star Jason Statham plays an expert diver who faces off against a 70-foot monster shark which is causing mayhem off the coast of China. The recent shark movie The Shallows was a great small-scale thriller with a limited location, but with a budget in excess of $150 million, expect The Meg to deliver something way more spectacular.
Release date: August 10
Slender Man
Slender Man is the fictional horror character that first appeared as a viral internet myth in 2009 and has gone onto become a notable part of modern pop culture. It's somewhat surprising that it's taken nearly a decade for an official Slender Man movie to be made, but 2018 finally sees Hollywood's take on this urban legend. The movie's first trailer makes it looks like a pretty traditional teen horror movie, with disappearing kids, freaky long-haired children, spooky woods, and lots of weird, quickly cut imagery. But there are plenty of horror fans who have been waiting a long time to see the character on screen, and director Sylvian White is not a newcomer to the genre, having previously directed such horror TV shows such as The Originals and Sleepy Hollow.
Release date: August 24
Venom
Although the deal between Disney and Sony has ensured that Spider-Man is currently part of the former's Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie right to the character ultimately remain with Sony. As a result, the studio is launching its own interconnected universe of characters from the canon of Spidey comic-books. Venom is first up; it stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a photographer who ends up with superpowers after he is taken over by the alien parasite of title. It's directed by Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer, and the impressive supporting cast includes Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, and Riz Ahmed.
Release date: October 4, 2018
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
There were rumours that after the relatively disappointing box office results of X-Men: Apocalypse, Fox was looking reboot the entire X-franchise. But that's proved not be the case, and all the regular cast are returning for the long awaited adaptation of the the classic Dark Phoenix storyline from Marvel's comic books. The story was tackled in a half-hearted way in 2006's X-Men: the Last Stand, but with the franchise's long-time writer/producer Simon Kinberg making his directing debut, hopes are the high that Dark Phoenix will really do the story justice.
Release date: November 2, 2018
The Grinch
The classic Dr. Seuss story How the Grinch Saved Christmas was adapted into a hit Jim Carrey movie 18 years ago, and a new animated version hits the screen in November. Doctor Strange and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will provide the voice of the Holiday-hating title character, and the first trailer arrived last week. The movie was actually meant to be released last year, but the trailer is colourful and fun and the movie will hopefully be worth the wait.
Release date: November 9
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The Harry Potter series might have finished in 2011, but the wider movie universe goes from strength to strength. The success of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them led to the announcement of a further four movies, the first of which arrives in November. Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander, with Jude Law as the young Dumbledore, who enlists the help of Newt to help defeat the dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). David Yates directs once more, from a screenplay by Potter creator JK Rowling.
Release date: 16 November 2018
Creed 2
While most thought that the legendary movie boxer Rocky Balboa had finally hung up his gloves, the 2015 spin-off Creed not only gave the character one of his finest movies, it paved the way for director Ryan Coogler to get the job of directing Marvel's wildly successful Black Panther. Coogler won't be back for the sequel, but star Michael B. Jordan is, once again playing the son of the original movies' Apollo Creed. Rocky creator and star Sylvester Stallone is back too, as both co-star and co-writer. Steven Caple Jr. directs this time, and it's rumoured that Creed 2 will bring back another iconic character from the original series--Rocky IV's Russian powerhouse Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).
Release date: November 21
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The 2012 animated comedy Wreck-It Ralph was a critical and commercial hit, and the sequel arrives in November. It focuses on the arcade game villain-turned-hero of the title, who this time enters the internet after the arcade his game lives in goes online. John C. Reilly is the voice of Ralph, with Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Taraji P. Henson, and James Corden also part of the voice cast.
Release date: November 21
Aquaman
The DC universe has had a bumpy ride so far, with only Wonder Woman connecting with both audiences and critics. But there's every reason to be hopeful that Aquaman could do the same. Director James Wan is a skilled genre operator, whether delivering crowd-pleasing horror (Saw, The Conjuring) or blockbuster action (Furious 7), and there's a killer cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Willem Defoe, Nicole Kidman, and '80s action icon Dolph Lungren, plus Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Amber Heard as Mera. Wan recently debunked the rumour that the film would be overstuffed with multiple villains, and promises an "emotional and powerful" origin movie.
We're approaching the midway point of the month, which means it's nearly time for the latest Games With Gold shake-up. Some of the current Xbox One and Xbox 360 freebies will be replaced by a new set of free games on March 16, making this your last opportunity to claim several games if you're an Xbox Live Gold member.
On the Xbox One side, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India will be returning to its regular price. This Assassin's Creed spin-off, which takes the form of a 2.5D action-platformer set in the 19th century, was originally one of February's freebies that extended into March. It's one of two free Xbox One games available through Games With Gold in March, though the other--Trials of the Blood Dragon--is free through the end of March.
The other freebie that's expiring this week is Disney's Brave, the video game adaptation of the 2012 animated film. It puts you in the shoes of the movie's star, Merida, in mythical Scotland. Although it's an Xbox 360 game, it's also playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility, giving owners of that platform two games to make sure they claim.
Once those games cycle out, two new freebies will arrive: Xbox One gets the excellent shooter Superhot, while Xbox 360 (and One through backwards compatibility) gets the puzzle-based first-person game Quantum Conundrum. If that's not enough for you, there are new Xbox One game deals now available on the Xbox Store.
Bandai Namco has shared a new trailer for Broly, one of the two DLC characters announced thus far for Dragon Ball FighterZ. This marks our first look at the legendary Super Saiyan in action following a very brief teaser video last month, and he looks to be an exciting addition to the anime fighting game.
Just as in the anime, Broly is one of the most physically imposing characters in Dragon Ball FighterZ, towering over everyone else on the roster. Despite his overwhelming size, however, Broly is also quite light on his feet, and his long reach makes him a challenging foe to deal with. In the video above, you can see him use his incredible power to dominate his rival, Goku.
Broly is one of the eight DLC characters planned for Dragon Ball FighterZ. He was first announced last month in an issue of V-Jump magazine alongside Bardock, the father of Goku. Following their reveal, some brief details and screenshots for each character emerged on the Japanese Dragon Ball FighterZ website. The website confirmed that Broly can unleash his signature attack, "Eraser Cannon," while Bardock can use a move called "Riot Javelin."
Bandai Namco has yet to announce when Broly and Bardock will be available to download or how much either character will cost, but players who've purchased the Dragon Ball FighterZ Fighter Pass will receive them at no additional charge on release. The Fighter Pass runs for $35 and also includes access to all six other as-yet-unrevealed DLC characters when they launch.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. GameSpot critic Peter Brown awarded the title a 9/10 in our 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."
During the Nintendo Direct briefing last week, Nintendo finally announced that a Super Smash Bros. game is coming to Switch later this year. That's a big deal because it's one of Nintendo's most beloved and best-selling franchises ever. Fans lost their minds when the game was announced, and it'll surely help Nintendo sell even more systems this year.
We've only seen one very briefing, tantalising teaser trailer, but that hasn't stopped us from wondering and speculating on what the game may offer. Is it a port of the Wii U edition with some new stages and characters (a la Mario Kart 8 Deluxe)? Which new characters are joining the roster?
GameSpot's Jake Dekker and Gajan Kulasingham discuss these topics and more in a new video, which you can watch above. Nintendo has shared very little about the game, only obviously teasing the inclusion of a handful of characters and nothing about new gameplay elements, though the series is quite popular around the GameSpot offices.
Super Smash Bros. for Switch doesn't have a release date, but we might learn more about it at E3 or potentially sooner. So keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest. In the meantime, check out the Smash Bros. characters we want to see on Switch.
Valve has announced a major revamp of Dota 2's Battle Passes. In the past, these have taken the form of limited-time compendiums that centered around major Dota 2 esports tournaments, including The International and Majors. However, Battle Passes for Majors are now being replaced with what Valve describes as an "ongoing, uninterrupted service" called Dota Plus.
Dota Plus is a subscription service that features a variety of perks, some of which stem from what you'd expect to see in a Battle Pass. Each character now gains XP and can level up across games, granting Reward Shards and responses for use with the new Hero Chat Wheel. Additionally, characters get their own challenges that are designed for that specific hero and their mechanics; challenges feature different tiers of difficulty and reward XP based on what you complete. And characters also get Relic slots; these allow various stats to be tracked and display on the post-game screen.
The service also grants access to the Plus Assistant, a tool that provides various helpful information as you play based on "data gathered from millions of recent games at each skill bracket, ensuring your builds stay current in the ever-evolving meta." This includes suggestions for your pick during a draft or what item or ability to choose during a match.
Furthermore, Dota Plus grants a new weekly reward of 1,000 shards for winning three games. Those shards can then in turn be spent on, among other things, new items that are only available for Plus subscribers. Finally, Valve is bringing back the weekend Battle Cup tournaments, which Plus members will receive free access to. Non-subscribers will have to buy tickets for $1.
Despite having only just been announced, Dota Plus is already available. It's priced at $4 per month, with some small discounts available if you lock in a subscription for six or 12 months.
State of Decay 2 is on the way this spring and will carry a lower-than-expected price tag. Those looking to spend more than the $30 price of the standard edition will have some options for doing so, including the previously announced Ultimate edition and a newly revealed Collector's edition. [Update: As we suspected, Microsoft has confirmed the Collector's edition does not include a copy of the game.]
As shared on the Xbox Wire, the Collector's edition gets you some physical goodies: It comes with a latex zombie mask, a steelbook case, a stand for the case in the shape of a human brain, a 4 GB USB thumb drive in the shape of a severed thumb, and an "exclusive" iron-on patch.
What isn't immediately clear is whether this Collector's Edition, which is priced at $70, includes the game itself. Microsoft's announcement doesn't explicitly state this, and it wouldn't be the first time we've seen such a thing. If it is included, there's no word on which version of the game you get, whether it'll by physical or digital (the case may just be for show), and whether Xbox One and PC versions will both be available. The physical/digital distinction is particularly important, as those who buy the game digitally will benefit from Xbox Play Anywhere support, which grants access to the game on both Xbox One and PC. We've followed up with Microsoft about all of this and will report back with any details we receive.
We know you'll get the game when buying the $30 standard edition or $50 Ultimate edition. The latter provides access to the Independence and Daybreak DLC packs when they release, an Xbox One copy of State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition, and early access to State of Decay 2. As an alternative to purchasing the game outright, you can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, which will grant you access to the game for as long as you remain a subscriber. That comes as part of Microsoft's recent initiative to provide access to first-party exclusives through Game Pass at launch, something that will begin with the upcoming launch of Sea of Thieves.
State of Decay 2 launches on May 22, or May 18 for those picking up the Ultimate edition. Although the budget price of the standard edition may suggest otherwise, the game will not include any microtransactions.
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Jake and Jean-Luc head to Thebes to try to fight some Giant Scorpions, undead mummies, Anubis themed guards and more in the latest DLC for Assassin's Creed Origins the Curse of the Pharaohs.
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