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.
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.
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.
This episode of New Releases has sequels, remasters, and some new stuff. Leading off, the pink puffball's newest adventure Kirby Star Allies is headed to Nintendo Switch. Puzzle fans can solve their way through Q.U.B.E. 2, and sim fans can build a city on the red planet with Surviving Mars. For those looking to play the definitive versions of past games, you can slash and shoot through the Devil May Cry HD Collection or speed around Burnout Paradise City Remastered.
Devil May Cry HD Collection -- March 13
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
This week's first re-release contains the original Devil May Cry trilogy, so if you haven't played through them on an older console, this is the best possible way to catch up. Thanks to 60 FPS support, Dante never looked so good slaying the beasts of Hell.
For those that prefer a more methodical pace, there's Q.U.B.E. 2. This game sees archeologist Amanda Cross stranded on a strange alien island, and the only way to escape is to solve puzzles. The titular cubes will help you find your way through mazes, flip switches, and move objects to reach safety.
Speaking of alien planets, Surviving Mars is all about colonizing one. This city-builder comes from the studio behind Cities: Skylines and Hearts of Iron, so you'll definitely have to strategize and spread your resources if you hope to survive so far from home.
Nintendo's pink mascot has a new game, and it's all about working together, even if you're playing alone. That means four-player co-op is included, but you can also use the new heart mechanic to bring enemies over to your side if you don't have a full party. Of course, the real treat here is seeing an insanely buff King Dedede.
Back on earth, this week's second re-release is Burnout Paradise Remastered. You'll be able to race through the best-looking version of the city yet, with 4K support for drivers on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. This remaster also includes every previously released DLC pack, laying even more challenges along the road.
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.
The first full trailer for the second Fantastic Beasts movie, The Crimes of Grindelwald, is coming on March 13. Ahead of that, Warner Bros. has released a tiny teaser trailer that shows a shot of the first page of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The letters fall apart and lift off the page, creating a cloud. It's pretty neat; take a look below. [Update: The new trailer is out now, and you can watch it above.]
Warner Bros. has also launched a social media campaign that encourages people to post a photo of themselves with a wand, using the hashtag #WandsReady. You can also use a specially created app on the Fantastic Beasts website to create a photo.
The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of five planned Fantastic Beasts films, following the first in 2016. The second movie features the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who is played by Johnny Depp. Main character Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) helped capture him for the Magical Congress of the United States of America. However, Grindelwald escapes and recruits followers to help him on his mission to have pure-blood wizards rule the world.
Jude Law plays a young Albus Dumbledore in The Crimes of Grindelwald. Dumbledore enlists Newt to help capture thwart Grindelwald's plans, but he doesn't know the full extent of the danger he faces. The Crimes of Grindelwald is directed by David Yates. J.K. Rowling wrote the script.
March is going to be a very busy month for Amazon Prime Video. The streaming service is beefing up its movie and TV show selection with a number of new titles, including cult classic films, big-budget blockbusters, and new seasons of original programming.
On the film front, several James Bond titles are coming to Prime, including A View to a Kill and Moonraker. Additionally, films like 2017's Power Rangers, Earth Girls Are Easy, The Doors, Antitrust, Hackers, and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka were all added on March 1.
As for TV, a new season of the crime drama Sneaky Pete, created by Bryan Cranston and David Shore, debuted on March 9. The series stars Giovanni Ribisi, Marin Ireland, Margo Martindale and more. Other TV titles coming to Prime are a new season of The Tunnel, along with the debuts of Human Trafficking, The Color of Magic, and The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells.
When you're not bogged down in college basketball during March Madness, you're going to need something to binge. Luckily, Hulu is heading into the new month stocked with new shows, movies, and specials for you to watch.
In addition to the Power Rangers movie reboot and the first two XXX movies, March will see the streaming service add films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Dirty Dancing, Jennifer 8, and several James Bond films. The Hulu original documentary March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step will premiere, as well. Perhaps most importantly, the cult hit Hackers will also get added on March 1, in case you're wondering what Hollywood thought computer hacking looked like in 1995.
On the TV front, new seasons of KC Undercover, The Real Housewives of New York City, Angie Tribeca, The Son, and more will arrive in March. Hulu will also have the 90th Academy Awards posted after they air on live TV.
You can take a look at everything arriving on Hulu in March below. In case you're not caught up, you can also check out what was added in February.
Arriving on Hulu in March
March 1
Ask This Old House: Complete Seasons 11-12 (PBS)
This Old House: Complete Seasons 30 & 38 (PBS)
Veni Vidi Vici: Complete Season 1 (Viaplay)
1984 (1985)
A Feast at Midnight (1997)
A Guy Thing (2003)
A Mermaid's Tale (2016)
A Stork's Journey (2017)
A View to Kill (1985)
All the Wild Horses (2017)
Antitrust (2001)
Bad Influence (1990)
Bad News Bears (2005)
Billy the Kid (2013)
Body of Evidence (1993)
Boots on the Ground (2017)
Boulevard (2014)
Branded (2010)
Breakdown (1997)
Captivity (2007)
Carriers (2009)
Chaplin (1992)
Chicago (2002)
Criminal Law (1989)
Die Another Day (2002)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Dream House Nightmare (2017)
Earth Girls are Easy (1988)
F/X (1986)
F/X 2 (1991)
Fatal Instinct (1993)
Finder's Fee (2003)
Fire with Fire (2012)
Fluke (1995)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Forces of Nature (1999)
Goldeneye (1995)
Gordy (1995)
Hackers (1995)
Hanoi Hilton (1987)
Happythankyoumoreplease (2010)
Hart's War (2002)
Hesher (2010)
High School (2010)
Home of the Brave (2006)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
I'm So Excited! (2013)
Ill Manors (2012)
Imagine That (2009)
Jack Goes Boating (2010)
Jeff Who Lives at Home (2012)
Jennifer 8 (1992)
Kingpin (1996)
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (2005)
License to Kill (1989)
Love Crimes (1992)
Moonraker (1979)
Mr. Majesty (1974)
National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011)
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2: College @ Sea (2006)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie (2014)
Regarding Henry (1991)
Southie (1998)
Sprung (1997)
Stuart Little (1999)
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Tales of the Grim Sleeper (2014)
The Accused (1988)
The Devil Inside (2012)
The Doors (1991)
The Glass Shield (1994)
The Living Daylights (1987)
The Million Dollar Hotel (2001)
The Music Never Stopped (2011)
The Secret of N.I.M.H. (1982)
The Square (2017)
The World is Not Enough (1999)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Twenty Twenty Four (2017)
We Blew It (2017)
Where the Skin Lies (2017)
Who Killed Nancy? (2008)
XXX (2002)
XXX: State of the Union (2005)
Young Adult (2011)
March 4
K.C. Undercover: Complete Season 3 (Disney XD)
Traitor (2008) March 5
Amazing World of Gumball: Complete Season 5 (Cartoon Network)
The 90th Oscars: Special (ABC)
The 90th Oscars: Live From the Red Carpet: Special (ABC)
The Real Housewives of New York City: Complete Season 9 (Bravo)
Everything Beautiful is Far Away (2017)
The New Radical (2017)
March 6
Crash (2005)
Fantasia 2000 (2000)
March 7
Hard Sun: Complete Season 1 Premiere (Hulu Original)
Living Soul (2016)
March 8
Aftermath (2017)
Knock Knock (2015)
March 9
Power Rangers (2017)
March 10
Angie Tribeca: Complete Season 3 (TBS)
March 12
Force Majeure (2014)
Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
March 13
Food Wars!: Complete Season 2 Dubs (Sentai Filmworks)
Bitter Harvest (2017)
March 14
Tommy's Honour (2017)
March 15
The Bridge: Complete Season 4 (ZDF Enterprises)
The Son: Complete Season 1 (AMC)
4 Lovers (2012)
Blade of the Immortal (2017)
Four Rooms (1995)
Hello I Must Be Going (2012)
LOL (2012)
October Country (2009)
River of Grass (1994)
The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain (1995)
The Fog (2005)
The Forgotten (2004)
The Kill Team (2013)
March 16
John Q (2002)
March 18
Almost Friends (2017)
March 19
Life Itself (2014)
Love and Saucers (2017)
March 23
March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step (2017) (Hulu Original)
March 24
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
March 27
The Little Hours (2017)
March 31
Closing Gambit (2018)
EuroTrump (2017)
The Ghoul (2016)
Habit (2017)
Project Eden (2017)
Leaving Hulu in March
March 31
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Gang Related (1997)
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds (2008)
Those in the market for a new PC game to play are in luck, as GOG has kicked off its St. Patrick's Day sale. More than 300 games in total are on sale, with discounts as steep as 90% off. And if you're not quite sure what to pick up, there's a perfect option for you, too.
Alongside the individual games that are on sale, GOG is offering what it calls Leprechaun Hats. Each one costs $3 / £2.29 and entitles you to a mystery game that you don't already have in your GOG library. There's no telling what you'll get, but these games are drawn from the pool of those that are currently on sale. Their sale price ranges from $3.49 up to $19.94, so no matter what, you'll be saving at least a small amount of money by picking it up by way of a Hat--though you of course run the risk of getting something you don't care for.
If you'd prefer to leave chance out of it, there are some quality offers available. You can pick up Abzu for $10 / £7.49, Yooka-Laylee for $13.59 / £12, Dying Light: The Following's Enhanced Edition for $30 / £20, and Pyre for $15. Both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and KotOR II go for $4 / £3 each--an outstanding price for such games, though it's no lower than what we've seen before. A number of other Star Wars games are also on sale, and you can build a bundle with the ones of your choice.
The sale runs from now until March 19 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET (12 AM GMT on March 20). You can see everything that's on sale here.
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.
The third and final piece of expansion content for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will be here very, very soon. "The Amazing Deeds of Captain Wilkins," as it's called, launches at midnight local time tonight. [Update: The DLC is now available on all platforms.]
This expansion brings US Army hero Captain Gerald Wilkins into battle on a mission to a Nazi-occupied Alaska. Your objective? To take down Operation Black Sun, which is the secret and mysterious Nazi project in Alaska.
The Amazing Deeds of Captain Wilkins is priced at $10 on its own or you can get it with the game's $25 Freedom Chronicles Season Paass. This also includes the two previously released expansions: The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe and The Diaries of Agent Silent Death.
While we wouldn't expect a third game anytime soon, Bethesda may have some surprises up its sleeve for this year or next. We may find out more during Bethesda's E3 2018 briefing in June.
Dwayne Johnson might not guarantee that a movie will be a hit, as last year's Baywatch proved, but there's no denying that his star power is what drives the marketing campaigns of many of his films. December'sJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle turned out to be one of the biggest hits of his career, and expectations are high for Rampage, which arrives next month.
A new trailer for the arcade game adaptation has now arrived, and as with the recent international promo, it very much plays on Johnson's appeal, with a new introduction from the man himself. It also features all the big monster mayhem that fans are expecting--check it out above.
Rampage hits theaters on April 20. It also stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Naomie Harris, Malin Åkerman, and Joe Manganiello. It's directed by Brad Peyton, who worked with Johnson on the 2015 disaster smash San Andreas.
Rampage was originally released in arcades back in 1986 before being ported to more than a dozen other platforms--it's appeared on everything from the Commodore 64 to the PS2. It's also seen a number of sequels produced, though by the time the movie comes out, it will have been more than a decade since the last of these, Total Destruction, was released.
This is one of three movies Johnson has heading to the big screen this year, along with Skyscraper and the wrestling biopic Fighting with My Family--in which he plays himself and serves as executive producer.
Plenty of news surrounding the Microsoft exclusive Sea of Thieves came out of the most recent Inside Xbox stream, but one of the standout announcements is an upcoming visual feature for the Xbox One family of consoles. Both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X will support AMD FreeSync 2, an advanced adaptive sync technology (seen in many gaming monitors) that eliminates screen tearing. The results is a much smoother experience when it comes to fast-moving images.
For those not familiar, there are some basics that should be laid out. Every display has a refresh rate, which is the frequency at which an image can be refreshed on the screen; it's also the limit on the number of frames you can see per second. The most common refresh rate is 60Hz, although higher-end gaming monitors can go up to 120Hz and 144Hz. However, games commonly have fluctuating framerates and consoles can't always hold the target FPS, whether it be 30 FPS or 60 FPS. When refresh rate and framerate are out of sync, screen tearing occurs; a nasty visual artifact that looks as if the image is being split when moving horizontally.
An example of screen tearing.
Adaptive sync technologies, like AMD FreeSync, make the display adjust its refresh rate according to a game's framerate on the fly. This negates screen tearing since the two will always match. You will need a display that does FreeSync over HDMI, though. While there are plenty of monitors with FreeSync, there are no TVs with the technology. FreeSync 2 in particular is a new version that's only seen a few high-end monitors, which offers lower latency and HDR support. Xbox One consoles will soon be compatible with both versions.
FreeSync on Xbox One is likely to appeal to a small crowd since the use case is fairly limited, but it's a great feature to have regardless. Given that Xbox One consoles are built on AMD hardware (both the CPU and GPU that make up the system-on-chip), it's not much of a surprise to see FreeSync implementation. It was also revealed in the Xbox One X spec from June 2017 sheet that it is FreeSync capable, but it wasn't clear if the One S would be able to until now.
Microsoft did not give a specific date when its consoles will be able to use this technology, but stated that it has release window of Spring this year. Those in the Alpha Xbox Insiders program can test this feature out next week. Earlier this month, Microsoft revealed another graphical feature coming to its console: native 1440p support. Like FreeSync, this appeals to those who use their Xbox One on an applicable monitor, since traditional TVs don't support 1440p resolution.
Nintendo has pushed out the newest Nintendo Switch firmware update. Version 5.0.0 was released today, and it includes some welcome changes and more.
In terms of new stuff, the update adds a whopping 24 new Arms and Kirby player icons (you can see some in the embedded tweet below). As for new or improved features, with the update applied, the digital games you buy from Nintendo's website or on your smartphone should begin downloading faster on your console, even if your Switch is in Sleep mode. Additionally, you can now filter news from the feed to only show unread messages or content from a specific channel of your choosing.
Also new in the update is that Captured videos in your Album are now subject to parental controls if you have those set up. Additionally, the Pro Controller grip colours will now show up in the Controllers menu, which is pretty cool. You can see the full patch notes below, as posted on Nintendo's website.
To view your friend suggestions, from the top left of the HOME Menu head to your User Page > Friend Suggestions
You must be 13 or older to use this feature
Select from 24 new ARMS and the Kirby series icons for your user
To edit your user icon, head to your My Page on the top left of the Home Menu > Profile
Digital software purchases made from a PC or smart device will start downloading sooner than previously, even if the Nintendo Switch console is in Sleep Mode
Filter News to view only unread news or news from specific channels
To keep the Parental Controls PIN private, the default method for PIN entry has been changed to entering using the Control Stick and buttons instead of the on-screen number pad
When prompted to enter you Parental Controls PIN, press and hold the + Button to change between input methods
Captured videos in the Album will be restricted by Parental Controls depending on the Restricted Software setting and Software Rating Organization
Just because the second season of Marvel's Jessica Jones has arrived doesn't mean Netflix is slowing down with its March releases. The streamer has plenty being added this week, including a number of new originals, a Jackass movie, and some anime for your to devour.
In terms of originals, Netflix is debuting a Benji movie reboot, new seasons of Spirit Riding Free and The Hollywood Masters, as well as the premiere of a new documentary series titled Wild Wild Country. The first season of the documentary series follows an Oregon cult in 1981 as the outside world pushes back.
Another intriguing addition to the streamer's originals is the arrival of the anime series Children of the Whales. After first debuting in late 2017, this manga adaptation makes its way to a global audience with its Netflix premiere on March 13.
Other new titles include Jackass 3.5, the first season of Power Rangers Ninja Steel, and a new comedy special from Ricky Gervais. You can take a look at everything Netflix is adding this week below. You can also see everything coming to and going from the service in March, as well as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video's offerings for the month.
March 12
Kygo: Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Troy: The Odyssey
March 13
Children of the Whales: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Ricky Gervais: Humanity (Netflix Original)
Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout (Netflix Original)
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 1 (Netflix Original)
March 15
Jackass 3.5: The Unrated Movie
Power Rangers Ninja Steel: Season 1
Tabula Rasa: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
The Hollywood Masters: Season 2
March 16
Benji (Netflix Original)
Edha: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
On My Block: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Spirit Riding Free: Season 4 (Netflix Original)
Take Your Pills (Netflix Original)
The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter (Netflix Original)
Epic made a surprising announcement recently when it revealed that it was bringing Fortnite's incredibly popular Battle Royale mode to mobile, complete with cross-play. With a beta test coming up on iOS and sign-ups now live, Epic has provided us with our first look at the game running on mobile.
The mobile reveal trailer above showcases gameplay that Epic says is from the mobile version, though it doesn't specify exactly what hardware it's running on--iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, iPad Pro, or a newer Apple device with iOS 11 is required to play. Regardless, you can get a sense for both how it may look on your device of choice and what it's going to play like.
Epic promised that Fortnite on mobile would be the full experience, and from what little we can glean, that appears to be the case. Graphics quality is, as you'd expect, lower than what many Battle Royale players are likely accustomed to, as it runs at a noticeably low resolution in some sections (such as when a player parachutes down into the Dusty Depot area). That said, Fortnite's cartoonish style seems to lend itself well to this kind of downgrade.
More importantly, we also get a brief glimpse at the controls and user interface. The map is relegated to the upper-left corner, while your inventory is listed along the bottom of the screen and touch buttons are located on the left and (primarily) right. We don't yet know how much freedom you'll have to customize these controls; while not as complex as the control scheme in PUBG, Epic does face a challenge in adequately mapping controls meant for a keyboard and mouse or controller to a touchscreen.
As noted above, you can now sign up to participate in Fortnite's upcoming mobile test. It will only be available on iOS initially, although Android will come later. Players can opt-in for cross-play with PS4, Xbox One, and PC, allowing them to squad up with friends on other platforms--provided you want to.
While the delayed jetpack is still without a release date for Fortnite: Battle Royale, developer Epic Games has now announced a new item coming to the popular multiplayer shooter. Remote explosives are coming to Battle Royale "soon," Epic said on Twitter. You can see what they look like in the image below.
As in other games, remote explosives in Battle Royale will allow players to place a charge and then detonate it from a distance. This will add a further element of strategy to the battle royale game, as you can wipe out opponents from afar if you execute it effectively.
Explosive action, from a distance! Remote explosives coming soon to Fortnite Battle Royale. pic.twitter.com/4lfd5QJYox
Regarding the new jetpack, senior designer Eric Williamson said in a developer update that Epic ran into some issues when playtesting it internally, which led to the delay. There is no word as of yet about when the jetpack will be available in the game. It's good to hear Epic is taking its time with the jetpack, as the kind of speed and mobility it may allow could have a significant impact on how Battle Royale plays. The more testing the better, it seems.
In place of the jetpack, Epic released a new weapon, the hunting rifle, earlier this month. The studio has supported the game with regular updates that include things like bug fixes, new features, new modes, and new items and weapons. The regular cadence of updates is part of what makes Fortnite so appealing.
Although he was an established filmmaker in Sweden, you may not have heard of Josef Fares until he made Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. The 2013 game has become known for its innovative use of single-player gameplay, as you control two brothers seeking a cure for their father's illness, and cemented Fares as a viable director in the video game sworld.
With his upcoming game A Way Out, however, Fares hopes to innovate on the couch co-op formula. We recently sat down with him to play his next game, chat about his relationship with publisher EA, ask him about his thoughts on loot crates, and what was going through his head on The Game Awards stage.
For more on A Way Out, keep an eye out for our review when the game releases on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 23.
While Capcom's Devil May Cry series has gone a through a number changes over the years, the focus has always been on offering fast-paced combat with a side of self-aware humor and style. With the re-release of the Devil May Cry HD Collection out now, featuring the original Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition--and the much-maligned Devil May Cry 2--the HD collection should be a solid entry point for anyone looking to check out the series' PlayStation 2 roots. While the original games still hold up, the recent HD port unfortunately retains many of the same issues that plagued the previous release.
As a port of the 2012 HD Collection, the "new" collection for PS4, PC, and Xbox One is largely left intact. In addition to each game receiving a 1080p resolution bump (an increase from the original's 720p resolution), which includes some slightly sharper textures and characters models, the HD Collection also features a suite of side-content aimed at fans--including an in-game compendium full of concept art, soundtracks for each game, and fan art from the DMC fanbase curated by Capcom US.
While there have been some slight changes introduced for this release, including the addition of a handy return to main menu option for when you want to switch over to another game, it's largely the same package on new hardware. While it's great you can play these games on new platforms, many of the older issues from the port linger. After playing with the PS4, and then revisiting the PS3 version, we pulled together a quick rundown of each game, and how their particular HD upgrade has fared.
Devil May Cry (2001)
Released in 2001, this fast-paced and challenging romp through the dark corridors of a demonic mansion would set the tone for what the series was all about. Balancing macabre humor with the cheap-thrills of a 90s-style action game, the original DMC features a strong focus on creating a slightly dreadful atmosphere, while simultaneously injecting pulse-pounding action throughout. Moreover, DMC1 features an adjusted control-scheme to make it more in-line with how DMC2 and 3 play--particularly swapping the jump and attack buttons. While the combat and in-game graphics have held up well--maintaining a solid 60 frames-per-second throughout--Devil May Cry 1 tends to benefit the least with the upgraded resolution and visuals when compared to the other games.
These issues include strange audio quirks and bad ambient sound looping, slightly warped visual visual effects for attacks and special moves, and some occasional instances where some aspects of the environment and characters to disappear entirely for brief moments. This was a rare occurrence, when exploring some of the more active environments, and other during a combat encounter--which was rather annoying. What's disappointing about the re-release is that these original issues haven't been addressed, and many of these problems occur often in DMC1. In addition to the hiccups with the in-game action, many of the stylistic choices from the original game designed around the traditional 4:3 format--including the animated menus text--look incredibly blown out and otherwise weathered.
Despite this, Devil May Cry is still a lot of fun to play. While it's disappointing to see that the upres hasn't been kind to some of the game's already dated qualities, resulting in some muddy looking visuals, the original Devil May Cry is still a strong game with an incredible atmosphere.
Devil May Cry 2 (2003)
Coming shortly after the release of the original game, Devil May Cry 2 ultimately ended up being a poor follow-up to the original, and still stands as the weakest game of the series. With some rather clunky and sluggish combat, mostly barren environments that lacked a sense of atmosphere, and along with an uncharacteristically somber tone--DMC2 lacks the same sort of edge that the series was founded on. On top of the game's already drab and unoriginal style, visual and design aspects of the sequel have aged rather poorly--making it the most aesthetically unappealing games in the package.
Having said that, the resolution bump does give much of the textures for the characters a sharper look, giving the game's quasi cell-shaded style a much more pronounced look--making for some interesting-looking characters during cutscenes. Unfortunately, Devil May Cry 2's issues are far more than skin deep, which no HD port could fix. With that said, the sequel does feature Dante's best outfit of the series, the black and red leather--which also made an appearance in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. So there's that.
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (2006)
As the crown jewel of the DMC HD Collection, Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition is the most content rich game in the package--and is arguably the best game in the DMC series. As the prequel, the game is more of a return to form, focusing on fast and challenging combat, and ditching the weirdly earnest story of DMC2 for a narrative that revelled in over-the-top action-movie machismo. The HD port keeps much of its luster. But like the other games, there are still some blemishes to be aware of.
One area the Special Edition falters in is with its presentation. The game features many cutscenes and story beats throughout, using both pre-rendered and in-game rendered cutscenes. While the resolution bump shows off cleaner and more visually pleasing upgrades to the graphics, which shine during combat and in-game cinematics, pre-rendered cinematics are cropped from the original 4:3 scenes, making for some rather unsightly and stretched out looking visuals during some key scenes. This is made worse when watching multiple cutscenes back to back, jumping between cropped and in-game rendered cutscenes. Despite these issues, DMC3 still manages to impress throughout thanks to its irreverent tone and excellent gameplay. Gameplay performs at a rock-solid 60 frames-per-second, and the upgraded resolution makes combat much more clear to follow, making DMC3--and all its combat rich mechanics--a total blast to play.
While the DMC HD Collection features a number of unsightly inconsistencies issues with its re-release, ultimately showing how much the series has aged since its debut, the trilogy of games still retains the feel and fast-paced action of the series. I still have fond memories of experiencing the games on the PS2, and playing through this trilogy again brought back all those feelings of excitement and frustration during the challenging combat encounters. The HD Collection is a solid way to experience the original games for those that haven't already. And for those returning to the action, you'll find that Devil May Cry's patented action hasn't quite lost its edge yet.
Update: The new PUBG update is now live, along with the full patch notes. Original story follows.
A new update is on the way to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Starting tonight, March 12, at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET (3 AM CET on March 13), developer PUBG Corp. will take the PC servers down for roughly three hours as it performs maintenance and moves the current test build over to the live game.
This marks the seventh major update PUBG has received since leaving early access back in December, and it introduces a number of new features to the game, such as the previously announced emote system. Following the update, players will be able to use 12 different emotes; PUBG Corp. says it will further expand the system with more emotes in the future.
Additionally, the developer has added 37 new Achievements on Steam. PUBG Corp. has also introduced a friends list; this is independent from your Steam friends list and allows you to add up to 50 other players as friends. You also now have the ability to voice chat with your teammates while in the main menu.
Beyond those new features, the update fixes a number of bugs, including one that would cause players to instantly die when vaulting or climbing. PUBG Corp. has also made further optimization changes to ensure the game runs more smoothly.
"With this patch, we are bringing various optimizations to our server and client," PUBG Corp. wrote in a post on Steam. "We have mitigated lag and stutter instances and alleviated frame drop and lag occurrences happening when players are pushed together, starting from the second half of a match, or in dynamic situations, like intense firefights. This has allowed for a smoother environment to play in, than before."
You can find the full patch notes for the update on Steam. PUBG creator Brendan Greene recently shared the development roadmap for the game, outlining some of the new features coming in the next few months. These include a new, smaller island map and improved animations.
Twelve different emotes have been introduced to the PC edition of the game, with more coming in the future. To activate an emote, press the ~ key and then left-click on the move you want to display. Additionally, PUBG now has 37 Achievements on Steam, as well as an in-game friends list. This is independent from your Steam friends list and allows you to add up to 50 other players as PUBG pals. You also now have the ability to voice chat with your teammates while in the main menu.
Beyond those new features, the update fixes a number of bugs, including one that would cause players to instantly die when vaulting or climbing. Developer PUBG Corp. has also made further optimization changes to ensure the game runs more smoothly. Take a look at the full patch notes below, via PUBG Corp.
The developer has also stated that PUBG's new limb and vehicle penetration system--which was due to be introduced this month--has been delayed. "There's been an alteration in our plans, but we will be sure to give an update on this at a later time," the company said. There's also no news on the recently removed anti-cheat measures. PUBG Corp. took the measures out of PUBG recently after their update caused "compatibility issues."
PUBG on Xbox One received a separate update recently that added Game DVR support and introduced additional starting areas for all players. Other gameplay changes include lower damage taken from objects such as rocks, trees, and uneven terrain. On top of that, squad member colours should now be more visible, and you can now use the right stick to rotate your character in the customisation menu. There's also a new PUBG map on the way, which you can try on the PC version's Experimental Test Server next month.
Mitigated the frame drop issue caused by the map loading process
Reduced burden on GPU by optimizing buildings in Erangel
Optimized the beginning and the end of effects
Optimized vehicle physics when driving under a certain speed
Server Optimization
Optimized server network performance
Optimized vehicle physics when driving under a certain speed
Lobby
Added PUBG friends list
Up to 50 people can be added as PUBG friends
Players with PUBG accounts can search and add friends freely regardless of the platform they are using (including Steam, Mail.ru and DMM)
Friend list is a one-way follower concept, not a mutual acceptance between players
PUBG friends list is independent of the Steam friends list. You don't have to be friends on Steam to be friends in PUBG
Up to 30 players you were recently in a team with will be shown on RECENT
Added main menu voice chat
You can chat with the players in your team while still in the main menu
When using the voice chat, a speaker icon will be displayed on the right of the player's name
*Removed the function of being able to invite a player from their career screen due to a technical issue
World
Made holes in the ceiling and floor of some high buildings, so that it is easier to move between different levels, to improve the gameplay experience on Miramar
Gameplay
Added 37 achievements on Steam
Added emote system
12 default emotes will be provided now, and more emotes will be added in the future
While holding the emote menu key (default is ~), emote can be activated by left-clicking the emote or hot key of emote you want to use
Fixed the blue blood effect being more visible than the red blood effect when player gets shot
Added material for crops, rubber, cloth, paper and cactus
When shooting or attacking with a melee weapon, the right effect for each material will be displayed
Changed the gun scope view to be more realistic
Expanded the field of view through the scope
Added a parallax effect when moving weapons fast
Added color, vignetting (darker edges), chromatic aberration (color difference caused by light refraction) and distortion effect on the edge of scopes
*Player can no longer lean while jumping
*Increased the radius of explosion effect considering the actual effective radius
UX/UI
Redesigned the 9 vehicle status icons to work better with 4K resolution
Replaced the red cross icon with a red tire icon for a broken tire
Sound
Added a hit sound effect for crops, rubber, cloth, paper and cactus material
*Removed ambient noise and lowered the overall volume
*Implemented the Doppler effect for the airplane engine sound - the pitch of the airplane engine sound is now different depending on the distance and the direction of movement of the airplane
Bug Fixes
Fixed a square-shaped border on the sea that could be seen when flying in the airplane
Fixed an issue where a player could die instantly when vaulting and climbing
Improved problems where characters would get stuck or die during vaulting, and be able to look through walls.
Fixed some incorrect UI and in-game text
Improved problematic character animation where the character would move abnormally if multiple actions were performed in sequence
Fixed abnormal appearance of some clothes, such as costumes overlapping or missing
Adjusted the locations of items that would spawn in places that players cannot reach
Fixed an issue where the mouse sensitivity option could not be set to 59
Fixed an issue that allowed a character to crawl quickly through a certain combination of controls
Fixed the issue of overlapping footstep sounds in FPP mode
Improved an issue where three-wheeled motorbikes would suddenly flip whenever the server performance deteriorated
Fixed an issue where a player would have a slower falling speed when switching seats on a three-wheeled motorcycle mid-air
Fixed an issue where underwater bullet penetration effect was not being applied sometimes
Fixed an issue where a player was unable to cancel fueling up a vehicle, even though cancel was clicked
Fixed an issue where throwables that had already exploded mid-air would still make a popping sounds on the ground
Fixed an issue where sometimes a downed player was able to drive a vehicle
Fixed an issue where after reconnecting a vehicle was intermittently invisible or the character and camera were misaligned
Fixed an issue where the character of a player with a new account would not show up in the main menu when forming a team
Fixed an issue where the shadow of a character was too sharp regardless of the distance
Fixed an issue where when jumping out of the airplane, the character fell to a fixed position, no matter the flying direction
Fixed an issue where when player tried to ADS with scope attached weapon, some of the scope exterior parts were shown late
Fixed an issue where the adjusted zoom level in 8x scope reset after swapping to your other weapon(s)
Fixed an issue where the item quantity adjustment popup window displays automatically when picking up/discarding items from the Inventory screen
Fixed an issue where sometimes the lung capacity gauge was not in sync between being in the water and out of water
*Mitigated an issue where when exiting the parachute mode, player could take excessive fall damage
*Fixed an issue where the relaxed state gun animation was not shown properly
PUBG might be losing some ground to Fortnite, but the game remains a juggernaut. According to Valve boss Gabe Newell, the battle royale game is Steam's third highest-selling game of all time. He revealed the detail during a presentation this weekend, according to IGN.
"You can have a relatively new game like PUBG, and [...] they can capitalize on all the other multiplayer games, and all of the technology, [and] the fact that China is now a huge market for anybody who does PC game development," Newell apparently said. "So PUBG can come out of pretty much nowhere and become the third largest selling game on Steam's history. Their gross revenue over all-time is already number three in fairly short order."
It is not immediately clear what the No. 1 and No. 2 best-selling games on Steam are, and Valve may never say.
Indeed, PUBG was only released on Steam through Early Access in March 2017. The game left Early Access in December with the launch of the 1.0 edition. Though the game is officially released, developer PUBG Corp. continues to support the title with regular updates as part of its games-as-a-service approach. Just recently, the studio laid out its development roadmap for 2018, and this includes a new map, emotes, and lots more.
The last figure we heard for PUBG sales was 30 million, which is remarkable. Though player figures have dropped, the game remains popular on a level that the video game industry has almost never seen. On Steam, the game had an unthinkable 2.46 million peak concurrent players today, which is significantly ahead of the No. 2 game, DOTA 2, which had a peak concurrent player figure of 573,511 on Steam today. Notably, DOTA 2 is a free-to-play game, while PUBG costs $30.
For more on PUBG, check out GameSpot's video above in which editors talk about how the game may need to evolve in the wake of pressure from Fortnite and other similar games.
It's a new week, and that means Microsoft has rolled out a fresh set of deals on Xbox Live. The lineup of deals this week is not all that extensive, though there are some solid offers to be had across Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Moving to Xbox 360, some of the deals include Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare ($20) and Call of Duty: Ghosts ($16), as well as Farming Simulator 15 ($15). A bunch of Farming Simulator 15 DLC is also on sale this week on Xbox Live.
Go to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of this week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership. The offers expire on March 19.
Mobile game developer Halfbrick, the Australian studio behind the popular smartphone game Fruit Ninja, has made as many as 30 staffers redundant. That comes out to around half of the Brisbane-based studio's total workforce. This is all according to a report today from GameSpot sister site CNET, which heard the news from multiple sources. These sources told CNET that Halfbrick now has a total staff of fewer than 30 people.
Fruit Ninja, a free-to-play game that was originally released in 2010, has been downloaded more than 1 billion times. The game supports itself with microtransactions, as many free-to-play games do.
It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for Halfbrick of late. In 2015, the company reportedly laid off all of its design developers as part of a major shakeup that saw the company shifting from creating new games to supporting its existing ones. In addition to Fruit Ninja, Halfbrick created Jetpack Joy Ride, which also proved to be immensely popular.
More redundancies are reportedly coming at Halfbrick later this week. We'll report back with more details as they come to light. Go to CNET to get the full story.
Fruit Ninja came to console in the form of Fruit Ninja Kinect, and later Fruit Ninja Kinect 2. A VR version of the game was released for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PlayStation VR.
A movie based on Fruit Ninja is currently in the works at film giant New Line, though we have not heard much about it recently.
In addition to Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, Halfbrick developed games like Fish Out of Water, Age of Zombies, Dan the Man, and Monster Dash, among others.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment