The newest video game movie, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Rampage, opened on Friday and it made a lot of money in its first weekend. The over-the-top action movie pulled in $34.5 million for its opening weekend to sit in the No. 1 spot in the US and Canada. It beats out last weekend's No. 1, the horror film A Quiet Place, which was pushed down to second position.
Rampage had a big first weekend domestically, but as EW notes, it's first-weekend haul is on the low side of industry projections, which had it making in the $35 million-$40 million. Whatever the case, the US and Canada are just two regions. Rampage made $114.1 million from international markets this weekend, for a total of around $148.6 million. The movie had a reported budget of $120 million, so it's already doing well, it seems.
Rampage, which is based on the arcade game of the same name, is big, fun, and dumb, our reviewer said. You can read our full Rampage review here.
The Rock celebrated Rampage's first-weekend performance by making surprise appearances in movie theaters, including one in Los Angeles. You can see the full box office report for this weekend below, as rounded up and compiled by EW.
Star Wars: Battlefront II is getting a new update this week, and it'll mark the return of Crystals, the currency that you can buy with real-world cash. The Night on Endor Update is headlined, however, by the limited-time Ewok Hunt mode.
Night on Endor brings back Crystals, which allow you to purchase in-game items with real money. However, DICE has implemented some significant changes following the backlash that caused the studio to entirely remove microtransactions from the game. First, Crystals can only be used to buy Appearances, which are cosmetic items. The update also adds a slew of new Appearances, such as Endor Leia and Endor Han; Appearances can be bought with normal, in-game Credits as well.
Second, Star Cards are not coming back; gameplay and progression-related items are contained solely within the progression system. The microtransaction system will be strictly contained to cosmetic items.
The update will also introduce the first game mode that allows players to play as Ewoks. Ewok Hunt is a limited-time, asymmetric mode that pits a team of Ewoks against a team of Stormtroopers. It is the Ewoks' task to eliminate the Stormtroopers; the troopers must withstand the attack until evacuation. Every Stormtrooper that is killed spawns a new Ewok. DICE hasn't yet said when this mode will be removed from the game.
The update goes live on April 18 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and includes various other tweaks and balance fixes. In addition, DICE announced that Season Two of Battlefront II content will arrive in May. Seasons will revolve around specific themes; the studio hasn't revealed what Season Two's theme will be, but focusing on the upcoming Solo film is a possibility.
Microsoft is already running a sale on Xbox games this week, but five additional big games have just gotten price drops. You have the weekend to make your picks, because these sale prices will only last through Monday, April 16. Here's a rundown on all the new Xbox One deals you can get right now.
Also on sale is Halo 5: Guardians, the standard edition of which you can grab for $16/£12. If you want some extra digital items and Halo: The Fall of Reach animated series included, you can buy the digital deluxe edition for $30/£21.
Next up is the open-world action-RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Special Edition. This version is graphically enhanced for Xbox One, and it comes with all the DLC. It's on sale for $20/£15.
Racing fans who already own Forza Horizon 3 might be interested in scooping up all the add-ons Microsoft has released for the game--all the monthly DLC car packs, plus the Blizzard Mountain and Hot Wheels expansions--in one bundle. The Complete Add-Ons Collection normally costs $139/£120, but it's currently on sale for $42/£36.
If you're interested in a quieter, more narrative-driven game, check out Gone Home: Console Edition, which is available for $14/£12. That wraps up the new Xbox One game sales. We'll let you know if any other notable games go on sale before Tuesday, when these sales end and a new batch will take their place.
Razer has a PC game store now, and this week it has a bunch of 2K and Rockstar games on sale for your frugal enjoyment. The discounted prices here tend to be a few bucks lower than the sale prices you'll find at other retailers, so it's definitely worth taking a look if you're in the market for a game. Just make sure to act in the next few days, because the sale ends on April 20.
First up is Grand Theft Auto V, which is on sale for $24. That's a great price, seeing as it usually only dips down to $30. If you're sure you're going to want some in-game currency for Grand Theft Auto Online, you can get the Great White Bundle for $49. It comes with GTA V (which contains GTA Online) as well as 1.25 million GTA dollars.
Other GTA games on sale include $9 for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, which collects all three games that originally launched on PS2, and Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition, which includes the story DLC, also for $9. To sum it up, you can buy every GTA game since part 3 on for $42. Not a bad price for some of the most important games of the millennium.
Publisher 2K has many other games on sale, including BioShock: The Collection for $18. Mafia III is discounted to $16, or $21 if you want the season pass thrown in as well.
Fans of sports and sports entertainment may want to pick up NBA 2K18 for $36, or WWE 2K18 for $30. If tactics and strategy are more your speed, you can grab XCOM 2 for $18 or Civilization VI for $24.
Those are some of the highlights. To see the full list of games on sale, head to the Razer Game Store.
Things have been somewhat quiet from BioWare since the middle of last year, when changes were made to Mass Effect: Andromeda developer BioWare Montreal in the wake of that game's release. Now, with BioWare Edmonton's new game Anthem coming up, BioWare general manager Casey Hudson has provided the first in a series of "studio updates," which touches on the fact that Andromeda never got the story DLC many fans were hoping for.
Hudson served as a director on the original Mass Effect trilogy and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic before leaving BioWare. He then returned in 2017 as BioWare was facing some upheaval. "When I returned to BioWare last summer, Mass Effect: Andromeda had just been released, and there was a significant movement among players asking for a story DLC that would answer questions surrounding the fate of the quarians," he said in the new blog post. "As you know, we were not able to deliver story DLC for Andromeda--this was as frustrating for us as it was for players, and it was something we knew we had to solve in future games."
He doesn't offer much in the way of specifics, but he does suggest that the situation has had a direct impact on how BioWare approached Anthem, its new Destiny-esque open-world action game.
"That experience ultimately became a defining moment in refocusing BioWare's mission," he continued. "We need to delight players with new experiences and innovation, but we must stay focused on the importance of the world, character, and storytelling elements that players expect from our games. And our games must be designed to continue delivering new stories and experiences, in an ongoing relationship with players in the worlds we're evolving together.
"It's in that spirit that we are working through production on Anthem--a game designed to create a whole new world of story and character that you can experience with friends in an ongoing series of adventures. It will be unlike anything you've played, but if we do it right, it will feel very distinctly BioWare."
Hudson teased that his new blog post will share "more about how our updated studio mission is helping to focus our work on Anthem and the games that will follow."
Anthem had been scheduled for release this year, but back in January, EA announced it had been delayed (though it puzzlingly claimed it was not actually a delay). It still does not have a specific date but is due out sometime in early 2019.
PS4's highly anticipated God of War is only a few days away, with pre-loading even closer. Sony Santa Monica's reboot of the long-running action series releases on Friday, April 20, though some players will have a chance to play it a little before then depending on where you live.
If you're planning on picking the title up digitally, God of War will be available from the PlayStation Store right at 12 AM ET on April 20, meaning PS4 owners on the West Coast can start playing it at 9 PM PT on April 19. The Europe and Australia PlayStation Stores also list the game for April 19, although neither says the exact time that it will be available those regions yet. On PSN in the US, Sony says that pre-loading begins at some point on Tuesday, April 17.
Ahead of its release, you're still able to pre-order God of War digitally, which will get you a handful of bonus items. The standard edition comes with several God of War avatars that will be available immediately upon purchase. The game also comes in a Digital Deluxe edition, which contains an assortment of exclusive content, such as special armor and shield skins. You can see all of the bonus items in our God of War pre-order guide.
God of War is the first new installment in the series since 2013's God of War Ascension for PS3. Unlike previous titles, the upcoming PS4 entry focuses on the story of Kratos and his son, Atreus. The game diverges from its predecessors in a number of other notable ways, drawing on Norse mythology as opposed to Greek and arming Kratos with the new Leviathan Axe.
Critics have had very good things to say about the new God of War. GameSpot's Peter Brown awarded it a 9/10 in our God of War review and called it "a spectacular action game with epic set pieces." He wrote, "Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come."
In honor of GOG.com'sThe Most Wanted Games Sale, we're giving away 800 PCgame codesfree from their catalog. The PC game codes will be a mystery code, redeemable on GOG's platform, and are DRM-free. (Scroll down to enter below.)
Competition ends Tuesday, April 17 at 11:00 AM PT. Eight-hundred (800) winners will be emailed a code. Open worldwide, void where prohibited. No purchase necessary.
God of War is the next major PS4 exclusive, and its release date is coming quite soon--it's out on April 20, meaning time is running out if you're eager to pre-order. With this game, developer Sony Santa Monica promises Kratos, the GoW himself, has some depth to him. He's not just raging at the world, as he's been known to do in previous entries. This time around he's joined by his son Atreus as they head into the land of the Norse gods. Most importantly, he has a beard.
But fans of the series shouldn't worry Sony has created a low-key game about feelings. This is still a God of War game, and although Kratos has traded in his chain-blades for a magic axe, he still slices through enemies, spilling gallons of blood and gore. You can read all about what to expect in our God of War review, which is quite positive. In it, Peter Brown says, "In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become."
If you're planning to pre-order God of War, you'll want to know where you can get it, what comes in the special editions, and how much each version costs. Strap in. Here comes a firehose spray of God of War pre-order info.
Pre-Order Bonus
First, the pre-order bonus. If you pre-order God of War from a participating retailer, you'll get three shield skins. They're called Buckler of the Forge, Dökkenshieldr, and Shining Elven Soul Shield. Now say that three times fast.
Pre-order God of War from GameStop, and you'll get the Luck of Ages XP Boost, an in-game item that gives you additional experience points.
God of War - Standard Edition
Suggested retail price: $60
This is the standard version of the game, so all you get are any standard pre-order bonuses depending where you buy it.
The Stone Mason Edition comes with all the digital goodies from the Digital Deluxe Edition, plus all the physical items from the Collector's Edition. The extra $20 this edition costs goes toward the following small items:
If you want to think about God of War each time you pick up a controller or glance at your console, buy the Limited Edition God of War PS4 Pro Bundle. It comes with a 1TB hard drive and some slick God of War ornamentation.
Where to buy the Sony Limited Edition God of War PS4 Pro Bundle:
At what point is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson no longer portraying characters at all, and just fully playing variations of himself? We may have reached this critical The Rock breaking point with Rampage, a video game adaptation nobody asked for, but which somehow mostly works as a big, fun, and really dumb action movie.
Johnson plays Davis Okoye, a primatologist and former soldier who's more comfortable around animals than humans. But he's still mostly The Rock, a fact that Dr. Doolittle levels of communication between him and his best gorilla friend George, the only thing unique to this latest iteration of the wrestler-turned-actor's persona, can't hope to disguise. There may be nothing that could, which becomes more apparent with every new Dwayne Johnson vehicle, from last year's better-than-it-should-have-been Jumanji to, probably, the upcoming Skyscraper, out in July. Johnson is like the anti-Gary Oldman, who famously disappears into his every role. The Rock can't be anything but The Rock.
But that's OK! People like seeing The Rock flex his giant arms and mutter inoffensive one-liners. I like it. And that's exactly what we get in Rampage--oh, and a trio of awesome, giant monsters who can't be stopped by tanks and fighter jets and RPGs. Only The Rock is powerful and sensitive enough to stop these beasts. Hell yes.
Okoye's monkey friend George starts to grow in size, appetite, and aggression after he breathes in a green gas that falls from a research station in space. That sure sounds like a plot from an '80s arcade game, but the movie actually puts a lot of work into making sense. Not that it succeeds, but a tacked-on opening scene in which an astronaut researcher clamors to get her samples into an escape pod as a giant rat chases her through an exploding zero-G space station contextualizes the insanity.
"There's a reason we were doing those experiments in space," Jake Lacy's hapless villain Brett Wyden later laments to his sister, the more capable, but still somewhat hapless, villain Claire Wyden (played by Malin Akerman). Well, sure, there probably was. Who knows or cares what it is though?
Rampage focuses mostly on The Rock and his monkey, who Okoye continues to vouch for even as he grows totally unmanageable. In the B-plot, a team of boilerplate mercenaries led by True Blood's Joe Manganiello don't last long against a giant wolf (the "pathogen" broke up and landed at three different points across the US). Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays a government agent known as Harvey Russell who, as a character, is entirely indistinguishable from his The Walking Dead villain Negan. Being alpha males, he and Okoye butt heads but eventually form a grudging respect for one another, because that's how that works in movies.
These characters are the core of Rampage's incredible stupidity. Not one of them acts like a real person with believable motivations or relatable thought processes. The Wydens smirk over their ingenious plan to set off a radio signal that will draw the ever-growing creatures right to their skyscraper headquarters in the middle of Chicago, then sit smugly in their 80th floor office for the rest of the movie like they're just dying to be eaten alive. When Okoye and Naomie Harris's Dr. Kate Caldwell figure out what the Wydens have done, they assume there must be an antidote and decide to hijack a military helicopter, fly to Chicago, and steal it, because they're apparently the only ones capable of doing so.
But Rampage is a fun ride in spite of its stupidity. The monsters look pretty good, especially the transformed crocodile, who isn't fully revealed until late in the movie. Dr. Caldwell explains early on that her research sought to combine DNA from many different animals with growth hormones from sharks, so naturally, the 30-foot wolf has webbed wings like a flying squirrel and spines like a hedgehog, and it can shoot the spines out of its tail like giant spears. The CG is a little inconsistent, but it never gets bad enough to distract from explosive set pieces like George going berserk in the belly of a plane mid-flight or all three beasts ("The Wrecking Crew," as they're nicknamed in the games) climbing that skyscraper together in the climax, a la the Rampage games.
Speaking of the games, Rampage the movie tries halfheartedly to wink and nudge in their direction, with mixed results. Morgan's character notes dryly that "weirdos on the internet" have named the wolf Ralph, but the name "Lizzie" is never uttered in connection with the croc, as far as I noticed. In one early scene, a Rampage arcade machine appears out of focus in the background; if the game exists in this world, isn't it an incredibly weird coincidence that a giant monkey, reptile, and wolf team up in the "real world" and destroy a city? It's never noted again, and it doesn't matter.
Rampage does get points for some of its humor, especially in the interactions between Okoye and George, who routinely flips The Rock his middle finger and plays practical jokes on him (prior to his infection, at least). Unsurprisingly, their relationship stretches plausibility when it comes to just how smart gorillas really are. Like everything else in Rampage, it's heightened for dramatic, explosive, or comedic effect.
This movie is dumb as hell, but it's also pretty dang entertaining. It is, after all, an adaptation of the Rampage video games. If you've ever played one, what more could you have expected from this?
The digital PC game retailer GOG is running a PC game sale based on its "most wishlisted" games and DLC. It's called the Most Wanted Games sale, and it runs through April 23. You can find all of the items on sale on GOG's website but below we'll run down some of the best deals in the sale.
If you have a couple hundred hours you're looking to fill up, you can't go wrong buying The Witcher 3: Game of the Year Edition for $20. It comes with the enormous action-RPG, plus the two massive expansions that came out later. It's a killer deal on one of the best RPGs ever made.
Speaking of superb RPGs, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is on sale for $38. It's a fully modern isometric RPG that we loved. Fans of the genre may also want to check out the enhanced editions of these classics: Planescape Torment for $7 and Baldur's Gate 2 for $5.
Thoughtful types may enjoy the cryptic puzzles in The Witness for $16, while fans of intense action will be better suited with Superhot for $12 or Hotline Miami 2 for $4. Old-school gamers who haven't checked out Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove or Owlboy can give them a try at $20 each.
Horror game fans can save money on titles like Darkest Dungeon ($10), which tasks you with keeping your party sane in addition to keeping them alive. The freaky game Soma also got a steep price cut, landing it at $6.
Those are just a few of the many "most wishlisted" games on sale at GOG. Visit the front page of the site to see the full list.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Capcom has confirmed that Falke, the next DLC fighter for Street Fighter V, will be available from April 24. Falke will be available for $6 or 100,000 Fight Money. International pricing hasn't been confirmed but is likely to be in line with previous characters. Falke also included in the Season 3 character pass, which also grants access to Sakura and Blanka (both available now), as well as Cody, G, and Sagat (coming in the future).
She's a brand new character to the series but, like Ed and M. Bison, utilizes Psycho Power in her fighting style. "Falke was built to be an alternative clone for M. Bison," explains Capcom. "She was heavily experimented on by Shadaloo and was forced to train day in, day out to achieve perfection.
"Falke has the unique ability to infuse Psycho Power into objects and release it through them, mainly through her staff, which she named Harmony," the official description continues. "Years of harsh training went by, causing Falke to spiral deep into despair, wishing for it all to end. Finally, Ed came to her rescue and they both were able to escape Shadaloo. Now, the two have a sibling-like bond and are searching for others like them in need of help."
Falke's fighting style leans heavily on a staff that uses to keep enemies at a distance. Her attackes are also infused with Psycho Power, which players can channel by holding down any punch button. Since her staff effectively acts as a conduit, these moves can be charged up and released in a number of ways. While standing a blast of Psycho Power can be shot out like a shotgun, in the air a projectile can be shot downwards diagonally, and while crouching Falke goes prone and shoots a projectile at an enemy's feet. This prone move, called Psycho Kanonen, can also be used to duck incoming projectiles, giving it both offensive and defensive applications.
"Like Ed, some of Falke's special moves only require either two punch or two kick buttons--no special inputs required," Capcom says. "Pressing two punches will result in Psycho Schneide, which is her version of an uppercut. Pressing two kicks is Katapult, which sees Falke pole vaulting towards the opponent in a kick motion."
Falke's V-Skill is called Psycho Trombe and during it she spins her staff in front of her. This move can then be cancelled by a "variety of normal moves and can also be used to absorb projectiles." Her V-Trigger, meanwhile, is called Staerken and "powers up her ability to infuse and release Psycho Power from her staff and will allow her to use additional versions of her special moves without needing to charge up in advance."
Her V-Trigger II, known as Psycho Angriff, lets her "twirl around hitting the opponent into the air, which she then follows up with a surge of Psycho Power." If you press hard punch and hard kick during this, Psycho Sturm will be activated to deliver a sweeping staff attack that can be cancelled for combo extensions. Down, hard punch, and hard kick, meanwhile, will make Falke jump into the air diagonally and slam her staff down onto her enemy.
Finally, Falke's Critical Art is called Psycho Fluegel and, on hit, will launch enemies into the air, make her pole vault up to them and then knock them about with her staff. As expected from a Critical Art, it's over the top and flashy.
While Wrestlemania 34is in our rear-view mirror, there's another major WWE event on the horizon: Greatest Royal Rumble. On Friday, April 27, Saudi Arabia will host this show, which will be streamed on the WWE Network. The main event will be the largest Royal Rumble match of all time.
The card for the show is starting to come together, with new matches being added to the event over the course of the next two weeks. If you're wondering why there aren't any women's matches on the card it's because of the country's extremely conservative views, and women can attend the show but cannot wrestle.
Because of the time difference, the show will air in North America at 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT with a Kickoff show on the network starting one hour prior, as the show begins in Saudi Arabia at 5 PM BST / 7 PM AST. As of this writing, there's no clear indication of how long the show will be, but advertisements for it have said all the major WWE titles--minus the two women's ones--will be on the line, so expect this to be a longer event.
The main event of the evening will be the Greatest Royal Rumble match, a Royal Rumble consisting of 50 wrestlers. Prior to this event, the 2011 40-man Royal Rumble was the only Rumble to have more than 30 superstars involved. We'll keep you updated when new matches are added to the card. As of now, there are six confirmed matches for it.
Greatest Royal Rumble Match Card
Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho (Casket Match)
John Cena vs. Triple H
The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The Usos (For the Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
The Miz vs. Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe (For the Intercontinental Championship)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (For the Universal Championship)
50-Man Royal Rumble
If for some reason you can't watch Greatest Royal Rumble when it airs--because it's on in the early morning--don't worry because GameSpot will be covering it live.
It's the start of a new month, which means a host of new games are on the horizon for all platforms. April's release schedule is fairly light compared to March's, but there are still some big-name sequels in store for this month, including a new chapter in the Yakuza series and the revamped God of War for PS4.
Below, you'll find a roundup of all the biggest games coming to PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and 3DS in April 2018. For a full look at all of the major titles coming to each platform throughout the rest of the year, check out our comprehensive 2018 game release date list.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PS4) -- April 17
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is one of April's biggest PS4 releases, launching partway through the month on April 17. The final installment in protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's saga, the game follows the former mobster as he tries to reconcile his criminal past while raising his adoptive daughter's baby. The title also tweaks the series' combat system and introduces a host of new minigames, including the RTS-like Clan Creator.
This month's other marquee PS4 exclusive is God of War, which launches on April 20. A reboot of sorts of the long-running action series, this new installment eschews Greek for Norse mythology and follows the story of Kratos and his young son, Atreus. Along with the new setting, the game also boasts a completely revamped battle system, which sees Kratos trading his iconic Blades for the new Leviathan Axe.
Nintendo's DIY experiment, Nintendo Labo launches exclusively for Switch on April 20. More of a construction set than a traditional game, Labo ships in two different packages, which come bundled with cardboard and other materials used to create cardboard peripherals called Toy-Cons. Players can then use these Toy-Cons to play minigames and interact with the Labo software in other clever ways.
Avengers: Infinity Warfinally arrives next week, and two new posters have been revealed. These follow the long line of trailers, TV spots, and featurettes that have been released in the build-up to the movie.
These latest posters are the best so far. Unlike the Infinity Stones-themed posters released a few weeks back, they feature all the movie's big heroes together. One poster is illustrated while the other uses photos of the stars, and both are incredibly stylish. Check them out below:
Avengers: Infinity War is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo who previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. In a recent interview, Anthony Russo spoke about the challenges of making a movie with so many characters. "This is one of the most complicated movies ever made in many ways," he said. "I think all of us appreciate what a special and unique opportunity this was. No one has ever seen a film like this. No one has ever seen this number of loved characters in a single film with this caliber of cast. And that's really what drove all of us."
The Russos have also appealed for fans not to spoil any of the movie's big surprises via a note they posted on Twitter. They asked viewers not to "spoil it for others, the same way you wouldn't want it spoiled for you." Spider-Man actor Tom Holland released his own excellent response.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched for 3DS back in November, marking the mainline series' swan song on Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. As it did for the original Sun and Moon versions, The Pokemon Company is continuing to support the pair in the months following their release with free items and Pokemon. The company has a lot of giveaways lined up for 2018, which it has dubbed the Year of Legendary Pokemon, though those certainly won't be the only freebies players can expect to find this year.
We've rounded up all of the free distributions currently running for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon below, many of which are also open to Sun and Moon players. We'll be updating this list as more giveaways are announced, so check back often to see what free items and Pokemon you can get. In the meantime, you can learn more about the latest Pokemon games in our rundown of everything new in Pokemon Ultra Sun And Ultra Moon. We also break down the differences between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, if you're still unsure of which version to pick up.
Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Free Gifts
Entei/Raikou -- April 22-29
The Johto Legendary dogs Entei and Raikou are April's free gift for Pokemon players. The Pokemon are being distributed in the US via a free download code from participating Target stores, and as before, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing: those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Entei, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will receive Raikou. In Europe, the Legendaries are being distributed as a free online Mystery Gift until April 25.
Magearna
Unlike most other gift Pokemon, the Mythical Steel/Fairy-type, Magearna, is not available through the Mystery Gift feature, but via a QR code, which is compatible with Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, you can use the QR Scanner to scan the code below. Once you've done that, visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City and pick your Magearna up from the deliveryman waiting there.
Celebi -- Ends Sep. 21
Players who purchase either Pokemon Gold or Silver from the 3DS Eshop by September 21, 2018 will receive a bonus download code for the Mythical Pokemon Celebi. The code can be redeemed in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. We've outlined the steps you need to take to find and redeem the code here.
Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina -- Ends Oct. 31
Players who have a Pokemon Bank account can receive the final forms of all three Alola starters--Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina--as a free bonus for using the cloud storage service. What sets these three Pokemon apart from the ones you can obtain in-game is that they each come with their Hidden Abilities, which aren't typically available through normal play. You'll receive a notification about the gifts the next time you access Pokemon Bank, and they can be picked up in your game of choice from the deliveryman waiting in any Pokemon Center.
Past Gifts
Dialga/Palkia -- DONE
Kicking off the Year of Legendary Pokemon are the Space and Time Pokemon, Palkia and Dialga. The two are being distributed in the US at GameStop from February 2-28, while UK residents can pick them up from participating Game stores. The Legendary you receive will depend on which version you have: players with either Sun or Ultra Sun receive Palkia, while those playing either Moon or Ultra Moon get Dialga. You'll need to redeem your download code by May 23 to claim the Legendaries.
Regigigas/Heatran -- DONE
The Year of Legendary Pokemon continues with another pair of Legendaries originally from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas and Heatran. As before, the Pokemon you receive will depend on which seventh generation title you're playing: Sun and Ultra Sun players will get Regigigas, while those with a copy of Moon or Ultra Moon will receive Heatran. Unlike the Dialga and Palkia distribution, The Pokemon Company is giving away the download code for Regigigas and Heatran in the March Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter, so you'll need to create a free Trainer Club Account here and opt-in to the newsletter before March 1 in order to get the code.
Square Enix has released a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts III showing off Classic Kingdom, a Game & Watch-style mini-game collection. The feature was revealed during a fan event where Kingdom Hearts III co-director Tai Yasue said Classic Kingdom is "inspired by Disney cartoons and 1980s LCD games."
In the trailer, which you can watch above, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are shown crowding around a portable games console, at which point tiny black and white versions of Sora and Mickey must use a platform to climb a construction site and rescue Minnie Mouse from Pete.
Classic Kingdom seems to be made up of multiple mini-games, including one where you whack enemies with a hammer as they approach you. Another requires you to deliver food, and a third that involves moving around a table as a giant stomps his fists and stamps his feet. It's all simple and charming in the way classic LCD games were.
Classic Kingdom will be available to play in both Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]. At the fan event it was also revealed that 300 Union χ[Cross] players will be selected to have their names appear in Kingdom Hearts III as part of the Make Your Mark campaign.
Kingdom Hearts III is expected to launch in 2018 but a specific release date hasn't been confirmed yet. Tetsuya Nomura, who is directing the game alongside working on the Final Fantasy VII Remake, explained the extremely long wait last year, saying there were numerous factors that contributed to it, one of which is a change in engines.
We're pretty excited for the game and have put together a list of 9 Things We Want From Kingdom Hearts III, which includes a cameo of a certain Final Fantasy prince, some tweaks to combat, and a certain famous aquatic paradise.
The free-to-play Monster Hunter-like action game Dauntless is one of the year's most ambitious PC releases, and soon players everywhere will have a chance to try it out. Developer Phoenix Labs has announced an open beta for the cooperative RPG, which is slated to begin next month.
Starting May 24, players around the world will be able to download and participate in the Dauntless open beta. Much like Monster Hunter, Dauntless puts players in the role of Slayers, who must work together to hunt down fearsome creatures known as Behemoths. Up to four players can set out together to battle Behemoths, using a variety of different weapons and armor to take down the monsters.
While the open beta will be free for everyone to join, players will also have the option to purchase customization items for their Slayers. However, Phoenix Labs says these will strictly be cosmetic in nature and won't have any bearing on the gameplay. Likewise, Dauntless does not offer any type of loot boxes.
Following its open beta launch, players will no longer be able to purchase any of Dauntless's Founders Packs. These come in several tiers and grant players exclusive items as well as access to the game's closed beta, which has been available since September 2017. If you're interested in jumping into the title before its open beta, you can still purchase one of the Founder's Packs from the official Dauntless website.
We got a chance to go hands-on with Dauntless at PAX East 2018. In the video above, you can see us team up with the game's developers to take on Shrike, a giant owl-like monster that makes its home in a forest. You can read our previous impressions of Dauntless here.
Regardless of what platform you own, gamers have a lot of major titles to look forward to in 2018, from the upcoming God of War to marquee holiday releases such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Switch version of Super Smash Bros. But while these big-name games may garner the most attention, they are hardly the only ones worth picking up this year.
Already, 2018 has seen a host of wonderfully inventive indie games arrive on every platform, from the captivating Metroidvania-style platformer Iconoclasts to the critically acclaimed tactical gem Into the Breach. And there are many other such games still on the way this year, as we got to see firsthand at PAX East 2018.
During the show, the GameSpot team got the opportunity to try out a variety of upcoming titles, including many that you may not be familiar with. In the video above, Tony Wilson recounts the games that impressed us most at the show. It was difficult to whittle the list down, but the seven we selected are ones you should certainly keep an eye on in 2018, from the bonkers billiards game Pool Panic to the Ninja Gaiden-style platformer The Messenger.
We also got to go hands-on with some higher profile games at the show, including the Switch versions of Dark Souls Remastered and Wolfenstein II, as well as Super Meat Boy's long in-development sequel, Super Meat Boy Forever. You can see some of our other videos from PAX East 2018 below.
Super Meat Boy is renowned for being one of the most brutally difficult platformers of its generation, and its successor, Super Meat Boy Forever, certainly looks to uphold that reputation. Originally envisioned as a mobile-friendly version of the first Super Meat Boy, Forever eventually grew into a full-blown sequel, with more levels, characters, and cutscenes--not to mention a bigger budget--than developer Team Meat could achieve with the first title.
The game also makes some dramatic changes to Super Meat Boy's formula. This time around, Meat Boy and Bandage Girl are both playable, and the two can punch, kick, and slide through levels. Perhaps the most radical departure, however, is that Forever is an auto-runner. Meat Boy and Bandage Girl now barrel through levels automatically, with players responsible for timing their jumps over buzzsaws, chasms, and other deadly hazards scattered throughout each stage.
This streamlined gameplay translates into a much more accessible experience than the original Super Meat Boy, as players can navigate through the game's many hazard-laden levels using only two buttons. As we quickly learned from our hands-on time with the title, however, this greater accessibility doesn't necessarily make it any less challenging than its predecessor.
Unlike the original Super Meat Boy, Forever's levels are procedurally generated. Each is comprised of set "level chunks," but those are arranged differently each time you enter the stage, keeping the experience unpredictable. In typical Meat Boy fashion, they're also littered with obstacles, requiring quick reflexes, precise timing, and some muscle memory to successfully clear.
We got a chance to check out Super Meat Boy Forever at PAX East 2018. In the video above, you can see Team Meat co-founder and Forever's creative director Tommy Refenes showcase a few levels from the upcoming platformer. Refenes also shows off a couple of the game's Dark World stages, which offer a more challenging take on its standard levels.
Super Meat Boy Forever is in development for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices. Team Meat hasn't announced a release date for the game yet, but it is slated to launch this year, with the Switch version set to arrive first.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze continues the trend of grabbing the best and brightest underplayed games for the Wii U and putting them out on Nintendo's new (and more successful) console. These usually sport at least some minor tweaks, and Nintendo had some fun inserting a new Easter egg in DK's adventure to tip its hat to the new system.
As noticed by GameXplain in the video below, the Donkey Kong crew plays Nintendo Switch if you leave the controller alone for a little while. The animations show some variety depending on which Kong is in play. DK plays Switch, notably starting up a game of Tropical Freeze itself. His old buddy Diddy plays with him using the co-op with joy-cons, while Dixie is a bit more mischievous by grabbing them from him to play. Cranky Kong, true to his name, refuses to play.
Tropical Freeze was well-regarded when it was released in 2014, having earned a nomination for GameSpot's Wii U Game of the Year. Nintendo has been keen to get its Wii U games in front of the larger Switch audience, with re-releases like Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors, and the upcoming Captain Toad Treasure Tracker.
Tropical Freeze for Switch adds another new Kong to the mix, Funky Kong. The new addition gives players an easier option to play through the game's notorious difficulty, as Funky can double jump and hover, stay underwater without running out of air, and land on spikes without dying. He's only available in the new "Funky Mode," which includes co-op play if you need an easier option for a novice buddy.
Far Cry 5 opened up its regular live events by having you char-grill some animals, which may have seemed a little cruel. The latest event instead subtly encourages players to try out all that Hope County has to offer by simply rewarding you for playing some of the Arcade mode.
The "Arcade Dawn" event runs through April 17. The challenge is barely a challenge, rewarding you for simply playing the mode for 40 minutes. That means less than an hour of anything Arcade has to offer, like competitive multiplayer and co-op. Your reward for this feat will be a Vector .45 ACP submachine gun. Once you've hit that point, you can keep playing in Arcade to help earn the community goal. That will grant everyone the Arcade Pro outfit, which nicely matches your neat new gun. As usual, you'll also receive Silver Bars for progress on the way to those ultimate goals.
To participate, head to the Online area of your menu and select Live Events. Accept the quest and it will start tracking your progress, as well as show you the community progress meter. As of the time of writing, the community has already blown past the halfway mark, so be sure to do your part as well. Nobody likes a freeloader.
Hulu isn't playing around. The streaming service is not only adding a ton of new movies in April, but it will present the Season 2 premiere of its biggest original series--the Emmy-winning The Handmaid's Tale.
The show, which stars Elizabeth Moss and will see Marisa Tomei appear as a special guest in Season 2, returns on April 25. That day, the first two episodes will become available for streaming, with new installments following every Wednesday.
As for movies, Hulu is massively beefing up its film library with the addition of several classics, franchises, and animated favorites. April will see the arrival of Con Air, Friday the 13th, six The Land Before Time films, and the original Carrie.
Unfortunately, there's a bit of bad news. While the streamer is adding dozens of titles, there are also some that will disappear on April 30. This is your final chance to stream All Dogs Go To Heaven, An Officer and a Gentleman, Look Who's Talking, Red State, and Mystic Pizza, among other films.
You can take a look at everything coming and going on Hulu below. After that, check out Netflix and Amazon Prime Video's offerings for the month of April.
Arriving on Hulu in April
April 1
60 Days In: Complete Season 3 (A&E)
American Pickers: Complete Seasons 15 & 16 (History)
Ancient Aliens: Complete Season 12 (History)
Counting Cars: Complete Season 6B (History)
Fixer Upper: Complete Season 4 (HGTV)
Flea Market Flip: Complete Season 4 (HGTV)
Flip or Flop: Complete Season 6 (HGTV)
Gangland Undercover: Complete Season 1 (History)
House Hunters: Complete Season 108 (HGTV)
House Hunter's Renovation: Complete Season 8 (HGTV)
Intervention: Complete Seasons 15 & 16 (A&E)
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath: Complete Season 2 (A&E)
As spring kicks into high gear, Amazon Prime Video has plenty of new titles for you to watch in the month of April. From classic horror movies to new seasons of original programming, there are more than enough new titles for you to bring through any April showers that may keep you in the house.
When it comes to films, the new month sees classics like Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, and Carrie becoming available to stream--along with several modern horror films including Paranormal Activity, The Rage: Carrie 2 and Red State. Additionally, Escape From New York, Basic Instinct, Kickboxer, and Wayne's World 2 were all added on April 1.
On the Prime originals front, new seasons of Bosch and All or Nothing: Dallas Cowboys are set to debut, plus the premiere season of Little Big Awesome. Meanwhile, though it's not an original, the latest season of History's Vikings will become available on April 25.
You can take a look at everything being added to Amazon Prime Video in April below. In case you missed it, make sure to check out the service's March additions, as well.
April 1
30 Beats
52 Pick-Up
A Simple Plan
Basic Instinct
Brooklyn's Finest
Carrie
Danny Roane: First Time Director
Desperately Seeking Susan
Drugstore Cowboy
Escape from New York
Eye for An Eye
Flashback
For a Few Dollars More
Fred 3: Camp Fred
Fred: Night of the Living Fred
Fred: The Movie
Friday the 13th
Funny About Love
Gamer
Hangman
Hellbenders 3D
Internal Affairs
Kickboxer
Ladybugs
Life Stinks
Marathon Man
Married to the Mob
Meatballs
Miami Blues
Mystery Team
Mystic River
Paranormal Activity
Philadelphia
Prancer
Project Nim
Quigley Down Under
Red State
Salsa
Shanghai Surprise
She's Having a Baby
Sleepers
Small Soldiers
Snake Eyes
Spaceballs
Stand Up Guys
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Steel Magnolias
Superstar
Tenderness
Texas Chainsaw Massacre II
The Big Wedding
The Conspirator
The Dogs of War
The Foot Fist Way
The Karate Kid
The King of Comedy
The Man in the Moon
The Marc Pease Experience
The Phantom
The Rage: Carrie 2
The Replacements
The Thomas Crown Affair
The Winning Season
Throw Momma from the Train
Trading Mom
Troy
Up in Smoke
Uptown Girls
Warpath
Wayne's World 2
Wishmaster
Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies
Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell
Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled
April 2
Chavela
Psychopaths
April 5
Blame
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
April 6
The Florida Project
April 10
Hours
April 12
I Can Do Bad All by Myself
Saturday Church
April 13
Bosch Season 4 (Prime Original)
April 15
Fame
April 18
Aida's Secrets
April 23
Red Rock Season 3
April 24
Vikings Season 5
April 25
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
April 27
All or Nothing: Dallas Cowboys Season 3 (Prime Original)
With 18 films over the last decade, there is a lot to remember of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Avengers: Infinity War hits the big screen. An entire universe of superheroes has been born in the movies. Now, for the first time, they're all banding together to fight a common threat.
Where did they all leave off, though? Take a look at GameSpot's recap of the Marvel Cinematic Universe above, as we delve into the whereabouts of everyone that's been revealed thus far. Most of the MCU's main character's were last seen in Captain America: Civil War, when the Avengers were split down the middle in a dispute between Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans). It leaves the status of the super team in question as Thanos (Josh Brolin) comes to Earth in Infinity War.
Meanwhile, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are still in space in the aftermath of Thor: Ragnarok, not unlike the Guardians of the Galaxy. As that's happening, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is introducing the world to how powerful his home country of Wakanda is, after the events of Black Panther. The technological advancements the country has made due to its rich vibranium sources are bound to have a big impact on the Avengers going forward.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. With so many characters to keep track of--including Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly)--Avengers: Infinity War promises to be the most action-packed and busy MCU movie yet.
Sega is bringing a slate of its classic titles to Nintendo Switch. During the Sega Fes event in Japan, the publisher announced Sega Ages, a lineup of retro Sega games that are coming to North America, Europe, and Japan later this year.
The Sega Ages ports are being handled by M2, the studio behind the Sega 3D Classics series on 3DS. M2 was also responsible for the Game Boy Advance line of Virtual Console titles on Wii U.
Sega hasn't announced an exact release date or pricing details for the Sega Ages games, but the publisher shared a handful of screenshots of them, which you can take a look at above. During the event, Sega teased that it is planning to release more than 15 games under the Sega Ages banner.
In addition to the Sega Ages titles, Sega also unveiled a mini Sega Genesis during the Sega Fes event. More notably, the publisher announced Shenmue I & II, a collection of the beloved Dreamcast games coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC later this year.
As it so often does, Twitch is offering another batch of free in-game goodies to Amazon Prime members, this time for Epic's popular shooter Fortnite. Right now, those with a Prime account will be able to claim the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack, which includes cosmetics and other items for both Battle Royale and Save the World modes.
The Twitch Prime Pack is redeemable on all platforms--PC, PS4, and Xbox One--and comes with two exclusive gliders and outfits for Battle Royale: the Havoc Outfit and Back Bling, plus the Sub Commander Outfit and Slipstream Glider. Additionally, users will receive four exclusive Twitch chat emoji and two heroes for Save the World: Havoc and Sub Commando Jonesy. You can take a look at some of the freebies below. [Update: As an added bonus, Prime members also now receive a special pickaxe for free as well.]
Twitch Prime regularly offers free items and games for Amazon Prime members, so anyone who's a subscriber to the premium service is able to take advantage of this offer. To grab the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack, simply click on the Prime Loot icon at the top of Twitch's homepage or visit Epic's official website for more details about how to claim the free items.
The Twitch Prime Pack isn't the only freebie that Fortnite players can get right now. PS Plus subscribers can also download the PlayStation Plus Celebration Pack on PS4, which includes an exclusive glider and outfit. You can grab the pack here. Meanwhile, the next set of free games for Twitch Prime members is available.
The retro-style action platformer Shovel Knight has made it to nearly every modern gaming platform on the planet and, according to developer Yacht Club Games, has now sold 2 million copies. To celebrate, right now you can get Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove--which contains the core game, plus all of the expansions--for $20 / £15 on nearly every platform. The sale will end April 18.
The PlayStation Store has Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for the sale price on PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. Xbox One owners can get it for the same price on the Xbox Store. On the Nintendo Eshop, you can get the discount on Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, and even the Wii U. And if you're a PC gamer, you can buy it on Steam, Humble Store, or GOG for--you guessed it--the same price.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove comes with the core game, plus all of the expansions. Shovel Knight originally came out in 2014 and contained only the titular character's campaign. Since then, Yacht Club has released two additional DLC expansions, starring Plague Knight and Specter Knight. A third and final expansion, starring King Knight, is expected to release sometime this year, free for Treasure Trove owners. Each of the knights has a unique set of moves and skills, making them play quite differently from one another.
In our Shovel Knight review, we said, "No matter which era it had been released in, Shovel Knight would have been embraced. Its inherent charms are timeless. Shovel Knight is a good reminder that game design does age but can never die and that simple mechanics can still be immensely satisfying."
So if you haven't played Shovel Knight before, or you're looking to play the expansions, you might as well get the whole package while it's on sale. Oh yeah, and there's a Shovel Knight Amiibo, too.
A new Nintendo Eshop sale is going on this week. While it doesn't have a tentpole game like Arms in last week's sale, it has some good deals on a handful of well-respected indies. There's no indication when the prices will go back up, so jump on a game if you want it. Let's get to it, shall we?
The narrative-driven game Oxenfree is down to $5 (from $20). It's about a group of teens who spend a weekend on an island, where supernatural events begin to occur. Another standout is the Metroid-style platformer Cave Story+, which is on sale for $24.
If you have friends over often, you can't go wrong with The Jackbox Party Pack, on sale for $16. It has a mix of mini-games that lots of people can play together, using their phones or tablets as controllers.
Some other ones you might want to take a look at are the 2D-Zelda-like game Ittle Dew 2+ ($24), the dark, ultra-challenging platformer The End is Nigh ($12), the gravity-defying VVVVVV ($8), and the serpent platformer Snake Pass ($10).
On the 3DS side of things, there's only one noteworthy game on the list, but it's just a couple months old. It's the time-bending JRPG Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, and it's on sale for $32.
Far Cry 5 offers quite a bit to do in its open world, but its Arcade mode arguably offers even more to keep you occupied. The map editor is quite robust and gives you a ton of tools to create both cooperative and competitive multiplayer maps and modes. However, making a map is the easy part. Making a good map is more difficult and will take a lot of practice.
Luckily, the GameSpot team has identified some common pitfalls and mistakes that can contribute to a custom scenario or arena less than enjoyable. In the video above, we outline seven things that you should avoid doing while building the next great Far Cry map.
Ultimately, success in Arcade comes from a combination of being varied while also keeping the map to a manageable scale. You have be patient and determined to put in the work necessary to sufficiently terraform so that the map has interesting terrain. But you also want to keep the dimensions fairly low, as it's easy to get overwhelmed by larger maps. We discuss these tips and more in the video.
If you're interested in learning about which guns to place on your custom map, be sure to check out our ranking of the 9 best weapons in Far Cry 5. Further, if you're just starting out with Arcade, you can watch our beginner's guide to the map editor here. Finally, players have already made some impressive (and not-so-impressive) creations in Arcade, and we've rounded up a bunch of them here.
The Pokemon Company is continuing its year-long series of giveaways with another pair of free Legendaries for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This month, players will have a chance to get the Legendary dogs Entei and Raikou, but they'll only be available for a limited time.
As with most other Pokemon distributions, US players will be able to pick up a free download code for the Legendaries from a specific retailer. This time, the code will be available at Target stores from April 22-29. Those in Europe will be able to receive the Legendaries via an online Mystery Gift from April 4-25, while players in Canada can get a code in the Pokemon Trainer Club Newsletter.
The code can be redeemed in any seventh generation Pokemon game, but the Legendary you receive will depend on which version you're playing. Those with a copy of Sun or Ultra Sun will get Entei, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will receive Raikou. Each Pokemon will also come with a different moveset depending on your version. You can see what attacks they'll know in each game below.
Pokemon Ultra Sun
Entei -- Level 100
Sacred Fire
Stone Edge
Iron Head
Flame Charge
Pokemon Sun
Entei -- Level 60
Stomp
Bite
Swagger
Lava Plume
Pokemon Ultra Moon
Raikou -- Level 100
Thunderbolt
Volt Switch
Extrasensory
Calm Mind
Pokemon Moon
Raikou -- Level 60
Reflect
Crunch
Thunder Fang
Discharge
To claim your Legendary Pokemon, select Mystery Gift from the games' main menu, then choose the option to receive your gift via a code/password. Input the code you received and your Legendary will be downloaded. You can then pick it up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center.
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