Pokemon Go's fourth Community Day may now be behind us, but players can already begin looking forward to next month's event. Niantic has announced the first details for May's Community Day, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 19, and will feature another very popular Pokemon from the Red and Blue versions.
The featured Pokemon during May's Community Day is another Kanto starter: the Fire-type Charmander. During the event, Charmander will spawn in much greater numbers than usual. Niantic hasn't revealed what special move the Pokemon will be able to learn, though if the past few Community Days have been any indication, players will presumably need to evolve Charmander into Charizard before the event ends to learn the exclusive attack.
In addition to that, Niantic will offer an assortment of bonuses during the Community Day. Any Lure Modules that are activated will last for three hours, and players will receive triple the normal amount of Stardust for capturing Pokemon.
As always, the event begins at different times depending on where you live and will only run for three hours. In the US, it kicks off at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET and ends at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET; in Europe and Africa, the Community Day takes place from 10 AM - 1 PM UTC; and in the Asia-Pacific region, the event lasts from 12 PM - 3 PM JST.
The new Community Day follows Pokemon Go's most recent in-game event, Kanto Week. That concluded on April 17 and granted players double the normal amount of Candy for capturing and transferring Pokemon. Kanto-native Pokemon such as the aforementioned Charmander also appeared more frequently for the duration of the event.
When it comes to video game deals, Amazon is an outlier. It doesn't usually run weekly video game deals like other retailers do. Instead, Amazon tends to match some of the sale prices at places like GameStop and Best Buy until stock runs out. Which is to say, locking down Amazon video game deals can be a difficult process. But as of right now, here are the best deals available on video games at Amazon. Some of them are pretty appealing.
Mutli-platform games on sale at Amazon
First up, we have some multi-platform games you can buy for PS4 or Xbox One. If you've been waiting for a sale before buying Metal Gear Survive, now is probably the time to jump on this spinoff. Even though the game is only a couple months old, Amazon currently has it on sale for $15. Nor did it take long for Burnout Paradise Remastered to get a 25% discount; Amazon has it for $30 right now. This open-world racing game gives you freedom to drive around the city, seeking out collectibles and joining races at your leisure.
In RPG news, Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition is on sale for $40. It comes with the season pass, a first-person mode, a new dungeon, new gear, and new bosses. Or you can run amok in Tolkien's fantasy land in Middle-earth: Shadow of War or cause trouble in Ancient Egypt in Assassin's Creed Origins, both of which are on sale for $30.
If quieter, narrative-based games are more your speed, feel free to grab Life is Strange: Before the Storm, on sale for $20. If you want some extra goodies, you can grab the Limited Edition for $30. It comes with everything in the standard edition (episodes 1 - 3), plus a bonus episode, a mixtape mode that lets you create your own playlist from the soundtrack, and an outfit pack.
PS4-exclusive games on sale at Amazon
PS4 owners can find Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition on sale for $40. It comes with the full game, plus the Frozen Wilds expansion. If you'd rather hunt giants in a barren wasteland, Shadow of the Colossus delivers on that promise, and it's on sale for $30.
The Steelbook Brawler Edition of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is on sale for $35. It's a squad-based brawler starring characters from the past three decades of Final Fantasy games. And if you have a PlayStation VR headset, you might want to grab The Inpatient for $20. It's a horror game made by the people behind Until Dawn.
Xbox One-exclusive games on sale at Amazon
Xbox One doesn't have as many notable exclusives as PS4 (especially in recent years), but Amazon has a few of them available at a discount. You can grab the new shared-world pirate game Sea of Thieves for $55. Racing fans may want to check out the acclaimed open-world racer Forza Horizon 3 for $39, or the more realistic Forza Motorsport 7 for $43.
Nintendo Switch-exclusive games on sale at Amazon
Switch owners can scoop up Super Mario Odyssey, on sale for $49. It finds our beloved plumber traveling to faraway lands to toss his hat at everything he sees. Anime fans may be pleased to hear Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is discounted to $40. And if you want to take a vast fantasy world with you on the go, you could do worse than buying The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for $51.
That covers Amazon's video game deals at the moment. Check back for more great deals throughout the week.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Star Wars Battlefront II's latest update, Night on Endor, has gone live on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and with it so has a new microtransaction system for cosmetic items. The update also brings a new limited-time mode to the game, and since it's Endor, you could have guessed that the Ewoks are involved.
The new mode, called Ewok Hunt, involves a battle on Endor between the Ewoks and Stormtroopers. You choose which side you'd like to play; the Ewoks ambush the invading Stormtroopers and the Stormtroppers must hold off the horde until an extraction team arrives to help with their escape. Every defeated Stormtrooper spawns another Ewok over the battle, but of course Ewok players will have to deal with the Empire's superior weapons.
Along with Ewok Hunt, Night on Endor brings Crystals back into the game. Crystals are in-game currency bought with real-world money and they can be used to purchase Appearances, like Endor Leia and Endor Han. These are cosmetic only and can be used to personalize units. You can also use in-game Credits to buy Appearances and personalize characters in the same way. There are also Trooper Appearances available; here is a full list of all the new Appearances for characters in this update:
Wounded Chewbacca, with arm patch
Scarred Kylo Ren, patch over scar
Administrator Lando, Bespin
Commander Iden, no helmet
Hooded Yoda, pulled up hood
Endor Leia
Endor Han
Ahch-To Rey
The return of real-money microtransactions is a big deal in Star Wars Battlefront II, after developers pulled them from the game entirely following a big backlash over how they influenced gameplay progression. Now, EA's chief design director says the company has learned its lesson and won't repeat the same errors again.
There are several other bug fixes and changes in the Night on Endor update, including changes to how Crafting Points work and a new Credit boost for winning matches. You can see all the details on Star Wars Battlefront II's Community Transmission.
The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are coming back. Netflix has confirmed that the acclaimed comedy drama GLOW, which is centered around the '80s all-female wrestling cable show of the title, will return for its second season this summer. It has also released a new teaser.
The teaser is styled as an '80s pop video and shows all the main characters, including Ruth (Alison Brie), Debbie (Betty Gilpin), Cherry (Sydelle Noel), Carmen (Britney Young) and Rhonda (Kate Nash) getting ready to hit the ring. They are lip-syncing to the sounds of Michael Sembello's classic song "Maniac," which featured in a similar sequence in the movie Flashdance, and there's an appearance from their grumpy manager Sam, played by comedian Marc Maron. Check it out above.
GLOW Season 2 will hit the streaming service in its entirety on June 29, and like Season 1, will consist of ten 30-minutes episodes. The cast also includes Jackie Tohn, Britt Baron, Chris Lowell, Bashir Salahuddin, and Rich Sommer.
In an interview with TV Line last November, Gilpin spoke about preparing for this season's many wrestling scenes. "The cast took a lot of wrestling lessons for Season 1," she said. "But the preparation this time around was more intense, because we picked up where we left off. I mean, I just had a wrestling match with a character that won't be named, and a week later, I still feel like my soul was in a five-car pileup accident. And it feels amazing."
For The Crew 2, Ubisoft is broadening its racing horizons by introducing boats, bikes, and planes. At the press of a button players will be able to seamlessly swap out their vehicle to take their high-speed pursuits between land, sea, and air.
GameSpot recently got a chance to play the game and, while the open-world and vehicle transitions are still being kept under wraps, we spent some time in a few of the competitive racing types available in the game. The video above features gameplay of street racing, motorcross, jetsprint, drift, and grand prix event.
What stood out about The Crew 2 while we were playing was how loose and arcade-like it felt. Admittedly, we were racing with a number of assists on, but it made for a fun experience where we could throw our vehicles around with reckless abandon without suffering too harsh a penalty. For those who prefer to put in a little more thought into their racing, The Crew 2 provides the opportunity to do so and backs it up with robust physics modelling to ensure it's really putting seasoned racers through their paces. Check it all out in the gameplay above.
Ubisoft has confirmed that The Crew 2 will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 29. Ubisoft has also opened registration for The Crew 2 beta. Additionally, you can start building up your car collection for the title by taking part in The Crew Rewards Program, which allows players to unlock vehicles for the upcoming game by completing monthly challenges in The Crew. You can learn more about the Rewards Program on Ubisoft's website.
Following up on last year's Destiny 2 Ghost Skill, Activision has now introduced an Alexa Skill for Call of Duty: WWII. The Skill is available now, and it supports all platforms for the game.
Speaking with Monte Lutz, SVP of consumer engagement at Activision, he explained, "It's essentially your coach that's there with you in the game. At the end of every match, within milliseconds of the match completing, it analyzes all your gameplay and then it looks at 20 different factors. And it'll make real-time recommendations about things you can adjust to be better."
In a press release, Activision detailed that the Skill has "15 categories of features" including:
Personalized recommendations to improve your skills
Match summaries and highlights of your recent gameplay
Social features, including whether friends are currently playing, and comparing stats and achievements to theirs
Contract and order status, both during and after a match, so that you see how close you are to completing the contract and earning a reward
Latest in-game news, including events and game updates
Game and features descriptions
As for how the coaching will work, Lutz says that the Skill will offer advice such as: "'Based on the fact that you're a sniper in this, you're moving too much, you're taking too many steps.' Or, 'This attachment could help your accuracy,' and whatnot. We noticed when players got that kind of feedback, they could immediately apply it into the game, and they actually played a lot better."
The app is programmed to be more or less aggressive with its feedback based on your playstyle. "You're not going to get the same response every time that you're in there," Lutz explains. "And even based on your skill as a player, that tone of the response is going to be different. We know that if you're a highly skilled player who plays a lot, you can take a little be more gruff; you can take a more direct response, and you're going to want to get back in the game right away. We know that if you're a more casual player, and you need a little extra assistance. If you hear Alexa insulting you about your gameplay, you're probably not going to respond too well. We're going to give you tips that are helpful to you as a player, but it's also in a tone that's much more helpful and motivating."
The voice is computer-generated, but Lutz says, "It's not the standard Alexa voice. It's a voice we selected that's more soldier-like that we think feels more natural with the game. That's gonna give us the flexibility to be able to adapt this more quickly. But also we're launching it in English, but using the Polly voice, we'll be able to develop and iterate more quickly; we're going to launch it in German and French in the near future as well."
How much better does Lutz think the game's coaching will make you? "In the playtests we've done, whether players are really good or whether they have a long way to go, it can help every one of them. I think for those players that have the most to learn, they have the biggest opportunity to improve. What happens is that people will jump into Call of Duty, and they'll play it the same way from game to game. They may have played the last five Call of Duty games, and they've always taken a shotgun or an SMG. They haven't experimented with other things. There are simple things that players can do that will make them much better based on how they play."
The Call of Duty skill is available for free through the Alexa companion app now, and we'll be trying it out in the office today to see if it can actually make K/D ratios a little less embarassing.
Developer Platinum Games--the studio behind Bayonetta and Nier Automata--is known for its particular brand of action games that focus on kinetic hack and slash gameplay. With that particular style in mind, the developers are launching a new IP known as World of Demons--a Samurai action-RPG game that seeks to deliver the same style of intense gameplay to mobile phones.
Made in collaboration with DeNA Games--the mobile games publisher behind Final Fantasy Record Keeper and Fire Emblem Heroes--Platinum Games' World of Demons focuses on bite-sized character-action gameplay, while also telling an involved story. Set in ancient Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real, World of Demons puts you in the role of the wandering samurai Onimaru, who must vanquish a powerful demon king that has invaded the land. Over time, you'll partner up with additional allies wielding their own unique weapons and take command of your own party of demons to lead into battle. As you clear through stages and take on massive bosses, you'll gain new weapons and items, which you can use to upgrade your heroes.
In development for the last three years, World of Demons is largely in the same style of other Platinum Games, but designed around the touch interface of smartphones. The action-RPG takes place across a set of stages where you'll battle against enemies that vary in difficulty and complexity. In combat, you'll be able to control your character with full 360 degree movement via the touch screen, while also using a set of combo attacks and skills to summon monsters. You'll also use skills that focus on particular elemental properties, which have to be managed effectively against enemies attuned to a specific damage types.
At launch, the game will start off with 3 playable characters and over 80 demons to recruit--and over time more content will be added as the game develops its community. The two primary gameplay modes in World of Demons is the Way of the Warrior story mode, where players tackle a number of missions and narrative beats as the Samurai and his party take on the demonic presence in the land, and the Way of the Demon mode which offers daily challenges and timed missions to gain new weapons and minions. There will be a competitive mode where players can compete on leaderboards and take on active challenges against others online.
The visuals in World of Demons feature some gorgeous graphics that emulate the ink-wash paintbrush aesthetic from classic Japanese art and a similar style found from Okami (made by some current Platinum Games staff). While the new platform might not be what many Platinum fans expected, World of Demons still channels much of what their past games have gotten down to a science.
Set for launch in summer 2018, World of Demons is certainly a departure for Platinum Games in the sense that it's a new platform--but stylistically and mechanically, it feels very familiar with the studio's pedigree of games. With pre-registration open, you'll be sign up to receive access to the game once it goes live and dive into Platinum Games' next action-RPG adventure.
As well as introducing a host of upcoming young stars, the hit Netflix show Stranger Thingshas given a series of famous names from the '80s and '90s some of their biggest roles in years. Winona Ryder is, of course, one of the main stars, but there has also been roles for the likes of Matthew Modine, Paul Reiser, and Sean Astin. Now two more names can be added to the list--Cary Elwes and Jake Busey.
According to Empire, Elwes and Busey are set to join the cast of Stranger Things3. The news was revealed by Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos, who described the actors as "guest performers." Empire also reveal some extra information about their characters; Busey will play Bruce, who is a "corrupt and sexist news reporter," while Elwes is Mayor Kline, a "slick and self-serving politician."
Elwes is best known for his lead role in the much-loved 1987 fantasy comedy The Princess Bride, as well as Robin Hood: Men in Tights and the first Saw movie. Busey meanwhile starred in the sci-fi classic Starship Troopers and will be seen later this year in the much-anticipated The Predator.
Although the third season of Stranger Things does not yet have a release date, production is set to begin next month. Producer Shawn Levy recently revealed that Season 3 will be set in the summer of 1985, following the convention of the last two seasons, which were set a year apart in '83 and '84 respectively.
In January, Levy gave a few more hints as to the direction of the next season. He suggested that the story emphasis might shift, with Will no longer the center of the show's supernatural scares. "We're going to give Will a break," he said. "We're not going to put Will through hell for a third season in a row. He'll be dealing with stuff, but he won't be at rock bottom the way we forced the amazing Noah [Schnapp] to play."
If you have a PS4 and you're dying to put it to good use playing excellent games, Best Buy could be your best friend this week. It has tons of PS4 and PlayStation VR games on sale, including most of the recent exclusives.
As always, the deals are even better for members of Best Buy's Gamers Club Unlocked program. A two-year membership costs $30 and gets you 20% off of pre-orders and new (non-used) games. The links below go to the games' Best Buy pages, and the GCU prices are listed in parentheses.
PS4-exclusive deals
If you're looking to take advantage of your PS4 to play games you can't get on any other system, these are the deals you'll want to check out. Some of the best PS4 exclusives of the past few years are on sale. For starters, there's Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition for $40 ($32 for GCU members). It comes with the core game and the Frozen Wilds expansion.
Next up is the well-received cinematic spinoff Uncharted: Lost Legacy, on sale for $30 ($24). If you're into ultra-challenging but tight-controlling action, Nioh is the game for you--it's on sale for $20 ($16). And if you'd rather befriend a giant bird-dog, you can't do that anywhere but in The Last Guardian, on sale for $20 ($16). Speaking of giant creatures, you can kill over a dozen of them in Shadow of the Colossus for $30 ($24).
Here are some of the other PS4 exclusives on sale at Best Buy:
Exclusives are great and all, but some of the best games come out on PC, Xbox One, and Switch as well. Here are some of Best Buy's best deals on PS4 games that happen to be available on other platforms.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is on sale for $50 ($40). It's a deep action-RPG set setting during the Middle Ages. Don't expect to find dragons and magic here, but do expect to defend your village against invading armies. That can be fun too, right?
Feel like playing online? You can team up with friends in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, on sale for $20 ($16). Grand Theft Auto V, available for $30 ($24), has a persistent online world that keeps getting new content, years after its initial release. And people with a competitive bent should try Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition, on sale for $40 ($32).
Finally, if you have a PSVR headset, there's a good chance you're looking for new game worlds to jump into. If so, Best Buy has lots of deals that are worth a look.
Wipeout Omega Collection, on sale for $20 ($16), recently got a major PSVR update, making the full game playable in the headset. It's a lightning-fast racer that feels just right in VR--definitely worth a try for any PSVR owner.
The new trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is here. The sequel to 2015's hugely successful Jurassic World hits theaters in June, and this latest promo follows the first teaser that was revealed back in February. There is also a new poster which you can see at the end of this story. The new trailer, which you can view above, lays out much of the storyline, so beware of potential spoilers!
It reveals that the rescue mission featured in the first trailer is merely a ruse to get the dinosaurs off the island and into the hands of some villainous corporate types, who plan to exploit them. But of course, the dinosaurs get loose and mayhem ensues. The moviestars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Toby Jones, and BD Wong, with Jeff Goldblum reprising his role from the original Jurassic Park.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is directed by Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona, and co-written by Colin Trevorrow, who helmed the first movie. Last year, Trevorrow spoke about working with Bayona. "It is by far my favorite creative collaboration that I've ever been involved in," he said. "Bayona is a completely different kind of filmmaker and thinker than I am, yet we do have a lot of things in common. I was able to craft something specifically for another filmmaker that I admire. I built a Spanish horror thriller with dinosaurs in it that I probably wouldn't have built for myself."
Even though Fallen Kingdom doesn't hit theaters until June 22, the release date for the third movie has already been announced. In February, it was confirmed that it will arrive on June 11, 2021. It has also been announced that Trevorrow will return to direct it. This is Trevorrow's first movie since he was fired from Star Wars Episode IX last year.
While Wrestlemania 34just wrapped up, there is another major 2018 WWE event on the horizon: Greatest Royal Rumble. On Friday, April 27, Saudi Arabia will host this show, which can be streamed on the WWE Network. The main event for the show 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 seven confirmed matches for it.
Greatest Royal Rumble Match Card
Undertaker vs. Rusev (Casket Match)
The Bar vs. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt (For the Raw Tag Team Championship)
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 (Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship)
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (For the United States Championship)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (Steel cage match 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.
Monster Hunter World's first seasonal event is drawing to a close. The ongoing Spring Blossom Fest is set to end on PS4 and Xbox One this Thursday, April 19, giving you only a few more hours to participate in the festivities and earn special rewards.
In addition to a host of new and returning Event Quests, the Spring Blossom Fest introduces a new type of crafting material: Spring Blossom Tickets. These are earned by logging in to the game and completing Limited Bounties, and they can be exchanged to craft new items and gear.
In particular, Spring Blossom Tickets are one of the materials needed to craft the new Blossom armor set, which is available in both Low Rank and High Rank variants. The Low Rank version also requires a certain number of Earth Crystals, while the High Rank variant requires Carbalite Ore. You can find out how to craft the gear in our Spring Blossom Fest armor guide.
April 19 also marks the end of several ongoing Event Quests, including one to obtain the fan-designed Wyvern Ignition Great Sword. Players who missed out on the two Horizon Zero Dawn crossover quests the first time around likewise have until April 19 to earn the PS4-exclusive Horizon gear.
Despite kicking off during the Spring Blossom Fest, the Rush of Blood Event Quest for the voxel Mega Man Palio armor will continue for one more week. It will be followed by an Event Quest to obtain the Devil May Cry armor.
Before the Spring Blossom Fest concludes, Capcom will roll out another big update for Monster Hunter World. That is scheduled to arrive on April 18 and introduces new gear, another Elder Dragon, and Sieges, a new type of quest for up to 16 players.
Another big update is coming very soon to Monster Hunter World. Capcom will release a new patch for both the PS4 and Xbox One versions today, April 18, which will introduce new gear, another Elder Dragon, and a new type of quest to the game.
The update is scheduled to roll out at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET (1 AM BST on April 19). Most notably, it introduces a new Elder Dragon to hunt: the gold-plated Kulve Taroth. "Cloaked in a heavy golden mantle, this dazzling threat is fast approaching and it's up to you and your Hunting Squad to work together and repel it at all costs," Capcom said in a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Arriving alongside Kulve Taroth is a new type of hunting quest: Sieges. These are limited-time hunts that all players in the Gathering Hub can participate in, meaning up to 16 hunters--divided into four teams of four--can work together to hunt the same Kulve Taroth and make progress toward the quest.
"The primary goal of this Siege is to repel Kulve Taroth, but its shimmering golden mantle happens to be a collection of shiny weapon relics it has gathered along its journey through the New World," Capcom said. "We don't have much information on when and where Kulve Taroth has amassed all these relics, so the nature and quality of these weapons (read: type and stats) are entirely up to fate."
In addition to the weapon relics, players will be able to acquire new materials from the Elder Dragon and use them to craft new Kulve Taroth α and β armor sets, as well as a new set of Palico gear. Capcom is also introducing two new layered armor sets in the update.
The Kulve Taroth Siege kicks off alongside the patch on April 18 and takes place in a new area called the Caverns of El Dorado. It will only be available for a limited time, although Capcom says it will return again sometime in the future. You can take a look at some screenshots of Kulve Taroth and its new armor sets above.
It's a big week for PS4 owners. In addition to the highly anticipated God of War, this week marks the release of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the latest installment in the Yakuza series and the final chapter in protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's saga.
First released in Japan nearly two years ago, Yakuza 6 finds the former mobster struggling to reconcile his criminal past with raising a baby. After serving out his prison sentence, Kiryu learns that his adoptive daughter is in a coma following a hit-and-run. He takes her infant child into his care and travels to Onomichi, Hiroshima to investigate the incident.
For the last chapter in Kiryu's story, Sega has pared back some of the series' extraneous elements, resulting in a leaner--and more impactful--experience. In GameSpot's Yakuza 6 review, Edmond Tran said the game "successfully uses its smaller footprint to create a deeper, more meaningful impression."
Other reviews for Yakuza 6 are also now available online ahead of the game's release. We've compiled a selection of them below to give you an idea of what critics are saying about Kazuma Kiryu's swan song. For a broader look at Yakuza 6's critical reception, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Developer: Sega
Platform: PS4
Release date: April 17
Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $84.95
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu." -- Edmond Tran [Full review]
IGN -- 7.5/10
"Yakuza 6: The Song of Life presents the most detailed virtual chunk of Japan the series has managed to date, and its story provides a satisfying end to the Kazuma Kiryu saga. However, as far as gameplay goes, Yakuza 6 doesn't make enough of an effort to break new ground, making it weaker overall than last year's Yakuza Zero. In a way it's a good place to jump in if you're new to the series because its overly simplified combat system is easy to learn, but anybody who learns the ropes here might not return for more because they may be burnt out on the repetitive nature of the fights. Series stalwarts, meanwhile, will no doubt be hoping that whatever comes next will feel less like a watered-down retread of what's come before." -- Tristan Ogilvie [Full review]
Polygon -- 8.5/10
"Even with my criticisms of the admittedly optional and inconsequential aspects of the game, Yakuza 6 succeeds because its core story is so compelling. Every seemingly disconnected part serves a purpose: Without fights, it'd just be a movie; without cutscenes, it'd just be a series of contextless fights; without exploration, it'd be an on-rails punching simulator. All of those unexpected pieces and the (oh-so-long) cutscenes interact to make an equal parts story- and punching-driven game that is heart-wrenching. This is so much more than that game about a crime guy that I had expected. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go befriend some more cats." -- Jeffrey Parkin [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.25/10
"As fun as it all was, I'm still sad to see Kiryu off. He leaves the series on his own terms, and the conclusion is a fitting tribute to the character. One of the things I've liked most about him is how he remained decent, even though his lifestyle frequently put him into contact with decidedly less decent folks. Heck, one of the game's lengthiest mission chains is focused on making friends with all the patrons at a bar. Kiryu approaches the bizarre situations he encounters with grace and empathy, while also bringing a righteous rage when necessary. I'll certainly miss Kiryu, but we clearly haven't seen the end of Yakuza." -- Jeff Cork [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4/5
"If you're coming to this game from Yakuza Kiwami, the transition feels a bit better than the one from Yakuza 0. Yakuza 0 is simply the better game overall, leaving Yakuza 6 as just a great game. Of course, a number of games aspire to be 'great,' so Yakuza hitting that benchmark even on an off year is a testament to the development team and the strength of the franchise. Yakuza 6 is well worth your time, but remember to manage your expectations." -- Mike Williams [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4.5/5
"As a parting paean for its lead character, Yakuza 6 is sweet, sagely, and surprisingly subtle in its storytelling. As a culmination of over ten years of Yakuza games, it's also just as crazy and comical as you'd expect. The fact that it successfully pulls off both of these ambitions is The Song of Life's crowning achievement." -- Alex Avard [Full review]
EGM Now -- 9/10
"It's taken me a long time to experience the Yakuza series, but Yakuza 6 makes me so thankful that I finally have. The insurmountable badass Kazuma Kiryu is surrounded by a fantastic cast of characters and some gripping drama--it's just a shame that the 'game' portion of this video game isn't quite what it could be. Still, this is a superb adventure from beginning to end, and further proof of the magic that Japanese developers can weave when they put their minds to it." -- Mollie L. Patterson [Full review]
As you might imagine, Gamefly ends up with a lot of used games. Periodically it puts on sales to unload its inventory and make room for new games. One such sale is going on now. So if you don't mind your PS4, Xbox One, and 3DS games having a little wear-and-tear on them, check out these deals. It's worth noting that the games are guaranteed to work, shipping is free, and they come with new cases and manuals. You can find all the deals here, but below we'll zero in on the standouts.
As for exclusives, Gamefly has a few PS4 games on the list. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy can be yours for $28, while Nioh, the Dark Souls-style game set in ancient Japan, costs $30. And everyone's favorite, Knack 2, is also $30. Xbox One owners can pick up Gears of War 4 for $20 and the strategy game Halo Wars 2 for $17.
Gamefly also deals in movies--who knew? If you want some hands-off entertainment in your life, you can pick up Blu-rays like the spooky-doll movie Annabelle: Creation for $12, The Mummy for $9, The Fate of the Furious for $7, and Alien: Covenant for $5. The store also has a similar selection of movies on DVD, most of which fall in the $5 - $7 range. Check out the full list of sale items right here.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
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.
Update: In a statement to GameSpot, Sony confirmed that it is not attempting to collect any new data from users with the latest PS4 update. "We are not collecting any new data," the company said, "We are being more transparent and offering consumers choice."
The statement continues: "In line with GDPR requirements, we make every effort to be transparent with our users about how we collect, use and manage their data; we will not be collecting any new or additional information from our users. service data would encompass data necessary to provide users with the service they request (e.g. if a user clicks on a link to a new page, downloading the page to the device). On the other hand, additional data is information that does not need to be collected to provide users with the service they request, most analytics / usage, settings & navigation data would fall into this category; this leads to improved user experiences. Please see our Privacy Policy."
The company also confirmed there is no way to opt out of supplying service data unless you choose not to play online. You can, of course, opt out of supplying additional data. Original story follows.
Sony recently released a new PS4 update that appeared to be another small, incremental patch to improve stability. However, once the optional update is installed, a message appears informing European PS4 users that Sony "may collect data about this PS4 and how it is used." While it is not clear if Sony is collecting additional data from before, the requirement to agree to such data collection does appear to be new.
The message states that two sets of data can be collected from your PS4. The first of these is service data, which Sony defines as "data necessary to provide online services." The second--"additional data"--includes "navigation, usage, and settings data."
A separate "about device data" screen states Sony needs to send, receive, and log data about which apps you use and content you consume. For example, it may need to know which shows you watch in a video app in order to pay licensors for that content, while some online games will need to know your characters' movements in order to communicate that to other players online. Other service data includes your network configuration, devices you have connected to your PS4 (such as controllers and PSVR headsets), error data, legal data, and load time data.
Additional data, meanwhile, can include detailed information like "when and how you use the game's user interface, which parts of the game level you visit, which weapons you use, and which characters you interact with." It can also include which sections of the PlayStation Store you visit and which system settings you alter. You can decline to provide your additional data, but once you've installed the update there is no way to proceed without agreeing to the collection of service data.
Sony says it uses device data to produce anonymous statistics, understand and improve performance of new products, detect and minimize fraudulent or unauthorized behaviour, and, if you agree to the collection of the additional data, deliver you personalized ads.
GameSpot staff in the US did not receive the above messages. It's not clear if Sony is accessing more data from European users than before the update or if it is simply disclosing its data collection more clearly now due to impending changes to data collection regulations in the European Union. The regulations, dubbed GDPR, come into force in May 2018, so Sony may simply be preparing for the upcoming change in law. GameSpot has contacted Sony for clarification.
In recent years, Microsoft has placed greater emphasis on its lineup of indie games. It has attempted to court independent developers to its ID@Xbox program to bolster Xbox One's library of games and appeal to a wider audience. Last year, that meant we got to see games such as Snake Pass, Rime, and The Sexy Brutale at the publisher's ID@Xbox event. This year, Microsoft hosted another indie gathering, at which we got to check out a bunch more independent titles coming to Xbox One and PC--and, in some cases, other platforms too--soon. Read on for five of the coolest games we saw.
Trailmakers
Trailmakers is an open-world driving game with one big difference: it allows you to build your own vehicles in order to traverse its tricky environments. It starts off by tasking you with making basic cars, but as you add more engines and become more creative, you can achieve more and more ridiculous things. You can build planes, helicopters, hovercraft, and anything else your imagination--and your in-game energy supply--allows.
Separate modes allow you to race against friends or build any environment you like--one demoed to us by the developer, Flashbulb, was a Star Wars-inspired podracing track. Even better, you can share your vehicle designs with friends by simply sending them a .png file. Trailmakers is currently in early access on PC and is coming to Xbox One in 2018.
Robocraft Infinity
Robocraft Infinity is another vehicle construction game, except this time your personal rides will face off against each other in an arena combat scenario. You can build your own transport--which again can include aeroplanes, if you have the requisite engineering skill--before arming it with any number of guns and lasers to take into multiplayer battles.
Robocraft is essentially a vehicular hero shooter, except its open-ended building tools mean there are an infinite number of heroes available for you to play as. The game was already available on PC as a free-to-play title; Infinity is a re-tooled edition exclusive to Xbox One. It's out now, costing $20 / £15 / $30 or included at no extra cost to Game Pass subscribers.
Descenders
If you long for a return to the days of extreme sports games like SSX Tricky and Skate, you may want to check out Descenders. It's centered around downhill mountain biking, with procedurally generated worlds helping to keep things fresh.
You can choose whether to focus on pure speed, or to try and pull off stunts over the courses' obstacles, or to go off-road in search of a bumpier ride--the game's focus is left up to you. Descenders is currently in early access on PC, so it can feel a little rough around the edges at times, but there's something satisfying about zooming down a track that no-one has ever been down before and unlocking greater bikes to throw around. Descenders is coming to Xbox Game Preview this summer.
DayZ
While not exactly an unknown, there is a sense DayZ has been a little forgotten since PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite became the battle royale behemoths they are today. However, developer Bohemia has been hard at work designing a new game engine and reworking much of the game's systems, and DayZ is a somewhat different prospect to what it was in the past and what its rivals now offer.
Its attention to detail is admirable: for example, if you take a hit from one of the game's zombies, you'll lose blood, but healing yourself isn't simply a case of finding a medikit. Instead, you may need a blood transfusion, for which you'll need to find fluids of the same blood type as your playable character. If you find a vehicle, you'll need fuel--as will you, since you need to keep topped up with food and water.
DayZ's simulation is hardcore, and that dedication to realism may well mean it finds a sizeable niche of its own when it launches in full. Look forward to an early version coming to Xbox Game Preview and a final PC release this year before the game eventually makes its way to PS4 at some point in the future.
Moonlighter
What would life be like if you ran a shop but also wanted to explore dungeons at night? That's the question Moonlighter poses to players, thereby combining a management sim with a dungeon crawler. By night, you plunder dungeons for powerful weapons and armor, and by day you sell that stock at the highest price possible.
Moonlighter somehow mixes two very different genres into an inventive coalition, and we're intrigued to play more when it launches for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on May 29. A Nintendo Switch version is also on the way, "[a] few months after the regular release."
Fortnite's Guided Missile has proved to be a divisive item since its introduction, with some fans unhappy about how powerful the weapon is. Developer Epic Games has now removed the Guided Missile, dooming it to the Vault, for the time being at least.
"We've gotten a lot of feedback around the Guided Missile, in particular concerns over fairness and strength of the weapon," Epic said in a post on Reddit. "We share your concerns, so we've put the Guided Missile into the Vault while we figure out the next steps for its future."
This isn't the first time players have been unable to access the guided missile in Battle Royale: a recent update introduced an animation issue that meant Epic was forced to temporarily remove the weapon. That move has now been extended indefinitely, until Epic decides how to handle the missile going forward.
In the same post, Epic shared some details regarding Fortnite's upcoming 3.5.2 update. The developer says it is fixing a recently-introduced bug that caused players to sometimes shoot their own structures when attempting to peek. In addition, recent changes to weapon equip times--which attempted to balance a technique where people would rapidly change between multiple low rate-of-fire guns--are being tweaked. The equip time changes will be rolled back for Snipers and Crossbows in v3.5.2, since these items don't benefit as much from quick switching. Epic is, for the time being at least, keeping the longer equip times for Shotguns, the Revolver, the Hand Cannon, and the Rocket Launcher, but it says it will continue to improve on the animations in a future update.
In other Fortnite news, the game's Week 8 Challenges are live now. They include one that tasks you with dancing on multiple Dance Floors, and another that will have you searching between Three Boats. The challenges are available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile, provided you own the Season 3 Battle Pass. Completing challenges allows you to level up the Battle Pass more quickly, earning you Season 3 skins and rewards.
A new set of Fortnite challenges means a new batch of optional objectives to complete in Battle Royale, provided you own the Battle Pass. Week 7 challenges include two in particular that will require either some legwork on your part or a guide to specific locations--which is where we come in.
The first of these trickier challenges asks you to follow the treasure map found in Retail Row, something that is labeled as a "Hard" objective (meaning you get 10 Battle Stars for completing it). This works identically to other treasure map challenges: You hunt down a map randomly located in the stated area, and it directs you to another location on the map, where you have to collect an item. However, if you know where to go, you can skip the treasure map altogether and go directly to the treasure location.
For Week 7, that means going to the Wailing Woods. If you look at the map, you'll see a part of it that is less densely populated with trees, which is home to a hedge maze. Navigate to the southwestern corner, and you'll find the treasure hidden in a dead end. Walk up and activate it (by holding the same button or key you'd use to open a chest), and the challenge is complete.
More time-consuming is the challenge that wants you to search the Hidden Gnome in different named locations. You'll have to search a total of seven of these gnomes, though you thankfully don't have to do all of this in a single match. There are far more than seven gnomes on the map, so you don't necessarily have to head to specific locations to do this. Anywhere you see a name on the map--Retail Row, Loot Lake, Tilted Towers, et al--you'll find a gnome hiding inside of a building.
As with the treasure, you'll have to hold a button or key (again, the same as opening a chest) to "search" a gnome once you find one. In some cases, such as the one in Junk Junction, you may need to destroy some of the surrounding objects in order to easily access it. Others can be searched without physically seeing it, as is the case with one hiding in a bathroom stall in Greasy Grove. We've assembled the map below and verified it with locations discovered by Reddit user thesquatingdog to help you identify the locations where you can find a gnome.
Check out our complete guide for the remainder of Week 7's challenges. They primarily deal with doing things in specific locations or getting access to the right types of weapons (shotguns and suppressed weapons, in the case of this week). It's also not too late to go back and complete those from previous weeks; Battle Pass owners have the remainder of April to finish all of Season 3's Fortnite: Battle Royale challenges. Earn the Battle Stars for completing challenges, and you'll more quickly level up the Battle Pass and earn its various rewards.
Fortnite updates continue to rapidly roll out, and one of the most recent additions to Battle Royale came in the form of Vending Machines. If you're able to find one, you can trade in building materials you've gathered in exchange for a variety of items, which vary from machine to machine. You'll often find these in the same spots, but they are not fixtures. With Week 8 challenges tasking you to use one, we've detailed the common locations and where to find them, as well as exactly how they function and what prices are like.
You'll find Vending Machines all around the map--typically indoors, if our experience is any indication, though we've also found one that was outdoors. Each one has three items for sale and will gradually rotate through them. You can wait for it to change to the item you want to purchase, or you can hit the machine with your pickaxe to make it jump to the next of the three.
Vending Machines are each randomly assigned a rarity level at the start of a match, as the patch notes explain. They then sell items at that specific rarity--one for each material type (wood, stone, and metal). You'll need a specific amount of that material to buy the corresponding item, though you're free to buy as many items as you wish, provided you can afford it. That may put a renewed emphasis on collecting materials with the pickaxe, even for players who don't care about building. Here's how much items will cost at each rarity:
Common (white) items -- 100 materials
Uncommon (green) items -- 200 materials
Rare (blue) -- 300 materials
Epic (purple) -- 400 materials
Legendary (gold) -- 500 materials
In terms of finding the Vending Machines, they're scattered all across the map, but they don't always appear in the same spots. You can see what it's like to interact with some in the video above, and we've also compiled the map you see above, which combines the discoveries of Reddit user clizzythegod with those we've found ourselves. As you'd expect, you'll most easily find Vending Machines in high-density areas like Pleasant Park, Tilted Towers, Salty Springs, and Retail Row, but there are others in unnamed parts of the map.
Vending Machines were added as part of Fortnite's 3.4 content update for mobile, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This is part of developer Epic Games' new plan to roll out new content every other week. These content updates won't individually require you to download anything, as it seems the additions will be included as part of earlier patches. We've since gotten update 3.5, which adds the Port-a-Fort.
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:
Sega's beloved Dreamcast classic Shenmue is coming to modern platforms. During the Sega Fes event in Japan, the publisher announced it is bringing both the first Shenmue and its sequel, Shenmue II, together in one package to PS4, Xbox One, and PC later this year. And while they will boast some improvements, these are not full on HD remakes or remasters.
The Shenmue I & II collection is billed as the "best Shenmue experience to date." The compilation comes with a host of modern features, including "fully scalable screen resolution, choice of modern or classic control schemes, PC graphics options, an updated user interface, and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers."
Sega hasn't announced pricing details or an exact release date for Shenmue I & II, but the collection will be available at retail and digitally from the PlayStation and Xbox Stores, as well as Steam. You can take a look at some screenshots from the title in the gallery below.
The first Shenmue originally launched in 1999 and, at the time of its release, had the distinction of being the most expensive video game ever created. Its sequel followed in 2001, although it was only released on Dreamcast in Europe and Japan; the game was later ported to the original Xbox in 2002.
Both titles star Ryo Hazuki, a young martial artist on a quest to find his father's killer and uncover the secret behind a mysterious item known as the Dragon Mirror. The titles were renowned for their impressive open world, deep battle system, and variety of minigames. You can read more about each in our original Shenmue review and Shenmue II review.
Sega had previously said it was "investigating" a potential re-release of the Shenmue games, although at the time the publisher said it wasn't simply a matter of porting the titles to modern consoles. "With games as immersive as [Shenmue and Shenmue II], there are further complications [involving] licensed products that were included in the original games," Sega Europe community manager Dan Sheridan said.
A new installment in the series, Shenmue III, is currently in development for PS4 and PC, following a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. That game is being published worldwide by Deep Silver and is planned to launch sometime this year. You can see some recent screenshots of Shenmue III.
The next crossover event in Monster Hunter World is now available. With the Spring Blossom Fest event ongoing, a new quest is now available on PS4 and Xbox One that allows you to get your hands on the crafting materials necessary to dress your Palico up like Mega Man.
The event quest itself is called A Rush of Blood, and it's an Arena where you have to hunt two Odagarons. One of these is an adorable, miniaturized version of the monster. That wrinkle aside, it's an otherwise standard 7-star mission, with limits of 50 minutes and three faints. Completing it will reward you with Mega Man Tickets, which are one of the resources necessary to craft the new gear. You'll have to repeat the fight several times to get enough tickets for everything.
With those in hand, head to the Smithy and open the Forge Palico Equipment section. Go to Full Armor Sets, and you can craft the Mega Man gear, which consists of two High Rank pieces: the Mega Man Helmet and Mega Man Suit. This costs three Mega Man Tickets.
For the Palico weapon, you'll go to the Standard Equipment area of the Forge Palico Equipment section. Toward the bottom of the High Rank weapons, you'll find find the Mega Man set's weapon, called the Mega Buster. This costs an additional two Mega Man Tickets, meaning you'll need five total to craft everything.
One unique aspect of this gear was teased during its original announcement. Depending on what weapon your character has equipped, you'll hear different classic Mega Man music when your Palico has this gear on. However, this is only true in the event quest; you unfortunately won't be hearing it during your regular adventures.
You have only a limited time to collect the necessary materials for this gear, as the event quest will only be available until April 27. The Spring Blossom Fest, meanwhile, ends on April 19 and provides an opportunity to get a new greatsword and armor.
Week 8 challenges in Fortnite: Battle Royale involve several objectives that you may need some assistance in completing. There are three challenges in particular--involving dance floors, three boats, and vending machines--that are not immediately obvious based on their descriptions. Here's how to tackle those, as well as the remaining Week 8 challenges, for Battle Pass owners on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile.
The most intriguing-sounding of the bunch is the one that tells you to dance on different Dance Floors. These aren't something we've seen in the game previously--they've just been added as part of the new 3.5 update. This challenge wants you to find them and perform a dance emote while standing on top of them. You'll need to do this with three dance floors in all, though you can accomplish this across multiple matches. So far, we've only found three dance floors total; you can find them by heading to the southeastern corner of Flush Factory, grid B4 (west-southwest of Pleasant Park), and grid I6 (just east of Retail Row). The dance floors are located on the ground floor of newly added buildings. The locations are pictured in the map below, along with another challenge's location.
The trickiest of the challenges that Epic labels as being Hard has you search between Three Boats. As has been the case with similar objectives in the past, you don't get a treasure map or anything here--you simply have to recognize the landmarks that it's referring to. If you assume boats would be at Loot Lake, you're correct. The Battle Star you have to collect is located at the end of a small dock on the southeastern corner of Loot Lake's island. You can land right there at the start of a match and pick it up (by holding the same key/button used to open chests)--just be aware that you won't actually see it until you're very close to the ground.
Week 8 also brings a challenge to use a Vending Machine; these were added in the 3.4 content update. Visit one, and you're able to exchange building materials you've collected for items. These don't always show up in the same spots, but there are areas where they frequently show up. You can see those in our Vending Machine locations guide.
The remaining Week 8 challenges are less complex, though some of them come down to circumstance. You'll need to deal 500 damage to enemies with an explosive weapon, which can be done with grenade-type items or launchers. (However, you'll have to do it without one option, as the Guided Missile has been disabled temporarily.) Searching chests in Snobby Shores will involve simply spending some time in the area and exploring thoroughly--a good strategy, as always, is to check in the attics of buildings. Make sure to use an assault rifle as soon as you get one to get your three Assault Rifle eliminations, and if possible, do so in Dusty Depot, where you need to rack up three eliminations. All four of these might be easiest in solo playlists, where players can't be revived and you don't have teammates hogging any weapons.
Completing challenges rewards you with a specific number of Battle Stars--either five (for normal ones) or 10 (for Hard ones). These in turn allow you to level up your Battle Pass more quickly, which in turn unlocks Season 3 skins and rewards.
Following its most recent update, Fortnite's next set of challenges have gone live on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. Week 8 involves the usual mixture of straightforward objectives and several that will either require some additional legwork or a guide to completing them.
The most notable of the bunch is one that asks you to dance on different Dance Floors. These are newly added areas in the latest update, and you'll have to find a total of three to do your thing on in order to pass this challenge. Fortunately, you don't have to do all of this in a single match.
Another one that may trip you up is a Hard-difficulty challenge telling you to search between Three Boats. This requires you to know the map well, have a guide, or to just piece together that Loot Lake is where you'll find boats. Head there and pick up the Battle Star on the southeastern dock to complete the challenge.
Finally, the last of the trickier Week 8 challenges is one asking you to use a Vending Machine. These were added in the 3.4 content update and allow you to exchange materials you've collected for different items. You can check out our Vending Machine locations guide to find the most likely areas for one to show up.
Other Week 8 challenges include one that asks you to deal damage with explosive weapons. That should be easy enough, although you'll have one less weapon with which to do so, as the Guided Missile has been disabled temporarily at the time of this week. That's due to an animation bug following the release of Fortnite's 3.5 update.
You can check out the full list of challenges below--these are available to complete on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile, provided you own the Season 3 Battle Pass. Completing challenges allows you to more quickly level up the Battle Pass, earning you Season 3 skins and rewards.
Fortnite Week 8 Challenges
Use a Vending Machine -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal damage with Explosive Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Snobby Shores (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Dance on different Dance Floors (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between Three Boats -- 10 Battle Stars
Now, with God of War's release date drawing ever closer, reviews have gone live for the next big PS4 game, and it seems critics are impressed. In our God of War review, Peter Brown awarded the action-adventure title a 9/10, saying it's a "spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat." For more on what critics thought, check out our review roundup below, or head over to Metacritic for a wider view of the game's critical reception.
Game: God of War
Developer / Publisher: Sony Santa Monica / Sony
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: April 20
Price: US $60 / £53 / AU $100
GameSpot -- 9/10
"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. 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." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 10/10
"I expected great action from God of War, and it delivers that handily. But I didn't expect it to be a thrilling journey in which every aspect of it complements the others to form what is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's a game in which Kratos, a previously one-note character, becomes a complex father, warrior, and monster, embattled both on the field and within his own heart about how to treat his son; one in which the world opens up and shifts, offering rewards in both gameplay and knowledge of its lore that I treasured with each accomplishment. The obvious care that went into crafting its world, characters, and gameplay delivers by far the most stirring and memorable game in the series." -- Jonathon Dornbush [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 5/5
"I don't think it's possible to overstate just how good God of War is; how well realised its world, how nuanced and layered its characters and storytelling. The depth and craft of its combat, puzzles and almost every system it has sparkles and shines with an indulgence and luxury that regularly stopped me in my tracks to drink it all in. Whether breathless and bloody in the aftermath of an axe-hacked victory, or watching Kratos and his son Atreus share a genuinely human moment, this is a level of game making that doesn't happen often. The final question really isn't about where it sits in any game of the year discussions, but rather its place in eventual game of the generation talks." -- Leon Hurley [Full review]
The Guardian -- 5/5
"It is rare to play a game so accomplished in everything it sets out to do. God of War is a standard-setter both technologically and narratively. It is a game that, until recently, would have been impossible." -- Keza MacDonald [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.75/10
"Years ago, Kratos killed the deities of Mount Olympus in a gory rampage. Now, in the Norse realm, he has remade himself into a different kind of god. He is quieter and more deliberate, affected by his history but not constrained by it. Kratos' reinvention serves as a narrative hook, but it also parallels the series' evolution as a whole; where God of War once relied on bombast and bloodlust, now it leaves space for strategy and nuance. It still has superb action and plenty of jaw-dropping moments, but it supports them with a new level of depth and maturity. God of War learns from its past while clearing an exciting path for the future, and emerges as one of the best games of this generation." -- Joe Juba [Full review]
Variety -- No Score
"Kratos remains capable of startling violence. But there is a sense that even Sony Santa Monica has recoiled from some of 'God of War's' legacy, and the game is better for it. It is a game that treats its history with respect where appropriate, but without obligation, even in its very concluding moments. This new God of War has some rough edges remaining in its transition to something new, but even in its concluding moments, it commits to its vision in a way that few games do--and it's the first time the series has felt vibrant and important in a decade." -- Arthur Gies [Full review]
Polygon -- 10/10
"A decade ago, director Cory Barlog helped establish the God of War franchise as an iconic gory and debaucherous video game romp. While its antihero, Kratos, had pathos (he killed his wife and daughter in a fit of rage, his skin forever grayed by their ashes), it served little dramatic purpose, rather existing as a grimdark excuse for his god-slaying and orgy-having ways. Barlog--now older, a father--has returned to the series with a bundle of talented designers, many of whom served on the earlier games, to make good on that rich but neglected potential at its core. There's still plenty of gore, but the now the guts have meatiness." -- Chris Plante [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Recommended
"Like Kratos, the god of fury who must learn not to fear his son, this is a strange beast, really. The latest technology and astonishing craft and artistry are employed to deliver a game of extremely simple pleasures--a wash of new pseudo-ideas that cannot hide the fact that the basics remain unfixed because they were not broken. God of War dresses things up, in other words, but it is ultimately the same deal it always was. As is the way with myths, I guess. As is the way with gods." -- Christian Donlan [Full review]
We're giving away 3,000 Early Access Keys for you to play PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' new map, Codename: Savage, on Steam. (Scroll down to enter below.)
Entry is open worldwide. The good news is, the Early Access Key allows you to play the map even if you do not own PUBG.
You can access Codename: Savage on the Closed Experimental Server now until Wed, April 18, 6pm PDT.
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During the most recent episode of Smackdown, WWE continued its Superstar Shakeup which traded wrestlers between the blue and red brands. We already saw a few Smackdown stars go to Raw during the first night of trades, and the Tuesday night show got some Raw superstars of their own, including a couple surprise returns.
Here are the major shakeups from this week's Smackdown. It includes the United States Championship returning to the Tuesday night show, as well as quite a few NXT callups, including the former NXT Champion. If you want a recap of Monday's events, check out our roundup of Raw's Superstar Shakeup.
Smackdown started with Shelton Benjamin coming to the ring alone, as Chad Gable was moved to Raw. He says Gable needed him, and now Benjamin needs a challenge. The newly-crowned United States Champion Jeff Hardy comes out as the first move in the Superstar Shakeup.
A little later, there was an announcement that Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose will be coming over to Smackdown; hopefully, Paige will continue to be involved with them. Sadly, there goes my dream super-stable idea of "Absolute Riott."
Later on, Sin Cara was waiting for his opponent and in walks Samoa Joe. After destroying Sin Cara, Joe cuts a promo calling Smackdown "the land of handouts." He says he'll beat Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. In addition, he makes some comments about the Intercontinental Championship and fighting Roman Reigns, both staples of Raw.
During a commercial break, a Sanity promo ran. The NXT stable is apparently coming soon. There's no indication as to which members will come over, but hopefully, it will be all four, which will help the single, tag, and women's divisions. It appears that won't be the case as Nikki Cross was not in the promotional image for Sanity.
Daniel Bryan was talking to Renee Young, and Big Cass returned--after being out due to injury for eight months--to ask him, "You're what all the fuss is about?" Cass later came out and beat up Bryan during his match.
During a match between Charlotte & Becky Lynch vs. The Iconics (I'm not writing them as The IIconics), Asuka came out to help Charlotte and Lynch. I guess this is a surprise? Most fans, like myself, just assumed Asuka was already on the Smackdown roster after her battle with Charlotte at Wrestlemania.
A promo video ran for the Good Brothers, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. They are now a part of the Smackdown brand. Sadly, Finn Balor is staying on Raw, so there will be no Bullet Club reunion with AJ Styles.
The Bar announces they're coming over to Smackdown to take on the tag division, and very shortly afterwards, R-Truth shows up, confused as to where he is. According to a tweet from WWE, he's now on Smackdown.
During a wrap-up for all the new superstars on Smackdown, former NXT Champion Andrade Almas was announced he's coming to the Tuesday night show along with Zelina Vega.
Update: This statement has been updated with a statement from Bleszinski.
Cliff Bleszinski, who made a name for himself as the creative director of the Gears of War series at Epic Games before leaving the company to start a new studio, has kicked off a public dispute with his former employer. Bleszinski is accusing Epic of poaching developers from his studio, Boss Key. Both are based in the Raleigh, NC area.
Tweeting today, Bleszinski asked Epic to stop its efforts to "hire away my team," adding that he's proud of Boss Key's newly launched battle royale game, Radical Heights--which runs on Epic's Unreal Engine 4. Bleszinski went on to suggest that Epic's reported hiring of Boss Key developers is related to the fact that Radical Heights is a Battle Royale game, and is thus competing against Epic's uber-popular Battle Royale game Fortnite.
"There's room at this genre for more than a few games SMH," Bleszinski said. In another tweet, the developer said Boss Key has "plenty" of ideas for how to make Radical Heights stand out in the Battle Royale genre, but if Epic keeps hiring away its talent, these may never come to light. "We have plenty of ways to make it our own but they may never see the light of day if they keep doing this," he said.
It is unclear how many Boss Key developers left the studio to join Epic, but the figure is apparently substantial enough for Bleszinski to be airing his grievances in public. When asked to clarify, Bleszinski said, "A substantial amount of surgically targeted key staff have been poached is pretty much all I can say right now." In December, Boss Key co-founder Arjan Brussee left the studio to re-join Epic. A former online engineer at Boss Key who has since joined Epic, William McCarroll, said on Twitter that Bleszinski is out of line for calling out Epic about hiring away some of its staffers.
"With all due respect, assuming that Epic is the one starting contact / poaching is a bit presumptuous," he said. "We all had our own reasons for making the choice to leave BKP for Epic, and to act like we are commodities being stolen is a bit hurtful. We are people first and foremost."
Epic declined to comment when approached by GameSpot.
Boss Key's free Battle Royale game Radical Heights launched last week in "X-TREME EARLY ACCESS" on Steam--and it is currently lacking many important features. The studio has pledged to continue to update and improve the game over time.
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