Since its early access launch in December, the Xbox One version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has featured only a single map. The second map, the desert-themed Miramar, will finally make its debut on console this week, but only as part of a limited-time test.
Miramar will be available for play by anyone who owns PUBG on Xbox One, but it won't be accessible through the main client. Instead, if you've bought the game, you'll be able to download the Miramar test server client from the Xbox Store, where it's labeled as PUBG Test Server. Players are warned that this is an early test and that, as such, "some aspects may not function as expected."
Just as importantly, there are some caveats about how and when you can play. Test periods will be held during six- and 12-hour windows over the course of five days, and it will only be run on North American servers, with third-person perspective as the only option. "We might make adjustments to this depending on how the test goes," the developers warned in a post on the official forums.
The test server client should now be available for download. You can see the exact time that servers will be online below.
Amazon is running a great Deal of the Day promotion on board games. You can save up to 40% on select games, ranging from adult fare like Pandemic and Werewolf to classic family board games like Cranium. Read on for our picks of the best games available at the best prices--but hurry up, because this deal of the day is only good today, Monday, April 23.
If you're just getting started with the relatively recent board game craze, you might want to start with some of the games that kicked it off in the first place. One early example is Carcassonne, which is on sale for $20. It's a game about assembling a medieval landscape one tile at a time. It might sound terribly boring, but somehow the rules and competitive aspect make it way more enthralling than it has any right to be. Another great starter game is 7 Wonders, which has you and your friends try to develop a city into a global powerhouse and construct an architectural wonder. It's on sale for $28.
Perhaps a worldwide plague is more in your wheelhouse. In that case, you and a group of friends can work together to stop an apocalyptic illness in Pandemic, on sale now for $30. Forbidden Island is also a co-op game, and it's on sale for $9. In this one, you and your friends are trying to collect hidden treasure on an island before the tide rises. Can everyone find a treasure and make it to the escape helicopter in time?
Co-op board games aren't for everyone. Some people are more into guile and deception. In that case, try Ultimate Werewolf, a game in which you and a group of friends try to suss out which players are secretly werewolves or vampires. Meanwhile, the people assigned to be creatures of the night try to convince their friends they're normal villagers. It's on sale for $10.
Fans of more traditional board games have plenty of options in this Amazon sale as well. Battleship with Planes, which adds a slight twist to the seafaring classic, is $13. Cranium lets you and your friends show off their artistic side, with often hilarious results. Whichever games you choose, make sure to buy them before the end of the day.
PUBG Corp. and Tencent have released a new update for the mobile version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Update 0.4.0 is now available to download on both iOS and Android, and it's a fairly big one, introducing an assortment of gameplay adjustments and a couple of new modes.
One of the new features arriving in the update is Arcade, a 28-player mode that can be joined either solo or with friends. Each match in Arcade mode randomly chooses one of six possible variations, which put some sort of twist on the gameplay; one variation, for instance, limits the weapon selection to a specific type, while another grants players access to all weapons and items.
In addition to Arcade, the developers have added a Training Grounds mode to PUBG Mobile. This is only available solo and lets players practice with weapons and items before jumping into a match with others. You can see a screenshot of the Training Grounds below.
Beyond the new modes, the update makes a variety of gameplay adjustments. A follow function has been added to the mobile version, which can be used before parachuting and after landing on the map. Additionally, players now have the option to enable automatic door opening in the settings. The developers have also added new animations when your character is attacked and defeated.
There are numerous other tweaks in the new update, which you can read about in the full patch notes below. In related news, Tencent has also announced it will begin banning cheaters in mobile version of PUBG. Players who are found "using software or additional hardware to gain an unfair advantage" will be banned from the game "effective immediately."
PUBG Mobile Update 0.4.0 Patch Notes
Arcade Mode
28 player mode, with each match taking on one of 6 variations.
6 variations: Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Pistols, all weapons, melee only, and item heaven.
Training Grounds
Try out items, weapons, and practice your shooting skills.
Combat Optimization
Follow function has been added, can be used before parachuting and after landing.
Automatic door opening can now be enabled in settings.
Pause time between picking up multiple items has been adjusted.
The teammate elimination icon now disappears after some time.
Adjusted sound effects for footsteps, UI, vehicles, and entering /exiting the Blue Zone.
Jumping is no longer affected by sprinting.
The crosshair is no longer blocked by the camera when standing next to a wall.
4X and 8X issues with choppiness have been resolved.
New animations for being attacked and defeated have been added.
Improved firing animations.
Leaning improvements: movement and animation speed increased, "Lean & Open Scope" and "Lean & Fire" have been added.
Enhanced combat experience: shake/vibration improved, button feedback improved, animations while being attacked have been improved and randomized.
Camera perspective now switches after death to the player who delivered the killing blow.
Vehicle Improvements
Motorcycles now have flipping tricks
Added Nitrous Oxide engine to cars.
Previously used vehicles are now be marked on the minimap.
Voice Chat Optimization
Fixed an issue that caused voice chat to stop working after creating a group.
Fixed crashing issues that have been reported by some players.
Improved Bluetooth headset issues in iOS (optimization on this is on-going).
Fixed an issue occurring with Android phones, that was not properly displaying an error when the game did not have access to a microphone.
Voice chat is now supported by more devices.
UI Improvements
Added a new background, Dusk
Players can now swap between a 2 column and 3 column view when opening crates.
Added 3D touch firing options for iOS.
Results screen: added a performance chart, daily reward limits are now shown.
In-game Shop
Rank 1 coupons now available.
Items & cheats now available.
New outfits now available (region-specific outfit will be available soon!)
Duplicate outfits can now be destroyed for currency to purchase new items.
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.
There's a whole other Infinity War going on at Marvel Comics, and it concerns the co-creator of the supervillain Thanos, Jim Starlin. Starlin, who also helped create the Infinity Gauntlet and Guardians of the Galaxy characters Drax the Destroyer and Gamora--all of which factor into Avengers: Infinity War--is currently at odds with the comic book publisher. It seems the two sides had a falling out in December 2017, the latest bump in a very long road between the two.
This time, though, it sounds serious. Speaking to Vulture about his long career with the comic giant, Starlin says "I'm not working for them anymore and this time, I think that it's for good." At the heart of the problem is the Mad Titan himself, Thanos. In December, Starlin revealed that Marvel was going in a different direction with the character. At the time, he told Cosmic Book News, "Thanos is the property of Marvel Entertainment, and with the movies on the horizon, Big Purple is about to enter the rarified classification of being a cultural icon, a character bigger than the comic books, writers, and artists that birthed him. Marvel Editorial has made it clear they want fresh takes on the Titan, so who am I to argue with them?"
Interestingly, part of the problem also seems to stem from the fact that there were two Thanos comic book projects in the works--one of which he was involved in--that shared a similar plot. Speaking to Syfy Wire in February, he explained, "What I took exception to was I accidentally found out what the plot was to the Thanos ongoing that was going to appear before the graphic novels that Alan Davis and I were working on that an editor of that book started--on his own volition--telling me what the plot was, and I went, 'Well that's the exact same plot that we have for the Thanos story arc and the graphic novels.'"
Still, while Starlin and Marvel Comics may not be on the best of terms, the same can't be said of his relationship with Marvel Studios. While he wrote on Facebook in January 2017 that he wasn't making much from the film studio for using characters he helped create, Vulture reports that he has reached an agreement with them.
Now, as Marvel prepares to show the world the newest Avengers movie, Starlin is in Hollywood and ready to walk the carpet before seeing the film--he's even documenting the experience on his Facebook page. Avengers: Infinity War is in theaters on April 27.
God of War has only just launched, but Sony's next PS4 exclusive is already on the horizon. Detroit: Become Human's release date is a month away, and soon you'll be able to give the game a try for free.
A demo of the game is live now in some territories--Australia and New Zealand, at least--with Europe and the Americas to follow on Tuesday, April 24. The demo contains the first scene of the game, Hostage, which stars android detective Connor.
Additionally, Amazon Echo users in the US can ask Alexa about things happening on screen while playing the demo. Simply start your enquiry with, "Alexa, ask Cyberlife..." to learn more about Become Human's world. For example, you can ask about the game's characters or hear about alternate endings from Hostage.
The game itself comes out on May 25 and tells the story of a group of androids coming to terms with their newfound sentience. You control three separate characters and can guide them in their journey by making decisions along the way, in a similar way to some of Quantic Dream's previous games. For more, check out some Detroit: Become Human gameplay or read our interview with director David Cage.
Westworld Season 2 is finally here, and based on the premiere episode, it seems like it's taking a very different approach than Season 1 did. Think back to the show's very first episode: Remember how much time it spent just on Dolores and Teddy's story? In contrast, Season 2, Episode 1, "Journey Into Night," is a runaway train that can't be stopped.
Besides the opening chat between BernArnold and Dolores, Westworld's Season 2 premiere was a direct continuation of the Season 1 finale. The party is over, and Delos has brought in the big guns to clean up Ford's mess. The episode flits between the immediate aftermath of the Season 1 finale's cocktail party, including the following day, and events that take place around two weeks later, after Bernard wakes up on the beach. And boy, does it cover a lot of ground.
Stubbs is alive. Delos is taking control back. Dolores and Maeve are on the warpath. The Man in Black (AKA Bill) has a new game to play. The hosts are all dead. Wait, the hosts are all dead? What in the worlds is going on?
"Journey Into Night" covered more ground in its hour and 10 minutes than any two episodes of Season 1, or so it seemed tonight--especially if you haven't watched the first season in a while. Just look at all the new things we learned in the Season 2 premiere--was there a single episode during Season 1 that threw this much new information at us? Season 1 was all atmosphere and worldbuilding for long stretches, and this premiere seemed far more concerned with plot and set-up for the rest of Season 2. Catching up with all these characters again was fun, but it would have been nice if the episode gave us a little more breathing room.
There's one moment in this premiere that exemplified that change of pace better than any other: When some random Delos guy accosts the Man in Black and casually calls him "Bill." All of Westworld Season 1 was spent deliberately, conspicuously not calling Ed Harris's character by his name. Westworld in a post-first season era has no time for that level of subtlety--at least not yet. The Man in Black is William is Bill. Try to keep up.
Famously, Westworld Season 2 was always going to be about "chaos." When Sizemore, the writer from last season who this time around is even more simpering and pathetic, entered the control room, he was shocked: "No one's in control." It seems that will indeed be the theme in Westworld Season 2. Even Gustaf Skarsgård's new character, Karl Strand, is struggling to regain control. This is the Delos big gun they sent in after nearly two weeks of non-communication with the park, and he spends the whole episode playing catch-up. He knows about as much as we do: The rancher's daughter is on the warpath, tigers and who knows what else are wandering between parks, and s*** is f***ed up.
But "Journey Into Night" felt more like a mid-season episode than a premiere. It mostly just moved the plot forward; Bill has a new game to play, Maeve is searching for her daughter with Hector and Sizemore in tow, Dolores and Teddy are seeking an exit, Bernard and Charlotte need to find Abernathy, and eventually, everyone's going to wind up dead in a lake. The episode moved those pieces into place, but it didn't really feel like the soft reset that it could have been.
Maybe it's better to jump straight to it after so long away--Season 1 aired in 2016, after all--but then again, we still haven't seen the much-teased Shogun World. How cool would it have been if Season 2 had started fresh with a new setting and characters, then tied it all back to the main plot next week?
There are, of course, some brand new mysteries for Season 2, such as Bill's new game, finding "the Door." And given everything going wrong with Bernard--the "critical failure" causing him to suffer time displacement, face blindness, loss of motor function, etc.--our boy is clearly not going to be a reliable narrator this time around (not that he ever was).
That, more than anything, seems like a tool Westworld Season 2 will gleefully use to keep us guessing--and to deny us any real ability to predict the full picture in advance. What have we already glimpsed in "Journey Into Night" that, by the end of the season, we'll look back on in a new light?
Of course we're going to continue theorizing, sleuthing, and combing through every frame of each new episode. But with its new breakneck speed and the show's increased potential for obfuscation thanks to Bernard's robo-dementia, for once the cadence of Westworld's reveals might actually outpace us. Season 2 is stampeding to the beat of its own drum, and we're just going to have to try and keep up.
PS4's latest exclusive, God of War, launched last week to critical acclaim and now it appears to have gone down well with players, too. The Sony title has debuted at No.1 in the UK games chart for the week ending April 11, sending Far Cry 5 down to No.2.
Furthermore, God of War claimed the best week one UK sales of any game in the series, ousting the previous record-holder, God of War 3, which launched for PS3 in 2010. Below Far Cry 5, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life--another PS4 exclusive--finishes at No.3 in its debut week. Yakuza 6 breaks its own UK sales records: it becomes the highest-charting Yakuza game and broke the series' record for week one sales.
The rest of the physical games chart paints a familiar picture. Perennial favorite FIFA 18 finishes at No.4, with Nintendo's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey following at No.5 and No.6, respectively. You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
After its launch last week, God of War became the highest-rated PS4 exclusive on Metacritic. Our own reviewer, Peter Brown, enjoyed it too, awarding the PS4 game a 9/10.
"In many ways God of War is what the series has always been," he wrote. "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." Read more in our full God of War review.
As has become the norm before the release of each set of weekly challenges in Fortnite: Battle Royale, the upcoming objectives have been leaked. We now have at least a sense for what the next challenges will ask you to do for Week 10--the final leg of Season 3--whether you're playing on PS4, Xbox One, PC, or mobile.
As discovered through Fortnite Tracker, which uncovers data hidden in the game's files, Week 10 involves the usual array of things to do. Some, like eliminating opponents, are tasks you'll likely do without going out of your way; others require you to spend some time in certain areas, such as searching chests in Fatal Fields. Others are a bit more specialized, like racking up headshots.
Week 10 will seemingly introduce a new game element. Following an early challenge that wanted you to land on certain targets, one in Week 10 asks you to skydive through floating rings. Another will have you scouring the map in search of a point between a "Stone Circle, Wooden Bridge, and a Red RV." We'll have a guide helping you with all of this once the challenges are live on Thursday, April 26.
Fortnite Week 10 Challenges
Search Chests in Fatal Fields (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal Headshot Damage to opponents (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search a Chest in different Named Locations (12) -- 5 Battle Stars
Skydive through floating Rings (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Stone Circle, Wooden Bridge, and a Red RV -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Eliminate Opponents (10) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Eliminate opponents in Pleasant Park (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Weekly challenges, despite the name, are typically available for more than a week, although this is the final week of Season 3. Anyone who purchases the Battle Pass has the entirety of Season 3 to complete them. You can see all the Fortnite skins and rewards up for grabs with this Battle Pass to get an idea of what awaits if you dive in.
Whether or not you've purchased the Season 3 Battle Pass, you can log in to claim some free Battle Stars to help you earn some rewards: Epic Games recently granted some freebies to all players to make up for server issues. Meanwhile, it's removed the Guided Missile, which proved to be a contentious addition.
Syfy is continuing to beef up its comic book offerings. Currently, the network is home to DC Comics drama Krypton, along with the adaptation of Grant Morrison's graphic novel Happy. Now Syfy is turning another property into a series--and it has enlisted some big names to make it a reality.
Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, will executive produce an adaptation of Deadly Class, based on the graphic novel by Rick Remender and Wes Craig. Set in the 1980s, the series will follow a homeless teenager "recruited into a storied elite private school where the world's top crime families send their next generations," a press release reads. That teen will then have to stick to his own moral code, as he struggles to survive the school.
The cast includes some very interesting and exciting names, as well. Benedict Wong (Avengers: Infinity War), Benjamin Wadsworth (Teen Wolf), and Lana Candor (X-Men: Apocalypse) will all star. Joining the Russos as executive producers are Remender, Miles Orion Feldsott (Bionic Woman), Mike Larocca (Spy), Adam Targum (Banshee), and Lee Toland Krieger (The Age of Adaline). Krieger also directed the pilot.
There's no word on when Deadly Class will premiere just yet, though it's not the only project Syfy has in the works. The network is also adapting George RR Martin novella Nightflyers, which is in production now.
If there's anything that never goes wrong even a little bit, it's video games being adapted into movies. Thankfully, it's a trend that doesn't seem to be slowing down as Deadpool 2 director David Leitch has signed on to add his own adaptation to the stack.
According to Variety, Leitch will direct The Division, based on the 2016 Tom Clancy video game. Already, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain are signed on to star in the movie about a future in which New York City has been decimated by a virus. The story follows a group that attempts to save what's left of society and civilization.
While the idea could make for an interesting film, it's not as if video game adaptations have a great history in Hollywood. In fact, 2018 has already seen the arrival of two--Tomb Raider and Rampage. While Rampage has succeeded due to embracing how silly its concept is, Tomb Raider didn't fare so well at the box office. Of course, there's also Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros., and numerous other bad video game adaptations--including Gyllenhaal's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Can Leitch break the trend?
Whatever the case, it's another project for an already very busy man. It was recently announced that Leitch would direct Hobbs & Shaw, the Fast and the Furious spin-off starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Statham. Deadpool 2, his next movie, hits theaters on May 18.
Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is getting a lot of upgrades for Avengers: Infinity War. Though it hasn't been revealed in trailers, the new Iron Spider suit Peter Parker wears in the movie has an interesting addition--and it was revealed thanks to a toy.
The Spider-Man collectible from Hot Toys is incredibly detailed and, in a sneak peek at it on Instagram, it looks like the new suit has something in common with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). Both suits have palm repulsors. There's a couple of reasons this should come as no surprise. First and foremost, the Iron Spider suit in the comics features these. Additionally, Tony Stark designed Peter's new gear. Why wouldn't he include some of his favorite weaponry?
The repulsors, in addition to the mechanical arms that are also seen in the toy images, should make for some interesting new assets for Peter in the battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin). After all, if he can fire blasts of energy at his enemies, in addition to his webbing, Spider-Man will be a pretty useful ally.
That said, he's still a fledgling superhero, so chances are it will be a bumpy road as he gets used to his new abilities. That's what makes Spider-Man such a joy to watch. He's a kid who is still getting accustomed to what it means to be a hero, learning the ropes.
It just so happens that when it comes to Infinity War, those ropes are all that's holding together a universe than Thanos is desperate to destroy. Avengers: Infinity War is in theaters on April 27.
The new Halloween movie, which will see Jamie Lee Curtis return to the series, isn't in theaters until October. However, details about the film are finally starting to trickle out, now that production is wrapped. The first poster for the film has been released, and now Curtis is talking about the plot.
It was known that the new movie will serve as a sequel to the 1978 original, disregarding the seven sequels and two rebooted films from director Rob Zombie. As Curtis tells Yahoo, she sees the new movie as a retelling of the first film, 40 years later. "There was the idea of, 'What do you call it?'' If I had had my druthers, I probably would've called it Halloween Retold. Because it's being retold," she explains. "It's the original story in many, many, many ways. Just retold 40 years later with my granddaughter."
What this says is that clearly, Laura had at least one child after the events of Halloween. That said, it's unclear whether the new film will make use of either of her children introduced previously in the series.
Her daughter Jamie Lloyd was introduced in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. However, she was killed off two movies later in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. In Halloween H20, the timeline of the franchise was altered, and it was decided that Jamie never existed. Instead, Laurie has a son named John. After this movie, John was never mentioned again.
Given that the series is essentially retconning everything that happened after the first movie, perhaps it'll be best to just start from scratch and bring in Laurie's third only child--this is a confusing bunch of movies. Whatever the case, the script written by David Gordon Green and Danny McBride sounds like a winner.
"I've seen a trailer and I've seen some footage, and it's terrifying," Curtis says. "They went full-tilt boogeyman. And I've never said that in my life, and I will say full-tilt boogeyman for the rest of the year as I go around talking about this."
The next Halloween, which will also see original movie director John Carpenter returning as executive producer, creative consultant, and composer, will be in theaters on April 19.
Big things are afoot with Netflix's The Witcher adaptation of the series of novels that also inspired the video game franchise. Though it's still very early in the process of getting the show made--showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich revealed the finished pilot script in February--lots of details about the project have arrived.
First and foremost, Hissrich says the first season will consist of eight episodes. "I know, I know, it may not seem like enough for you, but creatively, it's the right call," she writes on Twitter. The episodes can be tight, action-packed, rich in character and story, without lagging in the middle of the season." Given how often Netflix originals feel like they last too long--we're looking at you, Marvel shows--it's hard to not be excited about this decision.
Still, as Hissrich continues, the scripts for episodes beyond the pilot aren't done yet. "I've finished the pilot, which yes, will be polished more when we cast/shoot," she says. "The other 7 episodes don't yet exist, except in my head. And guess what? New writers are joining me soon, too!"
As for when to expect the series, Hissrich says it likely won't premiere until 2020. Netflix is taking its time with the show to make sure it's as good as it can be. "We're moving quickly ahead with everything--like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession--but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed," she says.
Lastly, the showrunner confirms that the series will be filmed in Eastern Europe, which is where the novels and games are set. "This show couldn't exist anyplace else. Period," Hissrich writes. "Also, I just spent ten days surrounded by Slavic eye-candy. I MUST come back, soon."
No casting has been announced for Netflix's Witcher series yet. Chances are, though, if it's aiming for a 2020 release, that news will start happening soon.
Happy Friday! So much information coming out of the @netflix event in Rome. I'm told by my friends and colleagues that the level of excitement and anticipation for #Witcher was crazy! Let's sort through it...
EIGHT EPISODES. Yes! I know, I know, it may not seem like enough for you, but creatively, it's the right call. The episodes can be tight, action-packed, rich in character and story, without lagging in the middle of the season. Sounds good to me, sound good to you?
2020. Who knows?! We're moving quickly ahead with everything -- like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession -- but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed. You'll get it as soon as humanly possible, and it'll be good.
THE SCRIPT NEEDS POLISHED. I'd take a step back from that to say: the scripts need WRITTEN. I've finished the pilot, which yes, will be polished more when we cast/shoot. The other 7 episodes don't yet exist, except in my head. And guess what? New writers are joining me soon, too!
WE'LL BE SHOOTING IN EASTERN EUROPE. Yes! This show couldn't exist anyplace else. Period. Also, I just spent ten days surrounded by Slavic eye-candy. I MUST come back, soon.
Strap on your VR headset and get ready to save some money. Steam is running a sale on virtual reality games, most of which can be played on either Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Let's dig through the offerings and see which games are worth grabbing before the sale ends on May 10.
Bethesda has brought some of its biggest recent games to VR, and a couple of them are on sale right now. You can buy Fallout 4 VR for a 30% discount, bringing it down to $42/£28. That's the full game, just in VR. Doom VFR got a similar price cut, making it $21/£14. This is a totally revamped version of the 2016 game that's been streamlined for VR.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew, which you can also play without VR, is on sale for $20/£16. It puts you and other players on the bridge of a starship and has you work together to deal with a number of Star Trek-inspired scenarios. If you'd rather virtually inhabit the Dark Knight, Batman: Arkham VR is half off at $10.
Does it sound like fun to put yourself in deadly situations, with a ticking clock counting down to your demise? If so, try I Expect You To Die for $20/£16. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes explores a similar concept but adds a multiplayer component, making it an ideal party game. It's on sale for $7/£5.
Other highlights include the tense shooter Superhot VR and the laid-back, goofy game Job Simulator, both of which are on sale for $18/£14. Rick and Morty Simulator: Virtual Rick-ality is down to $15/£11 and is just as bonkers as fans of the show would expect. Artistic types may want to scratch their creative itch in Tilt Brush, which turns the space around you into a three-dimensional canvas. It's on sale for $10/£7.
Once you're done playing games and creating art, it's time to get some work done. Instead of removing your headset, just download Virtual Desktop, an app that turns your computer into an enormous virtual workspace. It's on sale for $10/£7.
On top of those discounts, a number of free VR games and experiences are highlighted in the sale as well. So check out the full list at the Steam VR Spring Sale.
Earlier this year, Marvel and Disney brought the Avengers: Infinity War release date forward, so the movie is coming out earlier than previously expected. While that's exciting for those of us eager to see Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, and the gang take on Thanos, it also means there's less time to get caught up on everything that has happened so far.
Watching every MCU movie that has been released thus far sounds like a mammoth task, but since it's all been building up to this, we reckon it's one worth undertaking. To make things a little easier, and to give you the best catch-up experience you could have, GameSpot's very own Dave Jewitt has put together a handy watch order.
You might think that you don't need a watch order and that you can simply see them using the order they were released and, yes, you can do that, but there's a better way. Since some events in the MCU take place in parallel or reference each other, there's actually a more ideal chronology. Dave has also done a little extra work and suggested the best Marvel One-Shots to watch too. These are shorter mini-movies that were available as part of the home releases on DVD, Blu-ray, and digitally. While not essential to the overall MCU, they're well worth checking out as they provide a little extra colour to the MCU and some deeper insights into important characters.
If you'd prefer to see a list of the movies in Dave's suggested order instead of hearing the lineup delivered in his dulcet tones, take a look below.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Marvel One Shot: Agent Carter
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Thor's Hammer
Season 3 of Fortnite: Battle Royale is ongoing, and each week brings a new set of challenges for players to complete. There's a free set of objectives for everyone to take on over the course of the season, but only those who purchase the Season 3 Battle Pass get to deal with the additional weekly challenges. These present players with specific goals to target and offer a path to quickly level up the Battle Pass and acquire its many rewards.
Although challenges are referred to as weekly, you have more than a week to complete them--they're available until Season 3 concludes at the end of April. As such, it's not too late to pick up the Battle Pass now and go back to complete challenges from past weeks.
Many of these challenges are relatively straightforward; you'll need to secure kills in certain locations or with specific weapon types. Others are things you'll likely do without even trying, like reviving teammates. Others still will require a bit more attention and management, as they might require certain things to be done in a single match (such as visiting three gas stations) or ask you to go to a specific location you otherwise would be unlikely to stumble upon.
Below, you'll find a complete list of every weekly challenge that's been rolled out so far along with links to some of our guides that will help you to deal with those trickier objectives. We'll continue to update this as more challenges are announced over the course of the season.
Week 1
Deal damage with Pistols to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Pleasant Park (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Revive players (5) -- 5 Battle Stars
Visit a Llama, Fox, and a Crab -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Dusty Depot -- 10 Battle Stars
Bandai Namco has officially unveiled the next DLC character coming to Dragon Ball FighterZ. The divine warrior Fused Zamasu will be the newest addition to the game's roster, and he's slated to arrive on PS4, Xbox One, and PC "soon."
Fused Zamasu is a major antagonist from the Dragon Ball Super series. As his name suggests, he's the resulting fusion of Zamasu and his counterpart, Goku Black. He was first announced in a recent issue of V-Jump magazine (via Gematsu), which also revealed that some his special attacks give him the ability to fly freely through the air. You can see the first screenshots of Fused Zamasu in the gallery below.
Fused Zamasu is included as part of Dragon Ball FighterZ's $35 season pass. Bandai Namco hasn't revealed how much he will cost individually, but the previous two DLC characters, Broly and Bardock, could be purchased for $5 apiece and came alongside a new Lobby avatar and Z Stamp.
Fused Zamasu marks the third DLC character officially announced for Dragon Ball FighterZ, following the aforementioned Broly and Bardock. The two Saiyans were added to the game back in March and feature distinct fighting styles; Broly is slow but overwhelmingly powerful, while Bardock favors rush attacks and close-range fighting. You can take a closer look at each character's epic Dramatic Finishes, as well as their Supers and victory quotes.
At least five more DLC characters are planned for Dragon Ball FighterZ. Bandai Namco has yet to officially announce who they'll be, but we've put together a list of 15 DLC characters we'd love to see in the game.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate follows the story of twins Jacob and Evie Frye as they take back London from the Templars in the Victorian era. The game not only allows you to freely explore London, but also switch between the twins for most missions. Jacob is brutish, while Evie is a rouge-like character. Syndicate will be free for Gold member through May 15.
Dead Space 2 on the other hand is a bit more visceral. This is backwards compatible title is set three years after the events of Dead Space, following Issac's battle against the Necromorphs on Sprawl. Unlike the first game, this sequel also has a multiplayer mode, pitting humans against Necromorphs. It's available for download through April 30.
We're now well into the new month, and for PlayStation Plus members, that means there are free games to grab if you haven't already done so. While this month's offerings can't live up to last month's killer lineup, players will find plenty of free fun in April.
Leading the pack is the often-overlooked Mad Max, an open-world game about building a destructive car and taking out apocalyptic marauders. In GameSpot's Mad Max review, Peter Brown came away unsatisfied with the ground combat, but thoroughly enjoyed bashing up enemies while behind the wheel of his "Magnum Opus."
The second-biggest game in this month's PS Plus lineup is TrackMania Turbo, which also puts you behind the wheel of a car, but with very different goals from Mad Max. Your job in this arcade racer is to reach the finish line on gravity-defying tracks in as short a time as possible. It's also compatible with PSVR, in case you have a need for speed.
Thanks to PlayStation's Cross Buy functionality, three of the other games also run on PS4. First is In Space We Brawl, a multiplayer twin-stick shooter that also works on PS3. Next is the side-scrolling beat-'em-up 99Vidas, which plays on PS3 and PS Vita as well as PS4. Then there's Q*Bert: Rebooted, which is compatible with all three PlayStation platforms, but unfortunately isn't very good. Finally, PS3 owners get Toy Home, a charming, colorful racing game.
In an effort to keep the game feeling fresh and interesting, PUBG developer PUBG Corp. has announced it will add new vehicles, more weapons, and an underground cave system to its new, smaller map. The studio briefly discussed all of this in a blog post recently, outlining some of what's to come for the Codename: Savage map.
The underground cave is inspired by a real cave system--the Phraya Nakhon Cave--that exists outside of Bangkok, Thailand. You'll be able to parachute directly into the cave, and there are apparently "plenty methods of escape." Here's a rendering of what it may look like:
PUBG Corp. noted that it still has "some work to do" before showing off the underground cave. It's going to launch in Codename: Savage's test servers "in the next couple of testing phases," PUBG Corp. said, though there is no word on when that may be. New areas have already been added to Savage alongside adjustments to the Bluezone.
The studio had nothing to say about the weapons coming to PUBG, though it did say one of the new vehicles is a Tuk Tuk, which is a motorized rickshaw. More details on the new weapons and vehicles will be announced "soon."
Codename: Savage is a different gameplay experience than PUBG's two other maps, thanks mostly to its smaller size. The map is 4 km x 4 km, and the result is a more close-quarters, faster combat experience, especially in the temple and resort areas. Watch the video above to get more of GameSpot's impressions of the map, which feels a bit more like Fortnite than other PUBG experiences.
In other PUBG news, Xbox One players will soon get the chance to try the game for free. Anyone with an Xbox Live Gold membership will be able to play the full game for free April 19-22. A new cosmetic DLC pack has been announced for the game on Xbox One, too, and Microsoft has said PUBG's second map, Miramar, will be coming to the console version of the game in May. For PC players, patch 10 is now available, bringing a number of changes to blue zones and the Miramar map.
There's a good chance you've played--or at least been intrigued by--The Witcher 3. There's also a good chance you missed out on Geralt of Rivia's first outing. Now's the perfect time to right that wrong by grabbing a free copy of the game that started it all. Right now, GOG is handing out free copies of The Witcher: Enhanced Edition to anyone who plays games on PC.
Since there's no such thing as a free lunch, you will have to jump through a hoop or two before you can hit that download button. For starters, you have to install Gwent: The Witcher Card Game. It's free to play, so that's not a huge deal. And if you've dabbled in the card-playing mini-game in The Witcher 3, you'll know it's an enjoyable pastime on its own. You can download it here.
Once you've installed Gwent, click here to access your free copy of The Witcher: Enhanced Edition. Note that to get your free game, you must also subscribe you to the GOG.com newsletter (you can unsubscribe any time). You also get a free Gwent Card Keg, which will come in handy if you plan to continue playing Gwent.
Now you can install your copy of The Witcher: Enhanced Edition and play the game that kickstarted Geralt's monster hunting career when it launched in 2007. In GameSpot's Witcher review, Brett Todd wrote, "Memorable story, immersive combat, fascinating characters--what's not to like? A few fit-and-finish issues mean that The Witcher isn't quite an all-time classic RPG. Regardless, it's awfully, awfully close, warts and all, and it provides a new benchmark for future developers that are looking to lift their games out of the done-to-death elf-and-orc ghetto."
And if you want to complete the trilogy, the other two games happen to be on sale right now on GOG:
April showers bring lots of new programming on Netflix. From classic--and not so classic--movies to new original TV shows and films, the streamer is making sure you have more than enough to binge for the beginning of spring.
Among the films being added to the service are the so-bad-it's-good video game adaptation Mortal Kombat, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The Iron Giant, The Lost Boys, and the first two Cabin Fever movies. You'll also be able to stream Scarface, Sin City, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
On the originals front, April 13 saw the premiere of Netflix's Lost in Space reboot, as well as new seasons of The Magic School Bus Rides Again, Money Heist, and Wakfu. Each Sunday will also bring new episodes of The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale. If documentaries are more your speed, Bill Nye: Science Guy will debut on April 25.
It's not all good news, though. There are a number of films leaving Netflix in April. Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin all disappeared on April 1. Additionally, both Ace Ventura movies, the first two American Pies, 30 Days of Night, and Small Soldiers were also pulled at the beginning of the month.
A new community event is underway in Call of Duty: WWII on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For a limited time, players can take part in the Blitzkrieg event, which introduces a new game mode, weapons, and more to the online shooter.
The Blitzkrieg event will run until May 8 and features a new, limited-time mode called Ground War. This game type will only be available for the duration of the community event and pits two teams of nine players against each other across Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Domination, and War modes.
In addition to that, Activision has made the HQ a playable map in Party Games. Unlike Ground War, the map is a permanent addition to the game and can now be selected in Prop Hunt, Gun Game, and Free-For-All modes.
Beyond the new map and mode, Activision has introduced six new weapons to the game: the Type 5, ITRA Burst, and M2 Carbine rifles; the Type 38 sniper; the Sterling SMG; and the baseball bat. Additionally, players can take on a new Community Challenge, which will net them various rewards, such as a new helmet, weapon charm, and an exclusive Rosie II Grease Gun variant.
Later this week, Activision will kick off another challenge for all Call of Duty: WWII players. Starting April 20, players will be tasked with collectively completing 75 million Orders and Contracts in multiplayer. Even if that goal isn't achieved, Activision says players will earn rewards "at each step along the way." You can read more about the Blitzkrieg Community Event on the official Call of Duty: WWII website.
The second round of Monster Hunter World's Street Fighter crossover event is starting soon. This time, players will be able to embark on a Challenge Quest to acquire a set of Sakura armor, and as before, it will only be available in the game for a limited time.
The Sakura gear can be acquired through a three-part Challenge Quest called Empress in Full Bloom. The quests kicks off on May 3 at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET (1 AM BST on May 4) and runs until the same time on May 10.
Capcom still hasn't detailed the particulars of the Challenge Quests, but they take place in the Arena, with the objective being to slay a Pink Rathian. Players will need to have a Hunter Rank of 12 or higher to be eligible for the quests.
The Sakura gear is a full armor set that changes your hunter's appearance to that of the Street Fighter veteran. This marks the second set of Street Fighter armor that players will be able to acquire in Monster Hunter World; earlier this year, Capcom held an Event Quest called Down the Dark, Muddy Path, which rewarded players with materials to craft a Ryu costume.
The Street Fighter Challenge Quests arrive on the same day that Monster Hunter World's first Siege--a new, raid-like quest type for up to 16 players--ends. The target of the first Siege is the new Elder Dragon Kulve Taroth, which arrived alongside the game's big 3.0 update. We've put together a guide on how to get the new Kulve Taroth armor and weapons.
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.
With the Spring Blossom Fest in the rear view mirror, a major new update for Monster Hunter World has arrived. PS4 and Xbox One players can now take on a new Elder Dragon, Kulve Taroth, and that means there's new gear to get your hands on. Here's how to get the newly added armor and weapons (which are known as Relics).
In order to take on Kulve Taroth, you'll need to be at least Hunter Rank 16. While exploring the world, you'll begin to find new tracks, which belong to Kulve. Find enough, and you can take part in a new type of limited-time quest called a Siege. Everyone in a single game session--up to 16 players--can join together to deal with Kulve. These players are split into groups of four to gather tracks and attack the Elder Dragon, specifically with the aim of breaking off parts. Breaking parts and gathering tracks add to a progress meter for the Siege. The more progress, the better the rewards; Capcom specifically encourages players to try this in a multiplayer session.
As per usual when fighting a monster, this will unlock two new High Rank armor sets at the smithy: Kulve Taroth α and Kulve Taroth β. (There's also a matching Palico armor set and weapon.) Crafting them primarily requires materials you'll obtain through this fight, though you'll also need gems from other Elder Dragons, too. Here are the skills you'll earn by equipping each piece:
Helm: Free Element/Ammo Up and Agitator
Chest: Stun Res and Crit Boost
Arms: Free Element/Ammo Up and Power Prolonger
Waist: Free Element/Ammo Up and Handicraft
Boots: Wide Range and Peak Performance
While the armor and Palico gear side of all this is very simple, weapons are much different. They're handled unlike anything else in the game to date, as you'll receive them as drops at the end of a Siege. The quality depends on your Reward Level, which is dictated by the contributions made by you and your teammates (though you'll receive more from your squadmates). These are referred to as Relics and have randomized stats but otherwise operate as standard weapons, using the models for existing ones.
This first instance of the Kulve Taroth Siege is available from now until May 3 at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET (1 AM BST / 10 AM AEST on May 4). The Siege was added as part of a broader 3.0 update, which you can read about in the full 3.0 patch notes.
Capcom is shutting down services for its recent mobile game, Puzzle Fighter. The publisher announced that it will remove the puzzle game from app stores on July 1, while the option to spend money on in-app purchases will be disabled on April 23.
Servers for Puzzle Fighter will continue to operate for a few more weeks after the title is de-listed, but they will be shut down on July 31, after which point the game will no longer be playable. In the meantime, Capcom is offering 10,000 gems--Puzzle Fighter's in-game currency--to all players as a thank-you gift.
The company is also releasing Puzzle Fighter's upcoming characters and stages for free. Two new characters, Regina and Dr. Wily, will be added to the game later today, April 20, while Ada Wong and a pair of stages--Darminor and Uroboros Laboratory--arrive on April 23.
Puzzle Fighter officially launched for iOS and Android devices in November 2017. It was developed by Capcom Vancouver, the studio best known for the Dead Rising series. According to the publisher, the zombie series factored into the decision to shut down Puzzle Fighter.
"As the studio is dedicating its focus to our flagship Dead Rising franchise, we have decided to sunset Puzzle Fighter," Capcom explained in a post on the Capcom Unity blog. "We appreciate the fans who have supported Puzzle Fighter until this point. We thank you for playing the game and hope to ensure your remaining time with Puzzle Fighter is an enjoyable one."
Earlier this year, Capcom Vancouver was hit by a wave of layoffs that impacted "approximately 30% of the studio." Capcom hasn't formally announced a new Dead Rising game, but most recent release in the series, Dead Rising 4: Frank's Big Package, launched for PS4 in December and packaged 2016's Dead Rising 4 with all of its DLC and new bonus content.
A new update is now available for Fortnite, and with it comes another set of challenges for Battle Pass holders to complete in Battle Royale. The Week 9 challenges are now live on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile, and they consist of the usual mix of straightforward and slightly trickier objectives.
There are seven new challenges in all to complete this week, a few of which are things you would normally be doing in Battle Royale anyway. One of the simpler challenges tasks you with dealing a certain amount of damage to opponents' structures, while another involves building 250 of your own structures. Completing each of these will get you 5 Battle Stars.
One challenge that may trip you up is visiting three Taco Shops. That sounds simple enough on paper, but you must accomplish the task in a single match. Fortunately, there are five Taco Shops in all, three of which are grouped together fairly closely on the western side of the map, so it shouldn't be too hard to visit all three before the storm closes in.
On the trickier end of the spectrum is a Hard challenge that cryptically says to follow the treasure map found in Moisty Mire. You can find the map at the largest structure located right in the center of the area, and it will lead you to a house below Retail Row. You'll find the Battle Star on top of the house's two chimneys.
There are two other Hard challenges this week. One tasks you with eliminating four players with a shotgun, while the other is to eliminate three opponents in Lucky Landing. You'll get 10 Battle Stars for accomplishing each of these.
You can see the full list of this week's new challenges below, which are available to complete if you own the Season 3 Battle Pass. You have until the end of the season to complete the challenges, which allows you to level up your Battle Pass more quickly and, in turn, earn Season 3 skins and rewards. You can see the complete list of Season 3 challenges here.
Fortnite Week 9 Challenges
Deal damage to opponents' structures (5,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Haunted Hills (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Build structures (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Visit different Taco Shops in a single match (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the Treasure Map found in Moisty Mire -- 10 Battle Stars
Over the past decade, Marvel fans have gotten used to knowing what movies the studio is planning well in advance of release. But right now, Marvel's plans for films beyond next year are largely unknown, and studio boss Kevin Feige has now revealed that we are unlikely to find out what it has lined for at least year.
Speaking to Den of Geek, Feige said that, unlike in previous years, Marvel won't be announcing any new titles at this year's San Diego Comic-Con. "We won't do anything until after this time next year," he said. "After that, I think we'll announce where we're going. But we did a very big announcement in 2014 where we announced a lot of movies, and we added a few movies to it after that announcement. But it really felt important that we deliver on that before we do a big showcase of whatever is to come."
"That's one of the main reasons we're not going to [Comic-Con's] Hall H this year," he continued. "Ant Man and the Wasp will have just been released, Infinity War will be out, Captain Marvel will have just finished filming, Spider-Man [Homecoming 2] will have just started filming, and we're not gonna be making any other announcements. So we're gonna wait until Comic-Con next year."
Feige has previously stated that whatever happens in Marvel Phase 4 will be "very different" to everything that has come before. "Right now, [it starts] with where we wanna take the stories," he said in November. "Certainly as we get to Avengers: Infinity War there will be a sense of a climax. By the time we're at the untitled Avengers 4, 22 movies will have encompassed the first three phases of the MCU. And what happens after that will be very different. We have an idea [of what the MCU looks like post-Avengers 4], and it's gonna be very, very different."
The only Phase 4 movie that we definitely know is happening is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, as director James Gunn has confirmed that he would return for another Guardians movie. In January, Gunn stated that the film would arrive in 2020.
Avengers: Infinity War finally hits theaters this week. To prepare for what promises to be the biggest movie in the MCU to date, check our list of 10 Things We Want From Avengers: Infinity War.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment