Death Stranding is one of the most exciting upcoming games appearing at E3 2018. The next project from famed developer Hideo Kojima has had us intrigued ever since its provocative E3 2016 reveal trailer. With the game confirmed as one of the four major games Sony intends to primarily focus on during its press conference, our hype and anticipation only continues to build. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Death Stranding, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3.
What We Know So Far
After a long-standing corporate conflict, Kojima parted ways from publisher Konami in July 2015 and reformed his longtime studio Kojima Productions as an independent developer. During the same month, Kojima announced he was collaborating with Sony to create a new PlayStation game. This ultimately turned out to be Death Stranding, which was first shown at Sony's E3 2016 press conference. Two subsequent teasers were shown at The Game Awards 2016 and 2017.
There aren't many concrete details about Death Stranding's narrative aside from the provocative imagery of its trailers and Kojima's musings on Twitter. It stars actor Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead, The Boondock Saints) as protagonist Sam, and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal) as a bizarre unnamed antagonist. Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro will contribute his likeness to another unnamed character. In addition, voice actors Troy Baker and Emily O'Brien are confirmed to appear.
Death Stranding is being made with the DECIMA engine, the same game engine used to make Horizon Zero Dawn. Kojima has stated that it will be an action game set in an open world with multiplayer functionality. According to Kojima, the game aims to eschew some of gaming's most time-honored traditions--in this case the mechanics that dictate life and death. When Sam dies, you're sent to an upside-down world submerged in water that you can explore in first-person. But once you return to the world of the living, anything you've done or any damage you've caused in the world persists.
Another major mechanic in Death Stranding involves a type of rain known as "Timefall." This substance has the ability to age or deteriorate whatever it hits. It's likely the reason why the characters in the third teaser trailer are wearing hoods, and why the one who isn't ages rapidly--and quite painfully--in a matter of seconds.
Of course, the most bizarre aspect of every Death Stranding trailer is the baby that Sam and others can be seen holding. Kojima has confirmed that this mysterious infant is more than just a plot device, and that it actually relates to the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Sony has confirmed that it'll discuss Death Stranding in detail at its E3 2018 press conference. It's one of the four games the company had stated it'll be showcasing in-depth at this year's show. According to a recent post on Kojima's Twitter account, it also appears that he's creating another big trailer for the game. In addition, he shared an cryptic image of the game--likely a shot from the trailer.
What We Hope To See At E3
Three trailers in and we're pretty desperate to hear more about what Death Stranding is actually about. So far we've only gotten vague details about the story and how it'll play. While the surreal imagery from the previous footage has piqued our curiosity, we can't imagine that another teaser like that will do Death Stranding any favors--lest it wants to turn out like No Man's Sky, in the sense that intrigue can only take a game so far; we want something more substantial.
We're hoping that Kojima will take to the stage at this year's Sony press conference to go into explicit detail about what you'll be doing in Death Stranding, as well as show off actual gameplay footage. We'd love to see an in-depth demonstration of the life and death mechanic that Kojima discussed late-last year. At the very least, we want to get a sense of how it'll feel to play the game, as well as what its combat and UI looks like.
Aside from gameplay, it would be great to see more story and characters. It's doubtful that Death Stranding's star-studded cast stops at Reedus and Mikkelsen. We'd love to see the presence of other high-profile actors. Rumors and theories have circulated suggesting that Emma Stone, Diane Kruger, Kevin Durand, and even Idris Elba could potentially join the cast. However, none of this has been confirmed and is mostly based on hearsay. Regardless, the possibility of more big-name actors and actresses potentially being in Death Stranding has us excited.
Death Stranding has garnered massive interest due to the sense of mystery that veils its story and gameplay. We're hoping that Kojima and Sony will at least provide some answers to the questions its initial trailers gave us.
Treyarch is planning some interesting changes to the familiar Call of Duty formula with Black Ops 4. While every game in the long-running FPS series has had their own spin on things over the years, this year's game is looking to buck some trends that has already made the community stand up and take notice. There was a lot to take in from the May 17 reveal event, so here's a more detailed breakdown of what's coming up for Blacks Ops 4, and we want to see at E3 2018.
What We Know So Far
For starters, the long-rumored removal of the traditional single-player campaign turned out to be true. In its place are a series of solo missions set between Black Ops 2 and 3 centering around the game's Specialist characters. These Specialists also make an appearance in the multiplayer mode, where they have a more tactical purpose than in Black Ops 3. While Treyarch's previous game featured a number of acrobatic moments of finesse and speed, the next game in the sub-series is much more grounded, opting for a more tactical approach focusing more on maintaining flow of combat. Moreover, Black Ops 4 also introduces some hero-shooter elements by placing a greater emphasis on the Specialist characters and their gear sets, requiring players to be more mindful who they pick and how they can fit into the makeup of the current team.
Moving on to the Zombies mode, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Treyarch is expanding on the horde-based shooter with even more weirdness. Set on three distinct maps; an Ancient Roman gladiator arena of The IX, the sinking Titanic in Voyage of Despair, and a remake of past Zombies maps in Blood of the Dead--featuring the original Zombies mode cast--there are plans to offer more variety in the off-the-wall game mode. Added to this are several customizable options and gametypes which can add buffs to zombies and player-characters, timed challenges on the global leaderboards, and for the first time in series history, bot support.
However, the biggest addition to Black Ops 4 is the brand new battle royale mode known as Blackout. It's described as something of a celebration of the Black Ops series where you can play as characters from the previous games and use any weapon throughout the Black Ops series--including the exploding RC car. In familiar battle royale style, you'll have to fight against others online to be the last person standing. Treyarch has not revealed the number of players in each Blackout match.
What's Confirmed For E3
Activision is confirmed to make an appearance at E3 2018, showcasing both Destiny 2 and Black Ops 4. While they've been tight-lipped about what exactly they'll be showing at E3, we can expect to see more footage of the multiplayer mode based on their presence in previous years. it's fair to say that the game's multiplayer mode will be the focus, which should have stations set up for fans to play on the show floor.
What We Want To See At E3
While Treyarch revealed a great deal about the game during the May 17 event, we're in the dark about certain key details about the game. One big concern is the lack of a traditional COD campaign, which has been a hallmark of the series since its debut. If Treyarch is able to showcase the best of what solo missions can offer, it would go a long way to assuage community concerns. Call of Duty by tradition has always had a solid story campaign for players to dive into, which often offers the context for the setting of the core game and its multiplayer mode. While solo missions would be different from how the previous campaigns did things, potentially they can offer fans a quick way to experience a COD-style campaign with their favorite characters.
We'll likely see plenty of the multiplayer at E3 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, but one thing that would be great to see is what the game will look like in the hands of skilled players. League play will make a return in the Black Ops 4, and seeing the game in action with some of the world's best players would be a solid way to reintroduce high-level play for the general audience. Since combat is tactical and emphasizes more teamwork this time around, having fans experience what top-tier Black Ops 4 gameplay looks like can go a long way in showcasing the new systems at work. It would also be a good opportunity to show how to utilize Specialist abilities effectively, while also being quite entertaining to watch.
During the reveal event, Treyarch also announced the upcoming beta later this year. E3 is a great place to reveal the date of the beta as well as what will be available for players to dive into. While the contents of the beta will most likely be focused on traditional multiplayer, it would be an exciting announcement at E3 to have the Blackout mode also playable in the beta. When you announce a new battle royale game, you're already going up against some of the biggest games in the industry. So Black Ops 4 will need to showcase something very special for Blackout if it wants to stand up against the likes of Fortnite and PUBG.
You're here for one simple reason: You want to know whether you need to stick around in the theater once the credits start rolling on Solo: A Star Wars Story. Star Wars movies have never had post-credits scenes before now, though, and the answer to this question is simple: No, Solo does not have any post-credits scenes, mid-credits scenes, or stingers of any type. Once the credits start rolling, that's it. Movie over. Go home.
Even as Disney has perfected the art of the credits scene in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they've somehow resisted shoehorning them into Star Wars. Fans might argue that stingers would feel out of place in Star Wars--for decades, these movies have been over when the credits started to roll and the iconic theme music kicked in. The Marvel movies are newer, and they've had post- and mid-credits scenes from the start.
For now, Disney is playing it safe by keeping the Star Wars tradition going. That said, there are a couple of scenes toward the end of Solo that feel like they serve the same purpose in the film--one pays off a loose end from earlier in the movie, and another sets up potential entries in the franchise's future with these characters.
In our Solo review, we said, "It's valid for some fans to wish Disney would devote resources to telling fresher tales that don't rely so heavily on nostalgia and existing plots and characters...But Solo: A Star Wars Story is what we have right now, and if it's simply an enjoyably well-crafted side story, well, is that really so bad?"
The Year of Legendary Pokemon rolls on. With June just around the corner, The Pokemon Company has shared some more details about the next free Pokemon it is giving away for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and it's another Legendary from the Kalos region: Zygarde.
In contrast to previous distributions, which offered a different Legendary depending on which seventh-gen game they're redeemed in, Zygarde is the only Pokemon that players will receive in June, regardless of which version they have. What makes this particular Legendary special, however, is that it's a Shiny variant, which is exceptionally hard to get through normal play.
As usual, players in the US will need to travel to a specific retailer to pick up a free download code for Zygarde. This time, the code will be available at GameStop from June 1-24. Those in Europe and Australia will have an easier time getting their hands on one; the Legendary will be offered as a free Mystery Gift over the Nintendo Network.
The download code you receive can be redeemed using the Mystery Gift feature from the games' main menu. Select the option to receive your gift via a code/password, input your code when prompted, and the Pokemon will be downloaded into your game. (In Europe and Australia, you'll simply choose the option to receive your gift via internet instead.)
Once you complete those steps, you'll then be able to pick it up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center. As always, you'll need to have a free slot in your party in order to claim the Legendary.
Before Zygarde arrives, players still have a little more time to claim May's free Pokemon: Xerneas and Yveltal. Players can pick up a download code for the Kalos Legendaries from participating retailers until May 27. You can see what other freebies are available right now in our roundup of all the free Pokemon for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Microsoft has announced another set of games to be added to its all-you-can-eat Game Pass service on Xbox One in June. Those will include a brand-new co-op dungeon crawler along with several other games joining the service.
The headliner of the bunch is Next Up Hero, a co-op dungeon crawler that has you gather loot and upgrade your skills. Every time you die you'll leave behind an echo, which can be raised by the next hero to fight as an AI companion. It will come sometime in June, alongside its debut on the store for non-subscribers to purchase.
Microsoft has been adding a handful of new games to the service every month, often with a single headliner new release that's added the same day as it becomes available to purchase for non-subscribers. Microsoft's first-party Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 were both the big-ticket items of their respective months.
With nearly $2 billion at the worldwide box office thus far, it's safe to say a lot of people have seen Avengers: Infinity War. Now, nearly a month after its release, the writers of the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, along with its follow up Avengers 4, are tackling some very important questions.
Naturally, they aren't getting into spoiler territory when it comes to the next Avengers adventure. After all, with so many superheroes turned to dust by Thanos (Josh Brolin), even the smallest tidbit about what's to come could give away far too much. Screenwriters Stephen McFeeley and Christopher Markus did have plenty to share about Infinity War on a wide-ranging interview with Collider, though. Here are just a few of the juiciest bits.
Where was Sharon Carter?
After the role she played in Captain America: Civil War, many fans were surprised Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) didn't appear in Infinity War. However, as Markus reveals, that wasn't always the case. "She was in previous drafts [of the script]," he admits.
"Sharon Carter was a victim of what we came to realize as we were writing it, which was if you are writing scenes that set up people before the story has gotten to them, such as Steve and Sharon trying to make it work in an apartment, they're gonna go because the movie does not have time to catch up to previously on the life of Steve Rogers," the screenwriter elaborates. Truthfully, he's not wrong. Infinity War was already packed to the brim with story and characters. Setting time aside to deal with the personal lives of the characters, for the most part, would have been a distraction.
What about Hawkeye?
The question of Hawkeye's (Jeremy Renner) involvement in Infinity War has been one fans obsessed about. In the end, he didn't appear in the film at all, though there was a mention that he cut a deal with the government to go home. Was that always the case, though?
According to McFeeley, the archer was never going to appear in the film. "We've said this before. Some characters have great stories in the second movie," he explains. "We also gave ourselves permission to tell complete arcs for the characters."
Sorry, Hawkeye fans.
Is Avengers 4 even done?
It turns out, filming on the fourth Avengers movie is not complete yet. Reshoots and pickups are scheduled to film in September. However, the writers aren't revealing how much more shooting is needed or who will be involved.
How are they including Captain Marvel?
Avengers 4 is in a tricky position--and it's one they've never been in. Though the standalone Captain Marvel will hit theaters first, star Brie Larson filmed her scenes as the superhero in the next Avengers film before her solo movie started production.
"We were in the same position as we were with Spider-Man and [Black] Panther, where Brie was going to have to shoot her scenes before she shot Captain Marvel," McFeeley says. "We're trying to set up something that will work for our movie that won't screw up their movie."
Of course, the major difference is while Civil War introduces fans to Spider-Man and Black Panther, that will not be the case for Captain Marvel, whose standalone film releases on March 6, 2019--nearly two months before Avengers 4.
There have to be deleted scenes, right?
There was a bunch of stuff cut from the film, though the writers are careful not to reveal much. Some of it could wind up being used in Avengers 4, while other bits will be included in the home release of Infinity War.
However, Markus does have one moment to share. "We shot an unbelievably long version of Tony and Pepper in the park that features cameos," he says. "It was sort of Robert and his friends' day at the park." According to the writers, the scene featured several MCU characters showing up, as well as Infinity War co-director Joe Russo. "It got kind of out of control and was off-plot entirely," Markus admits.
The Transformers series might be one of the most successful film franchises of all time, but 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight wasn't nearly as big a hit as the previous movies in the series. The spin-off Bumblebee is due out later this year, but plans to continue the series beyond that remain uncertain. It has now been reported that Paramount has removed the Transformers movie planned for 2019 from its release schedule entirely.
As reported by Variety, the film was originally set for release on June 28, 2019. However, it no longer appears on the schedule and has been replaced by the comedy Limited Partners, starring Tiffany Haddish.
This follows the rumors back in February that Habsro, the toy manufacturer which owns the rights to Transformers, is planning to reboot the whole franchise. It was also reported that a new agreement with Paramount means that Hasbro will have greater control over the property, including greenlighting movie projects.
This is something of a change in fortune for the series. In October 2015, Hasbro announced that there would be at least four more movies, and that a "writers room" had been established to map out the next decade of Transformers across movies, TV, and digital.
The Last Knight made $605 million worldwide. This was well below the $1.104 billion haul for its predecessor, 2014's The Age of Extinction, and less than the first movie made back in 2007.
Bumblebee hits theaters on December 21, 2018 and stars Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena. It will be directed by Kubo And The Two Strings director Travis Knight, who is making his live-action debut.
Kulve Taroth is one fierce foe, and now Monster Hunter World players on PS4 and Xbox One will get another chance to take her on. The Elder Dragon returns to the game May 24 at 5PM PT / 8PM ET (1AM BST on May 25). To take on the Siege, you'll need to be a hunter rank 16 or higher.
Kulve Taroth protects herself with a shining coat of metal. Up to 16 people can take part in the Siege, with players being divided into groups of four to track and break off parts of her armor. "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 April, when Kulve Taroth made her first appearance in the game.
Once again, there is lots of golden loot on the line. "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.
✨ The Mother Goddess of Gold returns on May 24th 5pm PT / May 25th 1am BST. Team up and rank up to HR16+ to join the Kulve Taroth Siege! ✨ pic.twitter.com/mn1N71GqOi
Kulve Taroth will be sticking around in Monster Hunter World until May 31, and there's no word on whether she will become a permanent monster in the game like Deviljho. Fighting Kulve Taroth will unlock two new High Rank sets of armor at the smithy: Kulve Taroth α and Kulve Taroth β (and a matching Palico armor set and weapon). You'll be able to craft them with materials from Kulve Taroth's armor, along with gems from other Elder Dragons. You can check out our full guide to all of Kulve Taroth's armor and weapons for details, but here are the skills you'll earn by equipping each piece:
E3 2018 is fast approaching, which means excitement for big announcements is building. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and more will be bringing trailers and (hopefully) some surprises to the show, so now it's time for some speculation! Though not confirmed to appear during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation, the upcoming Nintendo Switch Pokemon game is high on our wishlist this year. Here's everything we know about the game and everything we really want to see come June.
What We Know So Far
A new Pokemon game for Nintendo Switch was announced at E3 2017. Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokemon Company, appeared during Nintendo's presentation to tease the game. He called it "a core RPG Pokemon title" developed by Game Freak for Nintendo Switch, saying it might not release for over a year. Game Freak has developed all the main Pokemon RPGs; the spinoff games are made by other studios.
What's Confirmed For E3
Currently, it's not known whether the Pokemon Switch game will appear during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation. Nintendo has previously stated that its briefing will focus more on games releasing soon, rather than those launching after 2018; however, this is the same structure as the 2017 presentation in which Pokemon Switch was announced, so there's room for some future-focused reveals.
What We Hope To See At E3
Because we know so little about this game, the least we can ask for is some basic details: what it's called, where it's set, and whether it introduces new Pokemon would be a good starting point. But one of the biggest questions is how this next generation of Pokemon will look on Switch, which means getting a proper trailer. 3D Pokemon games are relatively new--at least for the main RPGs--and because Switch is far more powerful than 3DS, there's more potential for some big changes to the look of the game.
If we're really going all-out with our wishlist, then we'd love it if the game were playable on the show floor--and in that case, why not get a release date or window for good measure? Maybe it's not exactly likely, but we can hope.
Knowing full well that it would leave fans wondering what's to come, Nintendo's E3 2017 reveal that Metroid Prime 4 is in development was short but sweet. All we got was a logo, and Bill Trinen's word that it is due to ship sometime "beyond 2017." We are well into 2018 now and there's still nary a word about what the game will look like, let alone what studio is currently piecing it together. Assuming that Nintendo makes a big show at this year's E3, here's what we hope to find out about the secretive sequel.
What We Know So Far
All we can say about Metroid Prime 4 with absolute certainty is that it could possibly come out this year or later, and that it will be a Switch game--surprise, surprise! It's also been revealed that Retro Studios, the team behind every other mainline Metroid Prime game to date, will not be developing the fourth entry. Trinen has said that longtime Nintendo producer Kensuke Tanabe will lead development with a team of talented individuals, but their identity thus far remains a mystery.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007)
Inquisitive fans have discovered hints online, however, and the current theory is that a Bandai Namco team may be involved with development. Nintendo has of course remained silent in the face of these rumors. At the least, Tanabe has said that Prime 4 "returns to the first-person adventure roots of the original Metroid Prime game and introduces a new storyline that ties together the events of the Metroid Prime universe and takes the storyline in new directions."
Nintendo found great success collaborating with a third-party team for Metroid: Samus Returns on 3DS last year, so despite Retro Studios' absence, we're willing to keep our hopes up for the time being.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Nintendo hasn't announced anything regarding Metroid Prime 4 appearing at E3 this year, but there's a strong chance it will be a part of the publisher's annual showcase.
What We Hope To See At E3
Given that Metroid Prime 4 is such a highly anticipated game and that very little is known about it, we'd honestly love it if Nintendo would open the floodgates and answer the basic questions we all have. Gameplay footage is probably at the top of everyone's list. With Retro Studios out of the picture, it's anyone's guess as to what the game will look and feel like. Most fans would agree that the series' previous path worked well and that they'd like to see it return in similar shape, but it's been almost 10 years since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption came out, so I don't think anyone would complain if Nintendo evolved the game in some ways to defy our expectations.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
We'd also like to learn more about the story and whether or not the rumored involvement of the little-known character Sylux will come to fruition. He appeared at the end of the last two Prime games (Metroid Prime 3 and Metroid Prime: Federation Force) so it would stand to reason that all of those teases were leading to something new and exciting, but only time will tell.
Finally, we want to know who exactly is developing Metroid Prime 4, and when we can expect to play it. It's nice to know that the game is coming, but a solid release date would be most appreciated at this stage. Metroid is a beloved, though somewhat niche series, but its fans are incredibly dedicated and passionate about seeing it continue. The least Nintendo could do is tell us all when we can expect to step into Samus' space boots for her next adventure.
You won't find sabacc games in Atlantic City or on the Vegas strip, but in places like Canto Bight and Cloud City, sabacc is the discerning gambler's game of choice. In Solo: A Star Wars Story, the sabacc table is where Han meets Lando, sparking a friendship that lasts for decades, and it's sabacc that they're playing when Han wins the Millennium Falcon, changing the fate of the galaxy forever.
Sabacc is more than just a plot device, however. It has a complete set of rules, numerous variants, and a long and storied history in the Star Wars universe. With a little bit of work, you can even play it yourself.
The Galaxy's Most Notorious Game
Sabacc actually predates The Empire Strikes Back, but just barely. While sabacc isn't named in the film itself--When talking to Lando, Han simply says that he won the Falcon "fair and square"--the second draft of Empire's screenplay mentioned that the game is called "sabacca."The Empire Strikes Back's novelization, written by Donald F. Glut, renamed it "sabacc." That's what it's been called ever since.
Next came L. Neil Smith's Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu, one of the earliest installments in the now non-canonical Star Wars Expanded Universe. Set a few years before Han sat in the Falcon's pilot's seat, The Mindharp of Sharu details Lando's adventures in the Rafa system, where he's roped into hunting for an ancient treasure alongside a tentacled droid named Vuffi Raa. Sabacc plays a big, big role in the story.
Even by Star Wars standards, The Mindharp of Sharu is supremely weird, and later novels more or less ignored it. The book did make one lasting contribution to Star Wars lore, however. The Mindharp of Sharu begins with a sabacc match and quickly lays out the game's rules. That's been the foundation for every version of the game that followed. In fact, sabacc hasn't changed much at all since The Mindharp debuted all the way back in 1983.
Game designers Michael Stern, Douglas Kaufman, and Greg Gorden codified sabacc's rules in Crisis on Cloud City, an adventure module for West End Games' classic tabletop game, Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. The original version of Crisis on Cloud City included a pamphlet explaining sabacc's ins and outs, a deck of 84 full-color cards, and a side quest that saw players gambling against Lando Calrissian himself by playing an actual game of sabacc. Those rules were used as the foundation for a special (and simplified) version of sabacc released at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015, the gambling scenes in Solo, the Star Wars Rebels episode "Idiot's Array" (which also features a Billy Dee Williams guest spot), various role-playing games, and many, many spin-off novels.
In-world, sabacc's been a mainstay at criminal hubs and dingy cantinas for years, although it wasn't always around. Before sabacc, people played pazaak. While similar to sabacc, pazaak uses both standard and player-made decks, and includes cards that can change the values of other players' hands. If this sounds familiar, you might've played it before: pazaak was a mini-game in BioWare's popular video game, Knights of the Old Republic.
How It Works
Sabacc itself is like a combination of blackjack and poker, with a little bit of roulette thrown in for good measure. Similar to blackjack, the goal of the game is to put together a hand that's worth 23 points (or negative 23 points), or as close as you can get. You have to be careful, however, because if you break the 23 limit in either direction, or if you end the game with zero points, you'll "bomb out." That's like busting in blackjack: when you bomb out, not only do you lose the hand, but you have to pay a predetermined penalty into the so-called "sabacc pot."
You gain and lose points by collecting cards from the sabacc deck, which is based on real-life tarot cards (in fact, in Star Wars lore, sabacc cards can also be used for fortune telling). A traditional sabacc deck consists of 76 cards, most of which fall into one of four suits: sabres, staves, flasks, and coins. Every suit is made up of 11 regular cards, which are valued at 1 through 11, plus four "ranked" cards--the Commander, the Mistress, the Master, and the Ace--that are worth 12 through 15 points, respectively.
The rest of the deck is composed of 16 face cards. There are eight kinds of those, and every deck has two of each. Those are: the Idiot (0 points), the Queen of Air and Darkness (-1), Endurance (-8), Balance (-11), Demise (-13), Moderation (-14), The Evil One (-15), and The Star (-17).
Unfortunately, a sabacc deck isn't something that you can just walk into any old store and buy. You'll have to get creative. Many people like combining two decks of tarot cards (West End Games' rules are explicitly designed to make that possible), and you can mark up some traditional playing cards by hand, too. You can also print out your own deck or scour eBay for copies of Crisis on Cloud City, although complete editions of the module are both rare and expensive.
The Rules
A sabacc hand starts with every player, including the dealer, receiving two cards, which are dealt face-down. Then, the betting round begins. Starting from the dealer's left, each player looks at their cards and choose whether to match the current bet, raise, or fold. Bets go into the "hand pot," while anyone who folds must pay a penalty into the sabacc pot.
Now, unlike other, low-tech card games, sabacc cards can change during play. This is called the "shifting" phase, during which one of your cards has a 50% chance of changing into something else. In Star Wars, this happens automatically. If you're playing in real life, you can simulate the effect by having every player roll a six-sided die. If you roll a 1, 2, or 3, the player to your left randomly chooses which card you should discard, and you'll draw a new one from the deck in its place.
You can protect your cards from the shift by using the sabacc table's "interference field." Before the shifting phase begins, you can put a single card in the field. That'll keep it from changing, but you'll need to play it face-up, showing everyone at the table what you've got. There's no limit to the number of cards you can put in the interference field, but you can only add one per turn.
From there, the drawing phase begins. Going clockwise around the table, every player can draw one card from the deck and discard one card from their hand. You don't have to do either, of course. As long as there are at least two cards in your hand at all times, you're good. There's no limit to the number of cards that you can hold.
After four rounds of betting and shifting, any player who wants to call the hand can, before the drawing phase begins. When the hand is called, everyone shows their cards. Whoever has the hand closest to 23 or -23 without bombing out wins the hand pot. If no one calls, the cycle repeats until someone does.
Sabacc has two special hands that beat all the others. A "pure sabacc" consists of a hand that totals exactly 23 or -23. An "Idiot's Array," which is even better, is made up of the Idiot, any 2-point card, and any 3-point card. If you manage to win a hand with either of those hands, you'll pick up the sabacc pot in addition to the hand pot. Otherwise, the sabacc pot just keeps growing.
What About The Dice?
If you've been paying attention to the recent Star Wars films, you might remember that Han Solo kept a pair of gold dice hanging in the Millennium Falcon. Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary explained that these are the dice Han used to win the ship from Lando, and he kept them around as a lucky charm. And yet, sabacc is a card game. Dice aren't usually involved. What gives?
Well, like poker, sabacc comes in many different variants. In Empress Teta Preferred, for example, players swap cards before revealing their final hands. Centran sabacc uses a slightly different deck. Regional and house rules often dictate how to break ties, as well as offering new and improved ways to separate opponents from their hard-earned cash.
According to The Visual Dictionary, Han and Lando faced off in Corellian Spike, which uses dice to make the game even more unpredictable. Presumably we'll see that in Solo.
That's it. Other than the cards themselves, you've now got everything you know to gamble like a smuggler, bounty hunter, or any other kind of intergalactic ne'er-do-well. Now go win yourself a starship.
Detroit: Become Human, the latest narrative adventure game from David Cage's studio Quantic Dream, debuts this week. The developer has a history of story-heavy games with mature themes and dramatic cinematography, and Detroit is no exception. Taking place in a near-future setting where androids are treated as second-class citizens, you follow the journeys of three such automatons as they impact the coming revolution.
How does it handle this heady subject matter? Unevenly, judging by the critical response. According to our verdict, the story intertwines gracefully and captures some unforgettable moments, but it appropriates real-life events like the Civil Rights movement clumsily. Our Detroit: Become Human review also concluded that despite being built for multiple playthroughs with branching story paths, going back and seeing another possibility didn't feel fulfilling or worthwhile. Read on for a quick glance at impressions from around the industry, or go to GameSpot's sister site Metacritic for the wider consensus.
Game: Detroit: Become Human
Developer / Publisher: Quantic Dream / Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release date: May 25
Price: US $60 / £49 / AU $78
GameSpot -- 7/10
"Things didn't always go the way I wanted, but that was a burden I chose to bear, and the story benefitted from my commitment, flowcharts be damned. After completing the game, I tried to go back and fight my instincts to see what would happen if I chose a darker path. It never felt justified nor worthwhile. Detroit is well worth playing, but it struggles to strike the right balance between giving you freedom of choice and reminding you that it's all a game in the end. Cage and Quantic Dream are getting closer to nailing this style of game, but it's obvious that there's still room to grow.." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4.5/5
"Detroit: Become Human is a game with grand ideals, wonderful levels of polish, and tiny imperfections. It's an ambitious, wonderfully executed piece of storytelling, and one of the most interesting games of this generation. It will split opinion, and give birth to a litany of opinion pieces--some deep and thoughtful, others half-baked and sensationalist." -- Andy Hartup [Full review]
Guardian -- 4/5
"Detroit: Become Human is a spectacularly crafted game that bends and branches out around the player's choices in an astonishing and unparalleled way. Although hampered by tired central plots and some predictable, occasionally hokey storytelling, the result is a technical feat in video game development and a meticulously detailed cinematic achievement." -- Oliver Holmes [Full review]
Game Informer -- 8/10
"Detroit made me think about topics I've avoided about humanity and our future, and that's a good thing. These are hard issues to explore, and I'm glad Quantic Dream took on the challenge knowing it could result in failure. Detroit both succeeds and stumbles in that area." -- Kimberley Wallace [Full review]
IGN -- 8/10
"Detroit: Become Human is a poignantly pulpy interactive sci-fi drama where your choices can impact events to a greater and more satisfying degree than in most games of this type. Though I wish its story had been handled with a softer touch, especially considering the subtlety that can be conveyed through its tech and performances, its well-written and acted central trio were vital enough to me that I found myself feeling genuine distress when they were in danger and a sense of victory when they triumphed. Most importantly, Detroit offers a multitude of transparent branching paths that entice further playthroughs, and choices have a permanence that raise the stakes throughout." -- Lucy O'Brien [Full review]
USGamer -- 3.5/5
"Detroit: Become Human improves upon its predecessors by having a cast that you enjoy and want to spend more time around. Quantic Dream's visual craft and presentation is top-notch, but the writing hasn't quite caught up yet. It isn't subtle and some of the references to social ills are amazingly on-the-nose instead of being more unique. It's better than Beyond: Two Souls, but there's still room to grow." -- Mike Williams [Full review]
Destructoid -- 7/10
"Detroit: Become Human, like most Quantic Dream games, is filled with muddled symbolism and a spark of hope amidst its most interesting universe yet. It doesn't have anything particular new to say, but it delivers in terms of drama, to the point where I started a second playthrough shortly after my first seven hour-ish run. It's flawed, but coherent, which is an upgrade." - Chris Carter [Full review]
Watching the original Star Wars trilogy, viewers couldn't help but feel like there was a larger galaxy living just off-screen. The things you didn't see--battles, characters, and places only mentioned, never shown--sparked the imaginations of millions. As Star Wars spin-offs, prequels, novels, comics, shows, and games have illuminated more and more corners of that far-away galaxy over the decades, the results have been mixed. Over-explaining things that were only hinted at before can take the mystery away. Solo: A Star Wars Story is no exception to that, but there's good news too: All the references, callbacks, and over-explanations are accompanied by a really fun, solid, and good-looking Star Wars movie.
Solo tells the story of famed space scoundrel Han Solo--and I mean the whole story. It feels like Solo explains or shows every aspect of Han Solo's life that was ever referenced in any previous Star Wars film. This movie covers how Han met Chewie, how he met Lando, how he won the Millennium Falcon, how he completed the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, where he got his iconic blaster, and even how he got his name. If that sounds like a lot of origin to cram into one movie, it's because it is. Did everything we know about Han's backstory really need to take place in a single movie? It makes Solo feel at times like a greatest hits collection of events from the character's life.
That stuff is all fan service, through and through. And it's ever-present throughout the movie. But Solo: A Star Wars Story works because fan service and references to other Star Wars movies aren't the only thing propping it up. Unlike Rogue One, Solo isn't completely subordinate to the movies that came before it. Solo has the substance of an actual movie underneath the fan service, with stakes and intrigue and characters who matter.
Undeniably the biggest question going into Solo is whether Alden Ehrenreich, a relatively unknown force, will prove in any way capable of filling Harrison Ford's knee-high leather space boots. The reality may be that no one could have. Ehrenreich winds up being a solid balance between a charming presence in his own right, and a decent impression of young Ford himself. It's not a perfect fit, but if you can manage to stop comparing them in your head, it gets much easier to become engrossed in the film. By the end, he may well win you over.
It helps that he's surrounded by a likable cast of additional rogues, scoundrels, and ne'er-do-wells. Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra starts the movie as a damsel, but grows into a very different, much more interesting character by the end. Like Princess Leia herself, Qi'ra proves every bit Han Solo's match, in love and otherwise. Meanwhile Donald Glover is so powerfully alluring as Lando Calrissian that fans who called for a standalone Lando movie will feel totally validated. Even more than Ehrenreich, Glover nails the balance between Billy D. Williams tribute act and the new actor's own undeniable aura.
Woody Harrelson's Tobias Beckett is a scoundrel unto himself, lovable in the way Han Solo is, but with the darker edge of a character who's deeper into that life than the more bright-eyed Han in this movie. The delightfully evil crime lord Dryden Vos is played by Paul Bettany, fresh off still in-theaters Infinity War, who brings real gleeful menace to the role. The droid L3, voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, winds up being both the comic relief and an emotional keystone. Her jokes early in the movie about "equal rights" for robots initially come off as crass--on the writers' part, not the character's, as L3 is always earnest, even when she's unknowingly the butt of the joke. But the movie redeems her storyline when it pays those jokes off in spectacular fashion.
Chewbacca himself, now played by the towering Joonas Suotamo, is as comforting a presence as ever. Chewie even faces some compelling dilemmas that make him feel like more of a character than usual. In fact, Thandie Newton (of Westworld fame) as the ice cool criminal Val is the only character who's criminally underused, to the point that it's actually kind of a problem. She gets about as much screen time as Rio Durant, a throwaway CG alien who for some reason is voiced by Jon Favreau. You get the sense that these two (Newton in particular) might have had more to do in an earlier version of Solo's infamously troubled production.
Rio being the notable exception, most of Solo looks impressively practical, even more so than other recent Star Wars films (the main movies' cartoonish Maz Kanata comes to mind as an example of what Solo mostly avoids). Even more than that, Solo's visual design is simply outstanding. Solo takes us to rich, dense, believable environments ranging from grimy city underbellies to smoky cantinas, and even a warzone scene that's more believable than all the battles in Rogue One combined.
These places are phenomenally detailed, filled with retro-inspired technology and design, matching the look of the original trilogy while adding stylish furs and, in Lando's case, fabulously flamboyant capes and blouses. Solo is easily the best-looking Star Wars movie ever, effortlessly achieving that essential Star Wars aesthetic while augmenting with its own visual flair wherever possible.
Solo may not have been the Star Wars story every fan wanted. Did we really need to see the Sabacc game that won Han the Millennium Falcon, or find out exactly what the Kessel Run is? Definitely not, but it all turned out surprisingly fun, especially if you don't mind the excessive amounts of fan service. And even that isn't all bad--fans will laugh when Donald Glover's Lando mispronounces "Han" just like Billy D. Williams did in the originals, and there are some really juicy surprises and Easter eggs that connect Solo to the larger Star Wars universe in delightfully unexpected ways.
Solo wasn't an essential story to tell, and some of this might have been better left to the imagination. It's valid for some fans to wish Disney would devote resources to telling fresher tales that don't rely so heavily on nostalgia and existing plots and characters. With who knows how many more Star Wars releases planned from now until the end of time, we'll no doubt get those at some point. But Solo: A Star Wars Story is what we have right now, and if it's simply an enjoyably well-crafted side story, well, is that really so bad?
The Good
The Bad
Exceptional cast, particularly Donald Glover as Lando
Too much fan service
Alden Ehrenreich is charming as Han Solo
Crams in too many aspects of Han Solo's backstory
Tells its own story not subordinate to previous films
Niantic has announced a new event for Pokemon Go. For a limited time, the developer will be hosting Adventure Week, an in-game event that features a variety of bonuses, including extra XP, Candy, and increased Pokemon spawns.
Adventure Week kicks off today, May 24, at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. Among other things, Niantic says the event will feature "unique" Field Research quests to take on, which will offer "exciting rewards." The developer didn't specify what these rewards will be, but it did mention a possible Raid Battle encounter with Aerodactyl.
Additionally, players will have a much easier time finding Rock-type Pokemon during Adventure Week. Monsters such as Geodude, Lileep, Nosepass, Omanyte, and Kabuto will appear more frequently for the duration of the event. Your Buddy Pokemon will also earn Candy four times faster, while spinning Photo Discs at Gyms and Pokestops during Adventure Week will net you extra XP.
Adventure Week runs until June 5, which is the same day the Legendary Eon Pokemon, Latios and Latias, are scheduled to leave Pokemon Go. The pair swapped regions earlier this month, with Latios now appearing across Europe and Asia, while Latias can be found in North America, South America, and Africa. The Legendary bird Ho-Oh also recently returned to Raid Battles and can be fought until June 7.
Shortly after Adventure Week ends, Niantic will host the next Pokemon Go Community Day event. That takes place on Saturday, June 16, and features the rare Rock-type Pokemon Larvitar. Players will also be able to earn triple the normal amount of XP for capturing Pokemon during Community Day. A series of other real-world events will also be held throughout the summer.
Beyond the upcoming events, Pokemon Go players have some new Pokemon to look forward to. Niantic recently announced that Alolan forms will be debuting in the game soon. The developer didn't specify when the Pokemon will begin appearing, but players will have a chance to capture tropical variants of Exeggutor, Raichu, Marowak, and other Gen 1 Pokemon.
E3 may not be the biggest video game trade show in terms of size and attendance, but it is far and away the year's most anticipated. The annual gaming showcase takes place in Los Angeles every June and has been home to some of the biggest and most exciting gaming news, from console reveals to tons of surprise game announcements (not to mention plenty of often-unintentional hilarity).
The Electronic Entertainment Expo has been around for more than two decades now, and in that time it has solidified itself as the preeminent video game trade show. Every major developer and publisher typically reserves its biggest reveals for E3; Sony announced the price and release date of the original PlayStation during the first-ever E3, and Microsoft unveiled its debut home console, the original Xbox, a few years later at the event. E3 is also where Nintendo dropped the very first trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, causing an entire theater to erupt in cheers.
Despite how deeply ingrained E3 has become in the gaming industry, the expo has undergone some dramatic changes in its 22-year history. While it was always intended as a venue for press and industry insiders to get their first look at the biggest upcoming titles and hardware, the ESA attempted to downsize the event in 2007, and the next couple of years featured much smaller--and decidedly less exciting--showings. E3 would revert back to its original scale in 2009 and continue to expand since, even opening its doors to the public for the first time last year.
With E3 2018 quickly approaching, we wanted to take a look back at the long history of the expo and how it has changed over the years. In the video above, you can watch us recount the history of E3, from its debut as the first dedicated video game trade show in 1995 through to last year's event. You can also relive some of the many unintentional memes the show has spawned over the past two decades, from giant enemy crabs to overcaffeinated spokespeople.
E3 2018 officially begins on June 12, but it will be preceded by several press conferences from the likes of Sony, Microsoft, EA, and Bethesda. You can find the full E3 2018 press conference schedule here. There will undoubtedly be a lot to see throughout the week-long event, so stay tuned to GameSpot for our complete coverage.
Are you ready to binge? Netflix has what you're looking for this week, thanks to a flurry of new additions that range from movies and comedy specials, to originals and new seasons of TV.
The streaming service's most notable arrival this week is none other than Season 1b of The Toys That Made Us, the documentary series about some of the most beloved toy lines of all time. After putting the spotlight on the histories of Barbie, He-Man, GI Joe, and Star Wars toys in late 2017, there are four more episodes debuting on May 25. The new installments will look at LEGO, Transformers, Hello Kitty, and Star Trek toys.
Additionally, the second season of Shooter premieres on Netflix this week. Among the originals being added are Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 2, Trolhunters: Part 3, and comedy specials from Tig Notaro and Steve Martin.
You can take a look at everything Netflix is adding this week below. Then make sure to check out everything coming and going from the service this month, as well as the offerings from Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
May 20
Some Kind of Beautiful
May 21
Señora Acero: Season 4
May 22
Mob Psycho 100: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Shooter: Season 2
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 2 (Netflix Original)
Tig Notaro: Happy To Be Here (Netflix Original)
May 23
Explained (Netflix Original)
May 24
Fauda: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Survivors Guide to Prison
May 25
Ibiza (Netflix Original)
Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (Netflix Original)
The Toys That Made Us: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
If you were not able to grab an NES Classic during the retro console's initial run, the good news is that it'll be back in stock next month. Nintendo has announced that the hard-to-find mini-console will be available again starting on June 29.
The NES Classic ($60), and the more recently released SNES Classic ($80), should remain available to buy through the end of the year, Nintendo added.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 14, 2018
Last year, Nintendo announced that the NES Classic would return to store shelves in Summer 2018, so the June 29 timing matches up. The NES Classic first arrived last November. Pre-orders sold out in advance of launch, and those available on release day similarly disappeared in the blink of an eye, quickly leading to a price spike on sites like Ebay. Additional shipments delivered in subsequent months also rapidly sold out--this resulted in a frustrating loop where it would briefly come back in stock but be gone long before everyone could get one. Nintendo ultimately discontinued the NES Classic in April 2017 before announcing its return.
The NES Classic has 30 games, including some of Nintendo's most famous games like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong. The SNES Classic is a micro-sized version of the iconic Nintendo console. It comes with 21 games, including the previously unreleased Star Fox 2.
The SNES Classic has shipped more than 4 million units, while the NES Classic shipped 2.3 million units before it was initially discontinued.
Given the huge success of the NES and SNES Classic consoles, many are wondering if Nintendo might release an N64 Classic next. Interestingly, a trademark filing suggested that this might be happening, though no official announcement has come as of yet. Nintendo's E3 2018 briefing is taking place in early June, and we're expecting some big news.
Listen up, Black Panther fans. To celebrate the release of Black Panther on digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Marvel has teamed up with Microsoft to create a limited-edition Xbox One X console. The best part? They're giving it away for free. Acquiring one is a long-shot, because only five of these machines exist. But your only chance to get your hands on one is by entering the sweepstakes (US and Canada only). You can enter for a chance to win once each day between now and May 29, 2018.
The machine itself is decked out in patterns of black, gray, and gold, with the faces of Black Panther and Killmonger etched on both the console and the two controllers that come with it. Each console comes with a physical copy of Black Panther in 4K Ultra HD.
Seeing as a standard Xbox One X console only comes with one controller and costs $500, winning this limited-edition one could save you a nice chunk of change. The console can run a growing list of Xbox One X-enhanced games in 4K. It can also make older games that have been updated--like Red Dead Redemption--look incredible. It can also play back 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
In GameSpot's Xbox One X review, Jimmy Thang wrote, "While the Xbox One X is an expensive box, from a hardware standpoint, you're getting a very powerful and capable machine. You'll be hard pressed to build a comparably powerful PC for $500. On top of that, you get a 4K HDR Blu-ray player, which can cost several hundred dollars on its own."
Not a bad deal for the five lucky winners of this limited-edition Black Panther Xbox One X console.
Eventually, streaming services are going to run out of new titles to add. Until that happens, though, Amazon Prime Video has plenty to keep you occupied in May. The streaming service may not have the robust collection of originals Netflix continues to build, but it's library of beloved movies and TV shows is only getting bigger.
Among the titles arriving in May are five Rocky movies and a slew of James Bond films. Other films being added this month include A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Brady Bunch Movie, Bad News Bears, Cool World, and Beast of Burden--just to name a few of so many.
Likewise, a bunch of new TV seasons will also be available to stream. Among the shows arriving are the original UK version of The Office, Orphan Black, Howard's End, and Rocky and Bullwinkle. And while Amazon may not have as much original output as Netflix or Hulu, the streamer's Picnic at Hanging Rock series premieres on May 25.
For a full list of everything being added to Amazon Prime Video in May, take a look below. Then make sure to look at everything coming and going on Netflix this month.
EA and DICE gave the world its first look at the newest installment in the Battlefield series, Battlefield V, during a big livestream presentation. Along with revealing the first details about the game's setting and features, the publisher announced when the highly anticipated shooter will hit the market: October 19.
Like many contemporary titles, Battlefield V will launch in two packages. The standard edition retails for $60 and will be available on the aforementioned date, while the $80 Deluxe edition gives players access to the title three days early, on October 16. The latter also includes five sets of paratrooper outfits, an assortment of Special Assignments, and 20 weekly Airlift supply drops, each of which contains one customization item.
As previously rumored, Battlefield V takes place during World War II, making it the first installment in the series to be set during the conflict since 2009's Battlefield 1943. It's also the first game in the series since Battlefield 3 to feature a cooperative campaign, called Combined Arms, which allows up to four players to work together on missions. Like Battlefield 1, the upcoming installment boasts a single-player War Stories campaign.
During the same livestream, EA also revealed that it won't be offering a premium DLC pass for Battlefield V, as it did for Battlefield 1. Instead, the publisher will roll out a regular schedule of post-launch content to all players for free as part of its Tides of War live service. However, players will still be able to purchase cosmetic items in the game.
Battlefield V is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Origin. Players will have a chance to try the game ahead of its launch on October 11 through the EA Access Play First Trial. You can read more about the upcoming shooter in our roundup of everything we know about Battlefield V.
After weeks of testing, Miramar is finally set to launch for the Xbox One version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. The new map will be added to the live game tomorrow, May 24, and it will arrive as part of PUBG's May update alongside some stability and optimization improvements. [Update: The May update has arrived, and Miramar is now available on PUBG's live servers on Xbox One.]
Miramar rolls out for all Xbox One players at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET / 8 AM BST. It's the second map to be added to the console version of PUBG, following Erangel. In contrast to the lush greenery of the original map, Miramar is set in the desert and features arid locales likes mountains and villages to explore and fight in.
Miramar released for the PC version of PUBG several months ago, but Xbox One owners got their first chance to try the map out in April, when developer PUBG Corp. held the first of several Miramar tests on the console. The desert map was also recently added to the mobile version of PUBG.
Miramar arrives alongside a couple of new vehicles, such as the six-seater mini-bus and the off-road pickup truck, both of which will only appear on the desert map. Players will also be able to find an assortment of new weapons on Miramar, including the R45, Win 94, and sawed-off shotgun.
"The PUBG Xbox team has been constantly monitoring and reviewing your feedback from both the live servers and PTS," PUBG Corp. said. In addition to the new map, the studio is adding a "highly predictive-based loading system" in order to further improve the game's performance on Xbox One. You can find the full patch notes for the May update on the official PUBG website.
There's a lot of excitement around Anthem leading into E3 2018 since it's BioWare's next big project and new IP. Expectations are high given this is a franchise debut from the same studio that brought us a slew of iconic RPGs: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate to name a few. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Anthem, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3.
What We Know So Far
Currently, we know that Anthem isn't going to be structured like the developer's previous story-based RPGs and instead will take on qualities of loot-based online shooters, like Destiny and The Division. However, BioWare boss Casey Hudson said the game "will feel very distinctly BioWare" and is more accurately described as "science-fantasy." While the initial reveal at E3 2017 kicked off with a few minutes of narrative and world-building, it quickly delved into a two-player co-operative PvE gameplay sequence where you fight robotic enemies and wildlife both big and small. Towards the end of the reveal trailer, a shaper storm (where weather turned hostile) formed and two additional players jumped in making a party of four. It has also been confirmed that the game will still be playable on your own.
When it comes to the world of Anthem, we understand that players belong to a faction of operatives known as freelancers who don mechanized suits called javelins--think the Fallout power armor, but much more flexible and with jetpacks. The first descent into a lush, tropical environment showed off the versatility of movement with the player weaving through the terrain. In combat, we saw the javelin suit capable of a lock-on rocket barrage--one of the abilities on cooldown at the bottom of the HUD. And we witnessed a co-op partner execute a sort of ground pound ability for area-of-effect damage.
Given the style Anthem is going for, loot will be the centerpiece for equipment, which we had a glimpse of in last year's reveal; a level 35 legendary volt rifle called Jarra's Wrath was a reward at the end of big firefight. Based on information shown on-screen during the reveal, weapons will have specific statistics like range, damage, accuracy, rate of fire, and ammo count.
BioWare stated that it's solely focused on development for Anthem after making it clear that Mass Effect: Andromeda will not have new content or story-based DLC. Despite the all-hands-on-deck approach, Anthem was delayed from its initial Fall 2018 release window to sometime in Early 2019. As with many EA-published games, there will be a period in which subscribers to EA/Origin Access can play the game ahead of its full launch date. EA CEO Andrew Wilson also stated, "Anthem is a fundamentally social experience, and we will open new ways for fans to join the community and play early, enabling us to shape and refine the game with their input and feedback." This could imply a beta period, which is common for multiplayer-centric games. If anything, EA is anticipating continually tweaking the game with post-release updates and content.
Even though it was specifically showcased during Microsoft's E3 press conference last year, Anthem will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Oh yeah, and there was a sweet trailer where game director Jon Warner takes us to a corn maze.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Anthem will be heavily featured at EA Play, which is EA's own off-site E3 event that runs from June 9 to June 11. Alongside the upcoming Battlefield V, Anthem is one of the focal points according to publisher. It hasn't been confirmed if the game will be playable to those who attend, but EA said it'll offer a closer look at the game. And even though Anthem was revealed during Microsoft's stage show in 2017, it's unclear if it'll be part of the Xbox showcase again this year.
What We Hope To See At E3
With this being a new BioWare IP, we hope to see how the developer's knack for storytelling is woven into a multiplayer experience. This could come in many forms; perhaps some backstory to accompany playable sections or a more in-depth showcase of the world that the freelancers inhabit. What exactly is it they're fighting for? What is the prevailing force behind its hostile world? BioWare isn't a stranger to this given its work on the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, but it's a whole other challenge when building a franchise from scratch.
Another important aspect we hope to be addressed is the depth and breadth of content that makes up Anthem. That's to say, we hope the game is taking note of where Destiny 2 falls short. It's fair to say that many players are concerned about having meaningful goals to work towards. Almost anyone going into E3 with Anthem excitement wants to know about quest structure, mission types, how progression works, and how it can be more than just compilation of combat sequences. It'd also be nice to know about the loot system and what types of weapons or javelin modifications we can mess with. It appears that javelin suits come with their own set of powers and could be a factor in making combat more complex. The teaser trailer focused a great deal on these suits, which has us thinking that Anthem's progression system is centered around building these suits and customizing their capabilities. We'd love for BioWare to unpack what javelin suits can do seeing as their abilities affect both combat and traversal.
We had a taste of Anthem's world in E3 2017, and its scale, verticality, and varied terrain certainly caught our eye. The ability to fly through the sky and take huge leaps across the environment has piqued our interest, but we want BioWare to tell us more about what there is to see on the other end.
Fortnite's 4.2 content update is now available, and along with finally introducing jetpacks to the game, it marks the beginning of a new limited-time mode in Battle Royale. The second iteration of the Solid Gold event is now underway on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS, and as before, the theme of the mode is Legendary weapons.
Every weapon that players find while playing Solid Gold v2 will be of the Legendary variety. Developer Epic has also adjusted the drop rates for each weapon. Now, players will have a high chance of finding the Hand Cannon and Suppressed Pistols as floor loot; the Assault Rifle, Minigun, and Sniper Rifle will appear most commonly in chests; and the Rocket and Grenade Launcher have the highest chance of appearing in supply drops.
On top of the adjusted weapon rates, Epic has also increased the drop rates of Chug Jugs, Slurp Juice, Shields, Launch Pads, Campfires, and all Special Grenades. Meanwhile, the drop rates of standard Grenades, Spike Traps, and Bandages have been decreased. Players will also get 50% extra stone and metal resources from farming.
As is commonly the case, Epic hasn't announced an exact end date for Solid Gold v2, but limited-time modes in Fortnite traditionally run for about a week. You can read more about the special event in the patch notes on the official Fortnite website.
On top of Solid Gold v2, another limited-time event is slated to start very soon in Fortnite: Battle Royale. Beginning Friday, May 25, players will be able to participate in Close Encounters, a new mode that revolves around "close quarters combat" using jetpacks and shotguns, which will be the only types of weapons that spawn in the mode. Additionally, the storm moves in more quickly than usual in Close Encounters, and each match typically lasts about 15 minutes.
Overwatch is celebrating two years since its release, and in true Overwatch fashion, it's doing so with big event. The PS4, Xbox One, and PC game's Anniversary Event is now live, giving players the chance to score nearly 200 anniversary items, including Legendary skins. The event goes from now until June 11.
Anyone who logs in during the Anniversary Event gets a free Anniversary Loot Box, which comes with at least one guaranteed Legendary item. It can contain loot from past seasonal events or other classic content; in total, there are more than 190 Anniversary event items up for grabs, with more than 60 of them being brand-new items. Of course, you can earn additional loot boxes by playing or by purchasing them with real-world money. You can see the new outfits below and in our Overwatch anniversary skins gallery.
On top of the new skins and dances to earn, the Anniversary Event also introduces a new FFA Deathmatch map called Petra to keep you on your toes. Blizzard is making all past seasonal brawls available to play in the Arcade, as well.
If you're new to Overwatch, Blizzard is also celebrating the game's second anniversary by making it free to try this weekend. From May 25 until May 28, you can jump into the game for free on PS4, Xbox One or PC, and play the full roster of heroes in a variety of modes. Any loot boxes you pick up can be transferred to the main game, if you choose to buy after the free weekend.
There's also a new version of Overwatch to pick up, too. Overwatch: Legendary Edition is out now digitally (there's no physical release). It's geared more towards new players and comes with the base game along with a set of 15 Legendary, Epic, and Origin skins for US $45 / £30 / AU $64.95.
As promised, EA revealed a lot more details about the newest installment in the long-running Battlefield series, Battlefield V. The WWII shooter arrives for PS4, Xbox One, and PC this fall, but one of the most surprising things we learned is the way EA plans to release new content for it.
During its big reveal presentation, EA announced that it won't be offering a paid season pass for Battlefield V. Instead, the publisher will roll out a regular stream of content updates for the online shooter--all for free--as part of its Tides of War live service.
This stands in contrast with the way EA released additional content for the series' most recent installment, Battlefield 1. Those who picked up an early run of the game could purchase the Premium Pass, which entitled them to all of Battlefield 1's DLC expansions upon their release. EA would later replace the standalone version of the game with Battlefield 1 Revolution, which bundled the Premium Pass together with the base game.
In lieu of a paid season pass, EA and developer DICE will offer players the ability to purchase cosmetic items. DICE senior producer Andreas Morrel also revealed that the studio will also offer the option to buy a "catch-up mechanic" as in previous Battlefield "further down the line."
The decision to offer new content for free is similar to the approach EA has been taking with Star Wars Battlefront II's post-launch updates. "Battlefront and Battlefield are, at their foundations, two very different games, and we've been building them very differently," Morrel told GameSpot. "But, of course, we've learned--like everyone else has done, and we want to deliver the best balanced experience possible."
Battlefield V launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Origin on October 19. It will be available in both standard and Deluxe editions; those who purchase the latter will get access to the game three days early, on October 16. Prior to its release, EA will also hold an open beta for Battlefield V later this year.
After months of being delayed, jetpacks have finally made their long-awaited debut in Fortnite: Battle Royale. The items arrive on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS as part of the 4.2 content update, but despite their extended gestation period, they won't be around for very long.
Unlike most other items that Epic has recently added to Fortnite, jetpacks will only be available in the game for a limited time. The developer hasn't specified how long they'll appear, but you'll need to be pretty lucky to get your hands on one, as they're a Legendary item that can only be found in treasure chests.
Jetpacks are the first in a new line of items that Epic is introducing to the game: backpacks. Unlike the Back Bling cosmetics that were added earlier this year, backpacks take up an inventory slot like other weapons and items. Players can only pick one backpack up at a time; if you grab a second, it will replace the one you're already carrying. Your backpack will also automatically be destroyed once it is fully used up.
Jetpacks are activated by pressing jump while in the air; however, you will only be able to stay airborne for a limited time before you must recharge. Fortunately, the jetpack begins recharging automatically when it isn't being used. You will also not be able to enter Targeting Mode while flying.
Alongside the jetpacks, Epic has kicked off a new limited-time event in Battle Royale: Solid Gold v2. This marks the second iteration of the mode, and as before, the only weapons it features are of the Legendary variety. Another limited-time mode called Close Encounters is also scheduled to arrive in the game "soon" and revolves around "close quarters combat" using shotguns and jetpacks. You can learn more about the 4.2 content update in the patch notes on the Fortnite website.
Season 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale's Week 2 challenges are still available, providing players who own the Battle Pass with seven different objectives to complete. Some of these make use of new Season 4 gameplay elements (such as Hop Rocks), while others offer more challenging tasks that could require the use of a map. Here are the locations for all the key objectives and some tips on how to complete them.
Among the challenges is the aforementioned one to consume Hop Rocks. You'll need to use seven in all--a task that's not especially difficult, provided you know where to look. Hop Rocks can be found in a number of places, but they're most abundant in Dusty Divot, the crater formed as part of Season 4's map update. Head there, and you'll find purple objects floating outside the fenced-in area surrounding the comet. Simply walk up to one and hold the same key or button you'd use to open a chest, and you'll consume a Hop Rock--temporarily granting you the ability to jump much higher than usual.
Another challenge is to dance in front of different film cameras. You'll need to find seven cameras in all; these are another new element introduced as part of Season 4, which features a moviemaking theme. This is as simple as it sounds--just find a camera and perform a dance emote in front of it. The only tricky part is tracking all of these down, and many are not in named locations. Luckily, there are more than seven total, so it's not as difficult as it could be. Here's a map for 10 film camera locations we've verified:
The other more involved challenge for Week 2 is labeled by Epic as a Hard-difficulty one, meaning it nets you 10 Battle Stars, twice the number as most challenges. It asks you to search between a scarecrow, pink hotrod, and a big screen. This requires you to have either a strong knowledge of the island or a map--either way, you simply head to a point in between all three of the stated objects to find a Battle Pass icon you can collect by holding the Use button/key. This can be found directly east of Risky Reels, as seen in the map below.
The remainder of the challenges are fairly straightforward, though they may require some time and luck. You'll have to search chests in Greasy Grove, which is really just a matter of spending enough time in the area. (As always, check out attics when looking for chests.) Another asks you to deal damage with suppressed weapons to opponents (500) total, which is just a matter of happening upon the right weapon and then making use of it.
Similarly, you'll need to rack up three explosive weapon eliminations, which includes both things like grenades and rocket launchers. (Your best bet may be in a solo playlist, where you don't have to worry about downing enemies that can be revived.) And finally, you'll need to eliminate three opponents in Tomato Town. Just drop there at the start of a match and try to track down a weapon before anyone else.
For more help, you can also check out our Week 1 challenges guide, as well as our roundup of all Season 4 challenges. Completing these is the fastest way to level up your Battle Pass, allowing to get your hands on this season's skins and rewards.
Fortnite Season 4, Week 2 Challenges
Search Chests in Greasy Grove (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Consume Hop Rocks (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal damage with Suppressed Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Dance in front of different film cameras (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Scarecrow, Pink Hotrod, and a Big Screen -- 10 Battle Stars
Only a few more hours remain to get the latest set of Street Fighter V gear in Monster Hunter World. The quest to earn Ryu's high rank armor will only be available on PS4 and Xbox One until today, May 24, making this your final opportunity to get your hands on it for the time being, if you haven't done so already.
Like the Sakura armor quest that recently appeared in the event rotation, players can get the high rank Ryu costume by completing a three-part Challenge Quest called The Awakened Satsui no Hado. Each quest requires a Hunter Rank of 13 or higher to accept and is set in the arena, with the objective being to slay a Nergigante.
This is the second set of Ryu armor that players could get in Monster Hunter World. The previous set was available back in February and could be earned through an Event Quest called Down the Dark, Muddy Path, which challenged players to hunt a Barroth. The high rank Ryu armor features a dark blue gi instead of his traditional white one.
Even if you miss out on the high rank Ryu armor this time around, that likely won't be the last time it appears in the game, as Capcom offers Event Quests on a rotating basis. However, the publisher hasn't announced when the Ryu armor will return to the rotation, so if you really want to get your hands on a set, you'll need to act fast.
While the Street Fighter Challenge Quest is on its way out, Monster Hunter World players will soon get another chance to participate in the game's Kulve Taroth Siege, which returns to the rotation on May 24. As before, up to 16 players divided into groups of four will be able to participate in the Siege, with each group contributing to its overall progress. You'll be able to use the materials you collect from the Elder Dragon to craft the new Kulve Taroth α and β armor sets.
We're now well into the month, but it's not too late to grab the latest set of PS4, PS3, and PS Vita games that are available for PlayStation Plus members to download for free. You have six games waiting for you across all systems for May 2018, but because several of them are Cross-Buy, you'll get three games for PS4.
This month's PS4 offerings are headlined by Beyond: Two Souls, a game from Quantic Dream, the makers of this month's big PS4 exclusive, Detroit: Become Human. Like Detroit, Beyond: Two Souls is a cinematic, narrative-driven game whose plot largely hinges around the choices you make. May's other free PS4 game is the stylish, well-received platformer Rayman Legends.
Over on PS3, you get the action RPG Risen 3: Titan Lords as well as the arcade-style game Eat Them, which has you design a monster and use it to go wreck a city. PS Vita owners can download the similarly destruction-based game King Oddball and the physics puzzle game Furmins. King Oddball supports Cross-Buy and is playable on PS3 and PS4 as well.
All of these games are free to download until Tuesday, June 5, and you can play them as long as you have an active PS Plus membership. You can download the games from your PlayStation device, or from the web-based PlayStation Store.
Rare is readying the first big content update for its shared pirate game, Sea of Thieves. The Hungering Deep expansion is set to arrive on Xbox One and PC next week, and ahead of its release, the developer has shared some more details on what new features await in the free patch.
Among other things, The Hungering Deep introduces "a range of permanent new game features" to the multiplayer pirate game. Among them is a new "monstrous" AI threat that players may encounter while sailing the high seas. Additionally, Rare is adding a new instrument to the game--drums--along with Speaking Trumpets, which allow you to find other pirate crews who have embarked on the same voyage as you.
On top of the aforementioned items, The Hungering Deep update marks the start of a new, limited-time campaign quest. "Join this time-limited adventure that leads from the outpost taverns to lonely, forgotten isles, piecing together the tale of Merrick the bard and his brush with hungering horror," Rare says on the game's website. If players manage to locate Merrick, they'll be able to "join the hunt for his nemesis."
Those who participate in the limited-time quest will be able to earn exclusive rewards, such as a Hungering Deep tattoo set. Rare is also introducing a variety of other cosmetic items to the game, including tattoos, scars, and customizable flags for your ship. You can watch the trailer for the update above.
The Hungering Deep rolls out for both Xbox One and PC on Tuesday, May 29; you can find further details about the update on the official Sea of Thieves website. In the meantime, players can install the game's latest patch, 1.0.8. The update weighs approximately 1.2 GB and introduces some new quality-of-life features, such as the ability to discard unwanted voyages and adjust aiming sensitivity. The full patch notes for update 1.0.8 are available on the game's website.
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