The month is half over, which means Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now download two more freebies. As usual, one is an Xbox One game, and the other is an Xbox 360 game you can play on Xbox One thanks to backwards compatibility.
The new free Xbox One game is the Smite Gold Bundle, which will be available between now and July 15. Smite is a free-to-play game, but the Gold Bundle includes 20 additional gods, plus skins, announcer packs, and other extra content. Seeing as it normally sells for $100, that's a good deal for anyone interested in this MOBA-of-the-gods.
The Xbox 360 game Gold members can download for free is Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. Available until June 30, it's an action game that lets you play through Lego versions of all four Indiana Jones films. And if you haven't picked it up yet, you can still download the side-scrolling Xbox One game Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia, which is available until June 30.
E3 2018 is over, and along with revealing a ton of new games, it's painted a much clearer picture of what lies ahead throughout the rest of the year and beyond. We may be partway through 2018 already, but the next half of the year is shaping up to be a busy one, with a number of major titles coming to Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo made Switch the focal point of its E3 showing, and we actually already saw a number of big and intriguing titles coming to hybrid console this year before the Direct presentation. On top of notable third-party releases like Mega Man 11 and Team Sonic Racing, Switch will play host to some exciting exclusives this year, from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate to Square Enix's beautiful, retro-inspired RPG, Octopath Traveler.
And that's nothing to say of Nintendo's first-party offerings for the console. Along with Mario Tennis Aces and a port of the Wii U gem Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Switch owners have a couple of marquee releases to look forward to this holiday season, including Super Smash Bros. and Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee.
In this feature, you can see some of the biggest games from E3 that are coming to Switch and 3DS this year. But what Nintendo Switch games are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
After taking a break from Castlevania-style games, former series producer Koji Igarashi has returned with his latest iteration of the formula--though, this time without franchise owners Konami. With Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Igarashi promises an experience much like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which is something longtime fans are eager to experience.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita | Release Date: TBA 2018
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an upcoming Switch port of the Wii U puzzler of the same name. In addition to the content from the original release, the Switch port includes new levels themed around Super Mario Odyssey, as well as a two-player co-op mode.
Platforms: PS4 (already available), Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: June 29
Dark Souls Remastered
Nintendo announced the Switch version of Dark Souls Remastered back in January. It said the the Switch version will come with the Artorias of the Abyss DLC and display the game at 1080p resolution with 30 FPS when played in TV mode.
The critically-acclaimed Dragon Ball FighterZ is heading to Nintendo Switch. At launch, it'll include all the characters featured in the original release at day one, with DLC characters (already released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC) arriving on the Switch version sometime later.
Developer: Arc System Works | Release Date: Summer 2018
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: September 28
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario Tennis Aces marks the first Mario sports game to arrive on Switch, and longtime Mario Tennis developer Camelot is introducing a number of new mechanics for this installment, including the time-slowing Zone Speed and the ultra-powerful Zone Shots. The game also features a handful of new characters to choose from and the series' first proper story mode since GBA's Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: June 22
Mega Man 11
Like the classic Mega Man games from the NES era, Mega Man 11 puts you in the metallic boots of a boy robot who takes on stages and their upgrade-gifting bosses in any order. Unlike those classics, it sports a sharp cartoonish art style and new abilities like bullet time and a super-powered Mega Buster.
Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 2
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
An expanded version of the 3DS game Monster Hunter Generations, Generations Ultimate on Switch features an assortment of additional content on top of the base game, including two new Hunting Styles, another Elder Dragon, a new endgame boss, and the even more challenging G Rank quests. Veteran players can also transfer their save data from Generations to Ultimate and continue the hunt on Nintendo's hybrid console.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: August 28
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler is a unique and beautiful-looking RPG that uses what the developers call HD-2D graphics, which combines Super NES-style 16-bit graphics with polygonal environments and HD effects. There are eight different playable characters, each with their own unique playstyle and starting area. Combat is turn-based, during which characters build up Boost Points to help them perform special abilities.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: July 13
Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is serving up more chefs, more kitchens, more recipes, and more co-op madness. You can group up with friends or go it alone to cook up a storm, chopping, steaming and frying your way through levels that keep you on your toes. Online multiplayer can bring four chefs together to save the Onion Kingdom once again.
Developer: Ghost Town Games | Release Date: August 7
Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu / Let's Go, Eevee
Inspired by the classic Yellow version, Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee take players on a new adventure in the Kanto region. Featuring the original 151 Pokemon plus their Alolan forms, players will be able to encounter monsters on the overworld and capture them with motion controls. The games also feature Pokemon Go integration, as well as online battling and trading.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: November 16
Super Mario Party
The antics continue in the upcoming mini-game collection, Super Mario Party. It's the first new game in the series in three years; the previous installment released in 2015 on Wii U. The game introduces all-new ways to play, including Joy-Con controller enabled minigames, and new modes to enjoy with family and friends. Board game play goes back to the four-player basics as you take turns and race across the board searching for Stars. You can also pair up two Nintendo Switch systems and delight in this dynamic play style, such as in the new Toad's Rec Room mode. With new modes and new minigames coupled with original board game play, the party starts anywhere, anytime, and with all kinds of players. New modes include:
Developer: Nintendo | Release Date: October 8
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo's popular fighting series makes its highly anticipated Switch debut later this year. Titled Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the game includes every single playable character that has ever appeared in the franchise's history. Along with its immense returning characters like Mario, Bowser, and Link (sporting his Breath of the Wild attire), Super Smash Bros. on Switch introduces a number of newcomers to the roster, including the Inklings from Splatoon and Ridley
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: December 7
Team Sonic Racing
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was an unexpected hit after its launch back in 2012, and now--finally--we're getting a follow-up. This time round, Sega has dropped the non-Sonic universe characters, but aside from a vague release window of "winter," we don't yet know much else about this promising racer.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: Winter 2018
Good news, PC gamers: for the first time ever, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has gone on sale on Steam. Between now and July 5, you can buy it for $20 / £18, which is 33% off the regular price of $30 / £27. The reason for the sale, PUBG Corp. says, is to celebrate the game hitting a new sales milestone.
All told, PUBG has sold 50 million copies worldwide on PC and Xbox One. If you include the free mobile version in the number count, there are now 400 million registered PUBG players around the globe, with an average of over 87 million people playing the game every day across all platforms.
In a press release, the publisher said, "We're going to keep working on new content and improvements for all versions of the game. We know there's still so much we can do to make PUBG a better game for our players."
So far, two maps are available in both the PC and Xbox One versions of PUBG. The PC version will get a third map, called Sanhok, on June 22. Microsoft announced at E3 2018 that a fourth map that features a snowy environment will be coming to the Xbox One version of the game sometime this winter; it will come to PC as well.
New week, new Netflix! The streaming service has a slew of new titles arriving, including a highly anticipated new season of a Marvel favorite. Of course, that's not the only Netflix original to be on the lookout for.
Naturally, the biggest new arrival of the week is the new season of Marvel's Luke Cage. The second season follows the titular superhero in the aftermath of Defenders, as he grapples with his fame, while also coming up against a new threat in Bushmaster. If that's not enough of a Marvel fix for you, the fifth season of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD also arrives on Netflix this week.
As for other originals, the competitive cooking show Cooking on High debuts this week. The unique spin on this particular food show is all of the recipes include cannabis as an ingredient. The original movie Brain on Fire also arrives on June 22, along with Season 2 of Heavy Rescue: 401. Lastly, don't forget to revisit Disney's Tarzan when it begins streaming on June 23.
A new update is on the way soon for the PC version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Patch #15 is scheduled to arrive this Friday, June 22, and will introduce an assortment of UI and sound improvements to the game, as well as the tropical map, Sanhok.
Following several weeks of testing on PUBG's Experimental Server, Sanhok will officially roll out for the live game with Patch 15. The map's most distinctive feature is its size; unlike Erangel or Miramar, Sanhok is 4km x 4km, making it one-fourth as large as PUBG's previous two maps. Despite its smaller scale, it still hosts 100 players, meaning matches are much quicker and more intense when contested on Sanhok.
Developer PUBG Corp. is also introducing the QBZ95, a new weapon slated to arrive alongside Sanhok in Patch 15. The QBZ95 is an AR that uses 5.56mm rounds. It holds 30 rounds per magazine, although PUBG Corp. notes that can be extended to 40 rounds. The QBZ95 can be found exclusively on the new tropical map, replacing the SCAR-L in Sanhok's item spawn pool.
In addition to the new map and item, Patch 15 introduces a slate of interface improvements to the game. In particular, PUBG Corp. has tweaked the UI of the Leaderboard, Replay function, and friends list. Many in-game UI elements, such as the inventory, map, and results screen, have likewise been visually improved, while the mini-map can now be expanded and dynamically zooms in or out depending on your movement speed.
Patch 15 also addresses a handful of bugs and other technical issues in the game. Among them, PUBG Corp. has removed some objects from Erangel and Miramar that previously obstructed movement, and an issue that would cause characters to occasionally get stuck in the aforementioned maps has also been fixed. The full list of changes are outlined in the patch notes on Steam.
By Anonymous on Jun 19, 2018 11:31 pm Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is now Backwards Compatible on the Xbox One. Jean-Luc and Richie relive the memories with some good old multiplayer.
Although the exact launch date of the Fallout 76 beta is still a mystery, we now know it will be coming to Xbox One first. On the Fallout FAQ page, the launch date for 76's beta is listed as unknown. Players are asked to stay tuned to Fallout's social accounts before being left with one final note: "the B.E.T.A. for Xbox One will begin first, followed by other platforms." Fallout 76 is scheduled to release November 14.
The beta is still scheduled to release on both PS4 and PC, but players on those two platforms will have to wait a little bit longer to play the game. Bethesda has supplied no clues as to how much earlier Xbox One players will get the beta, nor whether the Xbox One beta will end early or go on for as long as the betas on PS4 and PC.
Fallout 76 takes place centuries before Fallout 4, near the start of the Fallout timeline. This title brings a lot of new mechanics to the franchise, including nuclear missile strikes, and will be a multiplayer-focused, always online game instead of a single-player shooter. In order to balance these mechanics, Bethesda has implemented new systems to stop trolls from breaking the game.
The only way to play the Fallout 76 beta is by pre-ordering the game. Check out our handy-dandy pre-order guide so you can nab the edition that's best for you.
E-Line Media, the studio behind the Iñupiat-inspired platformer Never Alone, has unveiled its latest effort: Beyond Blue, a narrative-driven underwater exploration game developed in collaboration with scientists and the BBC. The game was formally announced during E3 2018 and is slated to launch for PC and consoles early next year.
Envisioned as a "thematic cousin" to BBC's Blue Planet II documentary series, Beyond Blue casts players in the role of Mirai, the leader of an underwater research team. Mirai can explore her surroundings either by swimming or manually controlling aquatic drones, which will gradually collect information that can allow her to venture further and discover different types of marine life.
In addition to its exploration elements, Beyond Blue places a heavy emphasis on resource management, which will affect how your adventure unfolds. According to E-Line, players will be forced to "make high-stakes decisions and prioritize which objectives can be successfully achieved during the crew's expedition." You can watch the announcement trailer for Beyond Blue below.
Like the aforementioned Never Alone, which doubled as a sort of documentary on Alaska Native culture, Beyond Blue features footage from Blue Planet II. During the course of the game, players will be able to unlock Ocean Insight videos that provide more information about the creatures and moments they encounter in the title.
"Inspired by the way the Cultural Insight videos inside Never Alone brought resonance and context to a game infused with Alaska Native culture, we reached out to E-Line to explore the potential for a creative collaboration on Blue Planet II," said Bradley Crooks, Head of Digital Entertainment & Games at BBC Studios. "We think there's great synergy in the way E-Line make their games and our own approach to program making where we care passionately about the subject matter and want to help people better understand the world in which they live."
There's been little news on the Xbox One backwards compatibility front as of late, but with E3 in the rear-view mirror, it's time for something new. Microsoft has announced a new addition to the BC lineup, and it's a pretty big one in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Major Nelson confirmed the news on Twitter, saying the Xbox 360 shooter is now playable on Xbox One. It joins a growing list of classic Call of Duty games that are playable on the console, although curiously it doesn't complete the Modern Warfare trilogy. 2009's Modern Warfare 2 has not yet been added to the list, so if you're looking for a chronological playthrough, you'll have to continue to wait for that to happen.
If you already own Modern Warfare 3, you can simply pop in the disc or head to the Ready to Download section of the My Games and Apps area to download it. Alternatively, you can purchase a copy right from the Xbox Store. As it happens, Modern Warfare 3 is a part of this week's Deals With Gold lineup. It's 50% off for Xbox Live Gold members until June 25, letting you get it for $15 / £12. Meanwhile, its DLC packs are all 33% off.
Backwards compatibility is a notable feature for Xbox One, but with a seemingly endless array of new games to tout during its press conference, Microsoft didn't focus on it at E3. It features prominently last year, as the company announced plans to introduce support for a select number of original Xbox games. Following the initial debut of that last year, another batch were released this spring. You can check out everything that's playable on Xbox One in our full list of backwards compatibility games.
Quake Champions hasn't launched fully just yet, but that hasn't stopped publisher Bethesda from running a series of beta tests, as well as launching it on Steam in early access. However, that early access version costs $30 in the US, despite the final game being free-to-play. [Update: The free play period has been extended through June 25; anyone can freely play the game until then, and doing so will net you a free copy of the game that you can continue playing forever.]
Now, Bethesda has announced that the game is free from now until June 18, and it will remain free for you if you download it before that date and play a match through the Bethesda Launcher or Steam. Note that this gets you access to the game but not all of the titular Champions. If you want those, the Champions Pack is available for a discounted price of $19.79. It will return to $30 on June 21.
Announced last summer, Quake Champions is a class-based first-person shooter. It's in development for PC only, though developer Id Software has said a console release is not ruled out. Elsewhere in Bethesda's E3 2018 conference, the company announced new Prey and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus DLC. For more on what it shared, check out our roundup of all the Bethesda press conference news.
With its warm, rustic setting, and an instantly endearing protagonist, the first Unravel had the outward appearance of a happily nostalgic adventure. That initial fuzzy feeling, however, gave way to a series of frustrating puzzles and a story that took some unexpectedly dark turns. In the game's final hours, the poor little hero Yarny was left all alone in a hostile world. What a relief it is to see him in a better place in Unravel Two, the sequel that's notably comforting thanks to the introduction of a second yarnling. Once they meet, Yarny and his new friend immediately hit it off and set out on a new adventure.
Similar to the original game, Unravel Two has ethereal slice-of-life scenes that play out in the background of each stage. This time, the literal background story involves two youths making the drastic decision to run away from their hyper-religious families. Yarny and his new partner make their own journey through the small town they live in, inadvertently helping the kids along the way with each new platforming challenge they surmount. Despite trips to more urban settings, the design philosophy and earthy aesthetic that made the first game such a visual treat haven't been abandoned. Aside from some mild industrial chaos--traipsing around construction sites, messing with the ventilation systems in a factory, and the like--much of what you experience is delightfully serene.
Once again, we witness the world from Yarny's tiny perspective. You run through misty city streets at night under haloed streetlights. You push toy trucks around backyards on sunny days before riding off into the blue yonder on the back of a swan. You jump across rooftops at midnight, a skeleton city of antennas and vents where only the pigeons are awake. One of the most beautiful areas of the game has Yarny making his way along a stream of rushing water in a creek, letting the tide build up the momentum you need to get a full head of speed up for a jump. There's still such a sense of awe to how tangible and real Yarny's world is, but it never feels like a place where Yarny is in peril. Though it takes place in more challenging environments, it's a world where what little danger there is feels magical, and Yarny has never been able to move through it in as invigorating a way as he can with a partner in Unravel Two.
The swing mechanic--where Yarny can latch yarn onto a grapple point and either rappel up and down or swing to launch himself onto a higher point--has returned, but with a newfound kineticism. Many stages push you to swing across multiple wide chasms and tight gaps in quick succession, and soaring and flipping through these trials is always a thrill.
There will come times when you have to stop and figure out a way past complicated obstacles, and this is where Unravel Two's co-op nature shines. Obviously, the ideal way to manage two characters is to have a friend sitting next to you on the couch, controlling Yarny's new ally while you plot solutions. But even a single player can make use of both characters, switching back and forth between the two onscreen with the push of a button. When playing solo, the character you leave behind will continue to hold onto whatever they were holding, meaning you can always place your partner wherever you need them. You can even carry your partner through danger by absorbing them into your own yarn body--mildly disturbing but helpful nonetheless.
With its charming yarnlings and a newfound style of platforming, Unravel Two remains welcoming even at its most foreboding.
With the two Yarnys tethered together, most puzzles are resolved by forming makeshift pulleys that allow you to create opportunities the environment wouldn't normally afford a single Yarny. Puzzles are typically open-ended and can be solved in a handful of ways. The only real barrier, besides pure logic, can be the game's control scheme. The same button used to jump is used to extend the tether between the two Yarnys, and it's fairly easy to accidentally send your partner plummeting to their doom. Unravel Two is undoubtedly a more welcoming and accessible game than its predecessor, but there are still demanding trials for those who want them, especially with around two dozen extra-challenging stages that are available.
With its charming yarnlings and a newfound style of platforming, Unravel Two remains welcoming even at its most foreboding. Sure, a forest fire breaks out in one of the latter stages, but even then, the race to keep ahead of the blaze is fun and frantic instead of stressful. In almost every moment you're given ample time and space to breathe and take in the stunning photorealistic world from the viewpoint of the tiniest creatures. It's a game with boisterous birds, chases through meadows, and most importantly a cheerful partnership with a companion who's always got your back. With only six chapters that run roughly 30 minutes apiece, Unravel Two doesn't last long, but it's a game where the time you have is meaningful, memorable, and downright pleasant from beginning to end.
PS4 has been on the market for quite a few years now, and we've reached the point in its lifecycle where Sony is prepared to introduce a standardized line of budget-priced versions of games. Much as it did with its Greatest Hits/Essentials line in the past, Sony has announced a PS4 equivalent called PlayStation Hits.
Games in the PlayStation Hits line will receive specialized box art with a red strip along the top, and the case itself will be red, rather than the usual blue. There are some terrific games included, although the specifics vary by market. In the US, you'll find Bloodborne, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Yakuza 0, Doom, and Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience. You can find complete lists for US and Europe below, or head to the official website to see the lineups in the US, Canada, and Europe (where specific availability varies by country).
In the US, PlayStation Hits will be priced at $20; in Canada, $20 CAD; in the UK, £16; and in Europe, €20. These will be available at both retail and on the PlayStation Store, with the first going on sale in the US/Canada on June 28 and in the UK/Europe on July 18.
Sony says more games will be added to the Hits line in the future, although it didn't share how often it will do so or how it decides what to include. A special PlayStation Hits PS4 bundle will be released that comes with a 1 TB system and three of Sony's first-party PlayStation Hits titles, but it will only be available in certain European markets.
We're now halfway through 2018, and in terms of cinema, there's already been a mix of huge hits, critical smashes, and inevitably, a few disappointments. Black Panther,Avengers: Infinity War, and Deadpool 2 have smashed records, and there's another Marvel movie--Ant-Man and the Wasp--still to come. While Solo: A Star Wars Story has proved to be a commercial disappointment, there's still plenty of other big movies due this summer, including the sixth Mission: Impossible movie, Fallout, and this week's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Beyond these big tentpole franchises, other crowd-pleasing favourites are set to return. There DC's Aquaman and Pixar's The Incredibles 2, plus Skyscraper, from cinema's busiest star, Dwayne Johnson. And who isn't excited to see Jason Statham fight a giant shark in The Meg? The first of Sony's Spider-Man spin-offs arrives in the shape of Venom, we'll find out if there's life in the Predator franchise, and the classic Halloween series returns just in time for, well, Halloween. So here's what you can look forward to over the rest of the year...
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World wasn't just the fourth part in a series of big dinosaur movies; it was an absolute box office monster, and currently stands as the fourth biggest film of all time. For the follow-up, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona takes over from Colin Trevorrow, who remains on-board as producer and co-writer. Meanwhile Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. Trevorrow has described the movie as a "Spanish horror thriller"(in reference to Bayona's earlier hit Mama) but most exciting is the return of Jeff Goldblum, who starred in Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park way back in 1993.
Release date: June 22
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
The drug cartel thriller Sicario was one of the most gripping movies of recent years, and hopes are high for this follow-up. Director Denis Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt aren't returning, but the movie is in good hands. Director Stefano Sollima is best known for the brilliant Italian crime drama series Gomorrha, and Benicio Del Toro is set to reprise his role as a former undercover agent turned morally ambiguous enforcer Alejandro. This time the movie focuses on attempts by the CIA to incite an all-out war between rival drug gangs in Mexico; writer Taylor Sheridan has said that "if Sicario is a film about the militarization of police and that blending over, this is removing the policing aspect from it."
Release date: June 29
The First Purge
The Purge series has proved to be one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years, and expectations are high for this fourth entry. The First Purge looks set to continue the mix of scares, action, and biting social commentary. As the title indicates, it's a prequel that looks at the creation of the single night of legalised crime known as The Purge, and the first trailer suggests that it's lost none of its gory, satirical bite.
Release date: July 4
Ant-Man and The Wasp
The first Ant-Man was a welcome contrast to the likes of The Avengers and Captain America: Civil War. As much of a heist comedy as a superhero movie, it featured a winning lead role from Paul Rudd and put the emphasis much more on character and humor than huge CG-driven action sequences. With Avengers: Infinity War due in May, Ant-Man and the Wasp should be a good follow-up two months later. Evangeline Lily reprises her role as Hope Van Dyne, who now fights alongside Ant-Man as The Wasp, with Michael Douglas and Michael Pfeiffer as her parents. We don't know what direction the movie will go in this time, just that director Peyton Reed promises "an entirely different genre template."
Release date: July 6
Bleeding Steel
Action legend Jackie Chan might have slowed down a little in terms of the insane stuntwork he puts himself through, but last year's impressive thriller The Foreigner showed that the 63-year-old star can still deliver the goods. His latest movie is Bleeding Steel, a futuristic tale in which Chan plays a special agent trying to protect his daughter from biotech mutants. No one is expecting a movie to match the heights of Chan's earlier classics, but it looks like it will deliver an entertaining mix of action, sci-fi-thrills, and enjoyably idiotic storytelling.
Release date: July 6
Skyscraper
Another of Dwayne Johnson's 2018 action epics, this China-set thriller stars Johnson as a retired FBI hostage rescue agent who now works as a security assessor for the world's biggest skyscraper. While the first trailer doesn't reveal the specific dangers he must face while working in the world's most advanced building, we know they involve explosions, shooting, and lots of jumping. That said, it looks a bit less comedic than many of The Rock's other movies, as evidenced by the fact he has a prosthetic leg and a greying beard. All will be revealed in July.
Release date: July 13
Siberia
Keanu Reeves has remained one of Hollywood's most prolific and popular stars for 30 years now, and with the third John Wick movie now in production, he shows little sign of slowing down. While we wait for that, we have Siberia, a crime thriller in which he plays a diamond merchant who finds himself in trouble with gangsters when a mission to Russia to sell some dubious rocks goes wrong. It looks like more of a drama than the John Wick movies, but there also seems to be plenty of action too, as Keana takes on the Russian mob and finds love with a cafe owner along the way.
Release date: July 13
The Equalizer 2
The Equalizer might not be one of Denzel Washington's most notable movies, but the gritty revenge thriller was nevertheless a big hit back in 2014. The Equalizer 2 arrives in July, and it's the first time that Denzel has ever appeared in a sequel. The first trailer delivers plenty of action, as Denzel's retired CIA operative sets out to avenge the death of a friend in suitably brutal style. We've seen a similar set up in many movies in recent years, from John Wick and Jack Reacher to the Taken series, but director Antoine Fuqua is hot from the massive success of The Fate of the Furious and is sure to deliver the violent goods.
Release date: July 20
Mission Impossible 6: Fallout
The Mission: Impossible series might be more than 20-years old, but on-set injuries aside, star Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down. Fallout sees Rogue Nation's Chris McQuarrie return to the directors chair, with Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Alec Baldwin all reprising their roles from previous movies. Superman star Henry Cavill joins the cast, as does his controversial moustache. Expect plenty of insane action.
Release date: July 27
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
The irreverent animated DC comedy Teen Titans Go! continues to be a hugely entertaining and popular show, and 2018 sees the release of both a fifth season and a new movie. In keeping the self-referential tone of the show, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies see the Teen Titans discover that all the other superheroes in the DC universe have had their own movies, so they set about trying to find both a director to make their film and a suitably threatening supervillain to fight. Lego Batman star Will Arnett will voice the evil Slade, while The Good Place's Kristen Bell is the filmmaker who wants to bring their story to the big screen.
Release date: July 27
The Meg
Based on the best-selling 1997 novel, this big-budget shark thriller has been in development for several years and finally arrives this summer. Expendables star Jason Statham plays an expert diver who faces off against a 70-foot monster shark which is causing mayhem off the coast of China. The recent shark movie The Shallows was a great small-scale thriller with a limited location, but with a budget in excess of $150 million, expect The Meg to deliver something way more spectacular.
Release date: August 10
BlacKkKlansman
Director Spike Lee has never shied away from controversial material--classic movies such as Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, and Malcolm X addressed issues of race and relationships within American society, while his recent Chi-Raq was a musical that addressed inner-city gun violence. BlacKkKlansman is his highest profile movie in years, and is produced by Get Out's Jordan Peele. It's the amazing but true story of a black FBI agent who managed to infiltrate the KKK in the 1970s, and rave reviews from the Cannes Film Festival suggest a mix of smart comedy and powerful social drama. It stars John David Washington, son of regular Lee collaborator Denzel, plus Adam Driver, fresh from his role as Kylo Reno in the recent Star Wars movies. It's also got one of the best posters of the year so far--we can't wait.
Release date: August 10
The Happytime Murders
If nothing else, you can be guaranteed that you won't see another movie like The Happytime Murders in 2018. It's a comedy cop thriller, in which two mismatched detectives are thrown together to solve a series of grisly murders--so far, so generic. he difference here, however, is that many of the cast are foul-mouthed, drug-taking, sex-crazed puppets. Melissa McCarthy is among the human actors, who teams up with a horny blue cop, and the first trailer that was released this week is a hysterical, jaw-dropping, seriously NSFW delight. And if that wasn't enough, the movie is directed by Brian Henson, son of Muppet and Sesame Street creator Jim Henson. What would Fozzie think?
Release date: August 17
Alpha
The historical adventure movie Alpha might not have the name recognition or star power of this summer's other big movies, but it should deliver something epic. Set during the last Ice Age, it follows a young man (X-Men's Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is left for dead on a hunt and who must learn to survive in the wilderness with the help of a wolf. The uplifting new trailer is very different in tone to the darker one released last year, so it's not exactly clear if this is a brutal Revenant-style tale or something more family friendly. We'll find out in August.
Release date: August 17
Slender Man
Slender Man is the fictional horror character that first appeared as a viral internet myth in 2009 and has gone onto become a notable part of modern pop culture. It's somewhat surprising that it's taken nearly a decade for an official Slender Man movie to be made, but 2018 finally sees Hollywood's take on this urban legend. The movie's first trailer makes it looks like a pretty traditional teen horror movie, with disappearing kids, freaky long-haired children, spooky woods, and lots of weird, quickly cut imagery. But there are plenty of horror fans who have been waiting a long time to see the character on screen, and director Sylvian White is not a newcomer to the genre, having previously directed such horror TV shows such as The Originals and Sleepy Hollow.
Release date: August 24
The Little Stranger
Director Lenny Abrahamson is best known for acclaimed movies such as the absurd musical comedy Frank and the Oscar-winning drama Room, but The Little Stranger sees him step into spookier territory. Based on the 2009 novel by Sarah Waters, this is a ghost story set in the 1940s, about a country doctor who comes to work in an old hospital, where, inevitably, spooky things are afoot. Domhnall Gleeson--best known as Hux in the recent Star Wars movies--stars, and the cast also includes Will Poulter (Detroit) and Ruth Wilson (Luther).
Release date: August 31
The Nun
James Wan's The Conjuring was one of most successful horror movies of recent years, inspiring not only a prequel, but two spin-offs focusing on spooky doll Annabelle. The latest movie in this horror series is The Nun. It's set before the other four movies in the series so far, and focuses on the investigation into the earlier life (and death) of Valak, the terrifying demon nun from The Conjuring 2. Wan co-wrote the screenplay, and it's directed by Corin Hardy, who previously helmed the acclaimed low-budget shocker The Hallow and is about to start shooting the remake of The Crow. Expect plenty of scares.
Release date: September 7
Peppermint
Jennifer Garner is best known for her kick-ass lead role in JJ Abram's CIA thriller show Alias, which ran for five seasons between 2001 and 2006. In recent years, she's taken on more comedic and dramatic roles, but Peppermint sees her make a welcome return to the world of action. It's directed by Taken's Pierre Morel, and it definitely taps into that vein of gritty revenge-filled violence that the likes of Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and Keanu Reeves have found big success with over the last decade. Garner plays a woman who wakes from a coma to find her family dead and vengeance very much on her mind, and the first trailer suggests it's going to be satisfyingly brutal ride.
Release date: September 7
The Predator
Although the original Predator is an '80s action classic, the movies that have followed have ranged from interesting but flawed (Predator 2) to completely terrible (Alien vs Predator). The Predator is writer/director Shane Black's attempt to get the franchise back on track. Black's impressive resume ranges from writing Lethal Weapon to directing Iron Man 3, and as a young actor he even had a role in original Predator. Black himself has said that he only agreed to make the film if he could do it on a big, blockbuster scale, while still delivering the sci-fi horror goods. The first trailer arrived in May, and it looks like it will give the fans exactly what they have been hoping for.
Release date: September 14
Venom
Although the deal between Disney and Sony has ensured that Spider-Man is currently part of the former's Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie right to the character ultimately remain with Sony. As a result, the studio is launching its own interconnected universe of characters from the canon of Spidey comic-books. Venom is first up; it stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a photographer who ends up with superpowers after he is taken over by the alien parasite of title. It's directed by Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer, and the impressive supporting cast includes Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, and Riz Ahmed.
Release date: October 4
First Man
Given Neil Armstrong is the most famous astronaut ever, it's surprising that he's never had his own biopic until now. First Man is set between 1961 and 1969 and tells the story of Armstrong's preparations for his history-changing journey to the moon. It stars Ryan Gosling as the man himself and is helmed by Gosling's La La Land director Damien Chazelle. The impressive cast also includes Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, and Pablo Schreiber.
Release date: October 12
Johnny English Strikes Again
While it's unlikely that a third Johnny English film was high on anyone's most-anticipated movies list for 2018, the previous two spy spoofs were major box office hits, earning more than $320 million worldwide. Johnny English Strikes Again sees Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson return as the inept superspy, who this time must thwart a master hacker. As the first trailer reveals, English travels to France with his loyal sidekick Bough to track his enemy down--and also launch missiles at French cyclists. Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson co-stars, alongside Olga Kurylenko, who appears to be parodying her role in the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.
Release date: Fall 208.
Halloween
The Halloween series might be one of longest-running and most profitable horror franchises in movie history, but most fans would agree that every entry hasn't necessarily been a good one. The last time Michael Myers stalked the screen was in Rob Zombie's hugely divisive remakes a decade ago, but now, on the 40th anniversary of John Carpenter's original movie, the killer also known as The Shape is back. Plot details for this latest Halloween are under wraps, but it's got an impressive pedigree. It's directed by acclaimed indie auteur David Gordon Green and produced by Blumhouse Films, which has scored major successes in recent years with the likes of Get Out, Paranormal Activity, and the Purge movies. Original star Jamie Lee Curtis returns, and if that wasn't enough, Carpenter himself is creatively involved and providing another iconic soundtrack. Could this be the Halloween reboot that finally gets it right?
Release date: October 19
Bohemian Rhapsody
This biopic of Queen legend Freddie Mercury has been in development for many years, with various directors and stars attached to the project. Even when the cameras started rolling the problems didn't stop--director Bryan Singer was fired by the studio during production, to be replaced by British filmmaker Dexter Fletcher. But the movie is now finished and set for release in November. Mr. Robot star Remi Malek takes on the role of the iconic frontman, and it charts the rise of the band through the '70s to their world-conquering success in the '80s. It's produced by the band, and the trailer suggests that it might be more a celebration of the music than a look at the darker side of Mercury's life. But it looks like an absolute must-see for Queen fans.
Release date: November 2
The Grinch
The classic Dr. Seuss story How the Grinch Saved Christmas was adapted into a hit Jim Carrey movie 18 years ago, and a new animated version hits the screen in November. Doctor Strange and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will provide the voice of the Holiday-hating title character, and the first trailer arrived last week. The movie was actually meant to be released last year, but the trailer is colourful and fun and the movie will hopefully be worth the wait.
Release date: November 9
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The Harry Potter series might have finished in 2011, but the wider movie universe goes from strength to strength. The success of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them led to the announcement of a further four movies, the first of which arrives in November. Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt Scamander, with Jude Law as the young Dumbledore, who enlists the help of Newt to help defeat the dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). David Yates directs once more, from a screenplay by Potter creator JK Rowling.
Release date: November 16
Widows
Ocean's Eight isn't the only high-profile heist movie coming our way in 2018. Widows is the latest film from Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and is written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. The movies focuses on four women whose husbands are killed in a failed heist, who then decide to finish the job themselves. It's based on a British TV show of the same name from the 1980s, and the star-studded cast includes Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, and Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya. Films like 12 Years and Shame proved that McQueen can deliver prestigious, acclaimed dramas, so hopes are high that he is equally adept at making edgy crime thrillers.
Release date: November 18
Creed 2
While most thought that the legendary movie boxer Rocky Balboa had finally hung up his gloves, the 2015 spin-off Creed not only gave the character one of his finest movies, it paved the way for director Ryan Coogler to get the job of directing Marvel's wildly successful Black Panther. Coogler won't be back for the sequel, but star Michael B. Jordan is, once again playing the son of the original movies' Apollo Creed. Rocky creator and star Sylvester Stallone is back too, as both co-star and co-writer. Steven Caple Jr. directs this time, and it's rumoured that Creed 2 will bring back another iconic character from the original series--Rocky IV's Russian powerhouse Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).
Release date: November 21
Robin Hood
Ridley Scott's 2010 version of the the Robin Hood myth wasn't a critical or commercial success, but that hasn't stopped yet another version of the story heading to screens in 2018. This time we have a younger Robin, with Kingsman star Taron Egerton in the lead role. The cast also includes Jamie Foxx as Little John and Rogue One's Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and it's directed by TV director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror). The first trailer is suitably action-packed, but we'll find out in November if this Hood is any good.
Release date: November 21
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The 2012 animated comedy Wreck-It Ralph was a critical and commercial hit, and the sequel arrives in November. It focuses on the arcade game villain-turned-hero of the title, who this time enters the internet after the arcade his game lives in goes online. John C. Reilly is the voice of Ralph, with Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Taraji P. Henson, and James Corden also part of the voice cast.
Release date: November 21
Mortal Engines
While Peter Jackson's first post-Hobbit directorial effort is yet to be revealed, he is heavily involved with this upcoming sci-fi adventure. Jackson produces and co-writes alongside his regular collaborator Fran Walsh, while Christian Rivers--who has worked with Jackson since his early horror days--makes his directorial debut. Mortal Engines is an adaptation of the first of four YA novels written by Philip Reeve and is set in a post apocalyptic steampunk world where motorised cities-on-wheels are at war with one another. As you'd expect from Jackson, it all looks truly spectacular, and if the storytelling matches the level of visual invention, it should make a lavish treat this Christmas.
Release date: December 14
Aquaman
The DC universe has had a bumpy ride so far, with only Wonder Woman connecting with both audiences and critics. But there's every reason to be hopeful that Aquaman could do the same. Director James Wan is a skilled genre operator, whether delivering crowd-pleasing horror (Saw, The Conjuring) or blockbuster action (Furious 7), and there's a killer cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Willem Defoe, Nicole Kidman, and '80s action icon Dolph Lungren, plus Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Amber Heard as Mera. Wan recently debunked the rumour that the film would be overstuffed with multiple villains, and promises an "emotional and powerful" origin movie.
Since 2013, Nintendo has opted against hosting a live press conference for E3. Instead, the company has presented prerecorded Directs or Digital Events. But that all might change in the coming years.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Charlie Scibetta, senior director of corporate communications at Nintendo, said, "We decide each year what to show in the booth based on the content we have." He continued, "It's really whatever we think is the best way to bring those games to life."
Knowing Nintendo doesn't have a preference for prerecorded shows, and simply chooses a format that's believed to be the best fit for each game, we can assume that Nintendo might return to live shows in the future. Recent Nintendo titles announced at E3, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, might have presented better as a Nintendo Direct, but that doesn't mean a future title might better benefit from a live presentation.
Later in the interview, Scibetta hinted that Nintendo might even try something completely different for future E3 conferences. "In the future, [Nintendo] might go back to a presentation. We might stick with video. We might do something completely different. But it'll all be based on what we have to show that year," he said.
In an interview with Dengeki Online, Octopath Traveler producer Masashi Takahashi said there is no planned DLC for the upcoming Switch title. "We haven't even thought of having DLC," Takahashi said, "The retail version is a complete game." Siliconera has the full interview translated into English.
Square Enix's Octopath Traveler is a turn-based RPG portrayed in a 2D pixelated aesthetic that's similar to what's seen in the developer's Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Players begin as one of eight different adventurers before setting out on their journey. How the game begins is determined by which character the player starts as. Throughout Octopath Traveler's story, players encounter the seven other characters, each in the middle of their own journey, and can choose whether or not to recruit these characters and pursue their stories as well.
During the interview, Takahashi also said Octopath Traveler was always scheduled to launch on the Nintendo Switch, even though development of the game started well before anyone even knew of the console's existence. Square Enix and Nintendo's positive relationship, forged through the two companies' partnership on Bravely Default and its sequel, influenced Square Enix's decision to launch Octopath Traveler exclusively on Nintendo hardware.
Takahashi went on to deny the inclusion of any sort of New Game Plus mode, but added that Octopath Traveler's difficulty would evolve organically and make certain parts of the game harder based on player decisions. For example, it's possible to beat the entire campaign without recruiting a single character, but this limits the number of skills players will have access to when trying to interact with Octopath Traveler's world.
Takahashi also said that Octopath Traveler has a 50-60 hour story, but the game will take up to 100 hours for any completionists who want to tackle every side mission and optional dungeon.
Octopath Traveler is releasing for Nintendo Switch on July 13. During E3 2018, Square Enix announced a second demo for the game. You can play it right now.
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