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In the 06/15/2018 edition:

E3 2018 Best of Games and Tech

By Matt Espineli on Jun 15, 2018 12:01 am


E3 is a wondrous time of the year when publishers and developers go all out to win your attention and get the world excited for their upcoming lineup of games and products. With so much news, trailers, and announcements, it's tough to narrow down our picks of Best of E3 Awards to only 20. These are these are the most exciting, promising games coming out of the show according to GameSpot's editors, and the ones we can't wait to play more of.

Every game and product in this gallery shares in the glory of our Best of E3 award, but there is one big rule for inclusion: it must be playable at the show. This means that anything that was simply teased or was only shown as a trailer isn't eligible.

Our awards represent our absolute favorite things at E3 2018, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of other exciting new stuff. If you want to catch up on things you might've missed, you can read our press conference wrap-ups for Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and EA; as well as our list of all the new games announced at E3.

But what were your favorite moments from this year's E3? And what games are you most looking forward to? Discuss it in the comments below!


Anthem


BioWare's first new IP in 10 years is coming early next year, and it's a big departure from what BioWare is known for in that it's an always-online, action-adventure shooter that has no romance options and limited branching dialogue choices. It may be different, but it stands tall on its own merits based on what we've seen and played at E3. One of its most unique and compelling elements is its flying mechanics. You basically become Iron Man and fly around with an exosuit powered by engines in your feet. This gives the world an impressive sense of scale. When you zoom through the air from one objective to the next, you can't help but wonder what lies below that you'll want to go back and explore on foot. It absolutely bears a resemblance to Destiny in terms of look and feel, but I don't see that as a bad thing. (And not to mention, producer Mark Darrah told GameSpot that Anthem started development before Destiny came out). BioWare's Mass Effect: Andromeda might have been a miss with critics, but I am hoping for the best from Anthem and the early signs show Anthem is on the right path. -- Eddie Makuch, Editor


Assassin's Creed Odyssey


Assassin's Creed Odyssey is evolving the long-running franchise into a fully realized RPG by adding branching dialogue, choices within quests, and consequences that show up throughout the story. By going to Ancient Greece, Ubisoft continues the trend of using history as a backdrop to tell its story; Spartans and Athenians are at war during 431 BC in the midst of the Peloponnesian War. However, players have a bit more say in how that plays out. You can have philosophical conversations with Socrates and challenge his school of thought, but also take side quests from him. And how that particular quest concludes will have ramifications for the mainline course of leading a rebellion. And that's just a small piece of a much larger game.

Ancient Greece is expansive, which makes for one of the largest Assassin's Creed adventures. That also means a ton of seafaring adventures. Ship combat comes back in big way, similar to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and you'll be able to recruit people and build a crew as you destroy enemy ships with fire arrow barrages, waves of javelins, or full-speed naval rams.

Hand-to-hand combat draws a lot of similarities to Assassin's Creed Origins, but Odyssey layers on a few more elements. Players will have a number of skills at their disposal like a shield rip, healing ability, and a multi-arrow shot. But nothing comes close to the iconic Spartan kick. Giving enemies the boot will comically send them flying backward; it's ideal for launching them off ships or off the side of a cliff.

While we had Jacob and Evie in Syndicate as a dynamic duo, Odyssey will have you choose either a male or female version of the same main character; Alexios or Kassandra. It's just one of the elements in a number of changes for the franchise, and Odyssey is better for it. -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor


Battlefield V


Battlefield V does a great job of making me feel like I matter again in the midst of large scale battles. I have a long history with the Battlefield franchise and one of my biggest issues has always been feeling like cannon fodder; gains made often evaporated through the sheer number of enemy players. Battlefield V aims to tackle this challenge through automated squads and rewarding players who stick together. With a squad, I matter. I can revive teammates, build fortifications, gain good spawn position, and avoid running out of far more scarce ammo. Staying with a squad means making progress, and that's a feeling I've rarely gotten from my times spent playing with groups in the series' most recent entries.

Other new systems are at play to keep matches exciting. The Grand Operations map Port Of Narvik has an active parachute drop where I could decide when to jump out of an aircraft that could be shot down by the enemy team. On the ground, new animations and contextual callouts gave my teammates more personality and charm. These additions really shine when given room to breathe on large maps.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Battlefield V shows off next. The focus on rewarding players for sticking with squads has the potential to bring meaning and a sense of contribution to players who otherwise might get lost in large scale warfare. If developer DICE keep this up, Battlefield V might just be the best Battlefield game to come out in years. -- Aaron Sampson, Video Producer


Call of Duty: Black Ops 4


Treyarch is back in business this year with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and I am very excited about it. One of the most exciting new additions to the mix seems to be Blackout, which is battle royale with a Call of Duty spin. We haven't seen it in action yet, and it remains to be seen how Call of Duty's fast-pace translates to the more strategic battle royale genre, but it is an exciting proposition all the same to see it happen. Another thing I am excited about is the new Zombies mode. After all, Treyarch created the fan-favourite mode, and every effort they have put forth so far has been better than the last--and this year appears to be no different. Then there is traditional multiplayer, which returns to the fast-paced, exosuit-enabled frenetic action that was missing in Call of Duty: WWII. And Nuketown is coming back, which is always exciting. There is no traditional campaign this year, and that will understandably upset some fans, but Treyarch is promising some story content from the game's solo missions that focus on each Specialist character. -- Eddie Makuch, Editor


Control


Control is a game that's very difficult to describe in detail, but that's part of the reason why it's so impressive. Not unlike a twisted film from David Lynch, Control freely defies logic and consistency in favor of dreamlike and occasionally nightmarish sequences that toy with your understanding of the world and the characters suffering within it. You won't understand it at first, and that's precisely the point.

Jesse, the lead character who is both possessed by and in control of supernatural powers, seems to take it all in stride. She's trapped in a massive compound that changes shape and identity from one room to the next, all the while under threat from corrupted humans at various stages of transformation. Jesse's telekinetic powers allow her to manipulate objects in her surroundings, using desks to attack enemies, or clusters of smaller objects to form a protective shield. She's also got a shape-shifting gun that we only got a taste of, but Remedy promised it's central to character customization as Jesse's mission progresses.

Whether it's the otherworldly manifestations or Jesse's impressive moves in combat, Control looks simply incredible in motion. Remedy has proved that it can craft shockingly mysterious worlds in Alan Wake, and Quantum Break was a showcase for the dev team's ability to mix super powers and shooting mechanics. Remedy is combining its strengths for Control, and the result so far looks like it may shape up to be their most impressive game yet. -- Peter Brown, Senior Reviews Editor


Cyberpunk 2077


The gameplay demo for Cyberpunk 2077 is completely overwhelming. There's a moment when you leave main character V's apartment and enter a lift. It has a clear glass door, and as you descend the stacks of small flats become a freeway filled with speeding cars, and then down to the seedy underbelly of the city. It happens completely seamlessly, without a loading screen, and drives home perhaps to most impactful thing about CD Projekt Red's new game: you are insignificant--at least to start with.

The world of Cyberpunk doesn't feel like a video game city where a story will happen to you, it's feels like a place that has always existed, and your story is just one of thousands happening at the same time. You're not the sole focus, the special one. The game isn't explaining its systems to you, telling you who everyone is and what everything means, it just is. The onus is on you to look at it, learn about it, and understand it. And that is what V aims to do as he or she takes on jobs to pay off debts and work her way into the upper echelons of society. There's plenty to say about Cyberpunk 2077's gameplay too--the fluid combat that allows you to dash around to gain the positional advantage, the exotic weapons that you can use to ricochet bullets or file through walls. The ability to hack people from a distance and turn off their guns, or be hacked so that all your secrets are laid bare and conversations become a lie detector test--but, honestly, I just can't get over the world and the storytelling opportunities it has in store for us. -- Tamoor Hussain, Editor


Dying Light 2


The original Dying Light made some clever choices in how it presented an open-world survival game. Focusing on undercover agent Kyle Crane's exploits in a ruined tropical city where the infected have taken over, the story took many turns--showing that there were worse dangers in the town aside from the hordes of zombies. In the years since it's release, the developers at Techland gradually fleshed out the scale of the game, adding in new multiplayer modes, DLC episodes, and updates that made Dying Light into something more. And after years of quiet development, the developers have finally unveiled the true sequel that looks to expand on the core systems, while telling a far more involved and dynamic story.

I had the chance to see a behind closed doors demo of the game, and the new approach to the game's storytelling looks to be a real standout. Taking place in the "modern dark age", a setting where technology is minimal, most areas are lawless, and firearms are in short supply--the new setting offers a greater focus on making important decisions, while staying one step ahead of bandits and the undead. With Chris Avellone, writer of Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 2 working on the main story, there's many key moments where your choices will make some drastic changes to one of the last cities in Europe. With a greater level of freedom for traversing the open-world, along with depth in the game's core combat system, Dying Light 2 is poised to be a stellar follow-up to one of 2015's most exciting games. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor


The Elder Scrolls Blades


The Elder Scrolls: Blades has distilled the essence of the franchise and has allowed it to live in your pocket. While it might not boast the huge world of Skyrim, Morrowind, or Oblivion, the dungeons are satisfying to explore, its inhabitants thrilling to slaughter, and loot rewarding to plunder. While combat is quite basic, it'll still take some practice to master. Striking enemies is done by pressing your thumb against the screen; the more accurate the thumb press the better chance you have for a critical hit. Once you spend enough time with the game, you'll get the timing down for combos and to deal more damage. There are also abilities like a shield bash and block and magic spells like an ice blizzards and a lightning bolt, which were available during the demo. But as with any Elder Scrolls game, plenty of other abilities and weapons will be at your disposal.

We saw an underground dungeon and a more open forest area during our playthrough, and these environments are surprisingly well rendered for a small screen. While we didn't get any time with the town-building aspect that was mentioned during the game's initial reveal, we're hopeful that it'll allow us to build the Tamriel town we envision. We'd expect The Elder Scrolls: Blades to expend every percentage of battery life left on our phones. -- David Jewitt, Video Producer


Forza Horizon 4


Launched in 2012, the Forza Horizon sub-series has become immensely popular for its more arcade-style approach to racing games. The latest entry, Forza Horizon 4, launches in October and represents the "biggest paradigm shift" for the franchise to date, Playground Games says. Set in Britain, the online-focused game adds a big new feature in the form of seasons. This is a big deal because as each season unfolds, the game changes with different road conditions and tailored new content. It's a cool idea, and one I'm excited to see play out when the game launches. Also new for the sequel is the ability to re-wind time and pause in online matches, while the Xbox One X edition will have a 60 FPS option for players looking for the slickest experience. There are more than 450 cars in the game, so you can be pretty sure that it will have something you're interested in. There are also really, really gorgeous skymaps thanks to Playground spending a year capturing the night sky throughout all four seasons. When you look up a the sky in the game you'll want to just stop and stare. You can pick up Forza Horizon 4 this October for Xbox One and PC (and there is cross-play!). -- Eddie Makuch, Editor


Ghost of Tsushima


The characters in Ghost of Tsushima fight with a deadly stillness, only moving when they need to attack or parry. There's never a wasted motion. Their silent duels are displayed against a gorgeous backdrop of falling leaves to create a beautifully juxtaposed silent foreground and emotive background. Ghost of Tsushima perfectly captures the same aesthetic of the old Japanese samurai films of the past.

I love Ghost of Tsushima's commitment to historical accuracy. Although the story is fictional, the Mongolian invasion of the island of Tsushima actually happened. The samurai were really wiped out, and the Japanese natives were at the mercy of an unbeatable threat. You can tell that Sucker Punch did their homework.

Although I could just stare at Ghost of Tsushima's gorgeous backdrops for hours, the game truly excels in its combat. The protagonist, Jin, is the last of the samurai. Faced against impossible odds, he needs to adopt a non-traditional strategy of subterfuge and assassination. The Mongolians refer to him as "a ghost," and this directly translates into the combat.

Jin is deadly with the katana and disposes of threats quickly and efficiently. He's a one man army who can silently stalk his target as easily as he can engage in a three on one duel. I love watching Jin stoically stand among a group of men who want him dead, before the quick flick and flash of his blade signals the loss of an enemy's limb. Jin's parries are typically rewarded with brutal executions except when he's dueling against a fellow warrior. Those fights are some of the most intense moments of combat I've ever seen. -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor


Kingdom Hearts III


For many fans, the Kingdom Hearts series is about being transported into iconic fantasy fairytale worlds and adventuring with beloved characters that feel more like old friends. My experience of playing Kingdom Hearts III after a 13 year wait is perhaps the most perfect encapsulation of that. In the time since the last mainline entry in the series I've grown older and more cynical, but the moment I heard the first few delicate notes of Dearly Beloved at the title screen, I became a teenager again. I suddenly remembered just how much I loved the series, and cared about the characters. Sure, older me knows that the story is mostly nonsense, but the joy I got from running around with Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the Toy Story gang completely pushed that aside. Kingdom Hearts 3 played almost the same as previous entries in the series, the camera is slightly wonky and the dialogue is awkward at times, but I just can't bring myself to get caught up on that, especially when wielding a Keyblade again is able to unlock the child at heart. -- Tamoor Hussain, Editor


The Last of Us Part II


Based on what we know so far, The Last of Us Part II seems especially brutal. But now that we've finally seen gameplay, we have a better understanding of the context of that violence, and that's one of the most intriguing aspects of Naughty Dog's highly anticipated sequel.

A lot of the combat in the section shown during Sony's press conference looks almost scripted--Ellie cinematically dodges melee strikes and gunfire, and she pulls an arrow out of her shoulder after a particularly harrowing run past some archers. But according to the game's co-directors, Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau, those moments are entirely in your control. Dodging is an active part of combat with a variety of animations depending on the type of threat, and dealing with arrows is a separate mechanic from healing with its own considerations and status effects.

All of this adds depth to combat that says a lot about who Ellie has become. Her transformation after the events of the first game is heavily hinted at in her movements; her strikes seem to have an immense amount of anger behind them, and her defenses reveal a person who is not only desperate to survive but hardened by having to fight. It remains to be seen exactly how combat works and how Ellie has evolved as a character, but this is a great start. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor


Resident Evil 2 Remake


Resident Evil 2's upcoming remake rides a fine line between new and old. While it triggers nostalgic memories with its familiar characters and locales, it instantly makes you uneasy with its new rendition of events and mechanics from the classic survival-horror game.

All throughout my plodding trek across the RPD, I rarely felt a sense of safety. An area would be recreated exactly as I remembered it, but then the game would completely mess with my expectations. The empowering over-the-shoulder shooting featured in latter games has changed to make shots harder to line up. A deeper focus on exploration with more freedom overall to explore and discover secrets offered a welcome change of pace, but at the same time, the absence of the series' iconic door loading screens created a more seamless, yet hostile environment than the original.

I walked away pleasantly surprised from my time with Resident Evil 2 remake. As a massive fan of the original, I had reservations. But after playing it, I can't wait to jump back in. There's something so special about the way it takes advantage of your knowledge of Resident Evil 2, pleasing you with its faithful renditions of well-known locations, while at the same time terrifying you with everything it does differently. This persisted all throughout my experience with the game, and I can't wait to see all the changes it makes once it finally releases early next year. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the latest game from Dark Souls and Bloodborne developer From Software. As you might imagine, given the studio's track record, it's a tough action-RPG. The developer insists Sekiro is not part of the Soulsborne series, but it still appears to be in the same vein.

This time round, the studio is exploring 16th century Japan, and you play as a one-armed ninja. Well, sort-of one-armed; your left arm is cut off by the game's main enemy, and you replace it with a customizable prosthetic. This can be equipped with add-ons such as a ranged Shuriken, or a Firecracker than can blind enemies and scare those who are frightened of fire, and a Loaded Axe to deal heavy damage. Of course, you also carry a sword: Miyazaki, the game's director, says he wanted the theme of Sekiro to be "a clashing of swords," and this is reflected in the game's combat. Your sword, which you hold in your able hand, is used to both injure your enemies and reduce their posture. Reduce their posture enough, and you can deal a deadly finishing move.

Of course, they can do the same to you, but should you fall, Shadows Die Twice has a handy solution: bring yourself back to life. You can resurrect in Sekiro, and this can be used to your advantage by letting enemies walk away before you come back to life and strike them down from behind.

Sekiro is to be published by Activision, and it's coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC in early 2019. For more on the upcoming action title, check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice gameplay impressions. -- Oscar Dayus, Staffwriter


Spider-Man


Spider-Man may well be one of the world's most beloved superheroes, but video games haven't done right by the wallcrawler in some time. After a smashing success with Spider-Man 2, paired with one of the best superhero films of its era, the character languished with a steady stream of high-concept but middling adaptations. With Insomniac's Spider-Man, the character has come back swinging. While Insomniac's take on the venerable character is unmistakably familiar, it's the little touches that make this latest iteration really stand out.

This Spidey is a master of improvisation, thanks to a mixture of Arkham-like combat mechanics and environmental hazards that are easy to grab at a moment's notice. The feeling of speed and momentum as he swings around New York City is unmatched by any previous Spider-Man game, taking him to new and dizzying heights. And visually, the character designs stand out as unique takes on classic characters, from Spider-Man's own duds embossed with a white emblem to the believably DIY take on Shocker that remains respectful of the source material.

All of this combines to make the character feel fresh again. It's been a long time since I've whiled away the hours simply patrolling the city, swinging and looking for citizens to save, and just generally being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Now I can't wait to step into his boots. -- Steve Watts, Newswriter


Super Smash Bros. Ultimate


By this point, you generally know what to expect from a new Super Smash Bros. game. Each installment in the series has built upon its predecessors incrementally, introducing a few new characters and stages, refining the underlying mechanics, and ramping up the fan service. And while all of this applies to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Switch as well, the game still manages to surprise and delight like few other fighters thanks to its sheer breadth of content and snappy combat.

True to its name, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is far and away the most feature-rich entry in the series to date, boasting a staggering number of stages, characters, and items. The roster in particular is massive; not only does it feature every character to have ever appeared in the series, but many of them have received dramatic overhauls, so even recurring fighters such as Ganondorf are as exciting to use as newcomers like Ridley.

But what makes Ultimate such an engrossing fighter and one of the best games we got to play at E3 2018 is that it fully embraces competitive play. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS made strides in this regard, but Ultimate doubles down by increasing the pace of its gameplay. The controls remain as accessible as ever, only now combat feels much speedier, resulting in even more exciting and intense battles. The game also places a stronger emphasis on skillful play by introducing directional air dodges and other advanced techniques. Like the best fighting games, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is easy to pick up but endlessly satisfying to master, making it one of my most anticipated releases of the year. -- Kevin Knezevic, Associate News Editor


Shadow of the Tomb Raider


The recent Tomb Raider games have focused heavily on fleshing Lara Croft's backstory, while making her overcome brutal and overwhelming challenges. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which aims to be the darkest game of the series, the adventurer will have to put a stop to the Mayan apocalypse in Central America. But while fighting off the forces of Trinity and other ancient threats lurking in the hidden tombs over the course of her journey, she'll begin to question whether her influence in the region is making matters worse.

I had the chance to play Shadow of the Tomb Raider at the game's reveal last April, and while it feels very similar to the past titles, the darker tone and story gives it a far more interesting flavor. Much like Tomb Raider (2013) and Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow focuses on giving players more freedom in how they'll the explore the environment, which will have the largest setting the series has seen yet. To go along with the darker tone, Croft will utilize a number of new skills and stealth moves to take out the heavily mobiled PMC forces that have invaded the land. It'll be interesting to see how far Lara Croft is pushed to her limits in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. And if our small hands-on time was any indication, the conclusion to the Tomb Raider origin trilogy will definitely leave a lasting impression on the character. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor


Skull & Bones


The backbone of Skull & Bones has taken all the best bits of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and added a level of breadth to create a fully-fledged pirate experience. Like the water ships sail upon, it both has shallow parts and a deep end. To beginners or wannabe sailors, there's enjoyment in taking the helm of a number of ships that have their own unique characteristics like speed, strength weapons, and abilities. For the hardened admirals amongst us, there are gameplay elements that would even test the heartiest of sailors. For example, learning to cut the wind so your ship can make the most out of speed and maneuverability as well as learning how to effectively disguise your ship to hide from AI and sneak up on ships in the horizon.

If you're looking for an authentic pirate experience, Skull & Bones is as close as you can get. Crews will shout and yell in response to commands, and during quieter moments they'll sing the sea shanties you love from the Black Flag, but they've been dialed up to 11. And all of this happens on beautifully rendered oceans dotted with islands and detailed historical vessels for you to cannon, board, plunder, and sink. -- David Jewitt, Video Producer


Tom Clancy's The Division 2


As with the original Destiny, the first Division improved greatly over time. Creating a shared world shooter with long-term progression that's meant to interest players indefinitely is no easy task. The Division 2 looks to be continuing that by introducing eight-player raids and DLC expansions that are free for all players (at least for the first year of the game).

In going hands-on with the game, it immediately struck me that its shooting mechanics have been enhanced significantly. While there remains a dissonance with the way human enemies can absorb numerous bullets, there's now a level of precision and tightness to the controls that was lacking in the original Division. Seamlessly moving between cover points feels better than ever, and the endgame specializations' special abilities--such as a crossbow that fires explosive bolts--are fun to use, even if they aren't as impactful as Destiny's Supers.

The improvements to the moment-to-moment action are welcome, but what's most encouraging is what Ubisoft is saying about The Division 2's endgame. Things like the aforementioned raids could present the sort of high-end, challenging activity that keeps players occupied after finish the main story. The company seems generally aware of the need to deeply invest in what players are expected to spend their time doing in the endgame, and that's encouraging. If it's able to pull that off and offer an interesting evolution of its PvP Dark Zone--something it isn't talking about yet for Division 2--Ubisoft might just manage to realize the vision it has for the franchise. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor


Xbox Adaptive Controller


The Xbox Adaptive Controller is an important piece of hardware. Not only does it allow people of all kinds of disabilities to play games, it also shows that Microsoft is willing to invest in catering to that audience.

The controller acts as an interface between Xbox One and any number of third-party controllers. This means those with disabilities can use whichever device best suits their needs--be it a joystick, chewing device, motion controlled switch, or anything else. As long as it can communicate through USB or 3.5mm jack, the Adaptive Controller can see it. What's more, Microsoft says this will be forward-compatible with all future Xboxes, and it's even open to making it work with PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller launches in September for $100 / £75 / AU $130.

-- Oscar Dayus, Staffwriter



E3 2018: Fortnite's Celebrity Pro-Am Battle Royale Tournament Winner And Photos

By Array on Jun 14, 2018 10:45 pm


Fortnite is perhaps the biggest game in the world right now, attracting a massive audience across PS4, Xbox One, PC, mobile, and--as of Nintendo's E3 Direct presentation--Nintendo Switch. But as a game that receives regular, free updates on a regular basis, it doesn't lend itself to a traditional E3 showing. Rather than show off what's next for the game, Epic promoted it at E3 by hosting a celebrity Pro-Am. That took place on Tuesday and attracted large crowds in Los Angeles, but more importantly, we have a winner--which means money going to a charity.

Ninja is known to be a massively popular Fortnite streamer and a strong player. He teamed with the musician Marshmello, and together the two of them came out as the Pro-Am's winners. They won $1 million for the charity of their choice, with all other participants also receiving prize money for charity. A total of $3 million went out to charities through the event.

The event saw a variety of celebrities--including Joel McHale, Jon Heder, and Paul George--teaming up with players and streamers, such as Ninja. We headed to the event, which was held at the Banc of California Stadium--a huge, 22,000-seat soccer arena--to snap some pictures of the action, which you can check out above.

The Pro-Am came on the same day that Fortnite was released on Nintendo Switch. That version consists solely of Battle Royale, the PvP mode that has boosted the game to incredible levels of success. From what we've played, Fortnite runs well on Switch despite its handheld nature, though you of course need an internet connection in order to play, which reduces how portable it really is. As for whether Nintendo's upcoming subscription service will be required to play, Epic isn't saying just yet. But it is yet another platform that Fortnite is available on, helping to bring its total player count to over 125 million, thanks to more than 2 million download it on Switch in its first day of available.



































Nintendo's E3 2018 Booth: All The Coolest Stuff On Display

By Array on Jun 14, 2018 09:58 pm


Nintendo had a lot of exciting announcements at E3 2018, but the highlight was definitely the roster reveal for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In case you missed it, literally every character ever released for previous games will be available to play along with two new fighters: Ridley and Inkling. But how did Nintendo show this off at its booth? We have the pictures to show you!

Nintendo has a major presence on the E3 show floor. As Microsoft has shifted its efforts off-site, the company behind Switch is in the Los Angeles Convention Center in full force. It has tons of demos for people to play along with glass cases featuring memorabilia tied to its many characters and games.

Alongside the displays depicting various Smash characters and items, you'll also see life-sized Pokemon and views of the epic wraparound screen. Attendees were able to check out not just new trailers for upcoming games but Smash matches as well while they waited in line.

While the new Smash was, as expected, the major focus of its Direct presentation, its booth was home to numerous other games. With the Pokemon Let's Go titles on the way, Pokemon had a strong presence, as you can see above. But the clear highlight was Smash, which is hard to complain about given the massive array of characters it boasts. You'll see items related to everyone from Donkey Kong to Bayonetta.

In case you missed any of Nintendo's other E3 announcements, you can catch-up on the company's conference news round-up here. And if you want to go beyond just Nintendo, don't miss out on the list of every new game revealed at E3 this year.




























Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: All The Characters Confirmed So Far

By Array on Jun 14, 2018 08:07 am


It's official: the latest entry in Nintendo's highly anticipated crossover fighting game series will be call Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And it's certainly shaping up to be one of the most exciting games coming to Switch. In a surprising, yet bold move, Nintendo announced that the game will include every single fighter that has ever appeared in a Super Smash Bros. game. Full stop.

Across the series' near 20-year history, there have been dozens of fighters. There's been enough that Ultimate is launching with over sixty different characters. Some new ones are being added too, like Samus' archenemy Ridley.

Ultimate is just going to get bigger from here, as Nintendo announced the series would begin incorporating a new type of fighter called Extras. These Extras are essentially reskins of previous characters. But it opens up Ultimate to an entire pantheon of additional fighters who can just adopt the moves of older Smash characters. Ultimate is launching with a few Extras, such as Princess Daisy who is a reskin of Princess Peach.

Nintendo announced Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during the company's prerecorded E3 2018 press conference. The new title will be Super Smash's debut on Switch.

For every other Nintendo E3 announcement, as well as plenty of other trailers, impressions, and features, stay tuned to our E3 hub.













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Princess Peach



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Ice Climbers


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All The PS4 E3 2018 Games Coming In 2018: Spider-Man, Battlefield 5, And More

By Matt Espineli on Jun 14, 2018 05:07 am

What's On The Horizon For PlayStation 4


E3 2018 is packed with a multitude of brand-new PS4 games. First-party games, like Death Stranding, The Last of Us: Part II, and Spider-Man, are some of the major highlights at this year's show. There's also a significant number of notable third-party games, like Battlefield 5, Hitman 2, and The Division 2.

With so many games being announced and showcased at E3 2018, it can be tough keeping track of all of them and their respective release dates. After all, not everything at the show is scheduled to come out this year. To help keep you up to date with the biggest PS4 game you can expect to play this year, we've gathered all of the biggest ones here for your reference along with their release dates/windows.

E3 2018 PS4 Games

In this feature, you'll find brief descriptions of each game we've seen at the show. Though, if you're curious about the latest news surrounding it, be sure to click on its name to enter its game hub, where you can check out all of the latest news and previews we've written about the game, as well as any gameplay videos we've posted.

There's no shortage of PS4 game reveals happening at E3 2018, so be sure to check this feature often as we update it with even more games. And to make sure you don't miss a thing, refer to our E3 livestream schedule, which contains all the information you need concerning this year's press conferences, as well as our original programming. In the meantime, which PS4 games are you eager to play? Let us know in the comments below.


Assassin's Creed Odyssey


It might have been leaked by merchandise, but this iteration of Assassin's Creed has been confirmed to be at this year's show. Titled Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the game will be set in Ancient Greece and allows you to play either a male or female Spartan warrior protagonist. It'll also include dialogue choices and naval combat.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 5, 2018


The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit


The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is the latest game by Dontnod Entertainment. It takes place in the universe of Life is Strange, and puts you in control of a young boy who's greatest talent is his imagination. He thinks of himself as a superhero and explorer who fights against evil forces on his journey. Its events and characters are directly connected to the upcoming second season of Life is Strange.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: June 26


Battlefield V


For 2018's Battlefield V, EA and DICE are taking players back to World War II. Like Battlefield 1, its single-player campaign will be comprised of shorter War Stories that focus on specific aspects of the war. Multiplayer will see the introduction of playable female protagonists and--in a change from recent entries--dump the season pass model in favor of free post-launch maps and updates.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 19


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.

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita | Release Date: TBA 2018


Call of Duty: Black Ops 4


Activision's juggernaut shooter series is mixing things up this year, as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will not have a traditional campaign. While campaign is out, battle royale is in through fight-to-the-death mode called Blackout.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 12


Code Vein


Code Vein is a vampire-themed action-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. You'll brandish hulking swords and traverse a world filled with all sorts of grotesque creatures. The game is being developed by the same Bandai Namco team responsible for the God Eater series.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 28


The Crew 2


Ubisoft's new racing game The Crew 2 expands on the open-world nature of its predecessor by offering a much more diverse array of vehicles. That means more than just additional car types--you can drive planes, motorcycles, and boats. Not only that, but you can seamlessly transitions from one vehicle type to the next.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: June 29


Destiny 2 Forsaken


Destiny 2's next DLC expansion, Forsaken, appears to be this game's attempt at a Taken King-style revamp. It introduces new areas set on the Reef, new Supers, and a mode called Gambit that blends PvP and PvE. You'll also get the expected additions like more Exotic gear to collect, while a free update will introduce some other improvements (such as a new in-game achievement system) for all players.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 4


Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age


The latest chapter in Square Enix's beloved RPG series arrives in the West more than a year after its Japanese release, and it comes with some notable tweaks. We know the western release of Dragon Quest XI will feature a few new elements, including a dash function, redesigned menus, and a new Draconian Quest hard mode.

Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: September 4


Fallout 76


Fallout 76 is the latest entry in the tenured post-apocalyptic RPG franchise. It's the earliest game in the Fallout timeline, and it features major online components. From its recent trailers alone, the game has already captured the attention of the series' most ravenous fans. We're already imagining what sort of fights and awkward encounters we'll get into with others during our post-apocalyptic jaunt through the American wasteland.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: November 14


FIFA 19


FIFA is consistently one of the biggest releases of the year, and in a year where a World Cup will attract many new fans to the sport, FIFA 19 will likely be no different. The game will boast the UEFA Champions League license after primary rivals PES and Konami lost the rights to all UEFA club competitions earlier this year. The news means FIFA has a near monopoly over the world's major soccer licenses, including the 2018 World Cup, which came to FIFA 18 just recently.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: September 28


Hitman 2


Hitman 2 is taking its assassination simulator to new locations, like a Miami racetrack, but unlike the previous game, these will not release episodically. IO Interactive promises even more methods of taking out targets this time around, so we're curious to play around with Agent 47's new killer options--and track down the mysterious Shadow Client.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: November 13


Just Cause 4


Rico Rodriguez returns for another ridiculous adventure full of mayhem and destruction in Just Cause 4. This time, Rico will be taking his grappling hook, wingsuit, and other assortment of gadgets to South America.

Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: December 4


Madden NFL 19


EA's annual American football franchise returns this year promising better visuals and gameplay. Franchise mode sees new additions in Madden NFL 19, which is good news after 2017's game left a lot to be desired in that department. And for the first time in several years, the game will also be coming to PC.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 10


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


NBA Live 19


The latest basketball game from EA Sports was revealed; NBA Live 19 shows some new features like dances, emotes, player customization, and a bunch of fresh kicks. This feeds into the return of the player creator and single-player story mode called The One.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 7


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


Red Dead Redemption 2


The much-anticipated follow up to the Red Dead Redemption, RDR2 is actually a prequel to the first game, set 12 years earlier and focusing on the exploits of the infamous Van der Linde gang. You'll play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who holds the gang together as you face government agents and rival gangs. There will be shootouts, heists, and exploration, but on a much larger map than the original, along with a cameo from the first game's protagonist, John Marston.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 26


Spider-Man


While you play as Peter Parker in Spider-Man, the game won't rehash the hero's origin story. Instead, you'll play as an experienced Spider-Man tasked with defending New York City against a new super-villain threat. The action-adventure game, developed by Insomniac Games, is set in a modern-day open world. Spider-Man will use parkour-like movements, in addition to web swinging and crawling.

Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: September 7


Shadow of the Tomb Raider


Lara is back on her tomb raiding spree in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This time she's in the thick of the jungles in Latin America searching for a Mayan relic connected to her father. Little does she know she's about to set off the Mayan apocalypse, requiring her to save the world.

Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: September 14


Soulcalibur VI


The latest entry in the classic fighting series, SoulCalibur VI takes place in the 16th century and revisits the events of the original SoulCalibur. Like previous installments, the game pits two weapon-wielding fighters against each other in a 3D arena and introduces a new battle mechanic that allows players to defend and retaliate in slow motion. The game also brings back several classic characters, and adds crossover character Geralt from The Witcher.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2018


Spyro Reignited Trilogy


Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a collection of remastered versions of the first three Spyro the Dragon games, which all first released on the original PlayStation 1. Much like last year's Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, each game in the series has been completely redone with HD graphics with every level mapped faithfully.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 21


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 called Team Sonic Racing. 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


Transference


Transference is an upcoming psychological thriller made to be played on consoles or VR. It's a collaboration between Ubisoft and actor Elijah Wood's film company, SpectreVision.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Fall 2018


Unravel 2


Unravel 2 focuses on the adventures of Yarny, a small, woollen toy. According to developer Coldwood, the sequel will be a more upbeat affair than the original, with a slight shift away from puzzler and towards the platformer end of the spectrum. Yarny is more agile than before, and this is utilized in some of the story mode's trickier sections. New to experience this time around is the addition of drop-in / drop-out co-op play.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC | Release Date: June 9


Yakuza Kiwami 2


Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second entry in the Yakuza series. It's developed using the Dragon engine, which powered the series' most recent game, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. In addition to retelling the events from the original, Yakuza Kiwami 2 will include a new campaign called The Truth of Goro Majima that delves deeper into the backstory of the beloved, eccentric character.

Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: August 28



All The E3 Games Coming In 2018: Fallout 76, Battlfield 5, Red Dead Redemption 2

By GameSpot Staff on Jun 14, 2018 04:55 am


There are no shortage of announcements for the most heavily anticipated games at E3 2018. Across PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch, there are tons of exciting new games that we can't wait to play. However, not all of the games at the show are confirmed to release this year.

With so many games at E3 2018, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. There's a ton of new details being announced every day, so it's no surprise that some games get pushed by the wayside. To help keep you up to date with every game that will released before the end of 2018, we've gathered all of the biggest ones here. That includes everything from Battlefield V to Fallout 76, as well as the annual sports game lineup that consists of everything from Madden 19 to FIFA 19.

E3 2018 Games Coming In 2018

This feature contains brief descriptions of each game being showcased at the event. However, if you'd like to learn more about a game, be sure to click on its name to enter its game hub, where you can find all the latest news and features we've written about the game, as well as any new gameplay footage.

New games are getting revealed every day at E3 2018, so don't forget to check this feature often as we update it with even more games. To ensure you don't miss the biggest announcements, refer to our E3 livestream schedule, which contains all the information you need to know concerning this year's press conferences, as well as our original programming. But in the meantime, which games are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.


Assassin's Creed Odyssey


It might have been leaked by merchandise, but this iteration of Assassin's Creed has been confirmed to be at this year's show. Titled Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the game will be set in Ancient Greece and allows you to play either a male or female Spartan warrior protagonist. It'll also include dialogue choices and naval combat.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 5, 2018


The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit


The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is the latest game by Dontnod Entertainment. It takes place in the universe of Life is Strange, and puts you in control of a young boy who's greatest talent is his imagination. He thinks of himself as a superhero and explorer who fights against evil forces on his journey. Its events and characters are directly connected to the upcoming second season of Life is Strange.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: June 26


Battlefield V


For 2018's Battlefield V, EA and DICE are taking players back to World War II. Like Battlefield 1, its single-player campaign will be comprised of shorter War Stories that focus on specific aspects of the war. Multiplayer will see the introduction of playable female protagonists and--in a change from recent entries--dump the season pass model in favor of free post-launch maps and updates.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 19


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.

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita | Release Date: TBA 2018


Call of Duty: Black Ops 4


Activision's juggernaut shooter series is mixing things up this year, as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will not have a traditional campaign. While campaign is out, battle royale is in through fight-to-the-death mode called Blackout.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 12


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: Switch | Release Date: July 13


Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy


One of gaming's most recognizable mascots was remastered last year in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. This June, the remaster bundle--which contains the original Crash Bandicoot, as well as sequels Cortex Strikes Back and Warped--is coming to Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Platforms: PS4 (already available), Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: June 29


Code Vein


Code Vein is a vampire-themed action-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. You'll brandish hulking swords and traverse a world filled with all sorts of grotesque creatures. The game is being developed by the same Bandai Namco team responsible for the God Eater series.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 28


The Crew 2


Ubisoft's new racing game The Crew 2 expands on the open-world nature of its predecessor by offering a much more diverse array of vehicles. That means more than just additional car types--you can drive planes, motorcycles, and boats. Not only that, but you can seamlessly transitions from one vehicle type to the next.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: June 29


Destiny 2 Forsaken


Destiny 2's next DLC expansion, Forsaken, appears to be this game's attempt at a Taken King-style revamp. It introduces new areas set on the Reef, new Supers, and a mode called Gambit that blends PvP and PvE. You'll also get the expected additions like more Exotic gear to collect, while a free update will introduce some other improvements (such as a new in-game achievement system) for all players.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 4


Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age


The latest chapter in Square Enix's beloved RPG series arrives in the West more than a year after its Japanese release, and it comes with some notable tweaks. We know the western release of Dragon Quest XI will feature a few new elements, including a dash function, redesigned menus, and a new Draconian Quest hard mode.

Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: September 4


The Elder Scrolls Blades


The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a first-person, melee experience that focuses on the type of combat seen in other Elder Scrolls games. Players adventure through dungeons, but can also engage in PvP duels and city-building mechanics.

Platforms: iOS, Android, PC | Release Date: Fall 2018


Fallout 76


Fallout 76 is the latest entry in the tenured post-apocalyptic RPG franchise. It's the earliest game in the Fallout timeline, and it features major online components. From its recent trailers alone, the game has already captured the attention of the series' most ravenous fans. We're already imagining what sort of fights and awkward encounters we'll get into with others during our post-apocalyptic jaunt through the American wasteland.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: November 14


FIFA 19


FIFA is consistently one of the biggest releases of the year, and in a year where a World Cup will attract many new fans to the sport, FIFA 19 will likely be no different. The game will boast the UEFA Champions League license after primary rivals PES and Konami lost the rights to all UEFA club competitions earlier this year. The news means FIFA has a near monopoly over the world's major soccer licenses, including the 2018 World Cup, which came to FIFA 18 just recently.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: September 28


Forza Horizon 4


Microsoft and Playground Studios are back for another round of Forza Horizon, the open-world racing spin-off of Forza Motorsport on Xbox One and PC. The last time we saw the series was in 2016, with the game set in a condensed version of Australia. This time around it's set in Britain where you and other players are free to drive around the world at your leisure and participate in a variety of racing events.

Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 2


Hitman 2


Hitman 2 is taking its assassination simulator to new locations, like a Miami racetrack, but unlike the previous game, these will not release episodically. IO Interactive promises even more methods of taking out targets this time around, so we're curious to play around with Agent 47's new killer options--and track down the mysterious Shadow Client.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: November 13


Madden NFL 19


EA's annual American football franchise returns this year promising better visuals and gameplay. Franchise mode sees new additions in Madden NFL 19, which is good news after 2017's game left a lot to be desired in that department. And for the first time in several years, the game will also be coming to PC.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, | Release Date: August 10


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


NBA Live 19


The latest basketball game from EA Sports was revealed; NBA Live 19 shows some new features like dances, emotes, player customization, and a bunch of fresh kicks. This feeds into the return of the player creator and single-player story mode called The One.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 7


Nier Automata: Become Gods Edition


Xbox One is finally getting the critically acclaimed Nier: Automata, which first released on PS4 last year. It will release at a discounted price and will include all previously-released DLC.

Platforms: Xbox One | Release Date: June 26


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


Red Dead Redemption 2


The much-anticipated follow up to the Red Dead Redemption, RDR2 is actually a prequel to the first game, set 12 years earlier and focusing on the exploits of the infamous Van der Linde gang. You'll play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who holds the gang together as you face government agents and rival gangs. There will be shootouts, heists, and exploration, but on a much larger map than the original, along with a cameo from the first game's protagonist, John Marston.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 26


Shadow of the Tomb Raider


Lara is back on her tomb raiding spree in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This time she's in the thick of the jungles in Latin America searching for a Mayan relic connected to her father. Little does she know she's about to set off the Mayan apocalypse, requiring her to save the world.

Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: September 14


Soulcalibur VI


The latest entry in the classic fighting series, SoulCalibur VI takes place in the 16th century and revisits the events of the original SoulCalibur. Like previous installments, the game pits two weapon-wielding fighters against each other in a 3D arena and introduces a new battle mechanic that allows players to defend and retaliate in slow motion. The game also brings back several classic characters, and adds crossover character Geralt from The Witcher.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2018


Spider-Man


While you play as Peter Parker in Spider-Man, the game won't rehash the hero's origin story. Instead, you'll play as an experienced Spider-Man tasked with defending New York City against a new super-villain threat. The action-adventure game, developed by Insomniac Games, is set in a modern-day open world. Spider-Man will use parkour-like movements, in addition to web swinging and crawling.

Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: September 7, 2018


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.

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


Spyro Reignited Trilogy


Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a collection of remastered versions of the first three Spyro the Dragon games, which all first released on the original PlayStation 1. Much like last year's Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, each game in the series has been completely redone with HD graphics with every level mapped faithfully.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 21


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 called Team Sonic Racing. 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


Transference


Transference is an upcoming psychological thriller made to be played on consoles or VR. It's a collaboration between Ubisoft and actor Elijah Wood's film company, SpectreVision.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Fall 2018


Unravel 2


Unravel 2 focuses on the adventures of Yarny, a small, woollen toy. According to developer Coldwood, the sequel will be a more upbeat affair than the original, with a slight shift away from puzzler and towards the platformer end of the spectrum. Yarny is more agile than before, and this is utilized in some of the story mode's trickier sections. New to experience this time around is the addition of drop-in / drop-out co-op play.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC | Release Date: June 9


Yakuza Kiwami 2


Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second entry in the Yakuza series. It's developed using the Dragon engine, which powered the series' most recent game, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. In addition to retelling the events from the original, Yakuza Kiwami 2 will include a new campaign called The Truth of Goro Majima that delves deeper into the backstory of the beloved, eccentric character.

Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: August 28



23 Things We Learned About The Ghost Nation In Westworld Season 2, Episode 8

By Michael Rougeau on Jun 14, 2018 04:38 am

Westworld Season 2 spoilers ahead!


Westworld Season 2 hasn't been the most emotional TV journey. Many of our favorite characters from Season 1 have turned into cold-blooded killing machines, and for every reunion of Maeve with her daughter, there's been two unspeakable bloodbaths.

That makes Season 2, Episode 8, "Kiksuya," the exception to the season's rule. The episode followed Akecheta, a character who's been mostly in the background up until now. The Ghost Nation warrior took center stage this week, and we got to see the emotional journey he's been on apparently since the park's opening.

That's not all--"Kiksuya" also answered every question about the mysterious Ghost Nation, including ones that we'd forgotten we had, such as how they knew more about Westworld's nature than other hosts. This episode was packed with revelations, so here's everything we learned in Westworld Season 2, Episode 8, "Kiksuya."


1. The Man in Black survived.


Bill has lived to die another day, despite being shot like five times. Does this mean he's actually a host? Probably.


2. The Ghost Nation saved Maeve's "daughter."


They didn't kill her, like Maeve apparently assumed they would.


3. Maeve's daughter is apparently woke.


It seems Anna is remembering her past life with Maeve.


4. The Ghost Nation had contacted her before.


As we learn later in the episode, Anna once saved Akecheta, and the warrior repaid her by showing her the maze.


5. Sizemore has a heart?


Or an ulterior motive for saving Maeve. Maybe a little bit of both?


6. Akecheta had a past life.


Before his life was rewritten as the Ghost Nation, Akecheta lived a peaceful life with a woman named Kohana. He's spent decades trying to find her again.


7. Akecheta was the first of the Ghost Nation to "awaken."


He discovered Dolores and Arnold's bodies, and sees the maze for the first time, during the park's earliest days.


8. Akecheta is behind the Ghost Nation's obsession with the maze.


He indoctrinated the other warriors one by one, setting many of the show's events in motion many years earlier. He also is responsible for many of the maze emblems hidden around Westworld.


9. Akecheta remembers being redesigned.


After the park's beta period, Ford ordered a complete narrative redesign, including swapping Akecheta's peaceful life for a bloodier path.


10. This is what happened to Logan.


When young William sent Logan packing in Season 1, he wasn't immediately picked back up by the park's employees, like you might assume. He apparently wandered through the desert and likely almost died.


11. It was Logan who gave Akecheta the idea of another world.


"This is the wrong world," Logan muttered to Akecheta. Not that he could have had any idea what he was helping to set in motion.


12. Akecheta looked for Logan as he became more aware.


But, obviously, he was nowhere to be found.


13. Akecheta found the Valley Beyond.


He found the Valley Beyond--or "the Door"--before it was complete, and long before Dolores knew about it. This episode is changing the way we look at the entire show.


14. Other Ghost Nation hosts noticed their family members being replaced.


That's got to be a troubling realization.


15. Akecheta survived in the park for years without being killed.


"You're telling me that this host hasn't been updated in almost a decade?" This scene was still in the park's earlier days, it seems. Akecheta's journey was long.


16. Kohana wound up in cold storage.


Which means she's probably walking around in Dolores's army right now, since Dolores raided cold storage for troops at the end of Season 1.


17. Yup, Sizemore grew a heart.


This is not where I expected his arc to go.


18. Akecheta tattooed the maze on the inside of the warriors' scalps.


That explains that.


19. The Ghost Nation were trying to warn Maeve and Anna.


Not, as Maeve has believed all this time, to harm them. That changes one of the series' pivotal scenes in a major way, and it's unclear what Maeve will do with this new knowledge.


20. Maeve can communicate telepathically with hosts in the park.


This is revealed later in the episode, but it's first hinted at when Akecheta speaks directly to Maeve during his narration.


21. Akecheta had one fateful conversation with Ford.


Ford revealed in this scene that he knew even more about the park and the paths of the awakened hosts than we could have previously thought--although he didn't know everything. I'm so glad they got Anthony Hopkins to come back for a few episodes in Season 2.


22. Akecheta calls Dolores the "Deathbringer."


That's a badass nickname for the show's villain.


23. Emily is still chasing her dad.


It's surprising that she hasn't given up on him yet, although since he's probably a host, she may be in for a nasty surprise.



Fortnite: Battle Royale Nintendo Switch Guide - Tips For Advanced Players

By GameSpot Staff on Jun 14, 2018 02:38 am

Pro Tips


Players who are keen on winning have a lot of things to keep in mind if they want to succeed in Fortnite: Battle Royale. The game marries the last-player-standing multiplayer competition of the battle royale genre with resource-gathering and building mechanics, and knowing the ins and outs of both are the only way to win. Not only do you need to outsmart and outgun other players-- you need to effectively use your building capabilities to traverse the map, fortify your positions, and beat out the competition.

Players who've been around the block in Fortnite's single-player campaign have no doubt picked up a lot of tactics, strategies, and pieces of information that can help elevate them to multiplayer success. For everyone else, it can be tough to pick up on all of Fortnite's idiosyncrasies and hidden bits of information--especially since the free Battle Royale mode doesn't include a tutorial. Use these 10 tips to get an edge over the other 99 players in your Fortnite: Battle Royale match.

Do you have any advanced player tips? Let us know in the comments below. But if you're new to Fornite: Battle Royale, make sure to read our beginner's tips guide, as well as our guide covering all the things we wish we knew before playing the game. You can also check out our video guide on how to build more effectively.


Use Headphones


It really is tough to overestimate how crucial sound is in Fortnite. You'll use it to catch people sneaking up on you, zero in on enemies who are shooting at you, and track players for ambushes. You're at a disadvantage listening to the game over your computer speakers, TV speakers, or even a sound system, when compared to players who are armed with a quality pair of surround sound headphones. Sound is possibly the best tool in your arsenal in Fortnite, so make sure you're able to use it as effectively as possible.


Speed Is Key Early On


As you get the hang of the map, you'll want to move as fast as you can to find good weapons early. That starts with your jump from the game's flying party bus at the beginning of each match: If you're confident in your fighting abilities, pick a spot with lots of buildings, and dive straight for it. Avoid falling over hills and other high-elevation areas, as these will cause your glider to auto-deploy sooner than if you dive toward lower-elevation spots like water or canyons. The idea is to fall to earth as fast as you can, so that you can beat other players to the guns--and take them down.

While it's good for new players to close doors behind them to protect themselves, once you're used to the flow of the game, you don't have to worry about hiding yourself nearly as much. Get into a building, find what's useful, and move on as fast as you can--the ol' "loot and scoot" approach. Acquiring high-quality guns early will set you up for success against players who have weaker gear than you, so get used to moving on to new locations quickly, and looting as much as you can as fast as you can. Just be cautious about it, so that you don't bumble into an ambush.


Don't Pick Up Everything


Among the best habits you can make as you advance your Fortnite career is to be discerning about what you pick up and what you leave behind. It's tempting to snatch up everything you come across--because you never know when you might want to switch between a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun, right? In practice, though, you'll probably use one or two guns for most of a match, unless you've got the rarer and more useful ones like sniper rifles, miniguns, and rocket launchers. Having a handful of white or green pistols that you don't intend to use will just slow you down when it comes time to switch out for better loot. Instead, make quick decisions about what you need and what you don't, and act accordingly. Stopping to manage your inventory can leave you vulnerable, so grab only what you really need, and learn to ignore the less useful loot. Also: While you have to manually pick up weapons and items, ammo gets picked up automatically... so if you're looking at a pile of loot and all you want are the bullets, save time by just running over it to avoid accidentally picking up the wrong stuff.


Double Up Your Guns For Added Damage


While you're being discerning about what guns you pick up, remember that two of the same weapon can actually be pretty useful--particularly when it comes to the pump shotgun and the bolt-action sniper rifle. By having two of these guns in adjacent inventory slots, you can avoid the wait between shotgun pumps or sniper reloads, and instead just switch to your second version of the gun to fire a second shot immediately. The quick switch can be tough to get used to, but with the power that this move affords you, it's worth training yourself to switch rather than wait to reload. It's a great way to maximize your lethality against other players.


Chop Down Trees For More Wood


Where you get your materials matters. Especially early on, you want to grab as much wood as you can manage, as it's highly useful in battles and for protection. You can bash down buildings and break up boxes for wood with your pickaxe--but as it happens, these dispense less wood than trees. Pick the right tree, and you can gather up 40-plus units of wood from a single node, quickly filling up your materials and giving you plenty to use in a pinch. Pine trees whose green portions reach close to the ground tend to be the best, but it's worth experimenting as you play, to learn where on the map you can get the most materials fastest.

The same is true with other materials. Brick walls yield some brick, but piles of rocks out in the wilderness are even better. You can also get a decent haul of metal from destroying vehicles, but be wary: Sometimes, smashing up a car will set off its alarm, which can draw other players to your location.


Wood Trumps Metal (In Certain Cases)


Materials in Fortnite have a few little quirks. Generally, wood is the weakest material, while brick is a little stronger, and metal is the strongest. In practice, this means that wood structures can take the least amount of damage before they break altogether, brick structures have more health than wood, and metal structures have the most health. Heavier materials come with drawbacks, though. Brick structures take longer to build (and reach full health) than wood structures do, and metal takes the longest.

Wood really shines when it comes to quickly dropping walls in the middle of a firefight. The thing is, a freshly spawned, incomplete wood wall starts with more health than a freshly spawned, incomplete brick or metal wall (100 health points for the wood, 70 for the brick or metal). That means a wood wall can save you from more shots when you're building in the heat of battle than the other two materials. The easiest way to think about it is this: A fresh wood wall will collapse after two close-range shotgun blasts when you first drop it; a brick or metal wall will collapse after only one shotgun blast. Use wood for firefights, and save your brick and metal for stronger fortifications closer to the end of a match.


Take (Or Build) The High Ground


High ground will win you fights in Fortnite, and that doesn't just mean high hills or cliffs--although these offer better vantage points in general. In firefights, practice quickly building upward as you fight enemies. You can drop walls and then ramps to protect yourself as you climb, and shooting down on other players nets you more headshots and damage, while offering you better protection. Quickly making a ramp surrounded by walls means that you can jump up and take potshots at enemies below while also making yourself extremely tough to hit. When you can, build up for the advantage... and if the other player is trying to get above you, try to get higher or force them to change locations, to take their advantage away. Just make sure to quickly pop wood walls in front of your ramps, lest the other player blast them out from under you. Hitting the bottom of a ramp will collapse it, and the damage you take from falling could cost you the fight (and the match).


Watch For (And Mark) Supply Drops


Every so often, the flying bus will drop a supply crate. The crates' drop positions are marked by blue smoke grenades on the ground, and they float down on balloons once they're dropped. These crates contain some of the best loot in the game, including the minigun and rocket launcher, so they're definitely worth your attention--but they're likely to attract other players, too.

Supply drops are great places for an ambush, and one way to pin down where the drop will be is to "mark" it. Like just about everything in Fortnite, supply drops are destructible, and you can damage their balloons from afar with your gun. Doing so causes the crate's health bar to pop up, which stays on your screen even if structures or other things obstruct your line of sight to the crate itself. Marking crates means that you can more easily get to them when they hit the ground, but be ready to fight anyone else with the same idea.


Use The Storm To Your Advantage


The ever-advancing storm--the circle that constantly contracts to make the play area smaller and smaller--is a danger that you constantly need to avoid in Fortnite. It also affords some benefits, however. While the storm damages you when you're in it, for much of any given match, that damage is not immediately deadly. You can sometimes use this tactically; the edge of the storm is a great place to catch desperate players as they scramble to get to safety. Conversely, you might be able to duck through the tough-to-see-through edge early in the match to lose anyone in the eye of the storm who's battling you (although that's a tough gamble, and not for everyone).

Especially in a match's endgame, the storm can be a tool as much as it is a danger. It lets you ensure that you won't be attacked from behind when you keep close to its edge. If you're more centrally located and can take up a good position, the shrinking circle can help you as it forces players to either take storm damage, or move toward you and open themselves up to attack. It's important to always stay aware of the circle--but as the match draws toward its end, keep thinking about where you can set yourself up to use the storm as a weapon against your enemies.


Complete Daily Challenges To Earn V-Bucks


V-Bucks are Fortnite's premium currency, which can be used to purchase cosmetic items to make your character wear cooler clothes or deploy more fun emotes. The best way to get an effective amount of V-Bucks is to buy them with real money. If you're willing to put in the time, it's also possible to earn a few just by playing the game--but it'll take you a while.

Playing Fortnite earns you experience points based on your performance in a match, and each time you earn enough, you level up, which earns you one "Battle Star." After grabbing 10 Battle Stars, you advance to a new "tier," and at certain tiers, you unlock new emotes and other items. It's possible to earn tiers faster by completing Daily Challenges, which are listed on the Lobby screen when you log into Fortnite. Challenges require you to complete special actions, like killing a set number of players with a specific gun. Challenges give you a bunch of experience points and five Battle Stars for completing them, which can help you earn tiers a lot quicker. If you're playing for free, you can earn 100 V-Bucks roughly every 14 tiers (which isn't very much).

Your return on investment is slightly better if you pony up the money to purchase the V-Bucks for a "Battle Pass," which will run you 950 V-Bucks--or a little less than $10 ($9.99 buys you 1,000 V-Bucks). The Battle Pass puts you on a different, much more rewarding tier track, allowing you to earn a lot more cosmetic gear as you level up. The Battle Pass track also includes V-Bucks, dishing out 100 V-Bucks once about every seven tiers, but it also comes with experience point boosts that can get you there quicker.



Fortnite: Battle Royale Nintendo Switch Guide - 12 Useful Tips To Know Before Playing

By GameSpot Staff on Jun 14, 2018 02:37 am

Things We Wish We Knew


When you first pop into the free, competitive multiplayer Battle Royale version of Fortnite: Battle Royale--without first buying its cooperative counterpart--you'll find a lot that doesn't get explained. Fortnite: Battle Royale offers no tutorial to guide you through its essential mechanics, so it's up to players to discover its nuances, mostly through rigorous trial and error, spectating other players, and dying. The Battle Royale mode also features a whole bunch of guns, materials, structures, and items to learn about and understand, as well as how they interact with each other and the game's systems.

Fortnite is full of little tricks and idiosyncrasies that aren't immediately obvious, especially with its emphasis on gathering resources and building structures as part of its combat. Once you know them, however, they'll make you a much more effective player. Here are the 12 things we wish we knew about Fortnite: Battle Royale before we started playing.

In a rather surprising announcement, Nintendo revealed and launched the game on the Switch. While you could experience the popular battle royale game on the go with the mobile version, you can now experience an even sharper version on Nintendo's popular handheld.

Got any tips you don't see here? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're new to Fornite: Battle Royale, check out our beginner's tips guide and the six biggest mistakes that beginners make, but if you're more advanced, be sure to read our advanced tips guide.


Aiming Matters When Gathering Resources


Whenever you start hammering away at a wall, tree, or pile of rocks to gather resources, you'll notice that a weird blue icon appears on the thing you're smacking. That little marker turns gathering resources into something more active than just holding a button down for a few seconds. You want to move your crosshair over each new blue icon with every swing of your pickaxe. This earns you the most resources you can get with each hit, and increases your harvesting efficiency--which means you'll grab more building materials and leave yourself less vulnerable.


The Shotgun Is Highly Effective


It shouldn't always be your main weapon, but it's a pretty good idea for you to have a shotgun on-hand whenever possible--even a weak one. Fortnite's shotguns have decent range and a big spread (at least for the time being), which means they're great catch-all guns for dropping already-injured targets. Time and again, we've seen players use shotguns as the clean-up hitter of their arsenal; they might fire a rocket in the vicinity of an enemy to knock out their shield, or hit them with a rifle as they close the gap, but the shotgun is often the weapon that closes the deal. Don't be afraid to use it at close- to mid-range. And aim high, because headshots can be very painful.


Crouch And Shoot


A lot of the guns in Fortnite aren't quite as accurate as in some other shooters, and that can make for tough fights, especially when you engage players at long-range. It's possible to increase your guns' accuracy in a lot of cases, though. Whenever possible to do so safely, keep still and crouch--it'll increase your accuracy, helping you take down other players more quickly. That doesn't mean you should stop dodging and stand still in the open during a heated battle... but if you spot someone on the move and are thinking about opening fire on them, you'll have an advantage if you get low and keep still.


Build To Save Yourself From Falling


Fall damage is a big deal in Fortnite. High locations are good places to set up and watch for other players, and when you get good at building, going vertical and taking the high ground is a very effective strategy. Falling off those places can be deadly, though, since shields don't absorb fall damage. Always remember that you can save yourself by using the build menu to quickly drop structures beneath you as you fall; so long as you're close enough to the wall of a tower or a cliff, you can instantly build a floor or ramp beneath you that can stop your descent and save you from certain doom. Use this trick to quickly make your escape from fortifications when someone starts shooting at you with rockets, or when you need to descend a cliff in a hurry. It's a lot easier than trying to find items to heal yourself.


Shield Potions Are Essential


Finding good guns is one thing... but really, the best way to make it through any given fight is to find shield potions. Fortnite doesn't effectively explain how its health system works, but the handiest thing to know is that blue shield potions make you more resilient to incoming fire, and they make a world of difference in any given firefight. As you loot in Fortnite, always drink shield potions right away to fire up a shield immediately, and stockpile the potions that you can't use immediately. They're worth carrying around; your character can drink a small shield potion in about two seconds, which is just fast enough to get you back on your feet as you duck around a corner or build a few quick walls to escape from an enemy.


You Have An Inventory Screen


It's not immediately apparent if you haven't played Fortnite's Save the World mode, but you have more than just the small inventory rundown at the bottom of your screen. You can access a much bigger, more detailed inventory menu--find it by pressing Up on the directional pad if you're playing with a controller, or "I" on a keyboard--and it shows everything you're carrying, including how much ammo of each type you have. The inventory menu gives you rundowns of your guns' statistics, including effective range and damage per second, which can help you decide what to hold onto and what to toss. That's the other handy thing about the inventory menu: It offers you the option to drop weapons onto the ground. Use that to hand off guns, items, or ammo to your teammates, or just to organize your inventory so that you always play with guns and items of specific types in the same slots. The repetition of knowing where you keep heals or certain guns can make it a lot easier for you to switch in a hurry.


Use Bushes And Trees For Concealment


Fortnite's cartoonish art style means that player silhouettes are pretty obvious at a distance--especially when you add in the dust trails left by sprinting across open ground. But you can find a few good places to hide, especially if you're smart about it. While many bushes are solid, you can slip inside some of them, which mostly conceals your character and make you tough to spot at a distance. The same is true of many pine trees, which you can generally duck beneath; these offer decent concealment, especially from above. Stealth can take you a long way if you're patient and don't move too much when sneaking up on people. By the same token, don't ignore those light green bushes around you. Smart players treat them like they might always be concealing someone, especially in the endgame of a match. Putting a shot or two into a bush will quickly reveal if anyone is hiding in it: Watch for the blue flash of their shield taking damage.


Throw Up Some Walls To Protect Downed Teammates


Once you hear it, it seems like a no-brainer, but this is one of those things that's easy to forget if you're used to playing other Battle Royale games. In Fortnite, you want to try to think about how you can solve problems by building--and creating a few quick fortifications can buy you precious extra seconds while you heal a teammate who has been knocked down by gunfire. Just remember to use wood if you're currently under fire; it'll build the fastest, and it can take the most punishment from other players immediately after being deployed. If you're in a rough battle situation, though, you might need multiple layers (or you might just need to leave your friend hanging while you take out the attackers).


Open Doors (Usually) Mean A Place Has Been Looted


Savvy players know that doors can tell you a lot. An open door on a building might mean someone's inside; more often, it means that someone has at least been through that building and taken all the good stuff already. By the same token, closing doors behind you is a good way to throw off other players, or to catch the unwary in ambshes. In our experience, not only are the outer doors of untouched buildings always closed in Fortnite, but so are the inner ones. If you step into a structure that you think is full of loot and start seeing open doors between rooms, it should put you on guard--it might mean someone is lying in wait ahead. Open doors are also a good indicator of buildings that you can skip altogether, to avoid wasting time searching places that have little to offer.


Traps Are A Thing


Traps are a holdover from the cooperative campaign version of Fortnite, and they pop up in Battle Royale to change some situations significantly. You'll find them occasionally in loot drops or certain locations (like mines), and you can deploy them on structures. They don't have a ton of uses, since so much of the Battle Royale experience consists of quickly hurrying from one building to the next, looting as fast as you can--but they do come up every now and then. Traps are great for leaving behind in a seemingly unlooted building in order to ruin the day of someone following you, or to place on your towers to dissuade anyone sneaking up below you. When heading into buildings, it's good practice to stand beside the front door and look inside to check for an ambush; when you do that, take a glance upward too, to ensure you're not about to stumble into somebody else's devilish plan.


The Boogie Bomb Is The Best


If you find the elusive grenade known as the Boogie Bomb, grab it. This thing is the goofiest weapon you can add to your arsenal in Fortnite right now, and it's hilarious as well as useful. When it explodes, everyone caught in its radius is forced to start dancing for five seconds, leaving them completely vulnerable to you cruising up and taking them out. It's especially handy for when you find a couple of other players already battling it out--with one bomb and a quick trigger finger, you can humiliate your opponents, eliminate them, and steal all their stuff.


Getting Good At Building Is How You Win


Grappling with all of Fortnite's systems can be tough--especially if you're using a controller. Between switching guns and building structures, the game has a lot of buttons to keep track of, and a lot of items to switch through with the shoulder buttons. But no matter what platform they're using, the best Fortnite players are expert builders. They've trained themselves through repetition to quickly construct walls, towers, bridges, and ramps in order to save their lives in the heat of battle, or give themselves a ridiculous advantage using height and cover. Though Fortnite has a lot in common with other Battle Royale games like PUBG, building is what sets it apart. If you come to this game expecting to play it like PUBG, you're going to get shut down over and over again by players who've learned to love carpentry. Get good at farming resources quickly and erecting structures even faster, if you want to be competitive!



Fortnite: Battle Royale Nintendo Switch Guide - 13 Important Tips For Beginners

By GameSpot Staff on Jun 14, 2018 02:33 am

Tips To Build Your Chances Of Survival


While you might be familiar with the battle royale genre--games that stick one player (or a small team) on a map where they fight against others to be the last one standing--Fortnite: Battle Royale is a bit different. The game takes the basic premise of the genre and adds its own twist that changes everything: You can instantly construct stuff like walls and stairs, allowing you to build fortifications to protect yourself and create your own tactical advantages.

Fortnite drops you onto an island with 99 other players, and the last player (or team) left alive wins. Though it's similar to games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, plenty of small differences make Fortnite into a very distinct experience. Knowing what to carry, when to shoot, and what to build are essential if you're going to be the last person alive on the island.

You won't find a tutorial in Fortnite: Battle Royale, so when you drop onto its island, all you have are your wits and whatever you can find along the way. Here's everything you need to know to get a strong start--and maybe survive long enough to find yourself a minigun.

Got any tips you don't see here? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're already a Fornite: Battle Royale veteran, check out our advanced tips guide, the six biggest mistakes that beginners make, and our guide covering all the things that we wish we knew before playing the game.


Pick Your Landing Zone And Avoid Other Players


Fortnite: Battle Royale starts with 100 players dropping out of a vehicle (in this case, a flying bus) onto an island below that's littered with weapons. Check your map at the outset and watch the flight path carefully--where you land is your first big decision in Fortnite, and it can help you get off to a fighting start.

Your first order of business is weapons, and if you're new to the game, you'll also want to try to avoid other players. Weapons are mostly found inside buildings, so pick a drop location with a few structures, but try to avoid major settlements or towns along the flight path early on. Those places have great gear, but also attract a ton of players; you'll want to avoid a fight straight off until you've gotten a little more comfortable with the game. Usually, it's best to hold off jumping for a few seconds to pick your spot and stay away from the largest pack, which usually jumps as soon as the doors open. You can also set waypoints on your map screen, making it easier to locate any structures or settlements you've got in mind for looting.

You'll start your jump by skydiving, but at any time, you can follow the onscreen prompt to deploy your glider. Flipping to your glider early will make you fall slower, allowing you to cover much more distance. Use this to get away from other likely drop points that other players might be headed to, but don't take too long--the faster you hit the ground and gear up, the better. Be sure to keep an eye out for other players dropping nearby as you head down, to avoid getting ambushed or falling into a fight. Your goal is to survive, so as you're learning the ropes, it's best to let other players take each other out, rather than go looking for a battle.


The Storm Is Your Greatest Enemy


Like PUBG, Fortnite matches are dictated by "the circle"--or, in this case, "the storm." Near the start of each match, a large circle will appear on the map in a random position, dictating the eye of the storm. Outside of this circle, the approaching clouds will damage and kill you. A timer in the corner of your screen notes when the storm will contract, creating a new, tighter circle. Over the course of the match, the storm will close in more and more, shrinking the play area on the island and forcing everyone closer together until only one (or one team) remains.

This means that paying attention to the circle's location and the timer are your top priorities. You can't just run to the center of the first circle that appears in a match and stay there, because smaller circles won't always have the same center point. Often, the movement of the circle means you'll have to make a run for it to escape the storm, leaving you vulnerable to attack. Always keep the circle in mind, and know where you need to be. The best practice is to get there quickly and carefully.


Gather Resources First


When you first land on the island in Fortnite: Battle Royale, you'll be armed only with your melee pickaxe. You can fight people with it... but that's not especially effective, and will get you killed against pretty much any other weapon. The pickaxe's main use is for bashing through structures and gathering resources, the latter of which is one of the first things you want to do--provided you're far enough from other people that it won't immediately draw attention. Breaking up anything causes a commotion; for instance, you might destroy some vehicles to get a decent bounty of metal, but you risk triggering its alarm and broadcasting your location to other players.

To start: Smash walls, structures, and (especially) trees, and gather yourself at least 300 units of wood. This will supply you with key materials that can keep you alive. If you switch to the building menu, you'll see that you can cycle through a few structures, like floors, roofs, walls, and stairs. You'll need resources to build those things, so gather materials quickly before taking off toward the circle. It's much safer taking time to gather materials in the early game than it will be later on, and you can smash just about anything to get the wood, brick, and metal necessary to make stuff.


Practice Building (Especially Under Fire)


With your resources in-hand, you'll want to spend your first few matches learning the ways that buildings can help you. Building structures is Fortnite's claim to fame--and using structures creatively will get you out of trouble, help you traverse the map, and provide cover in a firefight. You don't want to be building constantly, but you need to get comfortable with the system, so that you can make whatever you want as fast as possible when things get hairy.

The build menu lets you choose a structure, its material, and its location very quickly. Once you click the button to start building something, it constructs itself automatically. This means that even under fire, building is a viable option: If you start to take fire, you can lay down a wall ahead of you to absorb some of the incoming bullets while you use it as cover and shoot back. Ramps get you over otherwise impassable terrain and can help you create instant high ground that give you an advantage over other players. It's a system that you definitely shouldn't sleep on, because it can give you serious advantages.

Just note that structures make noise as you're constructing them, and messing around in the build menu can leave you vulnerable. Player structures are also visually very conspicuous. The various materials have their pros and cons, too; brick and metal sound like the stronger materials at first blush, but using them in construction takes longer than wood, and they can be tougher to find. In touch-and-go battle situations when you need immediate cover, wood is usually the right call, while brick and metal are better saved for endgame fortifications when you expect to be in tougher fights.


Gear Up


As soon as you hit the ground, it's time to hunt for weapons, so head into a building and grab whatever's there. All your usable items go into one of five inventory slots, located on the bottom of your screen (that goes for guns, as well as health and support items). You'll want to get armed with whatever you can find straight away--but don't be afraid to drop things in favor of better weapons.

Weapons come in several varieties. You'll find close-range shotguns and long-range assault and sniper rifles, as well as pistols, SMGs, and occasionally rocket launchers and more. Weapons also have rarity classifications: Weapons with white auras around them and white icons in your inventory are the most common and also the weakest; green are uncommon and a little better; blue are rare and better still; purple are epic; orange are legendary; and gold are mythic. As a general rule, the higher the tier of the gun--and the better it is. Rarer weapons are often more accurate and more powerful, and come with add-ons like silencers or scopes. Swap out more common guns for rarer ones during the course of the match to increase your firepower.

You'll find a lot of these rarer guns in treasure chests, which are hidden in buildings. These are indicated by a glowing gold light and a humming sound, but they're usually hidden behind walls that you might have to destroy (or attics that you'll need to build stairs to reach). Always try to seek out chests, as they have valuable gear--such as bandages and shield potions--as well as guns. You'll definitely need all the supplies you can get if you want to be a contender in a match's late game.


Keep Quiet


The large scope of Fortnite: Battle Royale's island means that players can spread out quite a bit. Finding other people and avoiding detection are two of your main concerns in a given match, because it's easy to get ambushed or taken out from afar. Especially as matches go on and the play area contracts, you'll be closer to players--and they'll be able to hear you moving around, building, and shooting. Sound and silence are essential tools to victory, and good speakers or headphones is highly recommended to help you get a bead on what's happening around you and locating the source of sounds.

Running is a noisy way to move around, and sprinting is even louder, and even kicks up some dust behind you. You can reduce your movement sounds by crouching and moving more slowly, but note that even rotating your character creates the sound of footsteps. Doors also make a ton of racket, but in Fortnite, you'll often find it's possible to jump through a window and avoid doors entirely. You'll also want to avoid shooting unless absolutely necessary, as the sound is like raising a flag on your location--although silenced weapons help with that issue a great deal.

Finally, gathering resources with your pickaxe and building stuff makes a lot of noise, often for an extended period of time. These are essential to survival at Fortnite, but always be aware that when you smash or build things, you might be giving away your location.


Don't Fight Unless You're (Pretty) Sure You Can Win


Firefights in Fortnite, as in other Battle Royale games, can start out looking like clear victories and quickly become disasters. Your greatest advantage at all times is surprise, but you only have one life to live. This crucial fact means that often, it's better to ignore another player and stay hidden (if you can't get the jump on them), rather than attack them and risk losing it all, even when you have great weapons.

Aiming in Fortnite is a little harrowing as well, which can make actually hitting other players tough at any kind of range. First off, you'll want to pick the right gun for the job: Up close, even a fairly common-level shotgun can be devastating with a headshot, while further away, assault rifles and sniper rifles can take people out before they know what hit them. Take your time, line up your shots, and make sure your opponent is within range so that you take them down before they can react. Survival is your most important goal, so use discretion: If you're not confident you'll be able to take down whoever's in your sights quickly and cleanly, you're probably better off letting them go.


Be Careful In The Open


Players used to PUBG know that the game often consists of sprinting across open ground, trying to get to a closing circle. In Fortnite, moving into the open is just as harrowing, because the cartoonish art style makes you more visible at a distance--and you can't get any lower to the ground than a crouch. This means picking your path when you move in the open is an essential skill to learn, and the players who live the longest typically minimize their time in the open or move smartly to different positions to avoid getting caught.

First, use structures and cover like cliffs and boulders to your advantage, to protect your back or sides and limit the areas you have to keep an eye on. Next, move quickly while in the open, and carefully and slowly when you're in cover. The human eye is built to detect movement, so you're safest when you're not in motion. You can occasionally hide among pine trees or in bushes to make yourself even tougher to spot. You'll also want to make use of Fortnite's third-person perspective to position your character to peek around corners and through doorways before you enter them, and avoid walking into an ambush (or right into someone hiding in a corner, out of your line of sight).

Another quick tip: Close doors behind you. It's an easy way to make it less obvious that you're in a building, and this makes it tougher for other players to track you.


Drink Shield Potions As Soon As You Find Them


Health in Fortnite: Battle Royale is divided into two types: your player health, which is a green bar on the bottom of your screen, and your shield, which is a blue bar--each topping out at 100 points. Shield depletes before health, and when your health is gone, you're dead. You won't start the match with a shield, however, so you'll have to find one.

Treasure chests are the places where you'll often find health items--and in particular, blue shield potions. These take up a space in your limited inventory, and since you won't start the match with a shield, it's usually best to drink these as soon as you find them, as your shield lasts until it takes damage. Shield potions come in two types. Larger shield potions give you 50 shield points, and can be stacked twice to double your health; smaller shield potions give you 25 shield. Only the larger potions can push you up to 100, though: If you use two small shield potions, you'll top out at 50 shield points.

Note that shields won't protect you from falling damage, so take care of yourself. If you can find health items like bandages and medkits, you'll likely want to hang onto them for later use (bandages give you 15 health to a max of 75, while medkits will heal you fully). A rarer healing item called Slurp Juice--which comes in a purple bottle--replenishes your shield and gives you back health over time at a rate of one point per second for 25 seconds, making it more versatile in a sticky situation. Even rarer Chug Jugs are also extremely useful, fully restoring your health and shield, but requiring 15 seconds of your time to use.


Watch For Player Buildings


As matches wear on, you're likely to start seeing player fortifications. The good news is that player buildings are usually square, blank, obvious towers... so you'll usually see them from a distance. They're great indicators of where players are staked out, so if you ever spot a tower or other fortification, you should absolutely approach it with caution--it usually means someone's waiting with a scoped rifle, hoping to take down passersby.

Often, when you're on the ground and spot a tower, it's best to keep clear of it. Usually, fortifications suggest that players are well-stocked and ready for a fight from a distance--and if they're up high, they typically have a line-of-sight advantage. If you're looking to fight someone in a tower or other structure, you're going to want strong weapons. The newly added minigun can chew up materials like wood and brick pretty well, and tough-to-find rocket launchers can absolutely devastate fortifications. You should always try to bring the right tools for the job.

Fall damage can play a big part in some of these fights. If you can destroy the bottom of stairs or the supports of a tower, you might be able to collapse it altogether, so pay attention to how you can use the environment and the construction to your advantage.


Never Trust Cover


No cover in Fortnite is foolproof. Just about everything in the game is destructible--not just player-constructed fortifications. Even buildings on the map can all be wrecked with the right weapons; locations that feel safe generally aren't, and every wall can be destroyed in the middle of battle.

This means that even when you're hiding out or grabbing cover in a firefight, you should always be prepared to move, strafe, run, and otherwise do your best to avoid fire. Walls won't save you--and especially late in the game, the likelihood of someone bringing along a rocket launcher or minigun to a battle increases tremendously. Those things annihilate cover pretty easily, so learn not to rely on it. Mobility is often your greatest ally, so jump and build to give yourself additional advantages in battle.


Be Careful When Looting Defeated Players


Fights in Battle Royale games are almost always close calls that fill you with adrenaline, and taking down another player always comes with a rush of relief. Don't let your guard down, though; every time you fire your gun, you announce yourself, and the loot that players drop when they die makes those locations targets for other players. Immediately after winning a fight is when you need to be extra-careful.

Instead of rushing up to a dead player and going through all their gear (which can leave you very vulnerable), it's often better to take a beat, grab cover, and survey the situation. Other players might be attracted to the gunfire or spot the loot as you're on your way to grab it, allowing them to get the drop on you. Similarly, you might be able to use the dead player's loot to get the drop on them. Being careful is key to survival in Fortnite: Battle Royale--so play smart, and always expect another player lurking nearby. The same goes for the supply drops, which occasionally get ejected into the sky by the party bus as it flies overhead. The drops have great loot, but almost always attract a lot of attention, so approach them carefully.


Use This Time To Learn


Most of these tips are geared toward teaching you how to keep yourself alive in Fortnite, and it can be tempting at the start to hole up inside a building deep in the circle with the first gun you find, trying to outlast everyone else. You might even find yourself getting into the top 10 players in a match without firing a shot. It's worth it to experiment in Fortnite: Battle Royale, especially early on. Learn your capabilities and get a handle on how other people play the game. In other words: Go get yourself killed.

Finding good weapon locations, discovering how to use buildings effectively, and getting used to how guns handle in firefights is all part of what it takes to win in Battle Royale games. Fortnite matches pit you against 99 other players, so the likelihood that you're going to lose is extremely high. Embrace it, and use your first matches to build skills rather than hide out in an attempt to win. You'll do better in the long run when you start to learn the ins and outs of the game, as well as what you're comfortable with and how you can best succeed. You can also spectate other players once you're dead, which can clue you in on how more experienced players approach the game--it's a highly useful learning tool.



The Biggest TV Shows To Watch In 2018

By Array on Jun 14, 2018 01:08 am


We're now nearly halfway through 2018, and the year has already seen some great TV shows, including Westworld, Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over the rest of the year...


Marvel's Luke Cage/Daredevil


Netflix, June 22 (Luke Cage)

Iron Fist and The Defenders may have cracked the impeccable partnership Netflix cemented with Marvel but that doesn't mean all hope is lost with the comic book giant's street level heroes. While Frank Castle came in to disrupt Marvel's small screen universe, it's clear that Daredevil and Luke Cage still have more work to do.


Preacher season 3


AMC, June 24

This adaptation of Garth Ennis's cult comic book has proved something of a mixed bag over the past two season; as Gamespot's reviewer Michael Rougeau said back in September, the show is "flashes of brilliance dragged down by hours of plodding distraction." But it's proved popular enough for AMC to greenlight a third season, and when Preacher is good, it's very good indeed. This season will see the show's trio of misfits--preacher-turned-criminal Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), outlaw Tulpi (Ruth Negga), and vampire Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun)--on the trail of God, who has gone missing from heaven. Their quest leads Jesse back to the a place he has spent his whole life avoiding: the Louisiana Plantation where he was raised.


Glow Season 2


Netflix, June 29

The comedy drama centered around an '80s all-female wrestling cable show was one of Netflix's most acclaimed new series last year, and it's back for a second season in June. Like Season 1, Glow will consist of ten 30-minutes episodes. All the main cast return, including Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel, Kate Nash, and Britney Young, with comedian Marc Maron playing their grumpy manager Sam. The first teaser was a glorious '80s music video pastiche, and it sets the tone for what should be another wildly entertaining season.


Heathers


Paramount, July 25

Heathers is the classic 1989 high school satire; it established Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as two of the biggest young stars of that era, and they went on to influence many high school movies in the following years. Three decades later, there's a TV adaptation of the '89 film on the way, in which "good girl" Veronica Sawyer attempts to navigate school life and deal with a vicious group of girls, all named Heather. The show features 10 hour-long episodes, and the cast includes Shannen Doherty, who played the lead Heather in the original movie.


Castle Rock


Hulu, July 25

The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.


Orange is the New Black Season 6


Netflix, July 27

One of the longest-running shows on Netflix, the sixth season of the women's prison-set drama returns next month. Season 5 was the hardest-hitting to date, with the shocking death of Pousey leading to the inmates rioting and seizing control of the prison. It all ended with the main characters being separated and sent to different prisons, so where this leaves the show remains to be seen. But it continues to be one of the best written and acted series around, so expectations are high for the next batch of episodes.


Sharp Objects


June, HBO

The HBO drama is inspired by Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. The series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who heads home after a stint in a psychiatric facility, only to find herself investigating the murder of two girls. If you take the tone and subject matter of Flynn's previous work (Gone Girl) and add Jean-Marc Vallee's (Big Little Lies) directorial skills into the mix, it's easy to see Sharp Objects' edgy allure.


Jack Ryan


Amazon, August 31

Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan has been portrayed by almost as many actors as James Bond, in a much shorter space of time; John Krasinski will be the fifth star to play the character since 1990. According to director Daniel Sackheim, this new 10-part TV adaptation of Clancy's best-selling spy novels will take Harrison Ford's more down-to-earth interpretation as the basis for the character, rather than the more heroic version played by Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. And of course, Krasinski is now the director and star of one of the year's biggest movies--A Quiet Place--ensuring that Jack Ryan will get plenty of attention when it premieres in August.


Doctor Who Season 11


BBC, October

It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.


The Walking Dead Season 9


AMC, Fall

While much has been written about The Walking Dead's falling ratings, it remains a hugely popular show, so don't expect it to go anywhere any time soon. The zombie drama returns later this year for its ninth season under new showrunner Angela Kang. Her predecessor Scott Gimple remains involved as AMC's chief content officer, and last month, he told Variety that Season 9 would see the show "evolve in a huge way." Could this mean the two-year time jump that occurred at the same point in the comic books? We'll find out in the fall.


Nightflyers


Syfy

Long before he created the world of Game of Thrones, author George RR Martin wrote the short novel Nightflyers, a sci-fi horror story about a group of scientists who embark on a mission into deepest space to make contact with alien life. The story was adapted into a movie in 1987 and has now been turned into a new TV show by SyFy. This is one of the network's biggest productions to date, and the first trailer suggests that it will be as much a horror story as a space adventure. Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol stars.


The Purge


Syfy

The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.


Maniac


Netflix

Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.


Titans


DC Universe

While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.


The Ballad of Buster Scruggs


Netflix

The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.


The Umbrella Academy


Netflix

A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.


Picnic at Hanging Rock


Amazon

The classic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the most distinctive movies of that decade; it's a haunting, dreamlike drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls while on a trip to the Outback in 1900. Amazon is bringing a new version to the small screen later this year, and the first trailer suggests it will expand on the story of the original while keeping its super-creepy vibe. It stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell from Game of Thrones) as the school's headmistress, and the cast also features Orange is the New Black's Yael Stone and Samara Weaving, who starred in last year's Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter.


The Twilight Zone


CBS: All Access

Since anthology TV shows are all the rage now, it seems only right that the granddaddy that started it all come out of retirement. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key and Peele) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, Logan) have teamed up to bring a new Twilight Zone to the masses. Sure, multiple versions of The Twilight Zone have graced the big and small screen over the past 60 years--some better than others--but now seems like the perfect time for the series to return.


Ozark, Season 2


Netflix

When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."


Better Call Saul, Season 4


AMC

Better Call Saul began life as a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad but has become a great show in its own right. The series is slowly heading to the point at which we first meet Jimmy McGill in Breaking Bad--he's now using the name Saul Goodman, and an increasing number of characters from the original show have made appearance over the past two seasons. But ultimately, Better Call Saul is about the bitter rivalry between two brothers, namely Jimmy, played by Bob Odenkirk, and Michael McKeen's Chuck. There's no premiere date yet, but production started in January, so expect it before the end of the year.


New Warriors


TBC

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is highly focused and tightly controlled, the same can't be said for its TV counterparts. Shows like Daredevil, Luke Cage, Runaways, Agents of SHIELD, and Cloak and Dagger are all technically part of the MCU too, but you'd hardly know it from the wildly different tones, styles, and general lack of references to each other. But many of these shows are great (let's forgot Inhumans ever happened), and they will soon be joined New Warriors. The offbeat superhero team includes Squirrel Girl, Mister Immortal, Speedball, and Microbe, and it's been described as much more of a comedy than other Marvel shows. New Warriors was originally set to premiere this year on Freeform, but despite the fact that the pilot reportedly test very well the network dropped in due to "programming issues." It's currently being shopped around other networks by ABC, so hopefully, we'll see it soon.


The Haunting of Hill House


Netflix

Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.


Luther, Series 5


BBC

Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.


The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina


Netflix

Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."


The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance


Netflix

It's been more than a year since this prequel to Jim Henson's classic '80s fantasy movie The Dark Crystal was first announced via this teaser, and while Netflix rarely announces release dates very far in advance, there's a good chance we might see it in 2018. We know that the show will consist of 10 episodes and will be overseen by Louis Leterrier, who is best known for directing Now You See Me and Marvel's The Incredible Hulk. While the original 1982 movie was only moderately successful at the time, it has gained a considerable cult following over the years, and with Netflix's deep pockets we can expect something lavish and highly imaginative.


Mindhunter Season 2


Netflix

This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.


Black Mirror, Season 5


Netflix

Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.



Every E3 2018 Xbox One Game Coming In 2018: Code Vein, Battlefield 5, More

By GameSpot Staff on Jun 14, 2018 12:45 am


E3 2018 is upon us, and that means announcements on countless new games are on the way, both in the short- and long-term. Last year, Xbox primarily used E3 as a platform to announce the Xbox One X. The console is undoubtedly a powerhouse, but gamers have been wondering which games they'll be able to play on Xbox's newest piece of hardware. No one has to wonder anymore! Already this has proven to be an incredible E3 with quite a few game announcements, and plenty of those games are coming to Xbox One.

Most of them are big multiplatform games, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield V. Players were already expecting to see these blockbuster titles going into E3, but many of these games are differentiating themselves from their predecessors by making significant changes to their tried-and-true formulas. The Xbox is also getting some excellent titles from smaller franchises, such as Unravel 2 and Team Sonic Racing.

To help you keep track of everything coming out over the next six months and what exactly each game has to offer, we've compiled all the biggest games expected to launch on the Xbox One this year. Click ahead to see the full list, and be sure to check back often as we update this gallery with more titles throughout E3.

Let us know which Xbox One game you're most looking forward to playing in the comments section.


Battlefield V


For 2018's Battlefield V, EA and DICE are taking players back to World War II. Like Battlefield 1, its single-player campaign will be comprised of shorter War Stories that focus on specific aspects of the war. Multiplayer will see the introduction of playable female protagonists and--in a change from recent entries--dump the season pass model in favor of free post-launch maps and updates.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 19


Bloodstained: Rituals 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.

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita | Release Date: 2018


Call of Duty: Black Ops 4


Activision's juggernaut shooter series is mixing things up this year, as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will not have a traditional campaign. While campaign is out, battle royale is in through fight-to-the-death mode called Blackout.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 12


Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy


One of gaming's most recognisable mascots was remastered last year in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. This June, the remaster bundle--which contains the original Crash Bandicoot, as well as sequels Cortex Strikes Back and Warped--is coming to Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Platforms: PS4 (already available), Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: June 29


Code Vein


Code Vein is a vampire-themed action-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. You'll brandish hulking swords and traverse a world filled with all sorts of grotesque creatures. The game is being developed by the same Bandai Namco team responsible for the God Eater series.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 28


The Crew 2


Ubisoft's new racing game The Crew 2 expands on the open-world nature of its predecessor by offering a much more diverse array of vehicles. That means more than just additional car types--you can drive planes, motorcycles, and boats. Not only that, but you can seamlessly transitions from one vehicle type to the next.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: June 29


Destiny 2 Forsaken


Destiny 2's next DLC expansion, Forsaken, appears to be this game's attempt at a Taken King-style revamp. It introduces new areas set on the Reef, new Supers, and a mode called Gambit that blends PvP and PvE. You'll also get the expected additions like more Exotic gear to collect, while a free update will introduce some other improvements (such as a new in-game achievement system) for all players.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 4


FIFA 19


FIFA is consistently one of the biggest releases of the year, and in a year where a World Cup will attract many new fans to the sport, FIFA 19 will likely be no different. The game will boast the UEFA Champions League license after primary rivals PES and Konami lost the rights to all UEFA club competitions earlier this year. The news means FIFA has a near monopoly over the world's major soccer licenses, including the 2018 World Cup, which came to FIFA 18 just recently.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: September 28


Hitman 2


Hitman 2 is taking its assassination simulator to new locations, like a Miami racetrack, but unlike the previous game, these will not release episodically. IO Interactive promises even more methods of taking out targets this time around, so we're curious to play around with Agent 47's new killer options--and track down the mysterious Shadow Client.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: November 13


Kingdom Hearts III


We've gotten sneak peeks at some of the worlds and characters that Kingdom Hearts III will contain, including Hercules, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story. We're not sure exactly what the story is going to be about, but we do know it is the direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 2 and an end to the saga.

Platforms: Xbox One, PS4 | Release Date: TBA 2018


Madden NFL 19


EA's annual American football franchise returns this year promising better visuals and gameplay. Franchise mode sees new additions in Madden NFL 19, which is good news after 2017's game left a lot to be desired in that department.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: August 10


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, 2018


NBA Live 19


The latest basketball game from EA Sports was revealed; NBA Live 19 shows some new features like dances, emotes, player customization, and a bunch of fresh kicks. This feeds into the return of the player creator and single-player story mode called The One.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 7


Red Dead Redemption 2


The much-anticipated follow up to the Red Dead Redemption, RDR2 is actually a prequel to the first game, set 12 years earlier and focusing on the exploits of the infamous Van der Linde gang. You'll play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who holds the gang together as you face government agents and rival gangs. There will be shootouts, heists, and exploration, but on a much larger map than the original, along with a cameo from the first game's protagonist, John Marston.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 26


Shadow of the Tomb Raider


Lara is back on her tomb raiding spree in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This time she's in the thick of the jungles in Latin America searching for a Mayan relic connected to her father. Little does she know she's about to set off the Mayan apocalypse, requiring her to save the world.

Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: September 14


SoulCalibur VI


The latest entry in the classic fighting series, SoulCalibur VI takes place in the 16th century and revisits the events of the original SoulCalibur. Like previous installments, the game pits two weapon-wielding fighters against each other in a 3D arena and introduces a new battle mechanic that allows players to defend and retaliate in slow motion. The game also brings back several classic characters, and adds crossover character Geralt from The Witcher.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: 2018


Spyro Reignited Trilogy


Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a collection of remastered versions of the first three Spyro the Dragon games, which all first released on the original PlayStation 1. Much like last year's Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, each game in the series has been completely redone with HD graphics with every level mapped faithfully.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 21


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


Unravel II


Unravel II focuses on the adventures of Yarny, a small, woollen toy. According to developer Coldwood, the sequel will be a more upbeat affair than the original, with a slight shift away from puzzler and towards the platformer end of the spectrum. Yarny is more agile than before, and this is utilized in some of the story mode's trickier sections. New to experience this time around is the addition of drop-in / drop-out co-op play.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC | Release Date: June 9



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