The list of things in life that are totally dependable is short, but it contains things like death, taxes, and a new Smash Bros. game on every Nintendo console. Nintendo's latest hardware is no exception--the company has announced that Super Smash Bros. will be coming to Nintendo Switch on December 7, 2018.
There's still a lot to learn about the game, but we have learned it will boast a massive roster comprised of every character seen in the series to date--including Snake. Beyond that, Ridley is also being introduced as a new character alongside Splatoon's Inklings, who were showcased during the initial reveal. Another change of note is support for all Smash Bros. Amiibo figures and the ability to select a stage before choosing characters.
If you're one of the many people looking to pre-order Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch, you've come to the right place. We've gathered all the information you need about the pre-order bonuses, special editions, and pricing below.
No Pre-Order Bonuses
Nintendo has not announced any pre-order bonuses for Super Smash Bros. for Switch. Some retailers are offering discounts for pre-ordering the game, which you can find below.
No Special Editions
As yet, Nintendo has not announced a special edition of Super Smash Bros. for Switch. If that happens, we'll update this article.
Pre-Order Super Smash Bros. for Switch
And now for the goods: Here's where you can pre-order Super Smash Bros. for Switch and how much it costs. Note that Amazon Prime members currently get the best deal, with $12 taken off the standard retail price. But if you set up a free My Best Buy account, you can get a $10 reward certificate for pre-ordering at the big blue retailer.
Netflix has released a new trailer for their 1980s wrestling show Glow AKA gorgeous ladies of female wrestling, based on an actual wrestling show from that period. The series has completed one hilarious and critically acclaimed season already, so the second season is pretty hotly anticipated.
The new trailer suggests that the show is taking on some pretty heavy social issues in this season, most notably sexism and racism. Considering that the show is set about 30 years in the past, social unfairness is a lot more pronounced which means the uphill battle is a bit steeper for the women. There is sure to be a lot of tension and drama as the wrestlers deal with producers who want to bump them, racist character names, and overzealous fans.
Netflix reports that this season will essentially be a continuation of the storylines from season 1, with the volume turned up a bit as the ladies deal with becoming local celebrities. The wrestling gets more intense which puts a strain on their friendships and their home lives, but it also makes everything more exciting, including the outfits.
Whether you're a fan of the series or not, I think we can all get into hardcore female wrestling and crazy 80s hair. Plus, WWE fans may have reason to get excited given all the crossovers from last season. The new season of Glow will be streamable on Netflix June 29.
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FIFA 19 is coming to Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch on September 28. The title marks the first game in the franchise to hold the official Champions League license since the 2007 spin-off UEFA Champions League 2006-2007, giving FIFA a near monopoly over the world's major soccer licenses.
Whether that news has you looking to get into the franchise for the first time, or you're a long-time fan who buys the newest edition each year, you might be wondering what editions of FIFA 19 are available, how much they cost, and where to pre-order. We have you covered below.
FIFA 19 Standard Edition
Suggested Retail Price: $60
This is the standard version of the game. Pre-ordering the Standard Edition nets you five Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (one per week for five weeks), Cristiano Ronaldo as a loan item for seven FUT matches, and Special Edition FUT kits designed by FIFA soundtrack artists.
The Champions Edition costs $20 more than the standard edition, but it gets you everything in the Standard Edition, plus a number of extras. Buying the Champions Edition bumps your FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs up to 20 (one per week for 20 weeks), nets you a UEFA Champions League Gold Player Pick (choose one of five 80 to 83 rated gold players from qualified teams), and adds Neymar Jr. loan items for seven FUT matches.
Like with the Standard Edition, pre-ordering from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate redeemable at Best Buy. And regardless of where you pre-order the Champions Edition, you'll get access to the game three days early (September 25).
The Ultimate Edition is the most expensive version of FIFA 19 but it offers the largest collection of loot. With the Ultimate Edition, players get everything from the Champions Edition, but their FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs is upped to 40 (two per week for 20 weeks).
Like the Champions Edition, if you pre-order the Ultimate Edition, you get access to the game three days early (September 25). The Ultimate Edition is not available for Nintendo Switch.
You can watch the whole, pre-recorded feed of Nintendo Direct here. As always, Nintendo will also host its usual Treehouse livestream throughout the remainder of E3. Check out our E3 hub for the latest news and updates from that, and watch all of Nintendo's new trailers below.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The biggest reveal of the show was no doubt Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is coming to Switch on December 7, 2018. It's built from the ground up, confirmed by Nate Bihldorff, a senior localization director for Nintendo. It's the biggest Smash Bros. game yet as it includes every single character to appear in the franchise's history. In addition, a villain of the Metroid universe will make a debut.
Ridley's Smash Bros. Debut
For the first time in the series, Samus Aran's arch nemesis Ridley will be a playable character. The debut was revealed through a trailer, where Ridley appeared from the shadows to attack Samus. Ridley is modeled after the character's Other M appearance, but alternate costumes and different colors were shown.
Fortnite
The wildly popular battle royale game Fortnite found a new home, and it's the Nintendo Switch. Revealed today during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation, a new trailer not only showed off the game running on Nintendo Switch but it's also out right now on the Eshop (for free, of course). Fortnite is out on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and iOS as well.
Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu / Let's Go Eevee
The Let's Go games are Pokemon RPGs, and you explore the Kanto region just as you would in Red and Blue. While you can't battle wild Pokemon, you can battle NPCs and other players, and those battles use the turn-based system of the main Pokemon games. Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee release on Nintendo Switch on November 16.
Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is serving up more chefs, more kitchens, more recipes, 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. It launches on August 7, 2018.
Killer Queen Black
The 5v5 objective-based side-scrolling arcade multiplayer game Killer Queen is coming to Switch this Winter. Players either gather resources, kill the queen, or capture the snail to win in Killer Queen Black.
Octopath Traveller
Octopath Traveller is a throwback turn-based RPG with a unique 2.5D art-style. It's sports a unique 2.5D art-style A new demo is currently available for download on the Eshop and it'll let you transfer progress to the full game as well. It's set to launch for Switch on July 13.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Nintendo's iconic strategy-RPG series Fire Emblem is getting a new entry, subtitled Three Houses. The trailer reveals new gameplay elements and long-time fans should be happy to know it remains true to the series' core mechanics. Traditional grid-based gameplay is on full display, and the story seems to play out the same as previous games, but there are some surprising differences as well. Check it out in the trailer above.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country adds new content and continues the story of Xenoblade Chronicle 2. This DLC follows up on an update released earlier this year that added a selection of helpful items and a New Game+ mode for players who purchased the season pass. It'll be available to season pass holders sometime in September this year.
Daemon X Machina
Cel-shaded mechs battle it out over a futuristic city in the reveal trailer for a new game called Daemon X Machina. It led the Nintendo Direct presentation and featured a heavy metal soundtrack with giant mechs in combat with little regard for world beneath them beneath them. It's set to launch sometime in 2019.
Hollow Knight
A Switch port of the independent hit Hollow Knight was announced in Nintendo's E3 presentation last year, but this Metroidvania-style game is out right now on the Eshop. Hollow Knight's distinct art-style is both dark and charming, which brings this side-scrolling adventure to life.
A new shared-world shooter is on the horizon. It's called Anthem, and it's set to release February 22, 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Developed by BioWare, Anthem is a sci-fi action RPG that puts players in the role of Freelancers, soldiers who wear high-tech customizable suits called Javelins.
If you're ready to pre-order Anthem after its full E3 2018 reveal, you'll probably want to know about the pre-order bonuses, special editions, pricing, and availability. You've come to the right place. Below, we've gathered all the information you need to choose an edition and get the deal that's best for you.
Anthem Pre-Order Bonuses
There are two versions to choose from, the Standard Edition and Legion of Dawn Edition. Here's what you'll get if you pre-order the standard edition from any retailer:
VIP demo access
In-game Founder's banner
A legendary weapon
Legion of Dawn Ranger Javelin armor
The Legion of Dawn Edition is more like your typical special edition release. Pre-order from any retailer and get the following:
Full Legion of Dawn armor set for all Javelins
A Ranger Javelin gear attachment
Digital soundtrack
Standard edition pre-order content.
There are some retailers offering other deals with pre-orders of Anthem. Pre-order from Best Buy and you'll get $10 rewards certificate in addition to the other bonuses already listed.
Insomniac's next game is Spider-Man, an action-filled game that doesn't just rehash the hero's origin story. Instead, it finds an experienced Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego defending New York City from a super villain threat. The game launches September 7 exclusively for PlayStation 4.
E3 2018 brought a ton of new footage of the game, showcasing its fluid combat and navigation. It's still too early to make any judgments, but our experience showed that it nailed the feel of Spidey, which is essential for a good Spider-Man game.
If you're ready to pre-order Spider-Man for PS4, you'll probably want to know what your options are. We have you covered below, with all the information you need about pre-order bonuses, the various editions, where to buy it, and how much it costs at each retailer. Let's swing into the details (sorry).
Pre-order bonus
Pre-order any version of Spider-Man, and you'll get a number of extra digital goodies. Here's a rundown of what you'll receive.
Spidey Suit Pack--Gain instant in-game access to three suits that alter your appearance and unlock new suit abilities.
Skill Points--Get a head start by having skill points to unlock abilities from the start of the game like active finishers, web grab, or faster web swinging.
Early unlock of a Spider-Drone Gadget--Unleash a mobile Spider-Drone to distract and web your enemies.
Spider-Man PS4 Custom Theme--Customize your PS4 with artwork from legendary comic book artist Adi Granov.
Spider-Man PSN Avatar--Represent your PSN profile online with the bold White Spider icon for your PSN avatar.
Spider-Man Standard Edition
The standard edition is just the core game, but if you pre-order it, you'll get the bonuses listed above. Here's where you can find the standard edition.
Amazon -- Currently unavailable at the time of this writing
The Digital Deluxe Edition of Spider-Man comes with the core game, the pre-order bonuses, plus a couple of extras, both digital and physical.
Marvel's Spider-Man: The City that Never Sleeps--consists of three post-launch story chapters featuring new characters and missions. Users will receive DLC by March 2019.
If pre-ordered before September 7, 2018, receive all pre-order bonus content, plus a custom, one-of-a-kind physical pin for Marvel's Spider-Man.
Here's where you can find the Digital Deluxe Edition:
Amazon -- Currently unavailable at the time of this writing
The Collector's Edition of Spider-Man comes with all the stuff included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, plus the following items.
Custom steelbook
White spider sticker
Mini artbook--contains unique, early-look concepts and unreleased artwork
Collector's Edition Marvel's Spider-Man statue by Gentle Giant
Marvel's Spider-Man: The City that Never Sleeps--Consists of three post-launch story chapters featuring new characters and missions. Users will receive DLC by March 2019.
Here's where you can buy the Collector's Edition.
Amazon -- Currently unavailable at the time of this writing
If you thought Lara Croft was the Tomb Raider in the two previous games in the series, you were apparently mistaken. When Shadow of the Tomb Raider releases on September 14 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, the developer says, we will finally experience the "defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider." This rebooted series has been terrific, though, so let's hope Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a fitting end to the beginning of Lara Croft's story.
Let's say you're ready to pre-order Shadow of the Tomb Raider. You'll probably want to know about the pre-order bonuses, special editions, where you can buy it, and how much it will cost. Below, you'll find all the information you need to make an educated purchasing decision.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Pre-Order Bonuses
You'll get a few bonuses if you pre-order Shadow of the Tomb Raider. For one, you get access to the game two days early if you order any version except the standard edition. If you pre-order a physical copy of the standard edition at most retailers, you'll receive a limited-edition steelbook version that comes with three art cards. If you pre-order a digital version of the game, you'll get a skills booster pack that unlocks one skill in each of the three skill tree paths. Aside from those bonuses, many retailers are offering exclusive pre-order bonuses.
PlayStation Store: Shadow of the Tomb Raider PS4 theme
Steam: Exclusive Steam wallpaper
Now onto the various editions and where you can pre-order them.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Standard Edition
In addition to the core game, this edition comes with the pre-order bonuses listed above. Unless you're an Amazon Prime member, Newegg is offering the best pre-order deal on this edition.
Amazon -- $60 ($48 with Amazon Prime) -- PS4 | Xbox One | PC
The digital deluxe edition of Shadow of the Tomb Raider comes with the game, plus an additional weapon and outfit, and the game soundtrack. Note that Newegg has the lowest pre-order price for this edition.
If you're sure you'll enjoy Shadow of the Tomb Raider enough to buy the season pass, the Croft Edition is for you. It comes with the game, the season pass, three additional weapons and outfits, plus the soundtrack. Once again, Newegg's aggressive pricing make it the cheapest place to pre-order the Croft Edition.
This edition is exclusive to the Square Enix Store, and the best you can do is put yourself on a waiting list to buy it. But if you do manage to snag a copy, you'll get the game, a statue, bottle opener, flashlight, plus a bunch of digital goodies.
The Pokemon invasion of your Nintendo Switch has begun. The "free to start" RPG Pokemon Quest is already available, and a new core Pokemon game is heading our way in late 2019. But the lovable critters aren't done with Switch yet. Coming November 16, 2018 are Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokemon Let's Go Eevee, a pair of games designed for newcomers to the franchise and for players who got their start with the mobile game Pokemon Go.
Developed by Game Freak, the makers of the core Pokemon titles, these Let's Go games share some DNA with Pokemon Go. Instead of battling the monsters to catch them, you'll collect them by tossing Poke Balls at them. You can even transfer Pokemon from Go to Let's Go via Bluetooth. We also know that the first 150 Pokemon as well as their Alolan forms from Sun and Moon would appear in the Let's Go titles.
We have a lot more information about these games in our article Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu And Eevee: Everything We Know So Far, so check that out to satisfy your curiosity. But if you're ready to lock in your pre-order for one (or both) of these games, you'll probably want to know where to find them, how much they'll cost, and what--if any--extra goodies you can expect to come with them. We have you covered below.
Pre-Order Bonus
Currently, there's only one pre-order bonus available for Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, and it's retailer-specific. If you buy the game from Pokemon Center (while supplies last), you'll get a plush keychain featuring the corresponding Pokemon.
It may not be a surprise, but it's official: Madden NFL 19 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on August 10. This year's installment features improvements to the graphics and animation, thanks to Real Player Motion Technology. Players will also have better tools for building their roster and new ways to train and develop the players. You can find more details here.
Whether you buy the new edition each year or you're looking to get into the franchise for the first time in 2018, you might be wondering what editions are available, how much they cost, and where to pre-order Madden NFL 19. We have you covered below.
Madden NFL 19 Standard Edition
Suggested retail price: $60
This is the standard version of the game. Pre-ordering it from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate, but Newegg has it for $10 off. The cover athlete hasn't been revealed at the time of this writing.
Where to buy the Standard Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One: $60 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
The Hall of Fame Edition has 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, wide receiver, Terrell Owens on the cover. It costs $20 more than the standard edition, but it gets you the core game, plus a number of extras. It also lets you choose between Owens or four other NFL legends (Brian Urlacher, Rod Woodson, Dan Marino, and Terrell Davis) to add to your team. Additionally, you get 12 Gold Team Fantasy Packs, one Elite Madden 19 cover athlete (TBA), and two All-Madden Uniforms.
As above, pre-ordering from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate redeemable at Best Buy, but Newegg gives you $10 off the price from the start. And if you pre-order it anywhere, you get access to the game three days early (August 7).
Where to buy the Hall of Fame Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One - $80 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
It's official: Hitman 2 is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 13, 2018. Developed by IO Interactive and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Hitman 2 follows the further bloody adventures of everyone's favorite bald, barcoded assassin, Agent 47.
This time around, the game will not be episodic like the previous entry. Instead, the full game will be available at launch, though two additional locations will be added as post-launch DLC. As before, the globetrotting murderer will land in exciting locations, including a rainforest and a Miami motorsport track during a big race. Your job will be to take out your targets in any way you see fit.
If you're ready to secure yourself a copy of Hitman 2, you'll probably want to know what comes in the various editions, where you can buy it, and how much it costs. Read on for all the information you need to pre-order Hitman 2.
Hitman 2 Pre-Order Bonuses
Pre-order any version of Hitman 2, and you'll receive instant access to Hitman: Sniper Assassin Mode. This new mode lets go solo or play with a friend to pull off sniper assassinations.
Pre-Order Hitman 2 Standard Edition
Pre-ordering the standard edition of Hitman 2 gets you the game, plus the bonus above. Here's where you can pre-order it now.
The Silver Edition is digital only. It comes with the Executive Pack, which includes an additional pistol and briefcase, plus Expansion 1, which brings a new location, with new missions, sniper map, outfit, and weapons.
The Gold Edition comes with everything in the Silver Edition, plus four days of early access to the game (November 9), as well as Expansion 2, which will add a new location, with new missions, outfits, weapons, and a sniper map.
The Collector's Edition comes with everything in the Gold Edition, plus the Collector's Pack, which contains a concussive rubber duck and a new suit. It also includes physical goodies like a replica Agent 47 gun case, a bullet keyring, a rubber duck, and a signature coin.
Developer Bungie has finally revealed Destiny 2's big year-two expansion. It's called Forsaken, and it launches on September 4. Just like The Taken King for the original Destiny, Forsaken is a standalone expansion you'll have to buy separately even if you purchased Destiny 2's expansion pass. In fact, you can even buy a new "annual pass" to pre-order three additional content releases that will come out after Destiny 2: Forsaken.
Forsaken's story will bring players back to the Reef to fight off a group of powerful enemies who broke out of prison. The expansion also introduces a number of changes to Destiny 2, including a new mode called Gambit, as well as major changes to weapons, mods, and Masterworks. The idea is to keep players coming back once they've reached the endgame.
If you're ready to pre-order Destiny 2: Forsaken, you'll probably want to know what your options are. We've gathered all the info you need below.
Warning
Before diving into any of this, you should know that in order to play any of these versions of Destiny 2: Forsaken, you'll already need to own Destiny 2 and Expansions I and II. The core game and expansions are not included in any of the packages below.
Destiny 2: Forsaken Pre-Order Bonus
With that out of the way, if you pre-order Destiny 2: Forsaken at participating retailers, you'll receive Cayde's Exotic Stash. It contains the following items.
Ace of Spades Last Hand Exotic Ornament
Queen of Hearts Exotic Ship
Standoff Exotic Emote
Shades of Cayde-6 Armor Shaders
Destiny 2: Forsaken Standard Edition
The standard edition comes with the Forsaken expansion and nothing else. Here's where you can pre-order the standard edition right now.
This purchase does not include the Forsaken expansion. Instead, it offers standalone access to everything included in the annual pass. That means you get bonus rewards, as well as three "premium content releases" expected to arrive in winter 2018, spring 2019, and summer 2019.
The digital deluxe edition comes with the game, the annual pass, and the Awoken Legend Set, which includes Wrath Majestic Legendary Bow Ornament, Dirge Paladin Emblem, and Vestian Ghost Shell.
At first thought, it might not sound like it, but it took a very long time for Incredibles 2 to become a reality. In fact, 14 years have passed between the first and second movies--a lengthy period of time for any sequel.
By comparison, since the release of the first Incredibles, all three Cars movies have hit theaters--along with 10 other Pixar films. So what took so long? According to producer John Walker, the answer is simple. "We all had other movies to make and other things to do, and also life goes faster than you think," he tells GameSpot.
That's especially true of writer-director Brad Bird, who returns for the new film. Since the first Incredibles, he's gone on to make movies like Ratatouille, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and Tomorrowland. Still, this franchise was always at the back of his mind.
"That's the most fun I ever had making a movie so far is the first Incredibles because it's the first time I got to take something from a tiny seed to a finished film," he says. "I always intended to return to it, and I dipped my toe-in, right before Mission Impossible, and we worked on the opening sequence, and then I got distracted."
The ideas he wanted to explore in the sequel stretch all the way back to the first movie, though. The idea of switching the roles and having Elasti-girl go off on her own superhero adventure first occurred to Bird while promoting the original film. Of course, there was also that other thing. "I had the unexploded bomb of Jack-Jack, the family not knowing that he had the powers," Bird teases. "I knew he was going to play a big role if we did another one."
Thankfully, as producer Nicole Paradis Grindle tells us, "Pixar always had the door open." So once the time was finally right, it was off to the races for the new film.
That said, while Bird and the movie's producers were confident Incredibles 2 would eventually happen, the same can't be said for the cast.
"When it hit like it did, then you expected the sequel to be right behind it," Craig T. Nelson, who plays Mr. Incredible, says. "At least three, four years maybe. But about the fourth, fifth year you're going, 'Well, it's not going to happen. There's no scuttlebutt, no rumor. It's done. Weird. Why not do this again?'"
Holly Hunter, the voice of Elasti-girl adds, "It definitely went over the sell-by date of most sequels, so I was surprised." Thankfully, for her, at least, the movie's fanbase never truly went away. "My experience was that because people continued to come up to me over those 14 years and say 'Hi, I love The Incredibles,'" she admits."The movie feels very much in the public consciousness right now."
That's exactly where it belongs. While there's been a glut of superhero movies over the years, the newest Pixar movie is striving to be something more and, based on GameSpot's Incredibles 2 review, it might have just achieved that. You can find out for yourself when it arrives in theaters on June 15.
Fortnite launched for Nintendo Switch today, and now we've learned a little more about its features. The game supports cross-play with the Xbox One, PC, and mobile versions, Epic's Nick Chester confirmed on Twitter following the game's announcement at Nintendo's E3 2018 briefing.
The only major platform left out of the cross-play action is PlayStation 4. This is likely due to Microsoft and Sony not being able to come to terms on a cross-play deal.
When Epic announced cross-play support between Fortnite's Xbox One, PC, and mobile editions, the developer said any new platform would also hopefully have cross-play. You have to opt in to play against people on a different platform, which is good because mouse and keyboard controls are considered to be more responsive and accurate than a gamepad.
"With each new platform we support and every update we ship, we strive to bring Fortnite to more people, and make it easier to play together with friends," Epic said at the time. "And, as always, cross-play is opt in."
After all the big announcements from the last few days, Nintendo wrapped up the E3 2018's string of press conferences with a bevy of new details about its latest games. The company went into great detail about the new Super Smash Bros. game. Titled Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the game is shaping up to be one of the most exciting this year. There's also a plethora of new games that got announced.
To ensure you stay on top of everything, we've rounded up all of the announcements from the Direct Presentation. And if you'd like to re-experience the excitement of the reveals, be sure to jump into our Nintendo Direct liveblog.
E3 2018 is officially here. The show formally kicked off on Tuesday, June 12, but as in recent years, many big-name publishers hosted their own press conferences in the days leading up to the event. Nintendo's will once again take the form of a pre-recorded Direct-style video presentation, which is scheduled to air at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST, just before E3 proper begins. [Update: Nintendo's event is over, and it focused a lot on what we now know is called Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. You can read about everything we learned in our Nintendo briefing news recap.]
As usual, the company has been fairly secretive about its plans heading into this year's E3. Outside of confirming that Super Smash Bros. for Switch will play a prominent role both in its presentation and on the show floor, Nintendo hasn't announced any of the titles it plans on showcasing at the expo. However, we do know that the aforementioned video presentation won't be the extent of its plans for E3 2018.
Once again, Nintendo will follow its E3 briefing with a series of Treehouse Live streams, which will air each of the three days the expo runs. Additionally, Nintendo will host competitive esports tournaments for Super Smash Bros. Switch and Splatoon 2, the latter of which is set to receive a big, paid DLC expansion this summer. The Splatoon 2 World Championship begins on Monday, June 11, with the finals taking place on June 12. The Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018 tournament will kick off shortly afterward and features well-known competitive Smash players from around the world.
Aside from that, however, we have little idea of what to expect from Nintendo at E3. The company has said that its presentation will focus primarily on games launching soon, so we'll get a much clearer idea of what its release schedule for Switch will be through the end of the year. It seems likely that we'll learn more about some of the titles that were announced at last year's E3, such as Metroid Prime 4 and Yoshi. We may also see more of the recently revealed Pokemon RPGs for Switch: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eeevee.
Whatever the case, we won't have to wait much longer to find out. Nintendo will broadcast its E3 2018 presentation on its YouTube and Twitch channels. GameSpot will also host a stream of the briefing, so you can tune in right here on June 12 to follow along with all of Nintendo's big announcements.
Nintendo E3 2018 Press Conference Schedule
Tuesday, June 12
9 AM PT
12 PM ET
5 PM BST
2 AM AET (June 13)
Where To Livestream Nintendo's E3 2018 Press Conference
Fortnite: Battle Royale challenges for Week 5 of Season 4 are live. Anyone who owns the Battle Pass on PS4, Xbox One, PC, or mobile can now take on another set of seven objectives. There are the usual, more routine ones to do, but there are others--such as the Greasy Grove treasure map--that points to a location you may need some help finding. You'll also need the cooperation of other players to do some dancing. Here's where to find all of the Week 5 challenges and how to compete them.
First up is the Hard-difficulty challenge to follow the treasure map found in Greasy Grove. You can head to Greasy Grove and track down the map to start this; alternatively, as with past instances of this type of challenge, you can actually head right to where the treasure itself awaits. This one is a bit trickier to find than most--it's on the outside wall of a structure just northeast of Snobby Shores. Simply land on the slanted roof or build your way up and you'll be able to collect the Battle Pass icon.
What isn't labeled as Hard but could be quite difficult is the challenge asking you to dance with others to raise the Disco Ball near Loot Lake. The ball itself is found in the northernmost of the three buildings that line the western shoreline of the lake. Enter the ground floor and you'll see the disco ball in the middle, surrounded by a dance floor in all four corners of the room. You'll need to coordinate with other players to all dance on these simultaneously; the process takes a few seconds as the disco ball rises up toward the ceiling. It's possible to do this with other random players, but your easiest bet will be to squad up with three friends and head there together.
Week 5 also tasks you to use a vending machine three times. This is relatively straightforward, but if you haven't used a vending machine before, you might be at a loss. Vending machines allow you to exchange crafting materials for items; they're located in fixed spots, but they don't always appear in every match. You can consult our vending machine location guide to find likely spots for these to pop up, but make sure to come with wood, stone, or metal--the cost of using the machine may be high depending on the rarity.
Racking up two eliminations with the minigun or light machine gun sounds straightforward enough, though it of course requires you to happen upon one of the two weapons. This is labeled as a Hard-difficulty challenge. (This launched with a bug that Epic Games says it has fixed.) You'll likely want to try doing this in a Solo playlist so that you don't have to worry about a downed enemy being revived.
The same advice holds true for the challenge asking you to eliminate three opponents in Lucky Landing--not having respawns should make this easier. The remaining objectives simply ask you to deal 500 damage with SMGs to opponents (anything in the SMG family will do) and to search seven chests in Dusty Divot, the meteor impact site added as part of the big Season 4 update.
Completing these challenges will reward you with Battle Stars, which rank up your Battle Pass and allow you to earn Season 4 skins and cosmetic rewards. Completing all of the challenges in a given week also completes a Blockbuster challenge, which entitles you to a new loading screen that directs you to spots where you can obtain a free Battle Pass tier. You can see how to complete every Season 4 objective released so far in our Fortnite challenges guide.
Fortnite Week 5 Challenges
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Dusty Divot (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Vending Machine (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Dance with others to raise the Disco Ball near Loot Lake -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Greasy Grove -- 10 Battle Stars
Season 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale is underway. In addition to taking part in matches like normal, that also means there are special challenges to complete. Beyond the regular Starter and weekly challenges, Season 4 also presents some additional ones: Blockbuster and Carbide. Here's everything you need to know and details on all of the challenges revealed so far.
All Fortnite players on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile are eligible to complete the Starter challenges. These are relatively run-of-the-mill and offer different rewards, including Battle Stars and various minor cosmetics. The Battle Stars allow you to rank up the Battle Pass, which is where the vast majority of Season 4 skins and rewards are located, such as the coveted Omega skin pictured below. However, the free tier has a very limited number of goodies on offer. You'll need to purchase the full Season 4 Battle Pass for 950 V-Bucks to be able to obtain all of the rewards as you level up.
Purchasing the Battle Pass also entitles you to all of the weekly challenges. Another set of these opens up each week during the season and can be completed anytime between now and when Season 4 ends on July 9.
Some of the rewards available in Season 4
That's how things have worked in past seasons, but Season 4 also has new types of challenges. Blockbusters involve completing all of the challenges from a given week. Doing so earns you an additional reward on top of what you'd get from finishing those challenges anyway. The first Blockbuster challenge you finish pays out a loading screen, which serves as a clue that directs you to an in-game location where you can get a free Battle Pass tier. To find that, though, you'll have to actually complete all of the challenges from a week.
Also new in Season 4 are Carbide challenges. One of the rewards you immediately get for buying the Battle Pass is the Carbide skin. As you reach certain level milestones during Season 4, you'll complete Carbide challenges, which unlock different "styles" that let you customize the look of the Carbide skin. Completing three Carbide challenges also nets you a matching pickaxe.
Below, you'll find a complete list of all Season 4 challenges to be revealed so far, along with links to our maps and guides that will help you complete them all.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 4 Challenges
Starter
Outlive opponents (1,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Play matches with friends (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal damage to opponents (5,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Land at different Named Locations (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Play matches (50) -- Ace of spades cosmetic item
Play matches with at least one elimination (10) -- concept art
Hard: Win a match -- #1 cosmetic item
Reward: 5k XP (after completing four challenges)
Blockbuster
Complete all challenges in a week -- #1 loading screen
Complete all challenges in 2 different weeks -- #2 loading screen
Complete all challenges in 3 different weeks -- #3 loading screen
Complete all challenges in 4 different weeks -- #4 loading screen
Complete all challenges in 5 different weeks -- #5 reward
Complete all challenges in 6 different weeks -- #6 reward
Complete all challenges in 7 different weeks -- #7 reward
Season 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale's Week 2 challenges are still available, providing players who own the Battle Pass with seven different objectives to complete. Some of these make use of new Season 4 gameplay elements (such as Hop Rocks), while others offer more challenging tasks that could require the use of a map. Here are the locations for all the key objectives and some tips on how to complete them.
Among the challenges is the aforementioned one to consume Hop Rocks. You'll need to use seven in all--a task that's not especially difficult, provided you know where to look. Hop Rocks can be found in a number of places, but they're most abundant in Dusty Divot, the crater formed as part of Season 4's map update. Head there, and you'll find purple objects floating outside the fenced-in area surrounding the comet. Simply walk up to one and hold the same key or button you'd use to open a chest, and you'll consume a Hop Rock--temporarily granting you the ability to jump much higher than usual.
Another challenge is to dance in front of different film cameras. You'll need to find seven cameras in all; these are another new element introduced as part of Season 4, which features a moviemaking theme. This is as simple as it sounds--just find a camera and perform a dance emote in front of it. The only tricky part is tracking all of these down, and many are not in named locations. Luckily, there are more than seven total, so it's not as difficult as it could be. Here's a map for 10 film camera locations we've verified:
The other more involved challenge for Week 2 is labeled by Epic as a Hard-difficulty one, meaning it nets you 10 Battle Stars, twice the number as most challenges. It asks you to search between a scarecrow, pink hotrod, and a big screen. This requires you to have either a strong knowledge of the island or a map--either way, you simply head to a point in between all three of the stated objects to find a Battle Pass icon you can collect by holding the Use button/key. This can be found directly east of Risky Reels, as seen in the map below.
The remainder of the challenges are fairly straightforward, though they may require some time and luck. You'll have to search chests in Greasy Grove, which is really just a matter of spending enough time in the area. (As always, check out attics when looking for chests.) Another asks you to deal damage with suppressed weapons to opponents (500) total, which is just a matter of happening upon the right weapon and then making use of it.
Similarly, you'll need to rack up three explosive weapon eliminations, which includes both things like grenades and rocket launchers. (Your best bet may be in a solo playlist, where you don't have to worry about downing enemies that can be revived.) And finally, you'll need to eliminate three opponents in Tomato Town. Just drop there at the start of a match and try to track down a weapon before anyone else.
For more help, you can also check out our Week 1 challenges guide, as well as our roundup of all Season 4 challenges. Completing these is the fastest way to level up your Battle Pass, allowing to get your hands on this season's skins and rewards.
Fortnite Season 4, Week 2 Challenges
Search Chests in Greasy Grove (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Consume Hop Rocks (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal damage with Suppressed Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Dance in front of different film cameras (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Scarecrow, Pink Hotrod, and a Big Screen -- 10 Battle Stars
Season 4 of Fortnite is officially underway, and with it, we've gotten a new Battle Pass. This works largely like those in the past, offering weekly challenges for players to complete in order to unlock new skins and rewards. Week 1 challenges are the usual mixture of easy and tricky objectives; here are the key locations and how to complete them all.
Two specific challenges stand out as ones with which you might need a guide. The first asks you to follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town. You can head there and pick up the map to get started or, as with previous instances of this objective type, go right to the treasure if you know where it is. This one is fairly easy--it's in Loot Lake. Head to where the 'E' in Lake is shown on the map, as seen in the image below, and you'll find the wrecked remains of a small boat just to the south of a small slab of land. Jump on the part sticking out of the water and you'll see the Battle Pass icon to collect, which is done by holding the same key or button you use to open chests.
The other difficult challenge is to search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters; there's no real indication of what these are or where to start your hunt. Essentially, these work a lot like the aforementioned treasure map locations, only there are no in-game hints. You'll head to certain spots and find a hovering blue letter that must be "searched" like a chest to collect. No matter which order you go to the locations, you'll always find the letters in the order that spells out "Fortnite."
Some are in popular places to land--for instance, there's one at the top of the clocktower in Tilted Towers. Others aren't so easy, but luckily, there are more than eight locations total spread across the map. With the help of Reddit users Strantjanet and thesquatingdog, we've verified eight locations--the exact number you'll need to complete the challenge. Here's directions to find them along with a map showing additional letter locations.
F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E Letters Locations
Tilted Towers -- on top of the clocktower
Salty Springs -- just to the east, on top of the fire lookout tower
Flush Factory -- on top of the largest building in the unnamed area to the northeast; you'll have to destroy the glass ceiling to collect it
Snobby Shores -- in the northern most area, on top of a lightpole in front of a decrepit house
Anarchy Acres -- on top of the red barn
Pleasant Park -- on top of the roof in the middle, immediately north of the soccer field
Lonely Lodge -- in the unnamed area to the southeast, on top of the building
Risky Reels -- in the hole on the movie screen
Week 1's other challenges are much more straightforward and generally rely on a mixture of luck and being in the right location. You'll need to deal damage to opponents using sniper rifles, which is just a matter of finding such a gun and having good aim. You'll want to head to Haunted Hills and search for chests; hopefully, in the process, you'll also get your hands on a Port-a-Fort. If you do, be sure to use it before dying to complete another challenge.
The aforementioned Tomato Town map is one of three Hard-difficulty objectives. Another simply has you rack up eliminations at Flush Factory, so head there and take down some opponents. The third calls for you to get three pistol eliminations. Pistols aren't the greatest of weapons, so you may want to attempt both this and the Flush Factory challenge in the Solo playlist. That way, you don't have to worry about revives or competing with teammates for a kill.
Each of these challenges rewards you with Battle Stars to level up your Battle Pass and earn new skins and rewards. Additionally, once you've complete four of them, you'll receive a 5k XP bonus. Keep in mind, access to the weekly challenges requires the purchase of the Battle Pass for 950 V-Bucks. In addition to weekly challenge access and the ability to earn lots of skins and rewards, the Battle Pass also includes new Blockbuster and Carbide challenges, which involve reaching level milestones and completing all challenges in a given week.
Season 4, Week 1 Battle Pass Challenges
Deal damage with sniper rifles to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Haunted Hills (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Port-a-Fort -- 5 Battle Stars
Search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Pistol eliminations (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Eliminate opponents in Flush Factory -- 10 Battle Stars
Season 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale rolls on with a new set of challenges for Battle Pass owners to complete. Week 4's challenges are now live on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS, and this time around, they're made up primarily of straightforward tasks, although a few may still pose a bit of trouble. Here's how to complete all of Week 4's objectives.
As usual, there are seven new challenges to complete, most of which are fairly self-explanatory. On the easier end of the spectrum, one challenge tasks you with dealing damage with Assault Rifles, which is simply a matter of finding the right weapon and using it to inflict a specific amount of damage to other players.
Some of the other new challenges are a bit more dependent on luck. One tasks you with visiting the center of three Storm Circles in a single match, while another has you searching seven Ammo Boxes in a match. There's also a challenge that requires you to search seven chests in Wailing Woods, but fortunately, this one doesn't have to be completed in a single round.
The one that will likely prove to be the trickiest is a Hard-difficulty challenge that cryptically says to search between a bench, Ice Cream Truck, and Helicopter. Both benches and Ice Cream Trucks are fairly common on the map, so your biggest clue is the helicopter. As you can see in our map below, the challenge leads you to the center of Moisty Mire, under a big tree near the area's movie set. Simply head to that location and you'll be able to pick up a Battle Star.
The remaining two challenges are likewise labeled Hard. The first tasks you with eliminating one opponent using a Trap, while the second has you eliminating three players in Snobby Shores. Your best bet for completing each is to attempt the challenges in a Solo playlist, where you don't need to worry about opponents being revived by teammates. The reward for clearing each Hard challenge is 10 Battle Stars.
Completing weekly challenges helps you rank up your Battle Pass, which in turn unlocks new skins and cosmetics. As always, the weekly challenges will be available through the remainder of Season 4, so you have until the season ends to complete them and unlock rewards.
However, since Season 4 kicked off, Epic has offered an incentive to complete each weekly challenge as quickly as you can. Clearing all the challenges within a given week completes a new Blockbuster challenge, which rewards you with a loading screen that points to the location of a free Battle Pass tier. You can get a full rundown on how to complete everything in our Season 4 challenge guide.
Season 4, Week 4 Challenges
Deal damage with Assault Rifles to opponents (1,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Wailing Woods (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search 7 Ammo Boxes in a single match (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Visit the center of different Storm Circles in a single match (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Bench, Ice Cream Truck, and a Helicopter -- 10 Battle Stars
During Nintendo's E3 2018 press conference it was revealed that Fortnite: Battle Royale was heading to the Switch, and has been released today. However, Epic Games confirmed that Fortnite: Save The World will not be coming to Switch alongside the wildly popular Battle Royale mode. An Epic games representative told GameSpot, "We have no plans for Save the World on Switch."
Fortnite: Save the World is a co-op sandbox survival game that is available now in paid early access on console and PC. Battle Royale, meanwhile, is free-to-play.
Nintendo announced that Fortnite: Battle Royale would be live in the US from 10 AM PT on June 12. Unfortunately, the game is currently having matchmaking issues, likely due to the influx of players. As expected, the game includes co-op and you will be able to group up with friends.
Fortnite's move to Switch will be the game's second jump to a new platform this year. Earlier in the year, a mobile port was released that let players face off against PC opponents.
In other news, Epic has confirmed that Fortnite on Switch supports cross-play with the Xbox One, PC, and mobile editions--but not PlayStation 4. Keep checking back with GameSpot soon for more on Fortnite on Switch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will launch December 7 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo announced during its E3 2018 briefing. It's one of Nintendo's biggest franchises, and the launch in December right before the holidays will surely help Switch console sales improve further still.
As announced during Nintendo's E3 briefing, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will include every previously released character, as well as new ones like Inkling Girl and Boy and Ridley. Additionally, you can use a GameCube controller, which is pretty great, although you will need the appropriate adapter to connect it to the system.
Also new for the sequel is that you choose a stage before selecting a character. This way, you can cater your choice of character to the level you'll be playing on, which will come as welcome news to more competitive players.
Nintendo's presentation focused heavily on Ultimate, dedicating a large chunk of the broadcast to outlining the game and its many, many characters. Although it had been previously announced, this was out first real look at the game--prior to this, we didn't know if it was an even a new game or some kind of remaster. Now we know it's a wholly original game that boasts an absolutely massive roster.
After weeks of rumors and leaks prior to E3 2018, one of the Nintendo Switch's most-requested ports has been announced. During Nintendo's pre-E3 livestream, the publisher revealed that Dragon Ball FighterZ will be making its way to the mobile console later this year.
Just before E3 2018, we had the opportunity to go hands-on with the game and put it through its paces. While there were some noticeable tweaks for this release on Switch, Arc System Works' Dragon Ball fighting game is a strong port that maintains the game's fast and dynamic action. Playing both docked and undocked versions, we saw that the gameplay kept its pace consistently for the most part, with only a few minor dips. Most impressive of all, Dragon Ball FighterZ's strong visual style, which emulates the anime and manga's look, is just as strong with this release.
While the current versions on PS4, Xbox One, and PC are already in their post-release period, having seen several new DLC characters added over the last few months, Dragon Ball FighterZ on Switch will release with only the base roster. All DLC characters so far, such as Vegito, Bardock, Broly, and Zematsu, will come sometime after the Switch port's release. GameSpot reviews editor Peter Brown reviewed Dragon Ball FighterZ this past January and gave it a strong review, claiming that the game is one of the standouts of the genre.
"FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance. Where past games attempted to get there through huge character rosters and deliberately predictable trips down memory lane, FighterZ has bottled the essence of what makes the series' characters, animation, and sense of humor so beloved and reconfigured it into something new: a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre."
Ubisoft's E3 2018 press conference was a varied and, at times, surreal experience, but seeing Star Fox on the company's stage was one of the biggest surprises of the day. Fox McCloud and his Arwing ship are coming to Ubisoft's new toys-to-life game Starlink: Battle For Atlas as exclusive content for the game's Nintendo Switch version.
We got to play with the Arwing at a Ubisoft E3 event, and it's just as customizable as the other ships in Starlink: you can place other characters from the game inside the Arwing's cockpit, you can add new weapons to the ship, and you can even give it new wings. All of this is reflected in the game as it is with the toy in front of you, with each new piece adding different stats. The more weapons you add, for example, the heavier your ship becomes, making it sturdier but also less agile.
Coming into Metro Exodus, there was a strong feeling that the series was building up to this moment. With 2010's Metro 2033 focusing on the exploits of Artyom in the bleak underground society of post-nuclear-war Russia, and its follow-up Last Light expanding its scope even further, Exodus ups the scale of this world in a more pronounced way.
The developers at 4A Games have been rather quiet about Metro Exodus after revealing it last year, but just prior to E3 2018, we played about an hour of the game and spoke to the team about the evolution of the series. With Exodus fleshing out the survival-oriented gameplay, while sticking close to its methodical combat, the next game exhibits potential for a more freeform experience, where open-ended exploration presents players with the freedom to approach challenges as they see fit.
Set two years after the events of Metro: Last Light's "good" ending--which saw Artyom save the mysterious Dark Ones, giving humanity hope for a better future--we find the lead character working with a group of survivors seeking safe passage out of Russia. Aboard their train and mobile base, the group will journey through several large areas housing hidden bunkers, several strange factions seeking control of territory, and hostile mutants that attack anything in sight. With their trek becoming more dangerous as the months go by, Artyom and his allies will have to make some tough choices as they fight to survive in the wilderness of post-apocalyptic Russia.
While the previous Metro games had brief sections above ground, mostly to illustrate the scale of devastation and showing there are worse places to be than the underground, the surface is where you'll spend most of your time in Exodus. As you're mostly out in the open, you're in a constant state of danger whenever you're away from a safe haven. Along with a day/night cycle, you'll have to plan ahead and manage your time, as hidden enemies will come out of hiding during the night. This is all made worse by the ever-present dangers of lacking resources, stumbling into wandering mutants, or falling victim to radiation and other environmental hazards.
In our demo, we explored one of the early maps in the region called The Volga, which is one of the more average-sized maps you'll find according to the devs. After departing from the train, we traveled to a nearby church, serving as a hideout for a particularly weird cult that shuns technology. While initially cordial, our meet and greet quickly turned into a fight for survival. In keeping with Metro's style of shooting gameplay, with every gun having a particular kick to it, you're constantly aware of your weapon's capabilities during a fight. Running and gunning has never worked in the series, and that's most definitely the case in Exodus. After escaping on a boat, things got even hairier h when several mutated crabs sprung out and tried to pull Arytom under. Such as the case in previous games, things usually go from bad to worse.
While the main mission was the focus, I took the time to explore the surrounding areas first, oftentimes finding abandoned houses surrounded by mutants. The game gives you the chance to trail off from the main path at any time, which is a level of freedom that I appreciated, but I had some difficulties getting a sense of just how much variety there was in the short time we had. While the developers claim that much of the content found in the game is bespoke, including all side-content, I had a difficult time getting a sense of that from this demo, felt like I was wandering aimlessly without much payoff, as opposed to properly exploring the environment and finding something cool.
Considering how it blends together these sandbox events with story missions, all wrapped with challenging survival systems, Metro Exodus channels elements of the classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series--which several 4A developers had worked on. At any time, you can pull out Artyom's backpack--shown with him actually taking it off and placing it onto the ground--to manage your inventory, craft items, and swap out weapon attachments. Of course, it's smarter to do this at the safe houses scattered around, as opening your backpack out in the open is dangerous as you're vulnerable to any nearby foes. There's also a strong sense that players need to be keenly aware of their surroundings. In the style of Far Cry 2, you have to pull your map and look directly at it, obscuring your vision and leaving you vulnerable. With no mini-map or on-screen health indicators, all the important bits of info are located on the main character's arm--such as a watch and Geiger-counter.
Since utilizing survival skills is more important than ever, Exodus gives you a lot more options in how you want to approach situations. After taking out human enemies--either with lethal or stun attacks--you can loot their bodies and even strip their weapons for parts. These materials can be used to craft items and upgrade weapons, which include the familiar standouts like shotguns, pistols, and rifles. As many of these weapons are made from used pipes and other bits of metal, you can modify them to add new stocks, barrels, silencers, and other gadgets. It's also important to keep your guns clean by routinely keeping them clean, as overuse will cause them to break apart. The gun-crafting system is impressive in its own right, but it also feeds back into the underlying survivalist element of the game.
Like previous Metro games in the series, Metro Exodus emphasizes an incredibly eerie and haunting atmosphere, but now within the desolate Russian wilderness. While Exodus has incredible scenery, we encountered numerous technical hiccups and quirks which made certain sections--which should been exciting--somewhat taxing to sit through. Along with inconsistent frame-rate, reloading to a checkpoint would take well over a minute each time, which made some challenging combat sections a headache. By far, these were the most glaring drags throughout the session, which did a lot to put a damper on the experience.
Still, I found myself really enjoying what Metro Exodus has to offer. With the game now aiming for a Spring 2019 release, there's still plenty of time for 4A to iron out technical issues. Given the scale of the game, and how it brings those familiar Metro touches with a more open design, it should be a welcome twist on what people expect from the series.
For more info on Metro Exodus, and all other games we got to play during E3 2018, check out our GameSpot E3 HUB page for all new content as it comes in.
Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and many more of From Software's games contain incredibly detailed worlds, with incredibly deep combat and an incredible number of deaths. You see, as impressive as From's previous games have been, I'm not particularly good at playing them. I'm one of those people you tell to "git gud." I play each of From's games for eight or so hours, get sick of dying, and give up.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice might be the game to break that rule. Death is no longer a barrier which must be overcome. It's no longer simply a "learning experience." Death and immediate resurrection is now a mechanic. From Software says you can use death to your advantage--fooling your enemies into a false sense of security before coming back to life and sneaking up on them using the game's light stealth mechanics. Perfect for those who--like me--are fed up of dying. From is staying coy, however, on the exact mechanics of the resurrection ability. It says you'll only be able to use it a limited number of times, and that "in no way does [resurrection] make the game easy."
Sekiro also speeds up the From formula, even moreso than Bloodborne did. Your main character--for now, simply named the Shinobi--is more agile than that of Soulsborne. He has a proper jump, which can be utilized in combat. He has a grappling hook, which can be used to gain a vantage point over the enemy. And his prosthetic limb can be customized to wield a shuriken, which you can use to propel yourself towards an enemy in a flash.
The limb's other customizations include a Firecracker--which 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 that clash is featured prominently in the game's reveal trailer. It's more than just a cool visual effect however: successfully parry your opponent's attack and you'll reduce what From is currently calling their Posture. Reduce your enemy's Posture enough and you'll open them up to a Shinobi Death Blow, which can deal huge amounts of damage. If they block enough of your attacks on the other hand, and they can deal critical hits to you.
Despite these differences, Shadows Die Twice is still very much a From Software game. To heal, you drink a potion that renders you vulnerable to attack for a second or two--almost identical to the healing mechanic seen in Dark Souls and Bloodborne. There will also be a checkpoint system of some description, and although From isn't sharing more about that just yet, it surely won't be drastically different to the Bonfires and Lamps seen in the company's previous games.
Activision may be a new publisher for From; 16th century Japan may be a new setting; and the grappling hook, jump button, and resurrection mechanics may be new gameplay decisions; but this a From game through and through. It will excite those who love the developer's previous work, but it's also got me really intrigued to play more. I just hope I can get past the first boss this time.
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy was one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year before it was even announced. Now, we've finally gotten our first look at some extended gameplay of the PS4 and Xbox One title.
The video, which you can watch above, showcases three levels from the upcoming remaster. First up is Toasty, a boss level from the original Spyro the Dragon. Next you can see some footage of Tree Tops, another level from the first game. Finally, there's gameplay of a Speedway level named Sunny Flight--this is also from the original game, meaning we're yet to see any substantial footage from Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage (Gateway to Glimmer in Europe and Australia) or Spyro: Year of the Dragon.
While the games have been improved visually, the layouts of each world has remained the same as in the original games, including the locations of enemies, gems, and items. Actor Tom Kenny, who voiced Spyro in the second and third games in the series, returns to voice the character in all three this time around after every line was re-recorded. The games' soundtracks have also been spruced up, though Activision would not confirm whether original composer Stewart Copeland was involved in the remaster trilogy.
The games come to PS4 and Xbox One on September 21, approximately 20 years since the release of the first game. In other '90s platformer news, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is getting a brand new level named Future Tense. It's included in all versions of the game going forward, starting June 26, when existing owners of the remaster on PS4 will receive a free update containing the level.
For Honor gets regular seasonal updates, but none of them have been as big as the one coming in October. Season 8 is called Marching Fire, and not only will it include a new faction, but it will also introduce Breach mode, an ambitious new way to play the game.
Just calling Breach a new mode is underselling it. "Breach mode," game director Damien Kieken said, "is by far the biggest update we've ever done on For Honor, in scale, in the amount of things you can do, and in playtime. We think it's a good candidate to become the new flagship mode in For Honor."
Based on a pre-alpha build of the mode, it's easy to see why. Breach mode isn't just another way for vikings, knights, samurai, and the new Wu Lin faction to fight each other. It adds a sizable new map and a whole new concept to the game, one that's much more team-based and strategic than anything that's come before.
Breach mode has two teams of four players face off at the gates of a castle. One team defends the castle, while the other team tries to break down the gates and kill the king, who's waiting in a courtyard. Each team has its own goals to accomplish during the match and an army of nameless minions helping their cause. Most matches last between 20 and 30 minutes and are quite unlike anything you can currently do in For Honor.
The main component of the attackers' offense is a giant battering ram they're trying to protect as it advances toward the castle. Each match consists of three parts. The first part ends when the attackers break down the castle's outer gate. Then the attackers must guard their battering ram as it approaches an inner gate. Once that gate falls, the attackers can swarm into the king's courtyard and hack away at him. He's an armor-clad warrior controlled by AI, with attacks that are slow but deadly. If the attackers kill the king, they win.
The attackers begin with 25 tickets, or lives. Each time a hero falls on the battlefield and no one saves them in time, they must pay one ticket to respawn. Breaching a door gains the attackers five additional tickets, but once all the lives are gone, it's game over, and the defenders win.
Breach mode is asymmetrical, so each side has different rules and goals during the match. The defenders don't have to worry about tickets--they can't lose until their king is dead. In the meantime, they can try to stop the attackers by fighting them directly in classic For Honor style, or by using the castle's built-in defenses. On the ramparts is a ballista you can use to one-shot kill attackers. Giant cauldrons can be tipped to rain fire on enemies below. Defenders are also well advised to hold the control points on the ramparts; if you lose them, the attacking army advances further and gains easier access to the defense weapons.
The overall experience is strategic and intense. Each team has a number of ways to put pressure on their enemies. Keiken said the gameplay in Breach Mode "is not based only on reaction to what other players are doing" as it is in For Honor's other modes. "It's based on strategy. It's based on team composition."
Creative director Roman Campos Oriola agrees with that sentiment. "With [game modes] Dominion and Tribute, even though team play is important, they're more tactical game modes. You make second-to-second decisions," he said. Whereas with Breach, "the game mode is longer and has many more ingredients and gameplay loops than in Dominion. The minions, known as pikemen, are much more dangerous in Breach and they can actually kill you. But also, if you're in danger, you can retreat into your pikemen and they'll protect you."
From what I played, it was clear that a well-composed team, with each hero doing their part in the battle, will be able to steamroll an unprepared team. Communication is also important, because each player has so many options for what to do at any given time. If you're not talking, your strategy is likely to fall apart.
I've always found For Honor interesting, but it never really grabbed my attention in the past. Based on what I played of Breach mode, that's going to change once the Season 8 update launches in October. Laying siege to a castle--and using the medieval tools of warfare to defend it--was incredibly fun, and I can't wait to do it again.
Ridley from the Metroid series made a dramatic entrance into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation. On top of that, he's getting the royal treatment with his very own Amiibo figurine. Nintendo showed off the figure during its Nintendo Treehouse stream following the main presentation.
The Ridley Amiibo was flanked by a new model of the Inkling Girl, and two mystery spots. One of those spots is reserved for Daisy, who will be an echo character for Peach. That leaves one more Amiibo character yet to be revealed, possibly pending another new character announcement.
Nintendo announced during its stream that all previous Amiibo will be compatible with Smash Bros. Ultimate. You can train them up just like you did in the Wii U and 3DS versions, and your existing training data is transferable to Ultimate.
Fortnite was announced for Nintendo Switch during the Nintendo E3 2018 briefing, and it was released immediately after the event. The launch hasn't gone entirely to plan, however.
In a tweet, developer Epic Games said it's looking into problems with matchmaking on Switch. Thankfully, there is a temporary workaround--logging out and back in. Hopefully a more permanent solution becomes available soon.
We're currently investigating issues with matchmaking for Switch players. Logging out and logging back in should fix this issue. Follow our status page for more info https://t.co/3y0X6buriO
Fortnite on Switch is the same game as the existing PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile versions. 100 players drop out of the sky from the Battle Bus and fight to the death until one person remains. Part of what makes Fortnite unique is that it has a building element where you can create walls and structures to fortify yourself and stay alive longer.
Fortnite is free, but it makes money--a lot of money--from microtransactions. The game's Save the World mode is not coming to Nintendo Switch, a representative for Epic Games told GameSpot. We also asked if the game will require a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership when that service rolls out in September, but Epic declined to share any specifics.
Fortnite for Switch is just one of the many announcements that came out of Nintendo's E3 2018 briefing today. Check out GameSpot's roundup to see all the big news in one place.
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