We're getting new details on the gameplay and plot of CD Projekt Red's much-anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077. During GameSpot's E3 2018 Stage Show, CD Projekt Red's Kyle Rowley shared a wide variety of details about the PS4, Xbox One, and PC game, including the fact that it's an RPG played from a first-person perspective.
The reason for that, according to Rowley, is due to the high level of detail in the game. "We're spending a lot of time on this very detailed cyberpunk world set in Night City," he said. "It's all handcrafted, there's a lot of atmosphere. We really want players to feel this depression and the fact that these mega-corporations are kind of stamping down on people's lives. To really showcase that and immerse the player in that world we decided the first-person perspective was the best way to do it."
One thing Rowley also made very clear was that Cyberpunk 2077 is not a shooter, despite its first-person gameplay. "It's a role-playing game with some shooter elements, rather than a shooter with role-playing laid on top of it. There's very deep progression systems, so all the things you'd expect from a CD Projekt game," he said.
Beyond that, Rowley revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 allows you to customize your character and play as a man or woman named V. There is also a class system of sorts, although you don't choose one at the start of the game.
We got our first real look at Cyberpunk 2077 during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference, where CD Projekt Red unveiled the new trailer above. For the latest news and updates, follow GameSpot's full E3 2018 coverage of Cyberpunk 2077.
The wild world of the DC movies universe is very hard to predict. We know for sure that Wonder Woman is getting a sequel, while Shazam and Aquaman have standalone movies on the way. Beyond that, there are no official release dates set in stone for anything.
However, the movie universe is still continuing to form behind the scenes--especially where Batman is concerned. While there are reported to be two Joker movies, a Harley Quinn-led Birds or Prey film, and numerous other projects in the works, there's been little said recently about the state of The Batman, which is being written and directed by Matt Reeves.
Until now, that is. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reeves has turned over the first act of his screenplay, and it's believed the project centers on a younger Batman. If that's the case, chances are Ben Affleck is actually leaving the cowl behind.
Thus far, Affleck has appeared in three movies as the Caped Crusader--Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Justice League--but it's been reported for months that the actor was looking to make his exit from the franchise. Initially, it was Affleck himself that was writing and directing The Batman, before he stepped away from the helm and was replaced with Reeves.
Given that Justice League was not considered a box office success--it earned $657 worldwide, compared to the $2 billion and counting made by Avengers: Infinity War--it shouldn't come as a surprise that the winds could be changing at Warner Bros., as far as their DC film universe goes.
That said, nothing is official yet. Until Warner Bros. announces a new actor to take on the role of Batman, who knows what will happen? In the meantime, get excited about the arrival of Aquaman on December 21.
Fallout 76 got a full reveal during Bethesda's E3 2018 conference, and it's making some dramatic shifts from franchise formula. It's a multiplayer-focused open-world game with survival elements that is said to be four times larger than any previous Fallout. Since it's shifting to cooperative and PvP online multiplayer, it's going to have a beta test period.
No word was given as to when that beta launches, but it's definitely coming this year since Fallout 76 is set to release on November 14, 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Along with a date and beta confirmation, we also got a series of videos, including those showcasing the first gameplay footage. Despite the shift to an online multiplayer game, it does still very much look like Fallout. One way you'll be able to get into the beta is by pre-ordering.
Base-building returns from Fallout 4, although the exact ways in which it has been changed are not yet clear. We do know that players can work toward securing nuclear weapons they can then unleash on the map, which features six distinct regions. The exact purpose for doing so is, as with many details, not clear at the moment, though it seems like one rather effective way of dealing with pesky enemies.
It's been almost three years since the release of Halo 5, so it was exciting when Microsoft opened its E3 2018 showcase with a trailer for Halo: Infinite. But as we later learned, the video was a "game engine demo" that was meant to show off the capabilities of 343's new proprietary Slipspace engine, and it was not necessarily representative of the game itself. With that in mind, we're rounding up some key details about Halo Infinite and its developer to help clear up some lingering confusion and give you a snapshot of what the game is.
Not A Game Yet?
The Halo Infinite trailer released during the Xbox briefing was a tech demo meant to show off what the Slipspace engine was capable of achieving. In a blog post that all Halo fans should read, studio head Chris Lee said 343's ideas for Halo Infinite are so ambitious that it had to make new tech to realise that ambition. Everything in the trailer is running in-engine, but it doesn't necessarily represent what the game will be. Lee stressed that 343 still has "a long way to go" until launch. He added that he is sure that Halo Infinite will "evolve" between now and launch. This is all to say that what you saw at E3 was not Halo: Infinite the game but instead a snapshot of what Halo: Infinite could be. It was an impressive-looking demo, showcasing a gorgeous world and sprawling environments, as well as a variety of new creatures. Halo 5's 24-player Warzone mode offered a first look at larger-scale Halo, and it's exciting to think about what 343 might do to push things further with the new engine.
Poor Messaging
The Halo Infinite trailer at E3 was presented as a first-look at the game, but it wasn't that, and Microsoft should have done a better job at making that immediately clear. No one from the 343 leadership team stood up on stage to talk about Infinite, and that felt odd given the size and stature of the Halo brand. Fans are clearly thirsty for more news and details on the next game, and it was a big bummer that we got nothing of the sort on stage. We would have liked to have seen someone like 343 founder Bonnie Ross or Halo franchise manager Frank O'Connor tell fans what Halo: Infinite is all about and why they should get excited about it. It does not inspire confidence in Halo as a franchise that so little was said. Additionally, we are told that Microsoft is not doing Halo interviews at E3 this week.
The Story:
While Halo: Infinite may not be a game yet, we do know some important story details about it. Halo Infinite is a follow-up to Halo 5: Guardians. It picks up after the events of that game, and tells a more Master Chief-centric story, according to Lee. He explained that 343 is aware of the concern some fans had regarding how Halo 5's story strayed too far from Chief. Indeed, that game's campaign split up time between playing as Chief and Agent Locke. Some wanted more focus on Chief, and it's good to hear Halo: Infinite will deliver that. The Halo universe is a rich tapestry, replete with storytelling opportunities, so it's exciting to think about what 343 might do with Infinite's story.
Next-Gen?
During the Xbox briefing at E3, Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced that Microsoft is working on new consoles that will follow the Xbox One. Media reports at E3 suggest that one of these is codenamed "Scarlet" and it could launch as soon as 2020. This is especially intriguing and noteworthy in the context of Halo: Infinite. With 343 stressing that Halo: Infinite is a "long way" off from release and the general comments on its technical ambitions, there are some who believe the game might not come until the next Xbox. Microsoft hasn't commented on this.
"New And Unexpected Directions"
Lee, the 343 studio head, said in the blog post that 343 is "making changes to how we approach things" with Halo: Infinite. This could mean a number of things, but the quote stands out in the wake of reports this week. Reports claim Halo: Infinite will be two separate releases. It is rumoured that Halo: Infinite could split up multiplayer and single-player. Noted Microsoft insider Brad Sams said he's heard from sources that single-player for Halo: Infinite could launch in late 2019 with the multiplayer portion arriving in 2020. This would indeed be a big change for Halo. In the same blog post, Lee said he looks forward to taking players in "new and unexpected directions" with the new Halo game, though whether this pertains to a delivery model, the story, or something else remains to be seen.
You'll Get To Play Early
Lee said 343 hopes to develop Halo: Infinite alongside the community, making changes to the game based on fan feedback. To that end, 343 will hold "flighting programs" for the game where people will get to play early and provide feedback to 343. If this sounds familiar, it's because 343 is currently doing that with Halo: The Master Chief Collection as it rolls out new features. Halo: Infinite's beta tests are not coming anytime soon, but Lee said you can expect them to start small and grow over time. Microsoft already has the Game Preview program where people can play unreleased games, but never before has this happened for a franchise as large as Halo. It is exciting and encouraging to see 343 incorporate fan feedback in this way, and hopefully it can lead to a better game in the end.
A New Art Style
Halo Infinite will have a new art style that appears to be evocative of the original game. Nicolas Bouvier, who has been on the Halo team since Halo 4, is Halo: Infinite's art director, and the overall aim of the new style is to "draw significant inspiration from the most iconic and historic parts of the Halo franchise." At the same time, 343 will be trying to "modernize" and "take advantage" of the power of Xbox One consoles to make the game look great. Master Chief's helmet is meant to be a good example of the new art direction for Halo: Infinite.
Get Comfortable
By all accounts, Halo: Infinite will not be fully released anytime soon. In the blog post, Lee said he understands waiting is difficult, especially now that it's been so long since Halo 5. He stressed that 343 is taking as much time as it needs to make "the right game." Not only that, but the blog post with all the details is titled "Our Journey Begins," which--along with everything else we already mentioned--suggests that Halo: Infinite is a long time off. The pre-release testing periods will soften that blow somewhat, but it's the final product people really want, and that sounds like it is not coming anytime soon. Halo is one of the biggest and most beloved franchise in gaming, with a huge community of dedicated fans. No one would want 343 to rush the next big game out, but it is somewhat disappointing to know the next game is still a long time away from release.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on Halo Infinite as more details become available.
The 2013 game The Last of Us is widely considered one of the best games of the PS3 generation. It was impeccably crafted, with cinematic style, satisfying game mechanics, and a story that cut right to the bone. All of which is to say, if you're excited for The Last of Us Part 2, you're far from alone. While we don't have a release date for this PS4 exclusive, you can already lock in your pre-order.
We got a better look at The Last of Us Part 2's gameplay and story, which will follow Ellie several years after the first game, at E3 2018. Ellie is LGBTQ, and after she shares a tender moment with another woman in the trailer she instantaneously shifts into the brutality of their world. The remainder of the trailer shows off the title's stealthy and visceral combat, with more emphasis on the gritty violence than ever before. Naughty Dog has also confirmed that The Last of Us Part 2 will have multiplayer.
If you're ready to secure your copy of The Last of Us Part 2, you'll probably want to know what kind of pre-order bonuses to expect and what comes in the various editions. We have you covered below.
The Last of Us Part 2 Pre-Order Bonuses
No pre-order bonuses have been announced at this time.
Most people know that George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilms to Disney in 2012, but what you might not know is that at the time, Lucas had ideas in the works for Star WarsEpisode VII through Episode IX. Disney has gone a different way, and Lucas no longer has creative input on the Star Wars saga in any major way, but apparently, people at Lucasfilms were aware of his ideas and have simply kept a tight lid on them.
Star Wars fans will now be thrilled to know that the veil has been partially lifted on Lucas' ideas for the episodes. Den of Geek reports that a particularly attentive Twitter user found a pretty significant clue into what Lucas' version of the films would have looked like. The clue comes from the companion book to AMC's TV show, James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction.
In the book, George Lucas is quoted talking about his ideas for the films, saying that they, "were going to get into a microbiotic world. But there's this world of creatures that operate differently than we do. I call them the Whills. And the Whills are the ones that actually control the universe. The feed off the force."
Obviously I could go on and on about everything that is amazing in the Star Wars films, but one of the most striking things about them is the creativity involved in all the different alien characters, their societies, their characteristics, and how well they fit into the stories, and this is no exception. They are essentially a bunch of tiny creatures who happen to have control over the entire universe by tapping into the largest force there is, so large it's literally called THE force; what a bizzare contradiction.
Lucas went on to state that, "of course, a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did Phantom Menace and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would have been told." Clearly Lucas has some feelings about the elements of the story that remain unshared, and sadly, it is unlikely that this film will ever be put into motion, especially without the creative vision of Lucas himself. But for now, fans can at least start theorizing with this little peek into the Star Wars that could have been.
For such a radical change in the formula, 2016's Hitman burrowed itself into the fan consciousness as the new paradigm for the series going forward. The episodic format turned many skeptical diehards turned into true-believers, which must have made the announcement of a traditional release model for Hitman 2 jarring. Still, creative director Christian Elverdam told GameSpot at E3 2018 that the experience taught them some valuable lessons that will impact the sequel, with or without episodes.
"I think we convinced a lot of people that episodic really worked," he said. "The feedback we got was that episodic forced you to go into each level and really go into all the details, which I thought personally was a big victory. We were going with a sandbox formula, so it was pretty important for us that people really understand. If you just go in, maybe shoot the guy, and say 'okay I finished Miami,' you wouldn't really get it, because you need to take in all the details."
The rebooted Hitman that debuted in 2016 was instead a clockwork machine of moving parts. Non-player characters were props in the ultimate kill, moving about the map with their own motivations and stories that could be exploited for your own gains. Drip-feeding these missions forced otherwise casual Hitman fans to act like more ravenous ones, consuming it all, learning each of the pieces of the machine until they developed a super-power. It was successful because it focused players' attention in a way that the game hadn't before.
"At the same time, we followed some comments who also said they weren't satisfied that they couldn't experience the full story, and that it took a long time before it was done," Elverdam continued. "What we're talking about now is the best of both worlds. Now most people know what an elusive target is and they know we have a very strong live season. So we're doing more of that than we did before, but the story itself--the main arc of what happens in Hitman 2--is available day and date."
In other words, the episodic Hitman may have trained players how to engage with the game they way they'd hoped, but IO now feels confident enough to take off the training wheels and remove the frustration of a slowly meted out story in the process. Elverdam also added that it has more live content like elusive targets planned, but having the full suite of maps gives the studio more flexibility. While the episodic season limited it to only produce targets in maps that were already released, now it can choose from any map at any time.
The result is a mission structure that feels incredibly reminiscent of Hitman 2016. In a mission at a race track, I had to cautiously and slowly peel back layers of the puzzle, acquiring different costumes to get new tools to acquire new costumes, until I was finally perfectly positioned to take out my target. The demo was only one stage, but it felt perfectly familiar. For fans of Hitman's episodic structure, then, this is a less jarring change than they might expect. It's a continuation of what came before, so it should feel like a new batch of stages.
With a more defined campaign that will release all at once, the difficulty ramp may feel more welcoming too. Designing a challenging Hitman map requires subtleties that players could lose when they take months-long breaks. Everdam shared some thoughts on striking the right difficulty balance in one of Hitman's murder puzzles.
"So one of the first things we do is say: what kind of problem do we want the player to solve? If you had a target that stood still with ten guards that never moved, that would be a very hard problem to solve. So we look at how mobile are the patrol routes. Number of guards is a factor, it's not the only factor, but it's a factor. And then finally, it's sort of like peeling an onion in terms of how you progress. Physical traversal--a path like a drainpipe or something like that, how hard is that to get to, that would be your physical difficulty. And the second is disguises, and typically we don't give you the most powerful disguises up-front. So let's say you have a waiter who's very easy to isolate and take out. He's going to give you one layer of the onion but then you probably need to show more skill for better costumes."
With the potential for a smoother difficulty ramp, and the promise of much more live content than the last game, IO hopes to continue using the strengths of the episodic model without some of its drawbacks. Time will tell if the live content keeps players engaged as long as the episodic model kept them coming back, but the studio has taken the lessons of its experiment to heart. They may just turn skeptics to believers all over again.
Microsoft started its E3 2018 briefing with a trailer for Halo: Infinite. As we later learned, this was really more of a trailer for the new Slipspace engine that powers the game, not the game itself.
Now, 343 studio boss Chris Lee has spoken up to say Halo: Infinite is so ambitious that it needed a new game engine. Responding to a tweet from a concerned fan, Lee said, "Halo: Infinite is an ambitious new game and we needed to build a new engine to support that."
Some fans are understandably concerned about the state of Halo given that it has been almost three years since the release of Halo 5: Guardians in October 2015. Microsoft has continued to update and support Halo 5 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, but fans always want something new.
Halo: Infinite's reveal this week was a step towards that, but not the kind of announcement some might have wanted. After the Xbox briefing, 343 clarified in a blog post that the trailer was for the engine, not the game, but this was not communicated on the stage itself. Even the blog post suggested Halo: Infinite is a long way off, as the title of post is "Our Journey Begins."
343 studio head Chris Lee has since confirmed that Halo: Infinite will tell a more Master Chief-centric story, which is good news after Halo 5 went in a different direction. The story in Halo: Infinite will begin after the events of Halo 5, but that is all we know so far.
No release date has been set for Halo: Infinite, but from the sound if it, the game is not coming out anytime soon. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more.
Following last week's reveal of the movie's logo, production on the sequel to DC's Wonder Woman is now underway. It has been confirmed that the movie is titled Wonder Woman 1984, and now director Patty Jenkins has teased the surprise return of one of the first film's key characters.
Jenkins took to Twitter to post an on-set image of Chris Pine in the role of Captain Steve Trevor. Pine played the role in Wonder Woman, but fans will know that he died at the end of that movie--which was itself set 40 years before the sequel.
Clearly Pine's return is not meant to be a big twist, given it has been revealed by the director this early on in production. So quite how Trevor is back for the sequel and what role he will play in the story will remain a mystery for now, although the obvious '80s setting for the photo suggests it's not just a flashback. In the meantime, here's Jenkins's tweet:
As for the title Wonder Woman 1984, we've known for some time that it will be set in the '80s, and star Gal Gadot also recently posted a suitably retro on-set image. The film hits theaters on November 1, 2019 and also stars Kristin Wiig as the villainous Cheetah.
Last year, it was reported that Wonder Woman 1984 will "send Diana against the forces of Soviet Union in the closing days of the Cold War." In addition, Jenkins has teased that the movie will be a "funny and a great love story [with] a couple new unbelievable characters who I'm so excited about, who are very different than were in the last movie."
There's an interesting turn happening in the superhero genre of movies. After years of films fronted by male heroes, women are finally getting their chance at the spotlight. With Wonder Woman being a massive box office success-and a sequel on the way--there is also a movie for Captain Marvel in production, while Ant-Man and the Wasp is elevating its female lead.
There's one superhero franchise, though, that is putting its female hero front-and-center, over her male counterpart. In Disney/Pixar's Incredibles 2, the roles have been reversed. While in the first movie, it was Mr. Incredible who was sent off to relive his superhero glory, this time, it's Elastigirl's turn. This movie finds her becoming the public face for all supers. It's important to the film, but also sends a powerful message to young viewers who still aren't used to seeing a female hero taking charge and leading the way.
"You would kind of go 'Wow, do we really need that message?' But yeah, we do," Holly Hunter, who voices Elastigirl, tells GameSpot. "We need that information, we need to see... we need those images. We need those stories of women doing this kind of thing."
Of course, a strong female hero is nothing new to the Incredibles franchise. The first film, released in 2004, was sure to show just how powerful Helen--Elastigirl's real name--and her daughter Violet were.
"We had strong women before strong women were cool," writer-director Brad Bird jokes. "It's not like [Helen's] character's changing. Violet was a strong character. [Edna] was a strong character. I think that that was just a natural extension. It wasn't like we were sitting here going, 'Here's a political statement that we want to make.' It was more like, 'This will screw Bob up. This will be fun to watch.' That's more the motivation of it. It's exploring the characters and having fun with it."
Producer John Walker agrees, adding, "Elastigirl says in the first film, 'Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don't think so.' There's nothing in the second film that wouldn't have worked completely fine in the first one 15 years ago."
However, there is one thing about Helen in the new movie that's very different from the first Incredibles. Viewers are going to see what Elastigirl the solo hero is like--much as they did with Bob's Mr. Incredible sting in the last film.
"They do it differently from, I mean, Helen does it very differently from Mr. Incredible," Hunter teases. "Their styles are totally, completely different problem in terms of solving problems. Helen is hired because she's gonna wreak less collateral damage, and I do think that's the thing that I like best about the portrait of her. Is how cool she is."
"She's jumping on her motorcycle and she's going up the sides of buildings, and doing these great... You hear the excitement for it, in her voice," Walker says. "She's getting to do this thing she feels she was born to do."
Sony presented the first gameplay trailer for Ghost of Tsushima during the company's E3 2018 press conference. It opened with a samurai walking out of a forested area with his horse, he keels down and picks up a leaf, before the wind carries it away. Text appears on screen to denote it's Day 9 of the Mongol invasion, indicating the game will track progression by splitting them into days.
The character walks up a hill and looks over Otsuna Grassland, a beautiful field where wheat gently sways in the wind. The samurai calls his horse and begins riding. The game looks absolutely stunning. Eventually the samurai makes his way deep into the forest, where he encounters invading forces killing someone. The three enemies square off, but the samurai adopts a defensive stance, delivers a devastating counter, and cuts his foes down.
Enemies begin to converge, but the samurai uses defensive moves to negate their attacks. There's a very slow, deliberate pace to it. A second, female character called Masako appears and addresses the samurai as Jin. They're on their way to a temple to rescue a monk, and opt to use a quiet approach to avoid detection. They sneak up behind two enemies and kill them in unison. Jin hops onto a fence and then leaps onto a nearby roof, using a rope to swing higher and enter a building.
He skulks around the rafters, taking stock of the enemies, before leaping down and delivering a crushing stab. In that moment, time slows, and the camera moves to nearby enemies, giving Jin the opportunity to seamlessly move to another character and stab them. With the monk saved, Jin leaves the temple, but Masako fires an arrow at the monk, revealing he killed Masako's family.
Jin and Masako, in a crimson field of leaves, square off for a duel. "Give me the monk," she tells Jin, before lunging forward. The gameplay in this scene seems to involve adopting the proper stances to counter incoming attacks and exploit openings. Throughout the conflict, Jin tries to reason with Masako, reminding her that the Mongols are coming, and that those invaders are the true enemy. The two eventually are besieged by the Mongols, but stand to face them together.
Created by the minds behind Infamous, Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world game that takes place on the island Tsushima during feudal Japan in 1274. Players take on the role of a vengeful, yet honorable, samurai who targets those responsible for wronging him.
We expected to see more of The Last of Us Part II at E3 2018, and we weren't disappointed. Sony had a new gameplay trailer to show at its press conference, and it was both tender and terrifying. The trailer opened with Ellie talking to a man while watching a party going on around them. Eventually another female character appears, and leads Ellie to the dance floor, where they share a tender kiss.
During their discussion, Ellie says she's, "Just a girl, not a threat." Her partner, however, replies that she thinks everyone should be terrified of Ellie. Their kiss transitions seamlessly into a shot of Ellie slitting a man's throat, mumbling "f****r" as she releases his limp, lifeless body. From there we get an extended gameplay demo, with Ellie creeping around the city, as dilapidated as in the first game, but also reclaimed by nature.
After a scuffle with a couple of enemies, Ellie takes refuge in some grass, then creeping underneath a car to hide from her pursuers. A detection meter appears as they look for her, and the hiding spot is discovered, and once again chaos ensues, with Ellie once again in a brutal fight for her life. She moves from area to area, grabbing a bottle and lobbing it at an enemy before running into a shop and hiding behid a counter.
Three enemies follow her in, one wielding a giant axe. They scour the room for her, but Ellie crafts an explosive arrow while slipping around them. With it made, she fires it at an enemy, setting off a huge explosion. Ellie shows herself to be more capable than ever, slipping between shelves to get around her enemies, getting the jump on them, and eventually bringing one of the bigger enemies to his knees. She's also ruthless, and sinks her axe into the now subdued enemy.
The trailer then smoothly transitions back to Ellie and her dance partner kissing. It's an intense trailer that shows off the brutality of The Last of Us Part 2 that was teased in previous videos. It seems the contrast between heartfelt moments, tenderness, and innocence with the brutality of surviving is a big part of the game.
The Last of Us Part II shocked the internet with a trailer in 2017 that depicted a violent scene during an apocalypse where humanity was struggling to survive. It was a dark and unsettling trailer to watch, and this E3 2018 gameplay trailer seems to suggest that this violent tone will be an integral part of the game.
To stay fully updated on everything coming out at E3, be sure to stay tuned to our E3 2018 hub.
We've all been waiting to see The Last of Us: Part II gameplay, and we finally got our first glimpse at Sony's E3 2018 press conference. What seemingly started as a trailer or cutscene transitioned to an extended look at stealth and combat.
We actually already knew this, but it was interesting to see how differently grown-up Ellie played to The Last of Us's Joel and young Ellie. As with the first game, she seemed more than capable of handling herself. Ellie moves quickly and is a fierce warrior. She's proficient with a bow; we saw her snap off shots from close-up and afar. We also saw Ellie wield a machete, and though she was smaller than the enemies she faced, she was able to get the jump on them with her agility and cleverness. Ellie is no doubt conflicted about her proficiency for killing, so it will be interesting to see how the story tackles this as the narrative progresses.
Laying Low
One small but notable change is the ability to lie down. This was not present in the first game but should come in handy when trying to remain hidden. We saw Ellie lay prone under a car, hiding from an enemy. This probably saved her life, as she was able to stay hidden and wait for the opportune moment to fire off a killing shot.
No Sign Of Joel
The E3 trailer was lengthy and detailed, focusing exclusively on Ellie. Joel, the playable character of the first game, was nowhere to be seen. However, Ellie was dressed in clothes similar to what Joel wore in the original game, which is potentially her way of honoring him. Joel will undoubtedly appear in The Last of Us: Part II, and it's exciting to think about what role he'll have.
Even More Brutal
Like the trailer from Paris Games Week, this was a brutal trailer that showed a lot of up-close-and-personal combat that often ended in gruesome fashion. We saw Ellie launch an axe into an enemy's face, where it stuck. We saw Ellie savage an enemy with multiple arrows to the chest, with her foe falling to his knees before she hacked his head off with a knife. Another scene showed Ellie craft an explosive arrow and then blow up an enemy with it. In yet another sequence, Ellie was hidden under a car and shot her enemy in the face when he spotted her. The first Last of Us was a brutally violent game, and it looks like the sequel will be as well. It's not just Ellie who is brutalizing people in The Last of Us: Part II. We saw a member of the enemy faction disemboweling someone who was strung up on a rope. It was hard to watch. The Last of Us: Part II will no doubt continue to be controversial for its violence, but Naughty Dog surely has a story reason behind the gruesomeness, and we are eager to learn more.
The Green Lantern comics can essentially be summed up like this: it's about space cops. However, throughout writer Robert Venditti's tenure on Green Lantern and now Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps, the series has been transformative, questioning the ideals of how to enforce the law and asking, "How far is too far?" when stopping those who will continually hurt others. In Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #46--which hits stores today--the story truly hits home on the parent/child relationship. More specifically, a dysfunctional one.
The current storyline, now hitting Part 5, is called "Darkstars Rising." In it, a new force called the Darkstars has appeared. While this team first appeared in DC Comics back in 1992, they were disbanded in 2005, and this new incarnation is a more twisted version of the original team, as they murder criminals, so the villains don't have a chance to do it again.
The most notable member of this new manifestation of the team is former Green Lantern Tomar Tu. He was son of the famed Tomar Re who gave his life in battle and was the mentor to Hal Jordan. Tu is joined by Guy Gardner, who should be a familiar name to any Green Lantern fan. The former Green Lantern/Warrior/Yellow Ring Bearer/Red Lantern has a torrid past which is resurfacing in Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #46, as Gardner comes from an abusive relationship with his father. Check out a preview of that issue below.
Gardner's journey has led him to leave the Green Lantern Corps in such of more final justice. He's a character that refuses to give up in battle. "It's because no punch he ever takes hurts as bad as the ones his dad used to give him, and that's kind of where he gets his will from," explained writer Robert Venditti. "It's just this really fascinating, heartbreaking aspect of Guy where he almost believes he deserves the punishment, and the punches in the face, and this is why he's always starting fights because he still has that weight that he carries with him from when he was a child and his father was beating him.
"Guy carries a lot of that anger, and so as the Darkstar mantles are going out, in a sort of automated way, they seek out people who have these thoughts of lethal justice, and go to them, and ask people to volunteer to become a Darkstar."
The "daddy issues" don't stop with Guy and his father. "These themes that we have that have been running throughout the entire series that deal with parents and children in general," continued Venditti. "You have Hal and his father, Guy and his father, Soranik and Sinestro, Tomar-Tu and Tomar-Re, the Guardians and how they view the Green Lanterns as children. [The] parent-child dynamic is something we dealt with throughout the entire series. So, we're gonna see a lot of ways in which that affects and changes characters as we get to the end of the story."
The new story is expansive, including characters like Superman's arch-nemesis Zod and Eradicator--one of the four returning Supermen after the Man of Steel's death in 1993. Additionally, there's a story involving Highfather and Orion, two of the New Gods, so this dynamic between parent and child is far-reaching into the DC Universe and something any reader should easily be able to relate to.
You can pick up the five parts of "Darkstars Rising"--starting with issue #41 and continuing with the June 13 release of #46--by getting yourself some copies of Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps at your local comic shop or through the digital market with apps like Comixology.
After a long wait, Kingdom Hearts fans are finally getting Kingdom Hearts III. During its E3 2018 showcase, Square Enix officially announced the game for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. You'll be able to buy the game starting January 29, 2019. There will be Standard and Deluxe Editions, but Square Enix will also release a special edition that includes the Deluxe Edition plus extra goodies.
The Kingdom Hearts III Deluxe Edition + Bring Arts Figures includes the base game, a steelbook case, an artbook, and a collectible pin featuring Sora with the Kingdom Hearts 3 logo. It will also come with three Bring Arts figures of Sora, Donald, and Goofy in their Toy Story world garb. The Deluxe Edition + Bring Arts Figures will cost $230 and will be available exclusively from the Square Enix store. Check out all the offerings below.
Kingdom Hearts III will be the last chapter of the overarching Kingdom Hearts story. It will take players to Toy Story, Hercules, and Monsters Inc. worlds, among others. We've got a look at a few of the worlds already; check out these trailers of Frozen, Ratatouille, Wreck-It Ralph, and watch the Pirates of the Caribbean video above to get a glimpse of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Bandai Namco has revealed the release date for SoulCalibur VI at E3 2018, the latest installment in the 3D fighting game franchise. The game is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 19, 2018.
SoulCalibur VI features more of the weapons-focused combat the series is known for, and Bandai Namco is demoing the game's story mode at E3. It's set in the 16th century, and players are sent on "a voyage of discovery" as they uncover events from the original SoulCalibur "to learn hidden truths."
The game blends some of the series' favorite characters with guest characters like Geralt of Rivia, from The Witcher series, who will even be featured on the game's cover. Witcher developer CD Projekt Red is working closely with Bandai to assure he looks and feels like the real Geralt. Watch him in action in the gameplay video above.
When it releases, SoulCalibur VI will also be available in a Collector's Edition that comes with a 12" Sophita figure, a 120-page book, a metal case with built-in soundbox, soundtrack CD, and the game's season pass.
Nintendo's E3 2018 showing may have been primarily focused on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but the company also shared some new details about the upcoming Pokemon RPGs for Switch, Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee. Among other things, we've learned that players will indeed be able to capture the Kanto starter Pokemon--Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle--in the wild.
During a hands-on session with the titles, we spotted and captured both Bulbasaur and Pikachu in the wild. The demo was set entirely within the Viridian Forest, so it isn't surprising that we came across Pikachu, as the forest was one of two areas it could be found in the original Red and Blue versions. However, starter Pokemon like Bulbasaur aren't traditionally available in the wild in other Pokemon RPGs.
While you'll have a much easier time of getting all the Kanto starters in the Let's Go titles, it appears they'll still be harder to find than other Pokemon. During our demo session, Pidgey, Caterpie, and Weedle were much more plentiful in the wild. We also came across a few Oddish, which couldn't previously be found in Viridian Forest.
Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee are inspired by Pokemon Yellow, and the version you choose will determine whether Pikachu or Eevee will accompany you through the adventure. The Pokemon Company has previously said that you can't evolve the Pikachu or Eevee you start with, but you will be able to evolve any that you capture or transfer from Pokemon Go.
Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee launch for Switch on November 16. The games will release alongside the Poke Ball Plus, a controller shaped like a Poke Ball.
The Witcher 3's Geralt is coming to SoulCalibur 6 as this edition's guest character. Bandai Namco has emphasized him as a precision fighter who strikes in powerful, calculated bursts and uses his abilities to their fullest. Now we can see that precision in action in a one-on-one fight from E3 2018.
Check out the video above for a brutal brawl between Geralt and long-time SoulCalibur character Yoshimitsu. It provides a clear idea of how Geralt wields his dual weapons as well as his variety of Witcher abilities. His move-set is particularly graceful against the more chaotic Yoshimitsu, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome his foe this time. Keep an eye out for a particularly messy end.
Geralt is the latest in a long line of guest characters to the SoulCalibur series. He joins other notable ones like Yoda, Darth Vader, Link, and more. CD Projekt Red worked closely with Bandai to assure he looks and feels like the real Geralt, and it shows.
SoulCalibur 6 will get a special "Collector's Edition" with a Sophitia figure, 120-page art book, metal case, soundtrack CD, and collector's edition box. It's set to release alongside the standard version on October 19.
Todd Howard, who is known to wear very nice leather jackets, has given an update on the state of development on The Elder Scrolls VI and the studio's new Starfield. Speaking to GameSpot at E3 2018, Howard said The Elder Scrolls VI is only in the "very early" stages of development, while Starfield is further along and will likely launch before the new Elder Scrolls game.
"It's in the concept and design [phase]," Howard said. Perhaps more intriguingly, Howard said he knows the release date of The Elder Scrolls VI--but he's not going to tell you. "I do. I would be foolish to say it," he said.
For The Elder Scrolls VI, Bethesda is taking its time to make it the game that fans want and expect from the studio. After all, Skyrim was a monumentally successful game from a critical and commercial perspective, so it has very big shoes to fill. And Bethesda is known for outdoing itself.
"We've obviously taken our time with [The Elder Scrolls 6], as opposed to jumping right into it," he said. "We know what we want it to be, and that's gonna take time, technology, other things that we need to build to to really pull it off. And that's what that franchise deserves."
Howard suggested that the ideas and ambition Bethesda has for The Elder Scrolls 6 might not be possible on current-generation hardware. He said in a Gameslice interview that Bethesda is "getting closer" to the technology needed to run the game, which suggests that the PS4 and Xbox One are not capable enough to run the game as Bethesda wants.
As for Starfield, this game--which is Bethesda's first new IP In a very long time--is already playable and is in full production. As such, the game is expected to launch before The Elder Scrolls 6. Indeed, Howard told GameSpot that the current release plan for Bethesda Game Studios' next big games will be Fallout 76, then Starfield, then Elder Scrolls VI. However, Howard also said Starfield might not launch on current-generation hardware, so it could be a long time before we get to play either title.
No new Xbox or PlayStation consoles have been announced, but just this week Microsoft announced it's working on new consoles, while Sony is rumoured to be working on a PlayStation 5.
Bethesda announcing Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI so long before launch is a notable change for the company, as it's become known for announcing and releasing games in short order.
Bethesda's next big game is Fallout 76, which launches in November for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Unlike the previous games, it is an online-only, multiplayer-focused game.
Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has provided more details on the character people will take control of in its upcoming open-world RPG, as well as how the character can be customized. Speaking during GameSpot's E3 2018 live show, associate design director Kyle Rowley revealed the main character is an urban mercenary called "V," and players will be able to not only choose the gender of V, but customize him or her as well.
"She takes on takes on dangerous jobs--he or she, actually," said Rowley. "She takes on dangerous jobs that no one else will ... We have a full character creation system in the game, so you'll be able to define your gender, whether it's male or female. You'll be able to define how you look, you'll have various different body types, hairstyles, clothes, tattoos, make-ups, and many, many more. And obviously you can define your, what we're calling 'Life Path.' It's like a backstory, and the things you define in your life path, in your backstory, can modify or unlock things as you're playing through the game."
On top of the character customization and backstory options, players will also be able to define the class of their character. However, doing so doesn't manifest itself in the form a of a choice at the start of the game.
"Now at the start of the game we don't actually have any classes that you pick from," Rowley explained. "Obviously in Cyberpunk 2020 there's lots of different roles you can take on: corporate, rocker boy, netrunner, techie, etc. At the start of the game you're not picking any of those classes. As you're progressing through the game you're modifying and adjusting your class based on the attributes that you pick and decide to install. So it's a very fluid system, we don't lock you in at the start of the game."
In the same interview Rowley confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be a first-person RPG with shooter elements. CD Projekt Red showed the game off during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference with a trailer that turned out to be more colorful than we expected--check it out above. For the latest news and updates, follow GameSpot's full E3 2018 coverage of Cyberpunk 2077.
Nintendo's upcoming Super Smash Bros. game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch, was finally revealed during the company's E3 2018 Direct presentation. As the company began to rattle off the roster of playable characters, there was one thing that slowly became increasingly clear: Everyone is here.
Every single character who has ever appeared in a Super Smash Bros. game--from the original 12 characters featured in the Nintendo 64 title, all the way up to the latest DLC characters made and released for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U--will be included as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
This, of course, includes characters who originate from non-Nintendo series, like Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series and Cloud from Final Fantasy VII, as well as characters that have only appeared once before, like Young Link, Pichu, and Star Wolf.
All characters will undergo some mechanical changes and balances--some significant, some minor. For example, Link's bombs can now be remotely detonated. Generally speaking, all Final Smash moves will have more immediate effects--those who previously had long-lasting transformations like Bowser and Little Mac will have harder hitting versions, but they won't last as long. Some characters will have cosmetic adjustments--the Wii Sports Trainer will have a new face, for whatever reason.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will also feature two new characters: Inking Girl (or Boy) from the Splatoon series and Ridley, the archenemy of Samus Aran from the Metroid series. While the new game's roster will not include everyone from the outset--Nintendo teased the starting lineup may be as small as that of original N64 game--Nintendo is hoping to reward players by unlocking characters frequently, giving them a feeling of constant progression.
Here's a list of all the confirmed characters, in alphabetical order:
Bayonetta
Bowser
Bowser Jr.
Captain Falcon
Charizard
Cloud
Corrin
Dark Pit
Diddy Kong
Donkey Kong
Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
Falco
Fox
Ganondorf
Greninja
Ice Climbers
Ike
Inkling
Ivysaur
Jigglypuff
King Dedede
Kirby
Link
Little Mac
Lucario
Lucas
Lucina
Luigi
Mario
Marth
Mega Man
Meta Knight
Mewtwo
Mii Brawler
Mii Gunner
Mii Swordfighter
Mr. Game & Watch
Ness
Olimar
Pac-Man
Palutena
Peach
Pichu
Pikachu
Pit
Pokemon Trailer
Ridley
R.O.B.
Robin
Rosalina & Luma
Roy
Ryu
Samus
Sheik
Shulk
Snake
Sonic
Squirrel
Toon Link
Villager
Wario
Wii Fit Trainer
Wolf
Yoshi
Young Link
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be released on December 7, 2018. It will also support GameCube controllers and every previous Super Smash Bros. Amiibo.
During its E3 2018 Direct, Nintendo announced that all the characters to ever appear in a Smash Bros. game will appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. That includes, of course, Metal Gear Solid's Snake, and now we've learned David Hayter, who has voiced Snake in most Metal Gear games, will be stepping into the role once again.
In an interview with Gameinformer, Nintendo localization manager Nate Bihldorff said Hayter would be providing Snake's voice. Hayter himself then confirmed the announcement on Twitter.
David Hayter was the voice of Solid Snake in the original Metal Gear, and has played the role in several of the game's sequels and prequels too. He also provided the voice of Snake in 2008's Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will continue the series' brawler legacy when it releases on December 7, 2018, but many characters will undergo some mechanical changes and balances, some significant, some minor. For example, Link's bombs will now be remotely detonated. Generally speaking, all Final Smash moves will have more immediate effects--those who previously had long-lasting transformations like Bowser and Little Mac will have harder hitting versions, but they won't last as long. Check out our full list of all the characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the new Super Smash Bros. game for Nintendo Switch, and was announced during the E3 2018 Nintendo Direct. This means that Ultimate will likely be the primary version used in competitive play moving forward, and in good news for pro players, the game will also supports the GameCube controller.
While we had hands-on experience with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate using Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers, the game will be compatible with multiple styles of control. Here's what we know:
The game is compatible with Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers
There will be a single Joy-Con control method
GameCube controllers will be compatible by using a GameCube adaptor. This will only be possible in console's docked mode
Existing Wii U GameCube Adaptors will work with the Nintendo Switch.
Both GameCube controllers and GameCube adaptors will be made available for sale again, sometime around the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The new GameCube Controller will feature the new Super Smash Bros. logo.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be available on December 7, 2018. For more on the game, check a look at these articles:
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was announced for Nintendo Switch, on the Nintendo Direct presentation during E3 2018, and the biggest thing to know is that everyone is here. Every single character that has ever been in a Smash Bros. is back again, along with at least two new additions in Ridley and Splatoon's Inkling. For those who are coming back from a previous game, there will be some changes.
Some are mechanical, some are cosmetic, some are minor, and some are major. Here are all the ones we know so far, based on information given to us during the Nintendo Direct and based on our own hands-on experience.
General: Final Smash moves will be more immediate. Those who previously had long-lasting transformations like Bowser and Little Mac will have harder hitting versions, but they won't last as long.
Mario: Mario outfit now features Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey, as well as his wedding outfit from the same game and his builder outfit from Super Mario Maker
Link: Link's default outfit is the Champion's Tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but he has a green Tunic of the Wild, too. His bombs are now remotely detonated, though they can't be detonated if someone picks them up. His Final Smash is an Ancient Arrow attack.
Pikachu: You'll be able to choose a female variant of Pikachu, complete with a heart-shaped tail. There's also a Luche Libre outfit for both male and female Pikachu.
Fox: This version of Fox will be based on his appearance in Star Fox Zero. His Final Smash has been overhauled is an instant-hit attack.
Falco: His Landmaster Final Smash attack has been replaced by an instant-hit attack similar to Fox's.
Ryu: He'll now always face his opponents during 1-on-1 matches, similar to how he operates in regular Street Fighter games, which will make using his command inputs a little easier.
Samus: Her charge moves can now be charged in mid-air. You can cancel them by jumping or dodging, but you'll be vulnerable afterward.
Marth: Dancing Blade is now faster, and the same goes for Roy and Lucina. He's also got his English voiceover this time around
Snake: He's back! He's based on his Metal Gear Solid 2 appearance again.
King Dedede: His Final Smash is now a cage match where he beats the crap out of opponents with missles and a hammer.
Pichu: Pichu's electric attacks will continue to cause damage to itself, is still the worst character.
Zelda: Her appearance is now based on The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, since she's more of a researcher in Breath of the Wild, and her Final Smash is the Triforce of Wisdom.
Sonic: His Final Smash, Supersonic is faster, because "he's lightning fast". Obviously.
Pac-Man: Namco's yellow gobbler is now a bit faster, at least in his Final Smash.
Pokemon Trainer: You'll continue to choose between commanding Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard, and there's no penalty for sticking with one. There is now also a female Pokemon trainer costume that you can use.
Captain Falcon: Captain Falcon's appearance was used to show off a new, general change: a slowdown when certain moves successfully connect during a 1-on-1 match, like Falcon Punch
Cloud: Cloud's two costumes from Final Fantasy VII and Advent Children remain, but his limit gauge will be visible near his damage counter at all times.
Robin: Similarly, Robin's sword and tome meters will also be visible by the damage counter at all times.
Villager: The Animal Crossing villager will have a little icon next to their damage meter to show what item they've stored in their pocket.
Bowser: His Gigabowser Final Smash has changed--he'll now grow incredibly large and exist in the background of the stage, and you'll aim his punches.
Mr. Game & Watch: Mr. Game & Watch's look is now more in line with his LCD model in the original Game & Watch electronic games.
Young Link: He's back! Smash Bros. now has three different versions of Link.
Wolf: Wolf, like Fox, is also modeled around his Star Fox Zero appearance, and each of his moves has received a "significant upgrade".
Mii Fighters: The Mii Fighters have had their proportions adjusted to be taller and leaner. Their move sets have been enhanced, they have 12 different voice options, and they're hoping to make them available to play online.
Pit: Pit's Final Smash is now the Lightning Chariot, and is an instant hit.
Zero Suit Samus: Final Smash now lets her call in her gunship, put her power armor back on, and fire a laser that can be aimed.
Olimar: Olimar's helmet now has visible cracks when he gets hit and knocked back.
Bayonetta: Both costumes for Bayonetta will still be available, and the gunshots in each will sound a little different from each other. Rodin from Bayonetta also appears an assist trophy.
Wario: Wario's Final Smash is still Warioman, but it no longer lets you use regular moves, it's an instant hit combo.
Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong's Final Smash is no longer the Donkey Konga bongos, instead it's an instant hit series of rapid punches. His Spinning Kong special attack now gains faster momentum as it continues, and his special punch can be charged in mid-air.
Little Mac: Again, Little Mac's Final Smash is no longer a transform, but rather an instant hit rush of blows.
Ness: Ness' Final Smash is still a PK Starstorm, but it's not as easily aimed, and includes cameos from his Earthbound comrades Paula and Poo. Jeff is an assist trophy.
Lucas: Similarly, Lucas's Mother 3 friends Kumatora and Boney show up to support him in his Final Smash.
Wii Fit Trainer: For whatever reason, the developer behind Wii Fit requested that Wii Fit Trainer's face be altered for this new game. You can still play as both male and female trainers.
Mega Man: Mega Man's robo-friends Protoman and Bass show up in Mega Man's Final Smash, which is still the multi-beam attack, Mega Legends.
Palutena: Her special attacks have been streamlined, and her down special acts as both a counter and a deflector.
R.O.B.: You can now see the fuel gauge for R.O.B.'s Robo Burner jetpack appear on his torso.
Lucina, Dark Pit, and Daisy: Yes, Daisy is now available in Smash Bros, but she's not a new character. All of these characters now act as "Echo Fighters", used to define characters who more or less the same characters as the ones they echo, but with only a few behavioral differences.
Series director Masahiro Sakurai has said that there are literally "tens of thousands of changes", so you can expect your favorite character to behave a little differently.
There are also a number of general technical changes including:
You can now press and hold the "A" button to attack with characters who have rapid attacks, like Kirby.
Directional air dodges are back from Melee
Dodging now has limits: Rapidly dodging about five to six times will see your character's dodge movement slow dramatically and have a smaller window of invulnerability.
Hitting the A and jump buttons at the same time will let you do a short hop attack, a technique that was previously much more demanding to perform
You can hold A+B to perform a quick Smash attack
Perfect Shield is back: By blocking, and then releasing your block the moment an enemy attack connects, you are free to move and attack while your enemy is still in cooldown.
One-on-one battles now feature greater damage modifiers in an effort to increase the pace and dynamism of these kinds of fights.
In a Time battle, the leading player will flash with light
There is now a mini-map that appears when a character gets knocked past the boundaries of the screen. This makes it easier to tell how far away you are.
Stages are now selected before characters.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be available on Nintendo Switch on December 7, 2018.
As if Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster of "every character from the series history ever," wasn't enough, Nintendo closed its E3 2018 presentation with a surprise Smash reveal: long-time Metroid antagonist Ridley is coming to the game as a playable character.
In a moody, cinematic trailer, Ridley appeared from the shadows to attack the intrepid Samus, revealing that the dragon-like beast will be the next fighter to join the expansive roster. The character model is based mostly on the character's Other M appearance, but alternate costumes not only show different colors but also the mechanized version of the purple beast.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will include every character ever released for a Smash game, and we'll get the chance to play it at E3 this year. So stay tuned for impressions and in-depth gameplay vidoes showing off the game soon. We know one change it introduces is the ability to pick stages before selecting your character. This way, those who care about catering their characters to the exact level they're playing on don't have any excuse for why they lose.
Smash Bros. Ultimate releases for Switch on December 7. It'll support GameCube controllers through an adapter.
Fortnite developer Epic Games has announced more details on the $100 million that it is pouring into competitive Fortnite tournaments and seemingly called out the Overwatch League.
In a blog post, Epic said the $100 million will be spread across community-organised events, online events, and "major" organized tournaments in the United States and abroad. According to Epic, "anyone can participate, and anyone can win."
One of the big tournaments is the Fortnite World Cup. Qualifiers for this event start in Fall 2018 and continue thereafter until the finals in late 2019. There are no specifics available as of yet regarding where the tournaments will take place or how you can participate, however.
In the Fortnite World Cup, Epic will focus on Solo and Duos, though the studio stressed that people who enjoy Squads will be able to take part in the competition as well.
Also in its blog post, Epic made a point to talk about how its investment in eSports differs from what others are doing in the space. Though Epic never mentions Activision Blizzard or the Overwatch League by name, it is pretty clear that the comparison is aimed at Overwatch League.
Here's what Epic said: "This is for you, the players. Qualifications for the Fortnite World Cup will be based on merit. Epic will not be selling teams or franchises, and won't allow third-party leagues to do so either."
More details on all the specifics about the Fortnite's eSports tournaments--including rules, details on platforms, and a player code of conduct--will be announced in due time, Epic said.
Activision Blizzard charges Overwatch League teams substantial fees in the millions of dollars just to create a franchise. There are currently 12 teams in the Overwatch League. Activision Blizzard also makes money by via broadcasting rights; Twitch reportedly paid $90 million for the opportunity to broadcast Overwatch League matches.
Actor Elijah Wood is at E3 2018 this week in Los Angeles to talk about the psychological thriller Transference that he and his film company SpectreVision are working on with Ubisoft. The game is immensely creepy, featuring some of the most unsettling and haunting scenes you will see all year in games. The structure is also very unique. A game meant to be played in VR but also coming to traditional systems, Transference puts you into an experiment gone wrong from a troubled scientist. In short, he tries to upload his consciousness and that of his wife and son to the cloud. But it all goes wrong, and the data gets corrupted. You play as each of the three family members, experiencing the horror of the experiment from the different perspectives. You might think you understand the motivation of one of the family members, but when you switch to another, everything changes and you see the world through a new light.
Needless to say, Transference is unique. In a video game industry so focused on sequels and extensions of existing ideas as highlighted at E3 2018 this week, its novelty is refreshing. We caught up with Wood at E3 and asked him about a number of things, one of which was the importance in gaming--and film--of taking risks. Wood, a veteran in Hollywood, is well aware of the business reasons that explain why sequels are so ubiquitous. But he's still wary of sequel-itis because "expectations ultimately breed safety," and that kind of thinking won't push the industry forward.
For Transference, Wood said he and his team were intentionally looking at other games in an attempt to avoid repeating common tropes. Transference is the first game that SpectreVision has worked on, with its output instead taking the form of film and TV projects, mostly in the horror space. Wood said he doesn't blame studio executives or AAA gaming bosses for releasing sequel after sequel after sequel, but noted that it's more exciting to work on new things.
"Part of the problem with [movie studios] and games too is not that the people who create them are not interested in innovation, it's that they have to feed an audience that has expectations," Wood said. "Expectations ultimately breed safety and playing it safe, so as not to disappoint. Which one can totally understand in a business. But there is a lot of innovation happening now in games."
There is a good amount of innovation happening in the VR space, in part by necessity. It is so new compared to traditional platforms, so developers are trying new things to see what works best. It is this environment that yields exciting results, Wood said.
"VR is a really exciting place for that," Wood said, referring to innovation in games. "The rules really don't feel like they're written. It feels a little bit like the Wild West. Especially because it's not ubiquitous. Not everyone has a VR headset."
Generally speaking, Wood said he is more drawn to the indie space in games today because their creators are often not beholden to publishers who finance them and thus expect a return on investment. Indie creators are generally free of those considerations. While there are a lot of rubbish indie games out there, these developers are oftentimes trying to break established rules and try something new. Do you think a big publisher would have ever funded Goat Simulator? Probably not, but the developers believed in the project and it became a bonafide hit. Wood said he is energised by the indie space, and his new game is certainly shaping up to be something new and interesting.
"This is true of film, too, on a big studio level there aren't making risks being taken. Plenty of great films and a lot of great entertainment, and they tend to be giant franchises," Wood said. "And that's very true of the AAA game industry as well. And I think that's also why the indie world is really emerging is really exciting. You're getting games being made by single individuals who have worked for five years to create something and they're making it all on their own and doing something really different."
Transference launches this fall for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive, while non-VR versions will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
We have always known that Epic's Fortnite is massively popular, but now the developer has quantified the game's success. In less than a year, the game has reached a staggering 125 million players, the studio said in a blog post. It is not clear how this figure breaks down between the paid Save the World game and Battle Royale, but no doubt Battle Royale is more popular.
The announcement came at E3 2018 this week during the Fortnite Pro-Am that saw big-name streamers paired up with celebrities to play the game. As part of this, Epic also announced more details on the $100 million Fortnite eSports funding that it announced in May.
For the inaugural 2018-2019 season, Epic said the $100 million will support "community organized events, online events, and major organized competitions all over the world, where anyone can participate, and anyone can win."
Qualifiers for what Epic is calling the Fortnite World Cup will begin this fall, with the finals to be held in 2019. The World Cup will focus primarily on Solo and Duos, though Epic said there will be Squad opportunities as well.
In what sounds like shade Epic is throwing at Activision Blizzard, Epic said the Fortnite World Cup is for the players and the players alone. "Qualifications for the Fortnite World Cup will be based on merit. Epic will not be selling teams or franchises, and won't allow third-party leagues to do so either," Epic said.
For comparison, Activision Blizzard charges teams substantial fees in the millions of dollars just to create an Overwatch League team. Activision Blizzard also makes money by selling the Overwatch League rights to networks; Twitch reportedly paid $90 million for Overwatch League broadcasting rights.
With its $100 million investment in Fortnite competitive play, Epic is helping ensure that Fortnite remains popular, not that there was any doubt that it would.
Disney's program of remaking its classic animated movies has proved to be a hugely lucrative one to date. The Jungle Book and Beauty and The Beast have earned a combined total of more than $2.2 billion worldwide, and there are a variety of other adaptations on the way. Next up is the live-action remake of Dumbo, and the first trailer has arrived.
Dumbo is directed by Tim Burton, who previously helmed the hugely successful Alice in Wonderland for Disney, as well as classics such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, and the 1989 Batman. It stars Colin Farrell as a former big top star who finds work with a struggling circus after he returns from war. There he meets the baby elephant Dumbo, who is mocked for his giant ears but is clearly destined for great things. Check it out above.
Dumbo also stars Michael Keaton as villainous entrepreneur Vandemere, Danny DeVito as circus owner Max Medici, and Eva Green as trapeze artist Colette Marchant. The movie doesn't actually arrive for some time unfortunately, with the release date set for March 29, 2019.
In terms of other Disney adaptations, new versions of Mulan, The Lion King, and Aladdin are all in various stages of development. Mulan recently added a number of high-profile Asian actors to the cast, including Gong Li (Miami Vice) and martial arts legends Donnie Yen (Rogue One) and Jet Li (The Expendables), and arrives in 2020. The Lion King will be directed by The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau and is set for July 2019, while Aladdin comes from Snatch and Sherlock Holmes director Guy Richie, and arrives in May of next year.
The huge success of 2013's horror hit The Conjuring led to not just a sequel, but an entire expanded universe of connected scary movies. So far we've had The Conjuring 2 and two films focusing on scary doll Annabelle, and they will soon be joined by The Nun. The movie arrives in September, and a first trailer has been released.
The Nun is a prequel to all the Conjuring universe movies so far and will explore the origins of The Conjuring 2's demonic nun Valek. It's set in 1952 and follows a priest and his assistant as they investigate the suicide of a young woman in a Romanian abbey. Inevitably lots of scary things happen, and if this first look at the movie is anything to go by, it's going to be a terrifying ride. Check it out below.
The Nun is directed by Corin Hardy, who previously helmed the acclaimed 2015 horror movie The Hallow, and it stars Demián Bichir (The Hateful Eight), Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story), Bonnie Aarons (The Conjuring), and Charlotte Hope (Game of Thrones). Conjuring director James Wan is the movie's co-writer, along with Gary Dauberman, who also wrote Annabelle and Annabelle: Creation. It hits theaters on September 7.
In a recent interview Entertainment Weekly, Wan spoke about how the shared Conjuring universe came about. "When we were starting out, when we made the first Conjuring, we always kind of quietly, jokingly, among ourselves, felt that the world of the Warrens, and all the interesting artifacts they have in their haunted room, could have their own stories and therefore spawn movies," he said.
"We had hopes and aspirations but we never thought in our wildest dreams that we could actually go on and do it. If I could pull off an Avengers of the Conjuring universe, I would love for that to happen. We'll see. It could be fun."
In related news, it was recently reported that what would have been Hardy's next movie, a reboot of the '90s classic The Crow, is no longer happening. The film was weeks away from the start of production, but creative and contractual disagreements between the movie's production company and its distributor led to the departure of both Hardy and star Jason Momoa.
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