Fortnite is a massively successful battle royale game that's free-to-play, but that's not stopping many people from forking over hundreds of dollars for a copy of the game. Physical editions of the PS4 and Xbox One versions are currently selling for up to $450 a copy online, even though the game can be downloaded for free and no purchase is necessary to play.
Searches on Ebay and Amazon reveal tons of sellers offering up sealed copies of the game. Most prices hover in $100-200 range, but there are some that go way higher. People are buying; there are tons of old listings that show the copies were purchased. No doubt these are collectors snatching up the expensive copies; Fortnite's publishers are no longer making physical editions of the games, focusing 100 percent on free digital downloads, with free access to battle royale and paid access to Save the World, the game's co-op sandbox survival mode.
Fortnite recently launched on a new platform. There were several leaks that a Nintendo Switch version was coming, but the company surprised us all during E3 2018 by announcing that Fortnite would be available immediately on the system following its Nintendo Direct presentation. The Switch version has already picked up an incredible amount of players, and supports cross-play with Xbox One, PC, and iOS. Like other versions, it is currently only available digitally
In other Fortnite news, developer Epic Games has confirmed the Playground limited-time mode is coming very soon. The mode will give you your own private sandbox, so you and your squad can play and practice without the fear of enemy attack. Epic also recently released its latest patch, version 4.4, which adds Stink Bombs and more to the game.
Five years after its reveal at E3 2013, Kingdom Hearts 3 finally has a release date and it's open for pre-orders now too. We know that this will be the closing chapter to the overarching saga of the core titles and will take us through several beloved Disney worlds such as Toy Story, Hercules, and Monsters Inc. Kingdom Hearts 3 is set to release on January 29, 2019 on Xbox One and PS4.
Looking to get your hands on some special Kingdom Hearts 3 swag? Look no further, as we've listed all the retailers offering pre-orders below. As bonuses are revealed, we'll list them here too.
Kingdom Hearts 3 Pre-Order Bonuses
Best Buy is offering a $10 rewards certificate with every pre-order of the title. Pick up an exclusive fabric poster from GameStop with every physical pre-order; not valid with digital pre-orders.
Kingdom Hearts 3 Standard Edition
Amazon -- $60 ($48 with Amazon Prime) -- PS4 | Xbox One
The Deluxe Edition will include a steelbook case, artbook, and collectible pin featuring Sora with the Kingdom Hearts 3 logo. It will not come with any digital content.
For $150 more, this Deluxe Edition will come with everything from the base Deluxe Edition and three Bring figures of Sora, Donald, and Goofy. All three figures appear to be in their Toy Story world garbs as each appear to be more toy-like than collectible premium statues. This bundle will be available exclusively from the Square Enix store.
A limited-edition PS4 Pro bundle with every Kingdom Hearts remake and Kingdom Hearts 3 has been announced. The bundle includes all three PS4 bundle games Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix, 2.5 HD Remix, and 2.8 HD Final Chapter Prologue. Currently, it is not available for pre-order, but when it goes live, we'll update you with every retailer that has one available.
Right now, you can get you hands on the all-in-one game bundle from the PlayStation Store for $100. Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix, 2.5 Remix, and 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue will be available immediately, and Kingdom Hearts 3 will download upon release.
Anyone familiar with Spider-Man's villains knows that most incarnations of the Sinister Six feature either Doctor Octopus or the Sandman as the group's leader. While Sandman hasn't been confirmed to appear in Marvel's Spider-Man, it's been speculated that Doctor Octopus would fill that villainous leader role. According to Comicbook, though, we can thank Rhino voice actor Chris Jai Alex for potentially revealing that the mad scientist will indeed rain all over Peter Parker's parade.
The possible leak happened in a video between established Call of Duty player Dritft0r and Jai Alex. Though the interview was primarily about Treyarch's upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, because Jai Alex acts in both Black Ops 4 and Spider-Man, something about Insomniac's open-world, superhero game was bound to come up. Unfortunately, he potentially let slip the sixth villain's identity.
"The fight sequence was particularly hard because everyone is scaled differently, you know? Doctor Octopus is really tall. Rhino is big..." Jai Alex says before the video abruptly cuts. Insomniac hasn't confirmed whether Doctor Octopus will be in Spider-Man, but if he is, that'll mark the seventh villain in the game. This includes Mister Negative and the rest of the game's Sinister Six: Electro, Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, and Shocker.
Marvel's Spider-Man will be available for PlayStation 4 on September 7, 2018. During E3 2018, we got to check out Spider-Man and said it "may be one the best game experiences we've had with the webslinger."
The Steam Summer Sale isn't the only deal in town for PC gamers. Green Man Gaming is also running a sale, and if you enter promo code JUNE20 at checkout, you'll get an extra 20% off most of the already-discounted games. That amounts to some serious savings on lots of worthy games. You can find the full list of games on sale here, or read on for the highlights.
That extra 20% off bumps many of these deals in to best-ever territory. PUBG, for instance, normally sells for $30, but it's on sale for $20. Take 20% off of that, and you're looking at a final price of $16. Not bad at all. Cuphead has a similar thing going on, landing it at $13.
You can get the intense multiplayer cooking game Overcooked for just $5, and you can pre-order Overcooked 2 for $20 instead of its usual $25. Ori and the Blind Forest is also getting a sequel this year, but you can grab the Definitive Edition of the original for just $8. Also $8 is Playdead's dark puzzle-platformer Inside. For just a buck more, you can grab Rocket League to engage in some automotive soccer action. We have even more picks listed below.
Just remember to enter promo code JUNE20 at checkout, or you'll miss out on the extra 20% savings. The code doesn't work on all of the games--there are some exceptions--but it works on most of them. Happy deal hunting.
The Nintendo Eshop is running a new set of sales this week, with select Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS games getting discounts big and small. We've combed through the deals to find the best prices on the best games below. Or, if you'd like to see the full list of discounts, you can do so here. The deals end on different dates depending on the game, so grab them quickly if you see games you want.
With the World Cup going on now, it's a great time to pick up FIFA 18 for Switch; it's on sale for $24, down from $60. In sports entertainment news, WWE 2K18 is on sale for $20, which is the best price we've seen so far.
JRPG fans may want to check out the melancholy-but-endearing I Am Setsuna now that it's half off at $20, or the developer's following game, Lost Sphear, available now for $25. The indie Metroidvania-style game Owlboy is down to $17, or if you're looking to solve some murders (and who isn't?), you'll want to check out L.A. Noire, on sale for $37.
While the 2015 deal between Marvel and Sony ensures that Spider-Man will feature in the former's movies for the time being, Sony is making the most of owning the cinematic rights to Spidey and associated characters. Venom hits theaters in October, and there are movies in the works focusing on Silver Sable, the Black Cat, and Morbius: The Living Vampire. It has now been reported that the character Silk might also get her own film.
According to Deadline, the Silk movie is in "early development" at Sony. Silk is a Korean-American superhero, who's real name is Cindy Moon. She was created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, and first appeared in issue one of the relaunched Amazing Spider-Man comic in 2014. Moon was bitten by the same radioactive spider as Peter Parker, but unlike Peter, has more trouble controlling her powers. Moon actually appeared as a character in last year's Spider-Man: Homecoming, although seemingly without powers.
Although Venom arrives in a few months, it is unclear when the next Spidey spin-off will be released. The Silver Sable/Black Cat movie--currently titled Silver and Black-- was originally scheduled for release in February 2019. However, it was removed from schedules earlier this year. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood commented on the film's delay, stating that she was "still working on the script."
Venom hits theaters on October 4. It stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, who becomes host for the alien symbiote of the title, plus Michelle Williams (The Greatest Showman), Jenny Slate (The Lego Batman Movie), and Woody Harrelson (Solo: A Star Wars Story). Check out the latest Venom trailer here. In addition, Sony's animated movie Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse releases in December, and you can check out the first trailer here.
When Preacher returns to AMC this Sunday, June 24, for its Season 3 premiere, viewers will finally begin the journey of the comics' best storyline: Angelville. But it won't really be the same. If you haven't watched Preacher Season 2 and don't want to be spoiled, stop reading now!
The main difference? Tulip is already dead. At the end of Season 2, Featherstone--who'd been masquerading as a neighbor named Jenny--shot her, and she unambiguously died. In any other show (besides Game of Thrones) that should have been the end of her. But this is Preacher, a show where Hitler is sympathetic, Jesus Christ has a disabled inbred descendant, and God is a pervert who spends most of his time in a canine gimp suit.
AMC hasn't been shy about the fact that Tulip is returning in Preacher Season 3. Actress Ruth Negga has been seen in promotional materials, and creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg spoke openly about her resurrection during a recent conference call with press. To be fair, it's hard to keep a main actress's return a secret, which is just one symptom of the major ways the show is different from the books in this plot line. If they had kept Tulip's death and resurrection within one arc, like the source material did, keeping it a surprise wouldn't have been an issue.
In the comics, Grandma has Tulip killed after Jesse and Tulip are brought to Angelville against their wills. At the end of the comics arc, God resurrects Tulip to send Jesse a message: He's still around, he's still all powerful, and he wants to be left alone. It's one of the coolest moments in the series, and as it occurs near the start of the comics, it sets the tone in a lot of ways. In addition to not being a surprise and happening much later in the story, the show version will simply play out differently, apparently giving Tulip more agency over her own resurrection.
"The comics just has a lot of like, Jesse saving Tulip, and a lot of Jesse telling Tulip to not do stuff because it's too dangerous, and that he's gonna do it. And that's stuff that just didn't feel like--it just felt like stuff that could be improved on, and stuff that allowed us to give each character more opportunities to be active and to be heroic and to make some decisions," Rogen said during the call. "Most of the changes come from that type of thinking. It's not like, 'How do we make the comic book better?' It's mostly just, 'How do we give these characters more agency? How do we give them more control over their actions?'"
The other characters at Angelville--including Grandma, Jody, and T.C.--are being fleshed out more as well. When Jesse and Cassidy arrive there with Tulip's body in the Season 3 premiere, they won't be greeted with outright hostility.
"When you see in the comic books this spooky house in the bayou somewhere, you don't ask a lot of questions," Rogen said. "But as soon as it's brought into the real world, you're like, 'What do these people do? What do they do all day? Do they have jobs? How does this work?' And as soon as we started having that conversation we realized that there was actually a lot of opportunity to build out the mythology of Angelville and what they actually do and what the purpose of it is."
That's where the souls trade explored in Season 2 came from, and Season 3 will introduce the L'Angell family's main rivals in the business. That line of thinking is also what led to the expanded roles and personalities for characters like Jody and T.C.
"On the same note, Jody, T.C., and Grandma, in the comics they're great characters, but in a show, there's just more face time and you just need to round out the characters more," Goldberg said. "And so those characters need more hopes and dreams of their own, and more goals and specific history."
In other words, they're more realistic, and less like cartoon villains. That doesn't mean they'll have no edge.
"We've had a lot of different characters on the show, but these people are psychopaths, and they are terrifying people, and it's just a really fun and really different thing to tackle," Goldberg said. "The actual characters that Garth created are so fun, and these are three of the best ones."
Rogen said in Season 3, Jesse's going to need Tulip's help more than ever, but they'll have to work together, rather than one or the other being totally helpless and needing saving. He said the biggest challenges for the show at this point are keeping it realistic enough that viewers care about the characters, and keeping it surprising at the same time.
"The biggest challenge with the show always is how do we take this world that is by all means off the wall insane, and tonally runs the gamut that few things I've ever worked on or seen run, and how you balance that with making it seem real enough that people actually care and are invested in the characters," Rogen said.
"What's nice is in a world that anything can happen in, you can make anything happen. But the audience does very quickly get used to that," he continued. "A lot of thought goes into how to, in something that people know is surprising and shocking at times, and subversive, and all those things--how do you maintain that tone?...But it's something I think [executive producer] Sam [Catlin] and the writers don't seem to ever struggle doing. I mean, I watch every episode, and I know what's going to happen, and there's still ten moments that completely shock me every time I watch the show."
One criticism that's been leveled at the past two seasons is that compared with the comics, the show can feel slow. The books were structured as a road trip, and they jumped frequently between settings and different plot lines. Some fan favorite characters only appeared briefly, and it's been the show's job to flesh those characters out and find ways for them to stick around. But Rogen and Goldberg said the pace will continue to increase as Preacher continues.
"Although the first few episodes are kind of more revolving around the house at Angelville, the show itself travels a lot this year, maybe even more than it did last year as far as how many different locations the show takes place in and how many different cities it takes place in and all that," Rogen said.
"For this show we really think that the pace should get crazier as we go along," Goldberg added. "So this season, more happens faster with more ramifications...There's just so much story to tell in the universe that we have to play in that we can introduce tons of characters every season, kill more than you might think, bring more back, and do whatever, because it's just a grand universe [comics creator] Garth [Ennis] created."
GameStop may be in buyout talks this week, but that hasn't stopped the retailer from refreshing its weekly sale, bringing a new set of deals for the week of June 20-26. So whether you're in the market for PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch games, you're likely to find something you want for a discounted price. You can find all of this week's deals here, but we've hand-picked some of the best of the bunch below.
There's little in the way of gaming hardware sales this week, but there is a deal on other physical items. Seeing as the hot new Nintendo Switch game this week is Mario Tennis Aces, if you buy a copy at GameStop, you'll get 20% off one toy, apparel, trading card item, or other collectible (only good June 22-24).
The rest of the week's best deals are on games, and many of the prices are quite appealing. If you're one of the few people who hasn't purchased Grand Theft Auto V yet, you can get it this week for $20--the lowest price we've seen yet. Another all-time low price is Destiny 2, which is available for $10 (though you'll still have to buy the expansions separately if you want them). Middle-earth: Shadow of War has also gotten a deep discount, down to $20.
It's a new week, which means Best Buy has a new weekly ad offering a fresh set of video game deals. This week finds discounts on some of the biggest games of the past few years for PS4 and Xbox One, along with some nice deals on Nintendo Switch accessories. Let's dive in and see what kind of savings are available.
Nintendo Switch owners may be interested in this Switch Starter Kit. On sale for $20, it comes with a carrying case, a screen protector, earbuds, and more. Or, if you want to play your Switch in tabletop mode, you can grab this Hybrid Cover that doubles as a stand. It's on sale for $16.
Onto the games. Some great stuff is available this week for cheap. The recently released Dark Souls Remastered is already down to $30, which is $10 less than normal. You can grab the frenetic shooter Doom or the open-world action RPG Fallout 4 for $15 each. If you're one of the few who doesn't already own Grand Theft Auto V, you can buy it now for just $20. And soccer fans can play along with the World Cup by grabbing FIFA 18 for $30.
If you weren't able to get your hands on an NES Classic during its initial run, you'll soon have an opportunity to pick one up at GameStop. The video game retailer announced that it is receiving a new stock of NES Classic consoles next week, on June 29, but they'll be in short supply.
According to GameStop, the retailer will have "at least 10 units per store," although some locations may have a larger stock. As before, the console will retail for $60, but it will only be available in limited quantities, which will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you aren't able to visit a physical location, GameStop says it will have a stock of NES Classic systems on its website in addition to its brick-and-mortar stores. The console will also be available at ThinkGeek's physical and online stores on June 29. It will go on sale on ThinkGeek.com beginning at 9 AM ET / 6 AM PT. The system won't be sold in bundles, but it will be limited to one per customer.
GameStop notes that it is expecting the same level of demand it witnessed for the initial run of the NES and SNES Classic for this restock, so if you're hoping to add one to your collection, your best bet will be to show up early to ensure you beat the crowd.
The NES Classic first released back in November 2016 and was very difficult to find, selling out almost immediately upon its launch. Following the release of its follow-up, the SNES Classic, Nintendo announced that it would release a new stock of the NES Classic in Summer 2018.
For fans of sports entertainment--we're talking wrestling--we always want to know about the inner workings of the show. What's happening backstage? How are these shows pulled off? What are these wrestlers like behind the scenes? While shows on the WWE Network like Table For 3 or Ride Along give us a glimpse, it doesn't give the full scope of what fans want to see. Luckily, Season 2 of the Netflix series GLOW is exceptionally satisfying in this aspect, even if the show follows a fictional wrestling promotion, loosely based on real events.
Season 2 of GLOW--which comes to Netflix on Friday, June 29--is a bit of a departure from the first. The show is still about figuring out how to put on a wrestling show, but the main focus has completely changed, as the cast is no longer scrambling--as much--to learn how to wrestle and figuring out how to create and release a TV series. That feeling of chaotic ignorance has dissipated in many ways with Season 2, replaced with a whole season that caters to what many wrestling fans love: behind-the-scenes production.
To the non-wrestling fan, that may sound like madness, but because the wrestling business is so secretive about how it operates, fans want to know every detail of the process. More than anything else, Season 2 of GLOW is about opening those doors to give insight into the production process. The new season follows the cast and crew behind the show as they continue to produce the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling series, which of course hits some bumps in the road as the season progresses. And this year's offering shines as the audience gets an inside look to what goes on with Creative, from those who work in production to those that create storylines and help develop characters.
For those outside of the wrestling business, this is a process that's primarily remained behind closed doors. Now, GLOW's production isn't on the same level as companies like WWE, TNA, ROH, or NJPW. It's lower-budget and not as far reaching, and it could be compared today to smaller independent promotions like Shimmer or Chikara. Nevertheless, the production process--more or less--will be similar, so GLOW's start-to-finish planning of storylines and match spots should be comparable. This is especially true when you learn that professional wrestler Kia Stevens (WWE's Kharma) is a major cast member and WWE's Chavo Guerrero Jr. trained the women for this season and makes a cameo as well.
How do these storylines, and the show as a whole, come together? That's the primary focus of this season, from Ruth and Debbie working behind the scenes to make a better show, to the battle between them and Creative, which is essentially Sam, who spends a chunk of the season as a combination of real life figures Vince McMahon, Pat Patterson, and Michael PS Hayes' roles. The drama between these characters is just as entertaining as the drama in the ring, and many fans of sports entertainment will find this aspect of the show to be exactly what they're looking for within a series about wrestling.
Without delving into heavy spoilers, all of this build-up pays off in a huge way. All the attention to detail, from booking the matches to the segments to even which advertisers the network is working with, comes into play, in a big way, in the latter half of Season 2. It's the most satisfying moment of the entire show for both wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans alike.
While the series is a scripted Netflix dramedy following the struggles of these women in a fish-out-of-water scenario, it's truly a love letter to wrestling. It doesn't mock it or play into the tired old tropes of stripping it down to say "wrestling is fake." It embraces everything wonderful about it and adds a heaping portion of '80s nostalgia, which in turn adds a ton of tongue-in-cheek humor. It honors the sport, for better or worse, without getting too much into the dark side of things. Whether it's the "glory days" gimmicks these women portray, from the American hero to the Russian red threat, or the silly segments filmed for the show, Season 2 of GLOW is a warm hug for wrestling fans.
GLOW Season 2 comes to Netflix on Friday, June 28. If you're looking for more on GLOW, check out how we think a WWE/GLOW crossover could be possible, as well as all the famous wrestler cameos on the series.
A new month has arrived, which means a new slate of games are on the horizon. Between the excitement of E3 2018 and this month's upcoming releases, gaming fans have a lot to look forward to in June. This month sees some notable titles arrive on each platform, from the Switch port of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus to a new Mario sports game and the latest title from Life Is Strange developer Dontnod.
As always, we've rounded up a list of the biggest games launching this month below, giving you a handy way to keep track of what's in store for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in June. For a broader look at all of the major games coming to each platform throughout the rest of the year, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of game release dates in 2018.
Jurassic World Evolution (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- June 12
Arriving on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 12, Jurassic World Evolution is a theme park sim that challenges players with managing their own Jurassic Park. They can choose which types of dinosaurs they'd like to hatch and what types of attractions and amenities they'd like to build to attract guests to their park. The game also features Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm.
This month's big Switch release is Mario Tennis Aces, the first Mario sports game to arrive on Nintendo's hybrid console. Developed by Camelot, the studio behind every previous Mario Tennis game, Aces introduces a number of new mechanics, such as the time-slowing Zone Speed and the powerful Zone Shots. It also features the first story mode in the series since 2005's Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
Rounding out this month's biggest releases is The Crew 2. Ubisoft's open-world racing game arrives on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 29, and it builds upon its predecessor with a few new mechanics, most notably vehicle transformations. In this installment, players can switch between a car, boat, plane, or other vehicles on the fly to seamlessly race across different types of terrain.
If you're still looking to get your hands on an NES Classic Edition, you'll have a few opportunities to pick one up later this week. In addition to GameStop, electronics retailer Best Buy has announced it is receiving a restock of the plug-and-play consoles this Friday, June 29, but you'll need to act fast if you're hoping to snag one.
On its official blog, Best Buy confirmed that it will have a new stock of NES Classic systems both in-store and on its website. As before, the console will cost $60. Best Buy hasn't revealed how many units it will have in stock, but it notes that the system will be available in limited quantities and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you're planning to head to a brick-and-mortar location before it opens and a line has already formed, Best Buy says it will sell the NES Classic using the same ticketing process it employs on Black Friday. Regardless of whether you buy the system in-store or online, consoles will be limited to one per customer.
As previously mentioned, GameStop will also have a new stock of NES Classic systems on June 29. Like Best Buy, the console will be available both at GameStop's physical stores and online, as well as at its subsidiary, ThinkGeek. However, supplies will be limited, and GameStop warns it is expecting the same level of demand for the restock as for the initial run of the NES and SNES Classic.
The NES Classic first released back in November 2016, but due to supply constraints, the console was exceedingly difficult to find in stores following its launch. After the release of Nintendo's follow-up plug-and-play system, the SNES Classic, the company announced that it would release a new stock of the NES Classic systems in Summer 2018.
The NES Classic comes pre-loaded with 30 iconic titles, including Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Castlevania. "The NES Classic is an affordable solution for playing NES games, and the fact that it outperforms existing Virtual Console efforts from a technical standpoint makes it the most attractive option to boot," we wrote in our NES Classic review.
After 25 years and five movies, the Jurassic Park/World series shows no signs of flagging. The latest dinosaur thriller, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, hit US theaters this weekend and opened with big numbers. The movie has already been out in Europe for two weeks, but mixed reviews did nothing to dent its popularity at the box office.
According to Box Office Mojo, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom made an estimated $150 million in its first three days, which although below the $208.8 million opening for 2015's Jurassic World, is still an impressive result. Combined with the $561 million of international receipts, Fallen Kingdom has to date made $711.5 million worldwide.
This also marks only the second time in box office history that two different movies have made more than $100 million on consecutive weekends. Last week, Pixar's Incredibles 2 had a stunning $182 million debut. The only other time two movies have performed this well consecutively was in 2007, when Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Shrek the Third both crossed the $100 million mark over two weekends.
Incredibles 2 slipped into second place this week, but still made a massive $80.9 million. The movie has now made $350 million in US, which not only makes it Pixar's fourth biggest movie, but also places it within the top 10 most successful animated movies ever.
With no other big releases this weekend, the rest of the box office top 10 remained much the same as last week. The only other new title was the Mr Rogers documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?, which expanded its release and moved up from last week's No.15. The heist comedy Ocean's Eight continued its strong run and slipped down one place to No.3. The movie had a more modest budget than many of its big summer rivals, but has now crossed the $100 million mark. Elsewhere, the superhero sequelsDeadpool 2and Avengers: Infinity War continued to make money at No.5 and No.9, while the horror hit Hereditary remained stationary at No.7.
You can see the full Top 10 list for the June 22-24 US box office below, as compiled by Box Office Mojo.
E3 2018 has come and gone, and as promised, it featured a ton of announcements, trailers, and other exciting reveals. But while the show was dominated primarily by triple-A titles such as The Last of Us: Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, those certainly weren't the only interesting games we had an opportunity to see during the expo.
Amid the many press conferences, bombastic trailers, and lengthy gameplay demonstrations showcased during E3 were a number of clever, intriguing, and touching efforts from smaller and lesser-known studios that were easy to overlook in the general bustle of the show. Thanks to related events like Indie Mix, however, these titles got a chance to stand apart from the crowd and capture our attention with their unique ideas and distinctive styles.
Below, you can find gameplay videos of six interesting and unique indie games we got a chance to see during E3 2018, from the rougelike real-time strategy game Bad North to the bizarre What the Golf? and the emotional, cyberpunk-inspired narrative adventure Neo Cab. For a look at even more interesting titles you may not have heard of, be sure to check out our gallery of 21 games you may have missed from E3 2018.
Bad North
Bad North from developer Plausible Concept is a Viking-themed tactical game that blends together real-time strategy gameplay with rougelike elements. The title's charming art style belies its unforgiving nature, as any commander you lose during a skirmish is gone permanently. Bad North is slated to launch later this year for PC, consoles, and mobile.
Chasm
Bit Kid's Chasm is a sprawling side-scrolling adventure game set in a medieval fantasy world. Boasting a beautifully retro visual style and procedurally generated areas to explore, Chasm casts players in the role of a new recruit of the Guildean Kingdom, who embarks on a mission to discover why townspeople have begun disappearing. The game is coming later this year to PS4, PC, and Vita.
Darq
Darq is a psychological horror game about lucid dreaming. Developed by Unfold Games, the title follows the story of Lloyd, a young boy whose dream takes a dark turn. He must manipulate the logic of the dream world and use stealth to overcome obstacles, avoid horrific enemies, and survive the darkest corners of his subconscious. Darq will release for PC later this year, with a console release potentially following later.
Neo Cab
Neo Cab from developer Chance Agency is narrative game that casts players in the role of Lina, the last human driver in the cyberpunk-inspired city of Los Ojos. Lina's friend mysteriously vanishes, and it falls to players to maintain her driver rating--and livelihood--by deciding which passengers to pick up and how to interact with them while Lina searches for her friend's whereabouts. Neo Cab doesn't yet have a release date, but the game is in development for PC and Mac.
What the Golf?
Billed by developer Triband as a "golf game for people who hate golf," What the Golf? is a ridiculous, physics-based title that takes the basic idea behind the sport--hitting a ball into a hole--in a variety of outlandish directions. It begins like a standard game of golf, but soon players will find themselves smacking the ball into toasters, steering a car, and even putting a house. The game is coming later this summer to PC.
Where the Bees Make Honey
Where the Bees Make Honey is a beautiful isometric puzzle game reminiscent of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Players must guide Sunny, a young girl dressed like a bee, around diorama-like worlds, which can be rotated to gain a different perspective and discover unseen objects. The game spans four seasons, each of which has its own puzzles, while its story unfolds through cutscenes that punctuate every world. Where the Bees Make Honey will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in early 2019.
Following its reveal during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation, Bandai Namco has announced a release date for the Switch version of Dragon Ball FighterZ. The acclaimed fighting game launches for Nintendo's hybrid console on September 28.
As was the case with the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions, players who pre-order Dragon Ball FighterZ for Switch ahead of its release will get a few bonuses. First, reserving the title will grant immediate access to two characters--Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta--at launch.
On top of that, those who pre-order the Switch version will get an exclusive bonus: a digital Japanese copy of the rare Dragon Ball Z game Super Butoden, which was released for the Super Famicom (Japan's equivalent of the SNES) back in 1993. You can see a screenshot of the game running on Switch below.
Despite the Switch's comparatively weaker hardware, Dragon Ball FighterZ holds up well on the console. We had an opportunity to go hands-on with the Switch version just prior to E3 and found it to be a strong port that maintains the feel and style of the game. You can watch footage of us playing it in tabletop mode above.
Dragon Ball FighterZ first released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in January. The game was developed by Arc System Works--the studio behind the BlazBlue series--and was a critical and commercial success. GameSpot awarded it a 9/10 in our Dragon Ball FighterZ review and called it "a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre."
In other Dragon Ball news, Bandai Namco revealed a new DLC pack for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. A release date for the pack hasn't been announced, but it is slated to arrive for all versions soon and will introduce a new playable character to the game: Super Baby Vegeta from Dragon Ball GT. You can see screenshots of him below.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is available for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. It was likewise well-received by fans and critics. GameSpot gave it a 7/10 in our Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 and said it is "among the best games to emerge from this beloved franchise."
Nintendo Switch exclusive Mario Tennis Aces tops the UK chart this week, pushing previous winner God of War down to No.3 for the week ending June 23. World Cup fever also refuses to go away with FIFA 18 retaining its No.2 spot in the physical games chart, according to sales monitor GfK Chart Track.
Another Nintendo Switch game, the new version of Minecraft, debuts at No.21. The game was already available on Switch digitally, but this is the first time the port has come to brick-and-mortar stores in its cross-play-compatible form.
Much of the rest of the chart remains similar to last week. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Fallout 4 take the No.4 and No.5 spots, respectively, while Detroit: Become Human slips two places to No.6. You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
We enjoyed the latest Mario sports game here at GameSpot. "Days after the credits rolled, I still crave the satisfying thwack from a Power Shot, mentally replay matches and imagine how I might do things differently given a bit more focus and know-how," wrote our critic, Justin Clark. "Mario Tennis Aces does what this series has done best, and improves what it's rarely gotten right prior. Fingers crossed that the online support stands up to the rest of the game after launch." Read more in our Mario Tennis Aces review-in-progress.
Epic Games is consistently adding new limited-time modes to Fortnite: Battle Royale, and that will continue very soon with the addition of the Playground LTM. This is a mode Epic mentioned a while back, but it has only just been confirmed by way of an in-game message.
"Let your creativity run wild on your own private island," reads the message. According to a blog post from around a month ago, Playground "will load you into the Battle Royale Map with some adjusted settings."
The post continues: "Battle and build to your heart's content with an extended period of time to roam around the map as well as increased resource generation. All treasure chests and ammo crates will be spawned, try droppin' in different spots and scope out the loot. Friendly fire is on so you can scrimmage with your squad (up to 4 friends per match), but fear not you'll respawn immediately."
It appears the mode will act as a private server of sorts for you or your squad. Here, you can practise new strategies or hone your building skills without the risk of an enemy getting the jump on you.
Epic is also working to diversify the strategies used by players in Battle Royale. In a separate blog post a few days ago, the company said it plans to "continue to make changes to evolve the game to give players multiple ways to counter each other in combat, and create more strategies to win the game."
The most recent Fortnite update added Stink Bombs and more. The patch, version 4.4, is the game's first since the launch of Battle Royale on Nintendo Switch. That came shortly after it was confirmed during Nintendo's E3 press conference broadcast, though it had been leaked and rumored for quite some time.
While Marvel has traditionally scheduled movies several years ahead, the studio is unusually secretive about its plans beyond 2019. This is largely to do with the events of this year's Avengers: Infinity War--knowing what movies are upcoming might provide spoilers about the fate of some key characters. Nevertheless, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming is definitely on its way in July next year, and we now know its title.
The film will be named Spider-Man: Far From Home, and this news was confirmed by star Tom Holland. The announcement continued the tradition of Marvel stars "accidentally" revealing important information about upcoming movies. Holland was attending the Ace Comic Con in Seattle, and took to Instagram to tell fans that there was no big news coming out of the event. He then briefly holds up his iPad containing the Spidey sequel script--on which the title is clearly displayed. Check it out below:
Spider-Man: Far From Home hits theaters on July 5, 2019, with Jon Watts returning as director. Last month it was reported that Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko, Nightcrawler) was in talks to play classic Marvel supervillain Mysterio in the movie.
Although no further plot details are known, last year Marvel boss Kevin Feige did talk about how Spider-Man: Far From Home will kickstart the next phase of the MCU after Avengers 4. "So much happens in [the third and fourth Avengers movies], as you can imagine, and so much is affected by it, that we felt what better person to hold your hand and lead you into the next incarnation of the MCU, in a grounded, realistic manner, than Peter Parker?" Feige said. "So, coming out two months after Untitled Avengers, [that's what] much of what the next Spider-Man film will be about."
The next movie in the MCU is Ant-Man and the Wasp, which hits theaters next month. A new clip from the movie was released last week. For more, check out out GameSpot's list of 10 things we want from Ant-Man And The Wasp.
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