A new event is now underway in Pokemon Go. For a limited time, Niantic is hosting Adventure Week, an in-game event that features a variety of bonuses, including extra XP, Candy, and increased Pokemon spawns. [Update: The Adventure Week event ends tomorrow, June 5, making this your last chance to participate and take advantage of all the bonus XP and Candy it offers.]
Adventure Week kicked off on May 24 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. Among other things, Niantic says the event will feature "unique" Field Research quests to take on, which will offer "exciting rewards." The developer didn't specify what these rewards will be, but it did mention a possible Raid Battle encounter with Aerodactyl.
Additionally, players will have a much easier time finding Rock-type Pokemon during Adventure Week. Monsters such as Geodude, Lileep, Nosepass, Omanyte, and Kabuto will appear more frequently for the duration of the event. Your Buddy Pokemon will also earn Candy four times faster, while spinning Photo Discs at Gyms and Pokestops during Adventure Week will net you extra XP.
Adventure Week runs until June 5, which is the same day the Legendary Eon Pokemon, Latios and Latias, are scheduled to leave Pokemon Go. The pair swapped regions earlier this month, with Latios now appearing across Europe and Asia, while Latias can be found in North America, South America, and Africa. The Legendary bird Ho-Oh also recently returned to Raid Battles and can be fought until June 7.
Shortly after Adventure Week ends, Niantic will host the next Pokemon Go Community Day event. That takes place on Saturday, June 16, and features the rare Rock-type Pokemon Larvitar. Players will also be able to earn triple the normal amount of XP for capturing Pokemon during Community Day. A series of other real-world events will also be held throughout the summer.
Beyond the upcoming events, Pokemon Go players have some new Pokemon to look forward to. Niantic recently announced that Alolan forms will be debuting in the game soon. The developer didn't specify when the Pokemon will begin appearing, but players will have a chance to capture tropical variants of Exeggutor, Raichu, Marowak, and other Gen 1 Pokemon.
Season 4 of Fortnite is officially underway, and with it, we've gotten a new Battle Pass. This works largely like those in the past, offering weekly challenges for players to complete in order to unlock new skins and rewards. Week 1 challenges are the usual mixture of easy and tricky objectives; here are the key locations and how to complete them all.
Two specific challenges stand out as ones with which you might need a guide. The first asks you to follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town. You can head there and pick up the map to get started or, as with previous instances of this objective type, go right to the treasure if you know where it is. This one is fairly easy--it's in Loot Lake. Head to where the 'E' in Lake is shown on the map, as seen in the image below, and you'll find the wrecked remains of a small boat just to the south of a small slab of land. Jump on the part sticking out of the water and you'll see the Battle Pass icon to collect, which is done by holding the same key or button you use to open chests.
The other difficult challenge is to search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters; there's no real indication of what these are or where to start your hunt. Essentially, these work a lot like the aforementioned treasure map locations, only there are no in-game hints. You'll head to certain spots and find a hovering blue letter that must be "searched" like a chest to collect. No matter which order you go to the locations, you'll always find the letters in the order that spells out "Fortnite."
Some are in popular places to land--for instance, there's one at the top of the clocktower in Tilted Towers. Others aren't so easy, but luckily, there are more than eight locations total spread across the map. With the help of Reddit users Strantjanet and thesquatingdog, we've verified eight locations--the exact number you'll need to complete the challenge. Here's directions to find them along with a map showing additional letter locations.
F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E Letters Locations
Tilted Towers -- on top of the clocktower
Salty Springs -- just to the east, on top of the fire lookout tower
Flush Factory -- on top of the largest building in the unnamed area to the northeast; you'll have to destroy the glass ceiling to collect it
Snobby Shores -- in the northern most area, on top of a lightpole in front of a decrepit house
Anarchy Acres -- on top of the red barn
Pleasant Park -- on top of the roof in the middle, immediately north of the soccer field
Lonely Lodge -- in the unnamed area to the southeast, on top of the building
Risky Reels -- in the hole on the movie screen
Week 1's other challenges are much more straightforward and generally rely on a mixture of luck and being in the right location. You'll need to deal damage to opponents using sniper rifles, which is just a matter of finding such a gun and having good aim. You'll want to head to Haunted Hills and search for chests; hopefully, in the process, you'll also get your hands on a Port-a-Fort. If you do, be sure to use it before dying to complete another challenge.
The aforementioned Tomato Town map is one of three Hard-difficulty objectives. Another simply has you rack up eliminations at Flush Factory, so head there and take down some opponents. The third calls for you to get three pistol eliminations. Pistols aren't the greatest of weapons, so you may want to attempt both this and the Flush Factory challenge in the Solo playlist. That way, you don't have to worry about revives or competing with teammates for a kill.
Each of these challenges rewards you with Battle Stars to level up your Battle Pass and earn new skins and rewards. Additionally, once you've complete four of them, you'll receive a 5k XP bonus. Keep in mind, access to the weekly challenges requires the purchase of the Battle Pass for 950 V-Bucks. In addition to weekly challenge access and the ability to earn lots of skins and rewards, the Battle Pass also includes new Blockbuster and Carbide challenges, which involve reaching level milestones and completing all challenges in a given week.
Season 4, Week 1 Battle Pass Challenges
Deal damage with sniper rifles to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Haunted Hills (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Port-a-Fort -- 5 Battle Stars
Search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Pistol eliminations (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Eliminate opponents in Flush Factory -- 10 Battle Stars
Avengers: Infinity Warhas arrived and is still in theaters. The arrival of "destiny" as promised by Thanos, after ten long years of waiting and 18 movies, the moment we've been waiting for has come. It brought with it a whole bunch of questions, most importantly: what do we do now? With the movie's post-credits scene, that becomes just a tiny bit more clear.
The end of Infinity War is very literally an end--the actual, genuine annihilation of half the universe at the hands of Thanos, armed with a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet. Not exactly the feel good, heroic, triumphant superhero vibe of Avengers past. Thanos has won, and from where we're sitting, it looks like his victory is absolute.
But all hope isn't lost. Though Infinity War deviates from Marvel's post-credits formula slightly by including only one stinger, rather than what's become the customary two, the movie's final moments give us the briefest glimpse of what's on the horizon.
Here's the scene: Nick Fury and Maria Hill speed through a New York City that is slowly descending into chaos. As Fury notes that something big is happening in Wakanda, he tells Hill to get in touch with someone named Klein, likely this guy from Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron--which may point to more progress in Fury's somewhat forgotten efforts to rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D in the wake of its official Hydra-fueled destruction.
But the effects of Thanos's finger-snap are reverberating across the galaxy and, one by one, people are disappearing at random. This means literally anyone--pilots, drivers, pedestrians--vanishing into thin air, no matter what they may have been in the middle of. So naturally, as more and more people crumble, helicopters are crashing, cars are veering off the road--you get the idea. The world is not in a great place, and Fury and Hill are left trying to puzzle through what's happening.
Unfortunately, even their time is limited. As they scramble out of their car, Hill begins to crumble and abruptly vanishes, leaving Fury on his own. He pulls out a device--something that looks almost like a beeper--and dials out just as he himself begins to disintegrate.
This guy might turn out important?
As Fury blows away in the wind, the device he was holding clatters to the ground and we're left staring at what we can only assume is the transmission of a distress signal. Though there is no text on the screen to give an official destination, a symbol or logo soon appears--the blue, red and gold emblem associated with none other than Captain Marvel.
We've known for some time that a Captain Marvel movie is coming--set photos of Brie Larson in costume have been filtering in since filming kicked off--but her role in the still unnamed Avengers 4 remains shrouded in mystery, just like the rest of the film. We do know, however, that her solo movie will be released in March of next year (two months prior to the next Avengers, due in May) and be set in the '90s, which leaves her in an interesting position considering Infinity War's very present day ending.
Just how long has Fury known about Captain Marvel? Where has she been all this time? Is the distress signal actually going to Carol Danvers or is it going to someone like, say, her mentor Captain Mar-Vell instead?
Perhaps more importantly: what exactly can Captain Marvel do in the face of a fully powered Infinity Gauntlet?
Carol Danvers traditionally gets her powers from her Kree heritage, making her similar to what we might expect from an Asgardian in the MCU, with a few twists. In the books she has enhanced durability, strength and speed, as well as the ability to fly and shoot energy projectiles from her hands. She also has an abundance of military and tactical training both on Earth and with the Kree army, making her a formidable force both in the heat of battle and in any war room--so it's not that she's incapable, by any means.
But all the training and superpowers in the universe seem dwarfed by the force of the Infinity Stones, even with the Infinity Gauntlet in the damaged state that the movie leaves it in, so it's unlikely that she'll be able to show up on Earth without some sort of back up and expect to make a difference. Luckily, there are a few other cosmic Marvel heroes who have been alluded to in the past who just might be able to lend a hand. We saw the Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy, which paves the way for Nova to get involved, especially if Thanos destroyed the entire Corps when he nabbed the Power Stone from them, which would fit with Nova's origin in the comics. And don't forget Adam Warlock, who was referenced in the Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 post-credits scene.
Pokemon Go's latest Legendaries, Latios and Latias, have been a staple of Raid Battles for the past couple of months, but the Eon Pokemon won't be around for much longer. Both Legendaries will only appear until June 5, making this your final opportunity to capture one if you still haven't.
Like most other Legendaries, Latios and Latias can be encountered in Raid Battles at Gyms, although each one is only available in specific regions. After swapping locations back in May, Latios can be found in Europe and Asia, while Latias is appearing across North America, South America, and Africa.
As usual, players will need to team up with other Trainers to first battle the Legendaries, and only after the Pokemon has been defeated will players get a chance to capture it. Both Latios and Latias are dual Dragon/Psychic-types, making them especially susceptible to Dark and Fairy Pokemon like Tyranitar and Mawile.
While Latios and Latias are on the way out, players still have a few more days to capture another Legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh. The Rainbow Pokemon recently returned to Raid Battles earlier this month, where it will remain until June 7. Players can also take on a new assortment of Field Research quests, which lead to another encounter with the Legendary Articuno.
June 5 also marks the day Pokemon Go's latest in-game event, Adventure Week, is scheduled to end. Until then, Rock-type Pokemon such as Nosepass, Omanyte, and Kabuto will spawn more frequently, and players will earn extra XP for spinning photo discs at Pokestops and Gyms. The next Community Day event, meanwhile, takes place on June 16 and features another Rock-type Pokemon, Larvitar.
Lords of the Fallen 2 has been given a shot in the arm, thanks to a new partnership between CI Games and developer Defiant Studios. In the announcement, CI calls the partnership an important step towards bringing the sequel to market.
CI will develop other internal projects with a small team, while also striking publishing deals with third-party developers to collaborate on larger-scale projects. The announcement poses this as the next phase of CI Games as it establishes itself as a publisher in its own right.
Last year, CI signaled that it only had a small team on LotF2, which indicated that it may be while before the sequel would see the light of day. Defiant Studios is a New York City-based developer headed up by the former studio head of Avalanche Studios New York, known for its work on Just Cause 3.
"We have been talking with CI Games for several months now, and went through a detailed process of getting to know one another's expectations and motivations in regards to Lords of the Fallen 2," Defiant managing director David Grijns said. "We are happy that we can commit our studio to developing a great game in a well-established franchise. Our team has been excited about the chance to make the next LotF from the moment we started to work on our pitch for CI. We are particularly thrilled about the creative freedom that CI Games is willing to offer."
Destiny developer Bungie is getting ready to make non-Destiny games. The studio, which also created the Halo series, recently announced a partnership with Chinese internet giant NetEase to "help us explore new directions."
In a statement on its website, Bungie said NetEase will help Bungie to have the resources to "build new worlds and invite players, new and old, to join us there." Additionally, the money NetEase is pouring into Bungie will help the studio establish one or more separate internal development teams beyond the group working on Destiny.
Bungie stressed that it is still working on the Destiny franchise with publisher Activision. The Destiny franchise will "grow for many years to come," Bungie said. "Our commitment to that world is not diminished by this announcement."
Also in its statement, Bungie said its ambition as a studio is to "become an entertainment company that sustains many worlds simultaneously."
According to Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Needleman, NetEase invested $100 million into Bungie that will go towards developing games that Bungie will self-publish. Bungie CEO Pete Parsons said self-publishing is a big focus for Bungie going forward.
That's noteworthy considering Bungie's biggest and most commercially successful franchises--Halo and Destiny--were developed in partnership with massive publishers. Bungie's Halo games were published by Microsoft, which owned Bungie for a period of time before Bungie regained its independence.
In April 2010, Bungie announced a 10-year publishing deal with Activision for the franchise now known to be Destiny. If the terms of that agreement still hold, the deal would expire in 2020, so it's no surprise that Bungie would be looking to secure its future.
A version of Epic's smash hit Fortnite may be coming to Nintendo Switch, as previously rumored. The game is already available for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS (with an Android version coming this summer), and now it's been rated for Switch by the Korean Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC). Ratings board listings are not official announcements, but they're often a reliable source of information about new, unconfirmed game releases.
The rating was published recently, on June 1, though this doesn't necessarily mean the port will launch imminently. An Epic Games representative told GameSpot the publisher had no comment to make regarding the rumors, as is to be expected.
It's not clear as yet whether the port will include Battle Royale, Save the World (still in early access on other platforms), or both. However, with E3 just around the corner, we may hear more soon: we already know the game will have a booth at the show where you can play Fortnite and win "exclusive prizes." A Switch version hasn't seemed out of the question since Epic revealed its plans to bring the game to mobile, where it runs surprisingly well.
The Pokemon Company has confirmed that the core Pokemon RPG for Nintendo Switch, which was announced during Nintendo's E3 2017 presentation, is set to release in the latter half of 2019. This comes alongside the announcement of Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee as well as Pokemon Quest.
The Switch Pokemon game was teased by Pokemon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, who said at the time that the game may not release for over a year. He also said that series developer Game Freak would be making the game. No other details were given then or in the year following.
Recently, rumors about the upcoming Pokemon Switch game have been circulating. However, many of them--including that the game would be integrated with Pokemon Go, as well as the leaked title art--turned out to be for Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, which are separate games.
Bethesda has surprised fans by officially announcing the next entry in its beloved Fallout franchise, Fallout 76. After a day of online teases, it revealed the new project with a brief teaser trailer that offers some hints of what to expect and a look at its Vault 76 setting. But as Bethesda boss Todd Howard said just before it debuted, this was only meant as a tease--more is coming at E3 2018.
Still, we do know more than you might think after a single viewing. We've gone through the video a number of times and noticed a few noteworthy things. Bethesda has also confirmed the game's platforms, although there's not yet any word on a release date. That said, the company has made a habit of not announcing things far in advance, so it's reasonable to expect the wait won't be terribly long.
More will undoubtedly be revealed during Bethesda's E3 press conference, which happens on June 10. We'll also be hearing more about Rage 2 and whatever other projects the company has in the works--it's already teased that this will be its biggest show ever.
What Platforms Is It On?
Bethesda has confirmed Fallout 76 is being released for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Unfortunately, there's no word about a Nintendo Switch release, which didn't seem out of the question after the Skyrim re-release made it to that platform. That could always be coming later, but for the time being, it's only coming to those three platforms.
Who's Developing It?
Bethesda Game Studios, the Maryland-based developer responsible for the Elder Scrolls series and both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, is at work on the game. It's possible other Bethesda studios are also working on the project, but BGS is the only one confirmed in the extremely brief fact sheet shared with the press. Obsidian, developer of the beloved Fallout: New Vegas, had previously suggested it isn't involved with what Bethesda was teasing.
What Is Vault 76?
Given the game's name and what we see in the trailer, Vault 76 is seemingly set to play a major role in the game. Although it's not a place we've visited before, this isn't the series' first mention of it. Both Fallout 3 and 4 reference it and, according to the Fallout Wikia, it was occupied by 500 people who were meant to be a control group. It was intended to be opened 20 years after a nuclear war. A poster seen in the Vault shows its existence was meant to mark the United States' tricentennial in 2076.
When Does It Take Place?
Fallout 76 is at least partially set in the year 2102, based on the date subtly displayed on a Pip-Boy in the trailer. In Fallout lore, the bombs fell in 2077, and the first Fallout game was set in 2161; Fallout 2 in 2241; Fallout 3 in 2277; New Vegas in 2281; and Fallout 4 in 2287. That would mean this game is set far earlier than any previous title, which could offer a different sort of perspective on the world. The specific date on the Pip-Boy is October 27, 2102; that could be pointing to a release date for the game.
What Is Reclamation Day?
One of the most striking shots in the trailer shows the Vault's atrium decorated for something called Reclamation Day. Based on the celebration and imagery, it's likely this is the day the Vault is meant to open and the occupants are meant to begin rebuilding the outside world. What's curious is that the aforementioned dates don't quite match up--if the Vault was supposed to open 20 years after the bombs fell, why have 25 years gone by?
What Song Is Playing?
The trailer begins with the Pip-Boy playing a song--"Country Roads" by John Denver. It talks about going home to West Virginia, which could perhaps serve as the location for the Vault 76 and the game.
Is It An Online Survival Game?
Fallout 76 might be a much different sort of game, according to a report from Kotaku, which says the game will have online survival elements inspired by the likes of Rust. Officially, Bethesda hasn't said anything to suggest this is the case, but we'll surely know more once E3 rolls around.
New week, new Netflix. As summer gets closer and the temperature keeps rising, you might be looking for a reason to stay inside where the air conditioning is. Thankfully, Netflix is giving you plenty of reasons to avoid the sun with its arrivals for the week.
Most of the week's new additions come in the form of Netflix originals. Among the titles arriving is the series finale of Sense8, as well as the second season of Hyori's Bed & Breakfast, The Hollow, The Staircase, Treehouse Detectives, and Season 2 of Marcella.
Other new options include new seasons of The Night Shift and Wynonna Earp, plus a major Marvel Cinematic Universe premiere. If you somehow missed Thor: Ragnarok in theaters, it begins streaming on June 5. So make sure to get your fill of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), during their space adventures.
Bethesda Softworks has made good on its teases by revealing not a remaster or re-release, but an entirely new game from Bethesda Game Studios: Fallout 76. The company revealed a brief teaser video you can watch above, and while many of the specifics remain unknown, it does give us quite a few clues as to what to expect from the new game.
The video shows off the inside of a vault--Vault 76--with some familiar imagery. A character who is wearing a vault jumpsuit equips a Pip-Boy and we see old TV footage informing the occupants that they'll have to rebuild society. There are also decorations for something called Reclamation Day, and a console can be seen showing the date is 2102, which would make this the earliest game set in the Fallout canon. We've broken down everything we know about Fallout 76 here.
Vault 76 is something that's been mentioned in past games, although it's not a location we've been able to visit before. We'll seemingly get to do so in this new game, though in terms of a release date, we're left without any information. Bethesda has confirmed the game will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Just before the trailer was revealed, the stream cut to Bethesda boss Todd Howard expressing astonishment at the huge number of people who had watched what was a relatively mundane stream. He also said this video is meant only as a tease and that more news will be shared at E3.
Bethesda began teasing something on its Twitter account on May 29, when it published an image that reads "Please stand by." That screen bore connections to the Fallout franchises, and that was all but confirmed when the company launched a Twitch livestream. This featured the same image on a TV in the background but with a Fallout Vault Boy figure standing in the foreground. The livestream saw some minor adjustments over the day it was online, including a cupcake being placed.
Fallout 3 was originally released in October 2008, making this year its 10-year anniversary. Among the speculation was that this was all leading to a remaster, presumably for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
This is the second big announcement from Bethesda in recent weeks, following Rage 2, which was initially leaked by Walmart Canada. Bethesda's E3 press conference is set for June 10 and is said to be the company's biggest ever, suggesting that it may have even more to reveal soon.
It's now been a month since Avengers: Infinity War arrived in theaters and left audiences shocked with how the war between the heroes and Thanos played out. If you've still not seen Infinity War and have somehow managed to avoid finding out how the movie ends, consider this a spoiler warning.
In the final moments of Infinity War, half of the Marvel Cinematic Universe turned to dust after Thanos snapped his fingers using the Infinity Gauntlet. Among those that died were the nearly the entire cast of Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as Spider-Man, Black Panther, and countless more. It begs the question of how, exactly, the MCU can continue given that further Spider-Man and Guardians movies have already been announced.
That's where Dave Bautista, who plays Drax, comes in. Speaking to Collider about his upcoming film Hotel Artemis, the actor revealed what is truly the most obvious spoiler of all time. "I got a lot of texts saying, 'I can't believe you're dead, your character is dead,'" he says. "They were really like heartbroken and I was like 'I'm gonna be in [Avengers 4]. I'm gonna be in Guardians 3.' I don't know how they're bringing me back, yeah but somehow I'm going to make it because, as far as I know, I am going to be in Guardians 3, so I have to be back."
This should come as a surprise to nobody, really. However, it goes to show just how impossible it is to not spoil something about Avengers 4. Given how over half of the movie's cast was dusted by the Mad Titan, it's only natural that someone would have to talk about it at some point.
Thankfully, it likely doesn't take away from the impact of Infinity War or the excitement surrounding Avengers 4. With nearly a year before the next Avengers movie hits theaters--and the added promise of Captain Marvel joining the team--the MCU may somehow top itself after breaking all of its own box office records with the latest film.
Avengers 4 is in theaters on May 3, 2019. The next MCU movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp, arrives on July 6.
The Pokemon Company has revealed a new controller for Nintendo Switch that effectively serves as the first non-standard Joy-Con. The Poke Ball Plus works much like a Joy-Con, with an analog stick in the center of the Poke Ball. The new controller launches Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee on November 16 but will be sold separate from the newly announced games.
The Poke Ball Plus uses motion controls, meaning you can "throw" it to toss Poke Balls at wild Pokemon, which is a key mechanic in the Let's Go games. It lights up, vibrates, and plays sounds, though it's not clear if it has all the functions of a Joy-Con. It's also compatible with Pokemon Go and can take the place of the Pokemon Go Plus. Finally, you can "store" a Pokemon from the Let's Go games inside the Poke Ball Plus and get rewards for taking it with you, similar to the Pokewalker from HeartGold and SoulSilver.
In addition to the Poke Ball Plus, The Pokemon Company has announced Pokemon Quest, a spin-off game that is out now on Nintendo Switch. The company also confirmed that the Switch Pokemon game teased during Nintendo's E3 2017 press conference is set to release in the latter half of 2019.
E3, the biggest gaming convention on the planet, will kick off soon, and Microsoft is celebrating by putting on what it's calling "the biggest Xbox sale of the year." At the Microsoft Store and other participating retailers, you'll find temporary price drops on Xbox One hardware, services, and games. There's a lot of money to be saved, so read on to find out what kind of deals you'll be able to find when the sale begins on Thursday, June 7.
On the hardware side of things, you can save $10 off Xbox One controllers and $50 off any Xbox One console. Here's the breakdown for the sale prices on the various models of Xbox One.
500GB Xbox One S console -- $199
1TB Xbox One S bundles -- $249
Xbox One X console -- $449
You'll also be able to get discounts on Xbox One services. One month of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass will be available for just $1 each. Remember, Xbox Game Pass gives you access to all Microsoft Studios games at launch, meaning you can play the full versions of games like State of Decay 2 and Sea of Thieves all month for just a buck. Not a bad deal.
In terms of games, Microsoft will offer discounts on over 300 titles, including Battlefield 1, FIFA 18, NBA 2K18, Assassin's Creed Origins, Forza Motorsport 7, Destiny 2, Super Lucky's Tale, Monster Hunter: World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Sea of Thieves. You'll also be able to save money on game add-ons and expansions--though which ones, exactly, have yet to be announced.
We'll have more details like specific sale prices on games once the sale goes live on June 7.
The Pokemon Company has announced a new game for Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Quest, and it's out now. The spin-off game, which is free to start, features a blocky art style and top-down, real-time action-RPG gameplay in which "face off against wild Pokemon and embark on many exciting expeditions," according to the company. You can download it for free right now on the Eshop.
Pokemon Quest is set in a new area called Tumblecube Island and includes first-generation Pokemon. In addition to building a party of Pokemon and venturing out into a blocky world, the game lets you decorate and customize a headquarters area, not unlike Secret Bases in Ruby and Sapphire.
The new Pokemon game is developed by main series developer Game Freak, which does not typically work on spin-off Pokemon games. Following the game's launch on Switch, Pokemon Quest will launch on mobile in late June.
This announcement comes alongside other Pokemon news, including the reveal of new RPGs for Switch: Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee. Those games, which are based on Pokemon Yellow and are compatible with Pokemon Go, are launching in November. The Pokemon Company also confirmed that the core Pokemon RPG announced during Nintendo's E3 2017 presentation is separate from the Let's Go games and set for a late 2019 release.
After a series of leaks and rumors, The Pokemon Company has announced Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, both of which are slated for release on Nintendo Switch this year. The new Pokemon RPGs, which are not the "core" Pokemon RPG announced last year, can connect to Pokemon Go via Bluetooth and utilize Go's capture mechanics. While you won't be able to battle wild Pokemon, the games feature traditional Pokemon battle mechanics against NPC trainers and other people.
Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee are designed to be a player's first Pokemon game, according to Game Freak's Junichi Masuda. The long-time Pokemon composer-turned-producer is directing the games, which are inspired by Pokemon Yellow and set in the Kanto region. As such, Pikachu or Eevee--depending on your version--stay by your side for the whole game, instead of hidden away in a Poke Ball to be brought out for battles. In keeping with the Kanto theme, the games include the original 151 Pokemon as well as their Alolan forms from Sun and Moon.
The Let's Go games are Pokemon RPGs, but they draw from Pokemon Go in a number of ways. Mainly, they use Pokemon Go's capture mechanics, which means you don't battle wild Pokemon to catch them; you instead throw Poke Balls. Like in Go, you can see Pokemon in the overworld before attempting to catch them. You also have the option to transfer Pokemon from Go to Let's Go via a Bluetooth connection; Pokemon you transfer from Pokemon Go will be catchable in a specific area within the Let's Go games. While you can't transfer Pokemon in the reverse direction, you'll be able to send unspecified gifts to Go from Let's Go.
The new games retain the turn-based battle system of traditional Pokemon games, and you'll get experience points both for catching Pokemon and participating in battles. You'll also be able to trade Pokemon with other players, though Masuda did not comment on whether the Let's Go games would be compatible with other Pokemon games (past or future) or Pokemon Bank.
The Let's Go games also allow for two-player co-op, a new feature for the Pokemon RPGs. While playing using one Joy-Con, another player can join as a support character when in open areas or a battle by shaking the second Joy-Con. This player can help you catch Pokemon and can battle alongside you (though it doesn't appear to initiate a double battle).
A new controller, the Poke Ball Plus, is launching at the same time as Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee but will be sold separately. It works like a Joy-Con, with an analog stick in the center of the Poke Ball, and can be "thrown" to catch Pokemon in the games.
Destiny 2's next expansion is called Forsaken, developer Bungie announced today. This was revealed in a new teaser video hyping up tomorrow's Year 2 reveal livestream.
The video shows Cayde-6 and a Guardian dropping onto what appears to be the Reef, which was Destiny 1's second social space and the home of the Awoken. The name Forsaken could be a reference to the Destiny character Mithrax, the Forsaken. Here's the teaser:
Whatever the case, all should be revealed tomorrow during the livestream. It begins at 9 AM PT / 12 PM PT, and you'll be able to watch on Twitch and here on GameSpot.
A number of Destiny 2 developers will appear on the stream, including game director Steve Cotton and project lead Scott Taylor. "We'll respond to a bunch of community feedback and unveil some other things you haven't even been looking forward to… yet," Bungie said previously about the reveal event. "We'll top it all off with a look at a new Roadmap with exciting new promises for everyone."
The reveal event is just the beginning, as Bungie says it is only the "beginning of a conversation that will last all summer long." We're expecting to see and hear more about Destiny 2 Year 2 content at E3 2018.
Forsaken is a follow-up to Warmind, which was released in May. What we do know for sure about Forsaken is that it will introduce an "incredibly engaging new mode."
Fortnite: Battle Royale challenges for Week 5 of Season 4 are live. Anyone who owns the Battle Pass on PS4, Xbox One, PC, or mobile can now take on another set of seven objectives. There are the usual, more routine ones to do, but there are others--such as the Greasy Grove treasure map--that points to a location you may need some help finding. You'll also need the cooperation of other players to do some dancing. Here's where to find all of the Week 5 challenges and how to compete them.
First up is the Hard-difficulty challenge to follow the treasure map found in Greasy Grove. You can head to Greasy Grove and track down the map to start this; alternatively, as with past instances of this type of challenge, you can actually head right to where the treasure itself awaits. This one is a bit trickier to find than most--it's on the outside wall of a structure just northeast of Snobby Shores. Simply land on the slanted roof or build your way up and you'll be able to collect the Battle Pass icon.
What isn't labeled as Hard but could be quite difficult is the challenge asking you to dance with others to raise the Disco Ball near Loot Lake. The ball itself is found in the northernmost of the three buildings that line the western shoreline of the lake. Enter the ground floor and you'll see the disco ball in the middle, surrounded by a dance floor in all four corners of the room. You'll need to coordinate with other players to all dance on these simultaneously; the process takes a few seconds as the disco ball rises up toward the ceiling. It's possible to do this with other random players, but your easiest bet will be to squad up with three friends and head there together.
Week 5 also tasks you to use a vending machine three times. This is relatively straightforward, but if you haven't used a vending machine before, you might be at a loss. Vending machines allow you to exchange crafting materials for items; they're located in fixed spots, but they don't always appear in every match. You can consult our vending machine location guide to find likely spots for these to pop up, but make sure to come with wood, stone, or metal--the cost of using the machine may be high depending on the rarity.
Racking up two eliminations with the minigun or light machine gun sounds straightforward enough, though it of course requires you to happen upon one of the two weapons. This is labeled as a Hard-difficulty challenge. (This launched with a bug that Epic Games says it has fixed.) You'll likely want to try doing this in a Solo playlist so that you don't have to worry about a downed enemy being revived.
The same advice holds true for the challenge asking you to eliminate three opponents in Lucky Landing--not having respawns should make this easier. The remaining objectives simply ask you to deal 500 damage with SMGs to opponents (anything in the SMG family will do) and to search seven chests in Dusty Divot, the meteor impact site added as part of the big Season 4 update.
Completing these challenges will reward you with Battle Stars, which rank up your Battle Pass and allow you to earn Season 4 skins and cosmetic rewards. Completing all of the challenges in a given week also completes a Blockbuster challenge, which entitles you to a new loading screen that directs you to spots where you can obtain a free Battle Pass tier. You can see how to complete every Season 4 objective released so far in our Fortnite challenges guide.
Fortnite Week 5 Challenges
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Dusty Divot (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Vending Machine (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Dance with others to raise the Disco Ball near Loot Lake -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Greasy Grove -- 10 Battle Stars
With the first Tuesday of June approaching, Sony has confirmed the lineup of free games that PlayStation Plus owners will be able to download during the month. June 2018 brings another set of six games spread across PS4, PS3, and Vita.
This is an unusual month where each platform gets only the standard two games apiece, as there isn't Cross-Buy support for any of them. On PS4, the lineup is still quite good--the biggest title of the month is the stellar tactics game XCOM 2. That's complemented by the fun platformer/racing game hybrid Trials Fusion, which has a theme song that will never leave your brain.
On PS3, the first game is Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, which blends the series' realistic shooting action with futuristic tech. The older console also gets the Complete Edition of Zombie Driver HD, an isometric action game where you'll drive around a car slaughtering zombies.
Finally, Sony's handheld gets Atomic Ninjas, a multiplayer-centric action game, and Squares, a puzzle game where you'll race the clock to change the color of, well, squares.
All of these games will be available beginning on Tuesday, June 5. It's not too late to still claim May's free PS Plus games; those include Beyond: Two Souls and Rayman Legends on PS4, which received a total of three games thanks to Cross-Buy. Those games will be replaced on Tuesday by June's lineup.
Rockstar has shared a few more details about Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of E3 2018. In addition to announcing Special and Ultimate editions of the game, the developer has revealed the pre-order bonuses players will receive for reserving the title ahead of its release.
Everyone who pre-orders a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 will get a pair of DLC "enhancements" for the story mode. First is the War Horse, which Rockstar says has "greater courage and stamina than the average steed." In addition to that, players will receive an Outlaw Survival Kit, which comes with an assortment of helpful items to replenish health, Dead Eye, and more.
Those who pre-order the game digitally from the PlayStation or Xbox Stores will get an additional assortment of bonuses. That includes an exclusive treasure map that helps locate hidden treasure in story mode, as well as enough in-game money to purchase "a weapon, some food, a handful of useful items, and ammunition." However, players will need to reserve the game by July 31 in order to get the treasure map.
Finally, everyone who pre-orders the title digitally will get a GTA$ bonus for Grand Theft Auto V's online mode. The amount of money you'll receive depends on which edition of the game you pre-order. Those who reserve it on PS4 will have their GTA$ deposited immediately into their GTA Online Maze Bank account, while Xbox One players will have to download the bonus from the Microsoft Store. You can see the amount you'll get for each version below.
Standard edition -- $500,000
Special edition -- $1,000,000
Ultimate edition -- $2,000,000
Red Dead Redemption 2 launches for PS4 and Xbox One on October 26. Despite being postponed several times already, Rockstar's parent company Take-Two asserts that the game won't be delayed again. We'll learn more about the anticipated title very soon at E3, but in the meantime, you can catch up on everything we know about Red Dead Redemption 2.
Sony has refreshed the weekly slate of video game deals in the PlayStation Store, this time offering discounts on a wide array of digital PS4 games. All of the good discounts this week are strictly for PlayStation Plus members, so if you're not one, you'll want to check out other retailers' sales. But for those with a PS Plus membership, let's dive in and start saving some money. [Update: It's now Monday, making this your last opportunity to take advantage of these sale prices.]
There are some killer deals in this week's sale, including big savings on lots of recent games. For instance, you can grab the historical RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance for $42 and the crossover fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite for $20. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, which just launched in the US last month, is already on sale for $48.
Sports fans can save a bunch of cash on some latest editions. Madden NFL 18 and EA Sports NHL 18 are on sale for $12 each--the lowest price we've seen those games go for. Racing fans can also grab Need for Speed Payback for a smooth $20.
And if you have a PlayStation VR headset lying around, you might as well pick up a few games for it. The zombie shooter Arizona Sunshine is $20 while the murder mystery The Invisible Hours is $15. You can find the full list of games on sale here, or see below for more of our picks for the best deals on the PlayStation Store this week.
If you're in the market for digital Xbox One games, you've come to the right place. We have the full rundown on all the best video game sales live on the Xbox Store this week. You can save money on everything from newer games like Fe to classics like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. [Update: It's now Monday, making this your last chance to take advantage of these offers.]
The current sale isn't as extensive as some other recent weeks, but a good number of genres are represented. If you're into shooters, you might want to take a look back at one of the most iconic series from the previous generation with BioShock: The Collection, on sale for $20 / £15. Racing fans can get Need for Speed: Ultimate Bundle for $33 / £30. It comes with the core game from 2015, plus all the DLC and expansions. And fans of futuristic sports can rev their engines on the field in Rocket League for $11 / £9. All of Rocket League's DLC packs are on sale as well.
Looking back a little further, the Xbox 360 still has a massive catalog of great games, many of which are backwards compatible on Xbox One. A handful of those games are on sale now, including Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Braid (both half off at $5 / £3). Or, if you want to brush up on Red Dead Redemption before its much-anticipated sequel launches later this year, you can for $10 / £25.
Here are the rest of our picks for the best games on sale at the Xbox Store.
Red Dead Redemption 2's special editions were teased last month, but we're finally getting a peek at what these special editions have to offer. Note "special editions." There's not one, but three different versions to choose from.
The first of the three is the Special Edition ($80 in the US), which includes several story mode additions and a physical world map. It includes a bank robbery mission and a gang hideout in story mode; a dappled black thoroughbred horse; talisman and medallion accessories to enhance Arthur's skills in-game; gameplay boosts, cash bonuses, and discounts; the Nuevo Paraiso Gunslinger outfit; and free access to several weapons: the volcanic pistol, pump action shotgun, and Lancaster varmint rifle.
The Ultimate Edition ($100) includes all of the content from the Special Edition and more. This version tacks on two bonus outfits, the Blackrose Bounty Hunter and Copperhead Enforcer outfits; a black chestnut thoroughbred horse with a high plains cutting saddle; free access to the survivor camp theme; and rank bonuses in online play.
The Collector's Box ($100) however does not have any digital content, or the game. Instead, it focuses on physical items from the Red Dead universe. Everything included will come in a metal tithing box with a lock and key. It includes a collectible challenger coin; double-sided 100-piece puzzle; Six Shooter bandana; treasure map; pin set; playing cards featuring illustrated versions of Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Javier Escuella, Bill Williamson, and Dutch van der Linde; a replica of the 150-page Wheeler, Rawson and Co. Catalogue; and 12 collectible cigarette cards inspired by the ones that can be found in-game.
Both the Special and Ultimate Editions are up for pre-order digitally on the Xbox Store and Playstation Network. Check out the pre-order bonuses here. All three versions, including the Collector's Box, are available to pre-order on the Rockstar Warehouse. Red Dead Redemption 2 is out on Xbox One and PS4 October 26.
E3 2018 starts in a little under a week, and ahead of the massive showcase, Sony has released an announcement schedule on the PlayStation Blog leading up to its press conference on Monday, June 11. Starting Wednesday, June 6, Sony plans to announce three new games, a release date for an upcoming game (more than likely a PlayStation 4 exclusive), and details of "An Eagerly Anticipated Game [Coming] to PS VR," each being offered once a day for the next five days, effectively concluding on Sunday, June 10. From Wednesday to Sunday, each announcement will be held at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET (4 PM BST), as we join Sony for its countdown to E3 2018.
It's difficult to say what those three new games could be, as a few of Sony's studios are already working on named projects: Bend Studio is working on Days Gone, Japan Studio is supposedly working on Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, London Studio is working on Blood & Truth, Media Molecule is working on Dreams, Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us Part II, and Sucker Punch is working on Ghost of Tsushima.
However, in the past four or so years, Sony has opened four new studios: PixelOpus, established in 2014; Manchester Studio, established in 2015; ForwardWorks, established in 2016; and San Mateo Studio, also established in 2016. PixelOpus is currently working on Concrete Genie, which is slated for a 2018 release, but there's no official confirmation of what the other studios are working on, so Sony could have these three studios announce their projects.
Sony's E3 2018 press conference is Monday, June 11 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET (2 AM BST / 11 AM on June 12). Be sure to check our E3 2018 page for coverage of all the latest games, including interviews, previews, trailers, and more.
God of War has been out for well over a month now--enough time that most games would have been plumbed clean of Easter eggs and secrets. Apparently though, Sony Santa Monica's latest still has something left to find.
"I still think there is one thing that no one has found yet that I know for certain, because I haven't seen any stories about it," game director Cory Barlog told Gaming Bolt. "Now I'm not going to tell you what that is, but I don't know if there's any cinematics per se, it seems like people have been able to get all the permutations. Not one person, but everyone collectively."
He also mused that these kinds of secrets tend to be discovered quickly. "I always think that people usually figure things out within hours, and the fact that we went a week without people figuring things out was impressive," he said.
Given the stellar sales of God of War it's surprising that anything is left to uncover. And we do know that Sony hid some nifty secrets in this franchise reboot, including an homage to the Marvel film Avengers: Infinity War. Barlog didn't mention any in-game metrics to say for certain if the secret has been found, so it's possible a fan actually has found it but not publicized it. Now that we suspect something else is waiting to be uncovered, fans are sure to scour it that much harder.
While the only movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a confirmed release date beyond next year's currently-untitled Avengers 4 is the Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel, we do know that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will follow in 2020. Production is set to start early next year, and both star Chris Pratt and director James Gunn have been speaking about the movie. Warning--Avengers: Infinity War spoilers to follow.
In a recent interview with MTV, Pratt revealed exactly when he would be resuming his lead role as Star Lord. "I'm slated to film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in January," he confirmed. Of course, fans will know that Star Lord was one of the many casualties of Infinity War, so Pratt was also asked about coming back for both Avengers 4 and GOTG 3, despite currently being dead. Unsurprisingly, his reply was rather vague. "We don't know yet, time-wise, where that lines up [with Avengers 4]," he said. "I'm hoping it's not the last you'll see me, but I can't be sure."
James Gunn, meanwhile, recently took part in one of his regular Facebook Q&As and gave fans an update on the state of Vol. 3's script. "I'm more than a year into the process, so the script is far along," he said. "For many many months I first write the treatment which is 80 pages or so with photographs. That turns into GotG. I'm now rewriting and making sure my rough draft works.
"It's very, very, very different," he continued. "Very different, but I won't say how! You'll have to wait to see the movie, it's a long time away."
Gunn was also asked if Disney's potential purchase of Fox's entertainment assets would affect the story, given he might soon have access to Fox's Marvel characters. "Not gonna happen in any major way," he said. "Too far along."
Gunn first confirmed that he would return for another Guardians movie in April last year. "There is a history in Hollywood of haphazard endings to trilogies, and I didn't want to become a part of that dishonorable tradition of pretending the third one doesn't exist," he explained. "I couldn't do it for the money, and I couldn't do it because it was what other people wanted me to do. I needed to do it because it was what I needed to do. So, yes, I'm returning to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."
If you're in the market for an Xbox One X, here's a deal you'll want to see: Ant Online is selling a console bundle via Ebay for a great price. You'll probably want to act fast, though, because these kinds of deals tend to sell out quickly.
An Xbox One X with a single controller normally retails for $500. This deal drops the price down to $440 and throws in a few appealing freebies for no additional price. The bundle comes with an Xbox One X, an extra controller, Titanfall 2, and Destiny 2, all for $440 (the price appears at checkout). That's the console, plus about $100 worth of extra stuff, all for less than an Xbox One X normally costs.
As for the console itself, it's a machine that can run a growing list of Xbox One X-enhanced games in 4K. Some games come with the option to increase resolution or smooth out the frame rate. Either way, games look and/or run better on the Xbox One X. It can also play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs--something that can't be said of the PS4 Pro.
In GameSpot's Xbox One X review, Jimmy Thang wrote, "While the Xbox One X is an expensive box, from a hardware standpoint, you're getting a very powerful and capable machine. You'll be hard pressed to build a comparably powerful PC for $500. On top of that, you get a 4K HDR Blu-ray player, which can cost several hundred dollars on its own."
Both of the games in the bundle are excellent first-person shooters. In GameSpot's 8/10 Destiny 2 review, our critic wrote, "In true Destiny fashion, if you do something once, you'll probably end up doing it many more times. The difference with Destiny 2 is in the variety and accessibility of what's available, which cuts down on a lot of the frustration associated with grinding." And from our 9/10 Titanfall 2 review: "It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game."
So if you like shooters and you want a 4K console, this Xbox One X bundle is a great deal.
E3 2018 is approaching quickly, and ahead of the big event, BioWare continues to drop more teases for its mysterious new IP, Anthem. Following a cryptic tweet posted earlier this week, the studio has shared a new piece of key art for the game, as well as a brief clip that reveals when fans can expect to see its next trailer.
The clip, which you can watch below, was shared on Twitter. It only lasts for six seconds and doesn't provide a look at any gameplay, but it establishes the tone of the game. "There is something waiting for us beyond the wall..." the accompanying tweet reads, while the narrator of the clip says, "Something is out there... It wants to destroy us all."
The clip ends with with a tease for the game's next trailer, which will be shared on June 9--the day of publisher EA's big pre-E3 event, EA Play. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST and will shed some more light on BioWare's enigmatic action-RPG, along with other major upcoming titles from EA, such as the recently revealed Battlefield V and this year's Madden game, Madden NFL 19.
In addition to the clip, BioWare shared new key art for Anthem, which you can see below. This follows recent activity on the game's Facebook and Twitter accounts, both of which have lain dormant since last year. Studio boss Casey Hudson also confirmed on Twitter that BioWare will talk more about the game during EA Play and even answer some fan questions live on stage.
Anthem was first announced during last year's E3 and was originally planned to launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018; however, EA recently confirmed that the game is now slated to release on the aforementioned platforms in early 2019. The publisher didn't elaborate on why Anthem was pushed back into next year, but it asserted that this isn't actually a delay.
Despite being revealed nearly a year ago, we still know very little about Anthem. It's a Destiny-esque cooperative action game with a heavy emphasis on multiplayer, although BioWare says the game will still be playable solo. You can read more about the title in our roundup of what we know about Anthem and what we hope to learn about it at this year's E3.
Confirming rumors, Ubisoft has announced Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The announcement was made with a short teaser clip and a logo, where a helmet occupies the central spot that the Eye of Horus sat for Assassin's Creed Origins. The tease is short but promises a more extended look at E3 2018.
Rumors began circulating today after a purported promotional keychain with the title appeared. It appeared to imply this game would take place in ancient Greece or Rome, which this tease also supports. Last year's Origins featured some Greco-Roman architecture, characters, and political intrigue.
This would also appear to put Assassin's Creed back on an annual schedule. After Assassin's Creed Syndicate's release in 2015, Ubisoft notably took a year off to give the next franchise entry more time. Assassin's Creed Origins was the result, and it benefitted from the extra time according to the critical consensus on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Bungie is gearing up to make what sounds like a big Destiny 2 announcement ahead of E3 2018. The studio announced today that its Year 2 livestream will take place on Tuesday, June 5. The stream, which you'll be able to watch on Twitch and here on GameSpot, begins at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET.
The reveal event will offer a first look at what Bungie has lined up for Destiny 2's second year. This includes "some big ideas for how we're going to transform your Guardian lifestyle and reinforce your hobby as an interplanetary hero."
A number of Destiny 2 developers will appear on the stream, including game director Steve Cotton and project lead Scott Taylor. "We'll respond to a bunch of community feedback and unveil some other things you haven't even been looking forward to… yet," Bungie said. "We'll top it all off with a look at a new Roadmap with exciting new promises for everyone."
The reveal event is just the beginning, as Bungie says it is only the "beginning of a conversation that will last all summer long." We're expecting to see and hear more about Destiny 2 Year 2 content at E3 2018.
Activision's Coddy Johnson said recently that this new mode introduces a "whole new style of play for first-person shooter gaming generally and certainly for the shared-world shooter space that Destiny created." He added: "It's a really exciting development. It's one of the things we think will really speak to the community when it comes out in the fall."
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