It may not have been known at the time, but in July 2008, Japan received what would be remembered as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time. Over the course of a decade, Persona 4 has become more than just an incredibly fun RPG with a refined battle system and quirky characters, though. A story about Japanese high school students confronting their worst fears, fighting for what's right, and becoming the best of friends spawned a lasting legacy that has empowered the people who played it and continually inspired new games. Our love for Persona 4 has kept it alive for so long with several fighting games, two anime adaptations, an adorable (and difficult) spin-off RPG, and even a rhythm game. And after 10 years, we're still seeing our good friends from Inaba in a new light.
For the uninitiated, Persona 4's foundation closely resembles that of its predecessor, Persona 3. You're a transfer student new to a school surrounded by unusual circumstances; supernatural phenomena that endanger your new hometown is the crux to the overarching mystery. On a typical day, you go to class, do extracurricular activities, and try to grow closer to those around town and at school. Better yourself through hobbies or take on a part-time job, it's up to you how to pass the time. In particular, Persona 4 takes you to a fictional rural town of Inaba where the biggest thing to happen before your arrival was the opening of a Junes department store (think Super Walmart, but with an infectious jingle). Even your little cousin Nanako is utterly convinced that every day's great at your Junes, and begs you and her dad to take her there like it's the greatest place on earth.
Sure sounds like all fun and games until you and your new friends become the centerpiece for a dark murder mystery and an absolutely perplexing world that lives behind TV screens. At first, it's not quite clear why outlandish versions of certain townsfolk inexplicably pop up on TV sets and go missing on rainy midnights. The one way to get to the bottom of this, to actually jump into a TV screen to enter the shadow world where the other half of Persona 4 comes into play.
Aha! Is this our chance? It's time for an All-Out Attack!
While dungeon crawling and sneaking up on shadows through randomly generated floors make up the exploration, an intricate turn-based combat system is where you'll find excellence in gameplay. Most enemies have elemental weaknesses which factor into how you construct your party and devise a tactical approach. Sounds par for the course in an RPG, but the unique press-turn system that Shin Megami Tensei is known for shines brighter than it had previously by giving you full control to pull off flashy, effective attacks. Receiving a bonus attack after targeting a weakness before enemies get a turn is endlessly satisfying, especially as dungeons become inhabited by trickier, stronger shadows.
A story about Japanese high school students confronting their worst fears, fighting for what's right, and becoming the best of friends spawned a lasting legacy that has empowered the people who played it and continually inspired new games.
However, nothing in battle matches the joy of seeing your crew team up for the most adorable, yet devastating All-Out Attacks, a franchise staple. Everyone in the party piles on heavy damage that usually puts an end to the fight, and you sense their ferocity in character portraits that pop up just before everyone jumps in. A cloud of dust erupts as they whale on enemies, sometimes popping out of the chaos only to jump back in for another hit, and all you need to do is watch as they take care of business. If you're lucky, someone will offer a follow-up attack turn-free; and it should be taken as fact that nothing is as absurdly cute as Chie's galactic punt where she literally kicks an enemy into outer space (her kung fu DVDs really paid off). Even in battle, everyone's distinct personality isn't lost or put off to the side, which highlights Persona 4's greatest accomplishment: its commitment to a relentless charm embodied by this cast of misfits.
So effortlessly does Persona 4 merge the two pillars of a social simulation and traditional RPG; nothing feels disconnected, how days are spent matters. These two realities feed into each other, and Igor--the series-long, omniscient owner of the ethereal Velvet Room--alludes to this up front: true strength is born from the bonds you form. The power of friendship is a prevalent trope in similar stories, but to have that power manifest as a tangible benefit in combat gives us further reason to invest in relationships. I call back to how Rise came in clutch to buff the party or cast healing during tough boss fights, or when Yukiko dealt the final blow casting Agidyne using her final-form persona with the last bit of SP: moments like these solidify the feeling that my companions really do have my back in times of need.
Gas up your scooter 'cause we're going on a road trip!
From the mother who wishes for acceptance from her stepson to your basketball teammate who finds it impossible to live up to his adopted family's legacy, these vignettes serve to tell very human stories. We help Nanako open up to her dad about his lack of presence and break through Uncle Dojima's hard-boiled temperament to reveal an empathetic father who constantly struggles with his wife's death and his job as a detective. In the end, a heartwarming father-daughter scene results in a newfound commitment to family. Other social links struck a more personal nerve.
This cast harbors the painful secrets that so many teenagers and young adults repress, and it carries the perceptions and labels society puts upon them. These are the burdens everyone bears throughout Persona 4, but burdens that no one has to bear alone.
When Yosuke overlooks Inaba, the town he once hated, and realizes that what makes him happy is the people he's surrounded by rather than big city glamour, I felt that. Even though Kanji maintains the tough guy attitude, he eventually embraces his sewing skills and love for cute plushies--as he began to handcraft toys for kids around town, I sensed a big, cathartic middle finger to societal expectations for masculinity. Naoto's strive for justice, as the genius detective, makes a firm statement against workplace gender discrimination. Life as an idol sure sounds great, until Rise decides she needs to walk away from stardom for her own sanity. As endearing as Chie's and Yukiko's friendship, their dynamic evolved and reached new heights after confronting their shadow-selves, leading to more open and honest relationship.
This cast harbors the painful secrets that so many teenagers and young adults repress, and it carries the perceptions and labels society puts upon them. These are the burdens everyone bears throughout Persona 4, but burdens that no one has to bear alone. The TV world and Midnight Channel work not just as metaphors for the fear of what you think everyone sees in you, but to illustrate the sense of imprisonment and helplessness that's born from it. And by navigating the maze-like dungeons and crushing enemies, the crew breaks through obstacles to finally support each other in overcoming their monumental insecurities. Many of the game's pieces sound silly on paper, but they all come together to inspire you before you know it.
When spread across 100+ hours of play-time, spanning an in-game calendar year, you're given room to breathe and let events, big and small, sink in. Moments of levity work alongside the more heartfelt revelations, which creates an ingenious balancing act. To its benefit, the game never takes itself too serious. Persona 4's greatness lies in its execution and presentation; story, gameplay, visual style, and its soundtrack all complement each other to elevate beyond the sum of its parts.
Persona 4 wouldn't be the same game without the masterful composition of series composer Shoji Meguro. A collection of J-pop, J-rock, and catchy instrumentals make for incredible tracks on their own, but the right song at the right time elevates the emotional impact. As soon as I hear the brass horns start up for the track that plays during social links, I can't help but smile and sense the fun being had between characters. The boss battle theme of "I'll Face Myself" instills a feeling of danger, but also the determination to defeat your worst enemies. And the emblematic battle theme "Reach Out To The Truth" is such an uplifting song that brings back all my memories of this game. Sometimes I look outside my own house and "Heartbeat, Heartbreak" pops into my head on cloudy days and "Your Affection" when the sun shines. Music isn't relegated to just the background, and it cannot be overstated how evocative its soundtrack has been throughout the years.
For all Persona 4's inspirational moments and pushes for social progressivism, we can't turn a blind eye to where it gets things wrong; to truly love something is to also recognize its flaws. By no means is it perfect when it comes to the portrayal of certain social groups and character conduct. Teddie himself exhibits unscrupulous behavior that can easily be interpreted as harassment, and it's never really confronted. Despite the personally uplifting story of Kanji, his sexual ambiguity is occasionally used as a punchline, and his shadow self can be seen as too over-the-top. Certain insensitive decisions can be made in relation to Naoto's struggle with gender identity; the interpretation of her character continues to be a point of contention to this day. And as time has gone on, the less amusing the cross-dressing pageant scene has become. To its credit, a Japanese game from 2008 was willing to explore subjects often seen as taboo; it misses the mark in critical moments, but there's value in its earnest effort. Regardless, some jokes weren't necessary to be humorous and it would've been much better without them.
Despite all its absurdity, Persona 4 is grounded with thoughts and feelings that so accurately resemble our own; it's a human experience, one that many games aim for, but rarely come close to capturing.
The sheer number of games that spawned afterward speaks to the love we've shared for this game. A PS Vita exclusive remaster, Persona 4 Golden, launched in 2012 as the definitive version; it refines core mechanics and includes a slew of meaningful additions. Along with new songs that perfectly fit the original soundtrack, Chie's new voice actress (Erin Fitzgerald) brought a whole new life into an already-beloved character and truly captured the spirit of Persona 4's best girl. A whole extra dungeon, an important new character, additional social link events, and new tag-team attacks round out Golden as the definitive version.
An anime adaptation premiered in 2011, and another based on the remastered game released in 2014. Although it's difficult to capture an RPG in a condensed format, the anime offered a new way to experience the journey. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth brought along our buddies from Persona 3 into the mix in a wonderfully executed dungeon crawler RPG on 3DS--it bursts with charm as chibi versions of these two beloved casts band together to fight evil and have a good time. I'd also say Q features the best introductory theme and video in all the franchise. If the fan service wasn't already good enough, Persona 4: Dancing All Night leveraged the beautiful soundtrack for a delightful (and admittedly ridiculous) rhythm game--hearing my favorite songs remastered and remixed is a real treat.
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle brings back our friends at Yasogami High to meet the casts of BlazBlue, Under Night, and RWBY.
Persona lends itself so well to fighting games that Arc System Works took up creating a 2D fighter in Persona 4 Arena, which remained true to both the developer's fighting game philosophy and the spirit of the source material. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax built on that foundation even further. And just this year, ArcSys circled back on Persona 4 by crossing worlds with BlazBlue, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY in BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. Each of these fighters introduced new characters and storylines, and were included in the fighting game community's biggest stages. Rarely, if ever, does a single entry in a larger franchise spin off in so many different directions, but thankfully, it's helped keep our Persona 4 love alive all these years later.
After becoming personally invested in their journey that started it all and pouring all that time into seeing them grow, it was genuinely hard to say goodbye as the credits rolled and the ending theme "Never More" began to play. In the decade since the original game, we were fortunate to see the charming group of knuckleheads time and time again in so many different games. It's almost silly to think that a group of fictional Japanese high school students could empower us to be better, but Persona 4 has given me, and countless others, boundless joy and also an opportunity for self-reflection. Yes, I played an incredible RPG, but what I saw was a group of best friends pulling for each other to become stronger people and make the world a better place. Despite all its absurdity, Persona 4 is grounded with thoughts and feelings that so accurately resemble our own; it's a human experience, one that many games aim for, but rarely come close to capturing.
If you've been looking to get your hands on Square Enix's biggest titles of 2018 and 2019, San Diego Comic-Con might be your chance. Square's full lineup of demos and panels has been announced, and there's plenty of Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts, and Dragon Quest to go around.
This year's show will feature five different demos of your favorite Square Enix titles. The only one with a time constraint is Shadow of the Tomb Raider. To play that one, you'll need to stop by The Deck at Moonshine Flats from 1 to 10 pm PST on any of the show days.
In addition to an exclusive demo, the creative team behind Shadow of the Tomb Raider will host a panel on Saturday, July 21 from 12:30 pm to1:30 pm PST in room 5AB. The title's lead writer Jill Murray, lead game designer Heath Smith, and performance artists Camilla Luddington and Earl Baylon will be in attendance, and Andrea Rene will moderate.
Be sure to swing by Square Enix's booth for some Bring Arts, Trading Arts and Play Arts merch, as well as some free goodies for your favorite games. Daily giveaways will include Dragon Quest XI posters and temporary tattoos, Mobius Final Fantasy hand fans, and Star Ocean Anamnesis buttons.
We're living in a battle royale world, and this week's Xbox One news is absolutely no exception. Fortnite Season 5 is upon us, and there's yet another battle royale title that's joined the fray this week.
To kick off the next season of Fortnite, we're giving away 7,500 V-Bucks. We've also got all the details you need for map changes, battle passes, challenges, and more to make sure you're getting the most out of this season. And if you're feeling really competitive, be sure to check out Fortnite's esports announcement.
Outside of the craze that is Epic Games, one more battle royale title has come to Xbox One: The Culling 2. In the realm of non-battle royale titles, Code Vein has been delayed to 2019, Darksiders 3 has a confirmed release date, and Dead Cells is coming to PC and console. No Man's Sky's multiplayer update is coming soon, and we've got all the changes since its launch.
Pokemon's next adventure is just around the corner, and this week, we got to see more details about the Switch exclusive title Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. And of course, the Switch isn't free from the clutches of battle royale, so there are plenty of updates in that department too.
As for Pokemon, we got to see more of the game's world and characters in a new trailer, Pikachu with bangs, the return of Jesse and James, and version exclusive Pokemon. Free-to-play Pokemon title Pokemon Quest has exploded on Switch and mobile as well, hitting a major milestone this week.
As for battle royale, Fortnite is dominating headlines. Season 5 is upon us, and we've got everything you need to know about battle passes, challenges, map changes, updates and more. We're even giving away 7,500 V-bucks to celebrate the start of the new season. For all things Fortnite, among other news, keep on reading for the rest of this week's updates.
This week in PS4 headlines, there's lots of news to go around about upcoming exclusives, and also a plethora of Fortnite. So much Fortnite in fact, it has its own section this week.
Yakuza Kiwami 2's demo is now available on the PlayStation Network and Nathan Fillion might have hinted at some involvement with the Uncharted franchise. Don't get too excited to see any God of War outside of gaming; rumors about a forthcoming Netflix show aren't true...yet. This week also saw the confirmation of Darksiders 3 and Death End re;Quest, and the delay of Code Vein. Far Cry 5 will see DLC next week, Dark Souls Remastered is getting an update to boot the cheaters, and Destiny 2 has a new faction.
As far as Fortnite goes, Season 5 is finally here. Make sure to keep on reading for everything you need to know about battle passes, challenges, additions, and all of the whacky things Fortnite has to offer with its latest update. In celebration of the new season, we're giving away 7500 V-bucks.
Fortnite Season 5 is officially underway, and there's plenty of new content for players to sink their teeth into. We've already extensively covered the changes and additions, but we also wanted to collect all the new tips and tricks you'll have at your disposal. Unless you've dug into the patch notes, there are some notable changes across all platforms that you might not realize; here are some of the biggest.
First and foremost, you'll want to know about the changes made to shotguns--especially considering how significant they've been to player strategy in the battle royale. Shotguns will now indicate how many pellets actually hit, with visible markers appearing within the reticle. You won't be able to cycle between two shotguns like you could before though, as there is now a short period of time after firing a shotgun where another shotgun can't be fired. Measure your shots carefully, or just find another way to kill someone.
For anyone who's struggled to get a revive in a past 50v50 or Teams of 20 game, worry no longer. Fortnite is implementing XP bonuses for reviving teammates in both limited-time modes. You'll only get three bonuses a match though, with an extra 30XP the first time and 10XP for the follow-up second and third time. Hopefully, this influences more players to offer a helping hand instead of leaving their teammates to die.
The Storm is also getting an update. Circles seven, eight, and nine will still shrink but they'll also be able to shift in random directions. You'll need to be ready to hoof it at a moments notice.
Between matches, hitting the "Play Again" button now allows players to preview pickaxe visual and sound effects in the Item Shop, Battle Pass, and Locker.
You'll also have access to the same sound visualizer that were created for mobile on all platforms. Flipping it on puts a small visual indicator on your screen that alerts you to nearby gunfire, footsteps, or chests. However, audible sound effects are muted while the visualizer is on. The new option can be found in the Accessibility tab. Don't worry about it if you play on a mobile platform, you'll be unaffected by this change.
Fortnite Season 5 has kicked off with a distinctly historical theme. As we may have guessed from the Scandinavian axe teaser, Viking paraphernalia plays a big part in this season, including its biggest XP chase. The Legendary "Ragnarok" skin is the level 100 Battle Pass reward, but it also lets you customize your look as you upgrade it--provided you can unlock it in the first place.
Reaching level 100 is no easy feat in and of itself; Epic estimates it takes 75-150 hours to unlock everything the Battle Pass has to offer. Once you're there, you can accumulate XP to unlock six different styles, each adding another few pieces of armor or kit or facial hair as you progress. You begin as a tough-looking but otherwise standard warrior, and by the end you can dress up as a pretty terrifying specter.
Level 1: Default
Level 2: Unlock at 35,000 XP
Level 3: Unlock at 75,000 XP
Level 4: Unlock at 125,000 XP
Level 5: Unlock at 250,000 XP
Level 6: Unlock at 500,000 XP
You can check out the full range of looks above and let your envy at those final skins act as your encouragement to grind out the proper amount of XP. This season also introduces a host of other changes, including an All-Terrain Kart for transporting your crew, a bunch of new changes and additions to the map, motion controls on Switch, autofire on mobile, and more. A separate Drift skin also is also available through the Battle Pass with its own variety of looks from XP milestones. Be sure to check out our full roundup of the changes along with our challenge guide to grind out that Ragnarok XP.
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale has kicked off on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. As before, the new season brings with it an assortment of new challenges to complete, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock. This time, however, Epic has made a few notable changes to the way certain Battle Pass challenges operate. Here's everything you need to know about the new Season 5 challenges and details on all of the ones available so far.
Once again, players who purchase the Season 5 Battle Pass will get a set of objectives to complete every week, which in turn will go toward leveling the Battle Pass up and unlocking new rewards. Unlike past seasons, however, weekly challenges are now divided into two categories, Free (which are available to all Fortnite players) and Battle Pass (which are reserved for those who've purchased the Pass). That means that even if you haven't bought the Battle Pass, you'll still be able to complete certain objectives and earn rewards.
If you do decide to pick up the Battle Pass partway through the season, you'll be also able to retroactively unlock any premium rewards you've earned based on the tier that you've already reached. However, one of the advantages of purchasing the Battle Pass early is bonus XP, which is awarded for playing in general and for playing in a party with friends. Since leveling up with XP translates into Battle Stars, you'll want to grab the Battle Pass as soon as you can and take advantage of these bonuses.
Drift challenges, on the other hand, task you with gaining a certain amount of XP. There are five Drift challenges to complete in total in Season 5, each of which reward you with a new style option for the Drift skin. If you manage to complete four out of the five Drift challenges, you'll also unlock the Rift Edge, an alternative for the pickaxe.
You'll find a complete list of all Season 5 challenges available so far below, along with links to our maps and guides that will help you complete them all. You can see all of the new skins, cosmetics, emotes, sprays, and other items to unlock this season in our gallery of Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 Challenges
Road Trip
Complete all challenges from any week -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 2 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 3 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 4 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 5 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 6 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 7 different weeks -- loading screen
Reward: Mystery Legendary item (likely a skin)
Drift
Gain 10,000 XP -- Drift Stage 1 style
Gain 25,000 XP -- Drift Stage 2 style
Gain 50,000 XP -- Drift Stage 3 style
Gain 100,000 XP -- Drift Stage 4 style
Gain 200,000 XP -- Drift Stage 4 style
Reward: Rift Edge (Epic harvesting tool)
Week 1
Free
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Epic Games has kicked off Season 5 of Fortnite, coinciding with the release of the big 5.0 update. This doesn't include a new map--we still have just the one--but the island has changed pretty significantly across PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and iOS. Here's what to look forward to next time you boot up the game.
A number of the map tweaks are significant enough that they warrant prominent mentions in the 5.0 patch notes. Having diversified the map previously with new biomes, another of these--desert--has been introduced for Season 5. And it's done so in a big way, as the southeastern corner of the map has been replaced. Moisty Mire, which was never a terribly interesting region to begin with, is gone.
In its place, we have a large desert, the centerpiece of which is a new named location, Paradise Palms. This looks like a fairly unnatural town in the middle of a desert, like a neighborhood on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Just to the north, the race track remains in place, though it's now been paved. The desert makes for a much different-looking map as you make your way across in the Battle Bus, and it also dramatically changes the skyline for a good portion of the island.
Epic's patch notes make note of a "few unnamed POIs [that] have also appeared across the island," referring to points of interest. That may not sound like much, but some of these are quite exciting. There are simple moai statues to be found, for instance, but to the west, between Snobby Shores and Greasy Grove, a hilltop is now home to what looks like a viking village, complete with a docked ship that's close to plunging off the side.
Dusty Divot, the most significant map tweak from Season 4, has also been changed up. Although its name remains the same, it's no longer the same crater it once was, as trees and wildlife have overtaken the area. You'll even find some pools of water.
Another Season 4 addition was Hop Rocks, consumable items you could find scattered around the map (particularly near Dusty Divot, where the comet landed) that allow you to temporarily jump much higher than usual. Season 5's take on this seems to be Rifts. Tying in with the tears we saw toward the end of last season, you can now move into one of these to be instantly teleported high up in the air. It's amusing, but it also offers a potential tactical use as it lets you quickly reposition.
Knowing how Fortnite has operated in the past, there are sure to be secrets that players will uncover in the days and weeks ahead. It's possible that even more areas could be brought into the map--the cracks in the sky seen at the end of last season are still there. For now, players can look forward to a fresh zone to battle to the death on--and if Epic is short on ideas for what it could do next, we have some ideas for new maps.
Fortnite's Season 5 officially launched today, bringing with it new challenges (and rewards), a whole new area of the map with the World Collide event, Rifts to send players skywards, and Karts to transport your whole team. Along with all the new additions are a few tweaks and changes on the game's mobile version, including the addition of autofire.
Autofire, which enables the player's weapon to automatically fire when the aim is over an enemy in range, can now be enabled. This new option should make the touchscreen controls easier to manage, as you previously had to swipe to aim and tap to fire with the same thumb. Players can activate autofire after launching by going to Options, then Custom HUD Layout, then Select Fire Mode. There are now three options: Tap-to-Fire, Dedicated Fire Button, and Autofire.
There are also a few bug fixes for those playing on iPhone and iPad. The Thermal Scoped AR will now have proper visual effects on all devices, vehicle passengers can now detonate Remore Explosives, and Health and Shield numbers will no longer be displayed as your own while speculating. Epic Games also says entering Build Mode while holding the fire button on mobile will no longer affect your ability to build in the future.
There are many other tweaks to the overall game, many of which affect the mobile version, and to see full details you can read Epic Games' Fortnite patch notes. Of course, a new season means a new Battle Pass with tons of cosmetics, ranging from Outfits and Back Bling to Gliders and Contrails. To see what's new, check out GameSpot's gallery of Season 5 rewards, and read our full Fortnite coverage in the stories below.
Fortnite Season 5 has begun, introducing a ton of new map changes as well as outfits and other doodads to collect. If you're playing on the Nintendo Switch, though, you have one more surprise waiting for you. That version added gyroscopic motion controls, according to today's patch notes.
That should make aiming easier for those who swear by gyro controls, as popularized by games like Splatoon. You can adjust this option in the settings menu. This is one of many changes introduced in the Season 5 rollover. Others include an All-Terrain Kart that can carry an entire squad, new locations like Lazy Links and Paradise Palms, and a desert biome. You'll also find Viking ships, desert outposts, and ancient statues littered around the island.
All that makes sense, as the game has been heavily hinting at a time travel theme for weeks. Epic encouraged users to hop in their Karts and go exploring, and we'd bet that some secrets lurk around the map already that will lay the groundwork for the next season.
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale is officially underway, which means players now have a new set of challenges to complete and Battle Pass rewards to unlock. Epic has kicked off the first week of Season 5 with seven new tasks of varying difficulty. We've already detailed where to find the Risky Reels treasure map, and now we've put together a guide to help you complete the other challenge that might give you some trouble this week: searching seven floating Lightning Bolts.
Like other challenges that task you with tracking down certain items, the Lightning Bolts can be found in various parts of the island. They are easy to spot once you're in their general area, and you collect them simply by holding the use button, as you would to open a chest. The difference, however, is that the Lightning Bolts are hovering in the air, and you can't pick up them while skydiving or jumping; instead, you need to build a structure and climb up it in order to reach them, so it is imperative that you have enough materials to get them.
The Lightning Bolts are always located in the same areas, and there are more than seven scattered around the island, so it should be easy enough to complete the challenge once you know where to find them. You can also collect the seven you need across several matches, although any Lightning Bolts that you've picked up will no be available on the map. Here are seven areas where we've found Lightning Bolts:
West of Tomato Town, above a small hill
West of Wailing Woods, above a small hill
In the northwest most corner of Junk Junction
Lonely Lodge, directly west of the top floor of the tall tower
Above a house in the northwest corner of Salty Springs
Southeast of Shifty Shafts, just north of the bridge
Between two large mountains east/southeast of Haunted Hills
Once you've collected all seven and completed the challenge, you will earn five Battle Stars, which will go toward ranking up your Season 5 Battle Pass. Unlike previous seasons, all of the weekly challenges this time are divided up into two different categories: Free (available to all players) and Battle Pass (available only to those who have purchased the pass). You can find the full list of Week 1 challenges below.
Along with the new challenges, Battle Pass owners have a ton of new rewards to unlock in Fortnite, including new skins, cosmetics, emotes, contrails, harvesting tools, and more. You can see everything in our gallery of all the new Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 1 Challenges
Free
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
With a new season in Fortnite: Battle Royale comes a new Battle Pass. Season 5 is officially live, and with it, we have the Season 5 Battle Pass. For those already familiar with past versions, the basics of how it works have not changed dramatically--you'll play, complete challenges, rank up, and earn rewards--hopefully including the sought-after level 100 skin, Ragnarok. There are a variety of new skins available along with other cosmetic rewards, and we've also gotten a new category of item called "toys" that you can obtain and then play with during a match.
There are, however, some key differences with the Battle Pass to be aware of. One of changes is great news for those who don't want to pay for any V-Bucks to spend on the Battle Pass but still want new things to do each week. Here's everything you need to know about the Season 5 Battle Pass, including its price, changes to challenges, and the skins you can unlock.
How Does The Battle Pass Work?
The Season 5 Battle Pass operates much as it did in the past. As you play, you level up your profile, which rewards you with Battle Stars. These Battle Stars in turn rank up your Battle Pass, thus unlocking a variety of rewards. These rewards are divided into two tiers: A small number obtainable by all players, and those that are reserved for Battle Pass owners. You don't have to purchase the Battle Pass right away in order to avoid missing out; you can buy it mid-season and retroactively earn the premium rewards based on the tier that you've already reached.
However, there is is a benefit to grabbing the Battle Pass sooner rather than later. Among the premium rewards you'll receive are XP bonuses, both for playing in general and those for playing in a party with friends. Because leveling up with XP translates into Battle Stars (thus ranking up your Battle Pass), it's in your interest to grab the Battle Pass early and benefit from those bonuses. Purchasing the Battle Pass also gets you access to all challenges throughout the season (more on those in a moment), which are an easy way to earn Battle Stars and rank up further.
How Much Does It Cost?
As in the past, the Battle Pass costs 950 V-Bucks, a premium currency obtained with real-world money. Buying the smallest available bundle (1,000 V-Bucks) costs $10, leaving you with 50 V-Bucks to begin saving toward purchasing a skin, cosmetic, or a future Battle Pass. There is no option to buy the Battle Pass directly with real-world money, as had been the plan at one point. That said, it is arguably an excellent value due to the way the Battle Pass rewards you with further V-Bucks (something we dive into further below).
Everyone Gets (Some) Challenges For Free
Weekly challenges have been a big highlight of past Battle Passes. By purchasing one, you'd receive a set of seven new objectives to complete each week, which in turn allowed you to rank up your Battle Pass more quickly and earn rewards. Those without the Battle Pass could still earn a very select number of rewards, but they only had access to a single set of seven Starter challenges for the duration of the season.
For Season 5, there are no Starter challenges. Instead, each set of weekly challenges has been broken up into free and premium sections. These objectives offer up either five or 10 Battle Stars, with the latter being reserved for Hard-difficulty ones. Each week will have one Hard challenge for free players, while the other two are reserved for Battle Pass owners. Notably, the 5k XP bonus available each week is reserved for Battle Pass owners; you have to complete four challenges in a given week to unlock this, meaning it's only possible with access to the week's full suite of challenges.
You Still Get Free V-Bucks
As noted above, the Battle Pass costs 950 V-Bucks, but that arguably pays for itself if you play routinely. Among the premium rewards available in the Battle Pass are V-Bucks--every six to 10 tiers, you'll earn 100 free V-Bucks. (There are also two 100 V-Buck rewards in the free reward tier, at ranks 18 and 34.) By reaching rank 58, you'll have earned 1,000 V-Bucks, which is more than you'll have spent on the Battle Pass in the first place.
There's an additional 500 V-Bucks still to be earned after that, though doing so will require a fair amount of playtime. Epic estimates earning every reward in the Battle Pass takes from 75-150 hours, but if you play regularly and complete a lot of challenges, it shouldn't be hard to earn back most or all of what you invest in the Battle Pass.
Road Trip And Drift Take Are The New Blockbuster And Carbide Challenges
One of Season 4's wrinkles to the Battle Pass was the introduction of Blockbuster and Carbide challenges. These are back for Season 5, but with new names: Road Trip and Drift, respectively. Both of these require you to purchase the Season 5 Battle Pass to complete.
Road Trip challenges task you with completing all seven challenges from any single week. The reward is a loading screen which--if Season 4 is any indication--will lead you to a secret Battle Star that ranks up your Battle Pass by one tier. There are seven Road Trip challenges in total, and by completing all of these (meaning you fully complete seven weeks of challenges), you'll earn a bonus reward that looks to be a Legendary skin. We won't be sure of what it is until at least the seventh week of challenges are live.
Drift challenges are similar to Carbide, in that you're basically just asked to play a lot. This time around, however, rather than being asked to reach a certain level, you're tasked with gaining a certain amount of XP--from 10,000 up to 200,000. Each of the five challenges offers a new style option for the Drift skin, an outfit which you'll receive for free as soon as you buy the Battle Pass. If you complete four of the five Drift challenges (meaning you've earned 100,000 XP total), you'll also receive the Rift Edge harvesting tool, an alternative for the pickaxe.
What Are The Rewards?
You'll immediately get a handful of rewards for purchasing the Battle Pass, including the aforementioned Legendary Drift skin, as well as as the Epic Huntress skin. You also get access to all challenges and an immediate XP bonus, as well as five free Battle Pass tiers for Season 6's Battle Pass.
By ranking up the Battle Pass, you'll earn a variety of skins, V-Bucks, sprays, emoticons, gliders, harvesting tools, back blings, loading screens, emotes, contrails, and XP bonuses. There's also a new type of item, toys, that allow you to play around with others during a match. These include a golf ball and a basketball. You can see every single reward available in our rundown, or check out all of the skins and cosmetics here.
A major Fortnite update--v5.0--has been released, which means players that jump into game now will find a fresh crop of content to enjoy. This is all part of Fortnite Season 5, which introduces the All Terrain Kart, the Lazy Links and Paradise Palms locations, a new desert biome, skins, a Battle Pass, and more. It also adds in Rifts, which provide new adventures for players to take on.
Fortnite's servers went down on July 12 at 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT / 8 AM GMT so that Epic Games could conduct the necessary maintenance to roll out the update. The downtime lasted around an hour and 30 minutes, but the update is now playable, and there's plenty to check out. You can see the full Fortnite Season 5 patch notes here to read about what's different in the Battle Royale and Save The World modes.
In the lead-up to this launch, Epic dropped hints at one of the update's biggest features. Rifts that appeared after a missile launch were transporting objects in and out of the game world, which meant objects from our world popped up out of thin air inside Fortnite, and some Fortnite objects showed up in the real world. The update now gives players the opportunity to interact with Rifts, which is completely new to Season 5.
Of course, with the arrival of a new season, there's also going to be more challenges, skins, and a Battle Pass. GameSpot will be bringing you updates on all this as we're able to get our hands on them, so keep an eye out for that information.
Season 5 of Fortnite has finally arrived, with developer Epic Games updating the game to introduce new content and tweaks. The patch is currently being pushed out on all platforms across the world, and Epic has released the full Fortnite Season 5 patch notes for what's included. For the battle royale mode, the highlights include the All Terrain Kart, a new vehicle that can carry an entire squad.
In addition to that, the map has also been updated with new locations such as Lazy Links and Paradise Palms, and a new desert biome. There's also been some adjustments to the way the Storm circles work, as well as how the game performs as a whole.
"Viking ships, desert outposts, and ancient statues have appeared across the island," reads the official description. "Hop in an All Terrain Kart (ATK) with your squad and uncover all-new mysteries and locations that await."
In the Battle Royale mode, rifts have also appeared. "Test your courage and step through a Rift," reads the description. "You're in for a wild ride." Take a look at the full Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 patch notes below, along with our full coverage of the new season.
Shotguns will now indicate how many pellets hit, visible within the reticle.
Adjusted shotgun spread patterns to be consistent with no random variation.
Heavy Shotgun now fires 10 pellets rather than 5.
Maximum damage for the Heavy Shotgun remains unchanged.
After firing a shotgun, another shotgun cannot be fired for a very short time.
Reduced Hunting Rifle aim assist when targeting to match that of other Sniper Rifles with projectile bullets.
Changed the damage drop-off profile for the Suppressed SMG to be the same as other SMGs.
Fall off starts at 24 meters from 28 meters.
Damage reduced to 80% at 35 meters from 85% at 47.5 meters.
Damage reduced to 65% at 50+ meters from 75% at 70+ meters.
Gameplay
All Terrain Kart (ATK)
The new All Terrain Kart (ATK) has room for your entire squad.
Get a speed boost after drifting.
The roof acts as a bounce pad.
Work together as rear passengers to leap over obstacles with the All Terrain Kart (ATK). Lean back and release at the same time for a higher jump.
Lean back by holding S on keyboards or holding back on the thumbstick for controllers.
Map Updated
New Biome: Desert
New Location: Paradise Palms
New Location: Lazy Links
A few unnamed POIs have also appeared across the island.
The center of Storm circles 7, 8, and 9 can now shift in random directions (instead of simply shrinking). As the storm closes in, it will move & shrink to the new location.
Starting in Season 5, progressive challenges will no longer be restricted to a single season. You can now complete progressive challenges at your own pace.
Progressive challenges are now completed by acquiring a fixed amount of XP and is no longer dependant on your season level.
Gyro/motion controls have been added to the Nintendo Switch. Adjust these options in the Settings menu.
Weekly challenges are now split into two sections, free and Battle Pass. The first 3 challenges will be available for free while the last 4 are only available if you own the Battle Pass. The threshold to unlock the weekly challenge reward will remain at 4.
Down But Not Out players now have smaller collision. Previously their collision was at the standing height which blocked DBNO players from crawling under doors and blocked building collision in some cases.
Players that were crouching when knocked Down But Not Out will be returned to a crouching state upon revival.
Emoting will now interrupt sprinting.
You now earn XP for reviving teammates in 50v50 and Teams of 20 LTMs up to three times per match (30XP, 10XP, 10XP).
Weapon reticle will now fade slightly when reloading, out of ammo, or changing weapons.
The player camera can now see out of the water when walking in lakes.
Bug Fixes
Launch Pads and Cozy Campfires now destroy overlapping small objects when placed.
Reduced trigger volume for floor Damage Trap to better match visuals and prevent triggering when standing on ledges above.
Supply Llamas now fall to the ground if the object they were standing on is destroyed.
Autorun will no longer cancel if you let go of the stick and it slightly flicks backward while using a gamepad.
Fixed issue where Autorun could be active while using a Shopping Cart.
The first Storm circle will now consistently do 1 damage.
Players will no longer get stuck in a doorway if they were standing in it when the door closed.
Fixed an issue that prevented some weapon animations from playing.
Autorun can no longer be activated while walking backward.
Textures will now consistently appear correctly while in Edit Mode.
Fixed a crash that could occur when logging out.
Performance
Improved performance of Shopping Carts on both the game client and server.
Audio
Added unique ambient audio to the new desert biome. More unique ambient audio for the map will be coming in future updates!
Lowered the volume of the Battle Pass Challenge success sound.
UI audio has been redesigned, all button and interface sounds updated.
Bug Fixes
Dual Pistol fire sound will no longer get cut off if you switch weapons immediately after firing.
The True Love emotes audio will no longer overlap with itself if multiple players use it near each other.
The funky electronic track to the Dance Moves emote on Mobile/Switch platforms has been re-enabled.
UI
We now allow users to enable the same sound visualizer on all platforms that were created for mobile - however, while the visualizer is enabled, audible sound effects will be muted. Mobile platforms are unaffected by this change and will retain sound effects and the visualizer. You can find this new option under the Accessibility tab in the settings.
Streamer mode no longer just says "Player###", instead it now uses the player's cosmetic character as their display name "Character[###]". So instead of "Eliminated Player100" you may see, "Eliminated Rust Lord[100]." Anyone eliminating someone in streamer mode will now see Streamer[###].
Added extra audio and visual fanfare to the Victory Royale end of match sequence.
The "Dialogue Audio," "Global Chat," and "Auto Equip Better Weapons" options have been removed as they have no function in Battle Royale.
Zooming in and out on the map is now twice as fast with the controller.
The "Play Again" button will now allow players to preview pickaxe visual and sound effects in the Item Shop, Battle Pass, and Locker.
New faster animation for displaying XP sources have been added to the end of match stats screen.
Bug Fixes
Map markers will now re-appear if removed and added back to the exact same location.
End of match stats now appears correctly on all platforms in their correct numeric format.
Key bindings for weapon and structure sections in the HUD are now displayed properly.
A typo was removed from the item description for the Victory Lap harvesting tool.
Controller input will no longer fail when at the Main Menu.
Fixed an inconsistency in the UI that was displayed when placing a trap in some cases.
"Distance Traveled" is now reported correctly in the Match Stats screen.
Art and Animation
Bug Fixes
Revive animations are no longer skipped if the player was reloading when downed.
Effects now appear properly when jumping with the Pot of Gold Harvesting Tool.
Prevented sprays from affecting props used in emotes (e.g., the basketball from Baller).
Replay System
"Camera type" is now localized in the view settings header.
Bug Fixes
Gamepads will no longer continuously rumble when a replay is paused.
The Main Menu will no longer become unresponsive if the Friends List is opened while a replay is paused.
Nameplates no longer block input on camera settings.
Nameplates no longer disappear if the camera is directly above a player.
The bottom portion of the nameplate will no longer become cut off.
Nameplates on PS4 will now show team number & weapon.
Weapon animations will now play in replays after scrubbing the timeline.
Timeline markers no longer disappear on saved replays on PS4 and Xbox One.
Shopping Cart visual and audio effects will no longer break in replays.
The "Revive" and "Drive" prompt will no longer persist in replays if a player was eliminated while being revived or near a Shopping Cart.
Mobile
Autofire has been added as an option on mobile platforms. Enabling this causes the player's weapon to automatically fire when the reticle is over an enemy that is within range.
Players will be given the option to select their preferred fire mode after launching. All players can change their preferred fire mode by navigating to Options, Custom HUD Layout, then choosing the 'Select Fire Mode' option and confirming their selection.
Tap-to-fire.
A dedicated fire button.
Autofire.
Bug Fixes
The Thermal Scoped AR now has the proper visual effects on all devices.
Vehicle passengers can now detonate Remote Explosives.
Entering build mode while holding the "fire" button will no longer adversely affect your ability to build in the future.
Health and Shield numbers will no longer be displayed as your own while spectating.
For those interested in seeing what's changed in Save The World, here's the patch notes for that mode:
Save The World
General
Blockbuster is over and the Road Trip event begins! Blockbuster tickets have been converted to one Blockbuster Llama for every increment of 500, rounding up to one additional Llama for any leftover tickets under 500.
Updated Persistent Weekly Store to offer RE-PERKs, Uncommon PERK-UPs and Rare PERK-UPs.
Starting July 17, Save the World will be on sale on Xbox, PS4, and PC for a limited time. Super Deluxe and Limited Founders packs will return for the duration of the sale.
Friends codes from Founders packs have been removed and exchanged for Legendary Troll Stash Llama Tokens.
All existing founders will receive tokens based on their founders level in 5.0 as a thank you for being with us.
Missions and Systems
Challenge the Horde is back!
Challenge the Horde comes to the desert! This map focuses on a tighter experience, with less running from base to base between waves, and more time to focus on your build and item-crafting.
Challenge the Horde introduces new Storm behavior. Beat back waves of enemies as the storm closes in.
Players take damage while in the Storm.
Storm resets every wave.
Challenge the Horde missions now become unlocked based upon your Storm Shield Defense progression or your Horde Quest progression in the Campaign. This means that players who are currently playing in Twine Peaks can expect the entire Challenge the Horde map to be unlocked. However, individual challenges within a Horde mission must still be unlocked in order.
Reduced the total number of Challenge the Horde missions available on the map from 16 to 9.
Set the total number of challenges to 5 for every Horde mission. Previously, the number of challenges varied from as low as 3, to as high as 8.
Reduced the number of waves per Horde challenge from 10 to 8.
Reduced the maximum time of a wave from 6 minutes to 4 minutes.
Enemy loot drops and item caches have been disabled for Challenge the Horde.
Challenge the Horde resourcing has been tweaked:
Challenge the Horde missions now grant a starter, first tier, uncommon Assault Rifle and Sword to help players hit the ground running in early Horde missions.
The initial ammunition grant has been increased to match the increased difficulty of the first Horde mission.
Building materials, ammunition, and crafting materials granted to players per skill tree upgrade have been reduced throughout the Horde Skill Tree.
Challenge the Horde Mission Alerts are available:
Award Road Trip Tickets used to purchase Road Trip Event Llamas.
Award Horde Skill Points used to purchase nodes in the Horde Skill Tree.
Quota: 10 per day.
Horde Progression quests appear under the Event: Road Trip quest journal category and award the following:
Road Trip Tickets.
V-bucks
PERK currencies.
A choice of Epic and Legendary Wild West Heroes.
Horde Exclusive Banners.
Repeatable quests for completing Horde content award a choice of Hero XP, Schematic XP, or Survivor XP.
Perk Recombobulator materials are now distributed in Challenge the Horde. Play Horde missions to earn RE-PERK! or PERK-UP! in larger quantities than found in Campaign missions.
Active Mutant Storm Mission Alerts have been turned on.
Elemental Mission Alerts are available as well.
Road Trip Event Llama is now available. Costs 500 Road Trip Tickets per Llama. Guarantees at least one Epic or better limited time Flintlock weapon or Western Hero!
Increased the following Mission Alert rewards:
FIRE-UP, AMP-UP, FROST-UP: Increased by 100%.
RE-PERK: Increased by 50%.
PERK-UP: Increased by 30-33%.
Enabled RE-PERK and PERK-UP to drop in Storm Mission rewards.
Heroes
Ability Rebalance!
We've adjusted the overall balance of how powerful we expect abilities to be in relation to guns, traps, and other damage/utility sources. Additionally, we've increased the strength of healing Perks. As a result, we've made the following adjustments:
Soldier
Survivalist
Base heal increased from 3 to 5.
Warcry
Increased damage multiplier from 30% to 45%.
Reduced ranged attack speed multiplier from 40% to 30%.
Increased melee attack speed multiplier from 16% to 20%.
Combatant's Might
Increased Warcry energy cost reduction from 15 to 20.
Fight or Flight
Fight or Flight now adds a 10% movement speed buff.
Shockwave
Increased base damage from 75 to 91.
Decreased cooldown from 30 to 25 seconds.
Power Impact
Increased radius multiplier from 38% to 50%.
Shock & Awe
Increased slow from 30% to 50%.
Lefty and Righty
Reduced cooldown from 150 to 100 seconds.
Bang & Pow
Increased base damage from 16 to 20.
Corrosive Clips
Increased base damage from 83 to 120.
Goin' Commando
Cooldown reduced from 150 to 100 seconds.
Ain't Done Yet
Increased duration extension from 2 to 5 seconds.
Easy Operation
Increased energy cost reduction from 15 to 20 stamina.
Ninja
Smoke Bomb
Reduced base cooldown from 60 to 45 seconds.
Medicinal Fumes
Increased base heal from 3 to 19.
Up In Smoke
Increased movement speed bonus from 30% to 50%.
Tail of the Dragon
Increased damage per tick from 10 to 12.
Throwing Stars
Increased base projectile speed by 70%.
Increased base damage from 35 to 52.
Poison Stars
Now ticks every 1s to match other affliction sources, and adjusted damage accordingly.
Hearty Blade
Base heal increased from 12 to 30.
Hearty Strikes
Base heal increased from 10 to 24.
Outlander
Phase Shift:
Phase Shift is an ability meant for quick movement. The following adjustments are intended to help it become more competitive with the other movement abilities that also deal damage.
Increased travel distance from 1.5625 tiles to 1.75 tiles.
Decreased cost from 20 to 10 stamina.
Decreased cooldown from 15 to 8 seconds.
Increased charges from 2 to 3.
Now adds 30% movespeed for 3 seconds.
Phase Forward
Increased distance traveled from 1.75 tiles to 2.5 tiles.
Phased and Confused
Increase quantity of additional charges from 1 to 2.
Phased Out
Adjusted cooldown reduction from 5 to 3 to correspond to new base cooldown.
Phase Shield
Adjusted duration from 4 to 2 to correspond to the new base cooldown.
Phase Runner
Now increases the bonus movespeed from Phase Shift to 50%.
T.E.D.D.Y.
Increased base damage from 10 to 16 per shot.
Reduced cost from 50 to 30 stamina.
Bear Stare
Increased base damage from 22 to 26.
Overbearing
Increased bonus range from 2 tile to 4 tiles.
Shock Tower:
Shock Tower should be a great tool for taking out groups of weak Husks, but it doesn't quite get the job done. To address this we've given Shock Tower more damage and a much shorter cooldown. The duration is a bit shorter but you'll be able to cast it more frequently. We've also reduced the stun duration slightly in order to make room for the other improvements.
Reduced cooldown from 60 to 20 seconds.
Reduced cost from 50 to 30 stamina.
Increased base damage from 9 to 12.
Lowered stun duration from 1 to .75 seconds.
Lowered duration from 6 to 3 seconds.
Electroshock
Increased impact bonus from 133% to 160%.
Capacitor
Adjusted duration increase from 2 to 1 second to correlate to new duration.
Supercapacitor
Adjusted duration increase from 2 to 1 second to correlate to new duration.
Shocking Embrace
Adjusted duration increase from 3 to 2 seconds to correlate to new duration.
Static Cling
Increased Damage Over Time damage percentage to 110% from 50%.
Decreased Damage Over Time duration from 6 to 3 seconds.
Anti-Material Charge:
We found that Anti-Material Charge's resource gathering damage was being overvalued. As a result, we have increased the base while lowering its cost and cooldown to make it both an effective gathering tool and a relevant combat ability.
Increased width by 100%.
Increased base damage from 39 to 90.
Lowered cooldown from 30 to 12 seconds.
Lowered cost from 35 to 30 stamina.
Strike Cost
Adjusted cost reduction from 15 to 10 to correspond to the new base cost.
Fist of the South Moon
Adjusted the cooldown reduction from 13 to 5 to correspond to the new base cooldown.
Structural Strike
Adjusted the cooldown reduction from 7 to 3 seconds and the cost reduction from 7 to 5 to correspond to the new base cooldown and cost.
Kinetic Punch (Non-Support Variant)
Increased the knockback strength to knockback large enemies.
Charge Fist
Moved from a 3-star perk to a 2-star perk.
Adjusted the percent damage increase from a max 200% to a max 150% to correspond to the new base damage.
Resulting max base damage increased from 117 to 225 with default base damage taken into account.
Iron Knuckles
Removed vulnerability application.
Adjusted the percent damage increase from 500% to 150% to correspond to the new base damage.
Tooltip has been updated to fix misleading wording.
The previous tooltip implied that the damage was increased BY 500% rather than TO 500%.
The new tooltip continues to use "increased by," however, this value is now correct in that it increases the base damage by 150% (250% of base damage).
When combined with the default base damage increase the resulting base damage is increased from 195 to 225.
This Perk has had an effective increase of damage based on its prior version.
Constructor
Bull Rush
Increased base damage from 60 to 156.
Reduced cooldown from 30 to 15.
Reduced cost from 30 to 20.
Increased shield collision width by 43%.
China Shop
Increased base environmental damage from 282 to 688.
Bull Crush
Increased hardware damage from 45% to 55%.
Long Rush
New Functionality added: At the end of Bull Rush, movement speed is increased by 30% for 10 seconds.
Riot Shield
New Functionality added: While charging, the constructor will take 60% less damage.
Previous Riot Shield functionality has been removed.
Plasma Pulse
Base damage increased from 14 to 18.
Decreased lifespan from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
Plasma Pulse Blast
Base damage increased from 125 to 145.
IFF Coding
Increased shield regen from 15% to 20% of shield.
Base M.D.
Increased health regen from 2% to 4% of maximum health.
Decoy
Hitbox reduced to match decoy model.
Decreased cooldown from 45 to 30.
Grease The Wheel
Decreased cooldown reduction from 15 to 10.
Kinetic Overload
Base damage increased from 50 to 140.
Removed cooldown.
Nice and Slow
Increased Slow from 30% to 40%.
Hearty Blows
Base heal increased from 12 to 49.
Wild West Heroes have been added to the Road Trip Event Llama!
Soldier - New Subclass 'First Shot' featuring New Character Rio.
Description: Reloads to get a large initial hit of damage then follows up with high fire rate burst.
New Perks
Locked and Reloaded: After reloading, rate of fire is increased by 25% for 5 seconds.
Padlocked and Reloaded: Increases the rate of fire from Locked and Reloaded to 50%.
First Assault: The first bullet fired after reloading an assault rifle critically hits enemies. Removed on weapon switch.
New Tactical Perk:
Practiced In Combat (Tactical Variant).
Ninja - New Subclass 'Explosive Assassin' featuring Ken.
Description: Sword focused Ninja that stacks up Assassination to discharge an energy blast and utilizes Smoke Bomb to keep stacks up.
New Perks:
Assassination Juice: Smoke Bomb now generates a stack of Assassination every second when the Ninja is inside the affected area.
Endless Smoke: Increases the radius of Smoke Bomb by 45%.
Assassination Discharge: When Assassination reaches 5 stacks it will trigger an explosion, dealing energy damage in a 0.5 tile radius. After the explosion, all Assassination stacks are removed.
New Tactical Perk:
Assassination (Tactical Variant).
Constructor - New Subclass 'Vintage-Tech' featuring Penny.
Description: Constructor that uses plasma pulse to create plasma bomb zones.
New Perks:
Supercharged Plasma: Increases the damage radius of Plasma Pulse's mini balls by 60%.
Malfunction: Plasma Pulse now spawns 8 plasma balls that deal 550% more damage. The plasma balls will be spawned all at once and explode after 10 seconds if not triggered.
Outlander - New Subclass 'Wild Fragment' featuring Deadeye.
Description: Mobile Outlander that gathers large amounts of Fragments to continuously place empowered T.E.D.D.Y.s.
New Perks:
Look What I Found: Start missions with 3 Charge Fragments.
Load Bearing: T.E.D.D.Y.'s damage is increased by 50% if placed with a Fragment.
Double Down: 50% chance to find an additional Charge Fragment when collecting a Fragment.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with Shock Tower that caused it to fire 1 shot less than intended.
Fixed an issue which was causing Shock Tower to not scale Impact properly.
Phase Shift tooltip now shows max charges.
Weapons and Items
Walloper Hammer added to the Event Store:
A hammer that delivers a hefty punch with slow, wide swings.
Leap Attack: Heavy attack that jumps to the targeted foe and damages and knocks down nearby enemies.
Added the Flintlock weapons set, available in Road Trip Llamas:
Ol' Betsy: Accurate, high powered sniper rifle with a single round per magazine and a hefty kick.
Duelist: Slow-firing revolver with a powerful kick that deals heavy headshot damage and knocks back targets.
Dragoon: Heavy, short range shotgun that damages and knocks back enemies in a cone.
Fishing Hook: Slow, heavy scythe with a wide swing and Whirlwind Attack.
Sir Hootie: Slow, heavy club with large knockback potential and Home Run attack.
Adrenaline Rush
Heal increased from 180 to 215.
Air Strike
Cooldown reduced from 300 to 215.
Hover Turret
Reduced Hover Turret base rate of fire from 6/s to 4/s, and the upgraded rate of fire from 10/s to 6/s.
Hover Turret shots now deal energy damage and no longer deal impact damage.
Increased the base damage of Hover Turret explosion from 114 to 162.
Proximity Mine
Damage increased from 225 to 230.
Reduced recharge time from 240 to 200s.
Bug Fixes
Weapons now correctly holster when player is downed.
Fixed an issue that caused the Clinger to hang in the air on destroyed Anomaly Shards.
Fixed an issue where the Shadowshard Krypton Sword had the wrong stats.
Fixed explosion radius for all tiers of proximity mine, these are now set correctly to 1 tile, 1.25 tiles, and 1.5 tiles.
Gameplay
Increased the effectiveness of Energy Damage against Elemental Husks from 67% to 75%.
Increased base run speed from 365 to 410. Sprint speed is unchanged.
Players can now move while downed.
Adjusted visuals of the downed state to improve clarity.
Trololo and Revenge of the Trolls quests now only require whacking 1 troll to complete.
The following repeatable quests are available and award PERK currencies:
Danger in the Mist
Set the World on Fire
Forces of Nature
A Watery Grave
Killer Storms repeatable quest is available and awards Gold.
UI
Loot Llamas are now no longer automatically opened when going to the loot tab. Either pressing the Llama count button or bottom bar input will allow you to open Llamas in the inventory. Llamas purchased on the loot screen will still automatically open.
Bug Fixes
T.E.D.D.Y has had his voice module upgraded and will now correctly pronounce Fortnite when analyzing player reports.
Players will now see a message if they are banned while in-match.
The Rejoin window now auto-closes when a player is banned.
Recent Players who you only interact with in the main menus now show in the Report Player list.
Daily details panel now updates when the quest is abandoned.
Fixed controller input for the Defender Post trap.
Fixed issues with switching building types quickly that could cause players to place the wrong building type, especially under bad latency conditions.
Builder Pro control scheme will no longer place the wrong building due to players under pressing and holding a building type that's different than what they had selected before.
These fixes actually affect how switching weapons and building types work under high latency across the board, so they should improve that feel for any control scheme (including mouse and keyboard).
Builder Pro controller scheme now correctly selects tracks when pressing the Trap Picker while not looking at any building, and it will also place the tracks properly when pressing X / Square.
Fixed Upgrade popup menu input temporarily breaking if used after controller is disconnected.
Fixed gamepad joystick icon appearing when only a single tab item exists in the Resources menu.
Art and Animation
Storm visual effects on the player no longer appear when downed.
Removed purple trails from revive visual effects.
Goin' Commando's equip camera animation has been improved.
The barrel of Goin' Commando's minigun now glows when firing.
New equip visual effects have been added to Goin' Commando.
Removed firework visual effects from the grenade launcher.
Hats and Backpacks were added to Heroes that are in the Stars and Stripes set.
Bug Fixes
Enemies highlighted by the Neon Sniper Rifle are now limited to those enemies within range of the bullet.
Please note at extreme distances impact effects may not be visible while scoped in.
Adjusted HDR Intensity of the Neon Weapons down 20% to keep bloom problems from occurring in certain levels.
Fixed an issue that caused Lobber's Head Flames to blink on and off in medium quality settings.
Audio
Audio mix update: Weapon volumes have been increased and ambient volume slightly decreased.
UI audio has been redesigned, all buttons and interface sounds updated.
Plasma Pulse perk sounds updated
Smoke Bomb sounds updated
Goin' Commando's sounds have been updated including unique sounds for Boomstick!
Including:
Wind Up
Wind Down
Firing
Firing Stop
Equip
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with T.E.D.D.Y's laser beam sound volume and attenuation.
Fixed an issue where See-bot launch audio volume was too loud.
The Battle Pass for Season 5 of Fortnite is now available and it's got a whole load of new rewareds for players to work towards unlocking. For those unfamiliar with it, the Battle Pass is available to purchase in-game for 950 V-Bucks and can be leveled up by playing the game. As you level up the pass, new items are unlocked, and there are around 100 rewards which, according to developer Epic Games, "typically takes between 75 to 150 hours of play" to unlock. We've got a complete rundown on how the Battle Pass works.
When you purchase a Battle Pass, you'll immediately get access to the Drift and Huntress skins, as well as some XP bonuses. Beyond that there are emotes, gliders, loading screens, sprays, skins, back bling, contrails, and more to unlock. There are also weekly challenges, which you can learn more about in our Fortnite Season 5, Week 1 Challenges guide. A new feature included in the Battle Pass is Toys, which are described as "new ways for you and your squad to have fun on the island. Try out your jumpshot on the court, see if you can make a hole in one, or just enjoy some beach ball bouncing in the sand before the storm arrives." You'll earn these Toys by reaching certain Battle Pass tiers.
If you're looking for a complete breakdown of everything that the update adds and changes, check out the Fortnite Season 5 patch notes. Highlights include a brand-new vehicle called the All-Terrain Kart, a couple of new map areas, as well as the desert biome. There's also a new feature called Rifts; by walking into one, you'll be teleported high up into the air.
Take a look at everything in the new Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass below. You'll have until Season 5 ends in September to unlock everything; certain rewards are obtainable for all players for free, but the majority of it--including the most desirable things, such as free V-Bucks and the Ragnarok skin--will require you to purchase the Battle Pass. Fortunately, if you play enough, you'll more than make back the V-Bucks you spend on it.
Fortnite Season 5 has begun and with it comes the first batch of challenges for players to undertake. This time around however, things are going to work a little differently. Challenges are split into two sections for Season 5: Free and Battle Pass. The former is made up of three challenges, while those who purchase the Battle Pass will have access to seven in total--including one that asks you to follow the treasure map found in Risky Reels. Here's where to find that, and complete everything else.
The treasure map hunt is easily the trickiest of the bunch. Luckily for you, we've done it and can help guide you through it. As with last season's instances of this challenge, you can explore Risky Reels to locate the treasure map, or you can simply head to where the treasure is--if you know where to go. In order to find the treasure, head to the tunnel south of Tomato Town, then climb on top of the northern entrance to find the Battle Pass icon. Take a look at the images below to see how it's done.
For the most part, Week 1 of challenges for the new season shouldn't be too tricky. In the free section it's all about dealing damage and taking out opponents using weapons including the SMG, the Stink Bomb, and grenade. On top of that, you'll have to search a Supply Llama--all fairly straightforward stuff, provided you've got the skills to pay the bills.
Outside of the treasure map, the Battle Pass section gets a little trickier, as you'll have to do some exploration. In order to complete those challenges you'll need to head to Snobby Shores and seek out seven chests, which you should be able to spot pretty easily provided you spend enough time there. On top of that you're going to have to search seven floating Lightning Bolts and take down three opponents in Retail Row. The Lightning Bolts can be collected like a Battle Star, but you'll need to build your way up to them to get your hands on them.
Free
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Follow the treasure map found in Risky Reels (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Eliminate opponents in Retail Row (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Fortnite's Season 5 update is packed with new content and changes to the game. To get a good grasp of everything that's going on with it, take a look at the full Fortnite Season 5 patch notes.
Fortnite Season 5 is here! We partnered with CNET to give you a chance at winning a FREE $60 prepaid Visa gift card. This is equivalent to 7,500 V-Bucks!Eight (8) winners will be chosen after the giveaway ends on July 16, 2018 at 11:59 PM PT. Open to legal residents of the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada (excluding Quebec) who are at least 18 years old. Scroll down to enter below.
Star Trek Online, ORIGIN PC, and Eaglemoss are giving away a free Special Edition PC Gaming Desktop and other prizes. (Scroll down below to enter.)
To celebrate the launch of the game's DS9-themed PC update, Victory is Life, you have a chance to win an exclusive ORIGIN Millennium Gaming Desktop, featuring artwork from Star Trek Online. The grand prize package also includes a poster signed by original cast members from Deep Space Nine and a Gamma Vanguard pack for the PC version of the game.
Ten lucky winners will also receive a coveted Gamma Vanguard Pack and a model of Deep Space Nine from Eaglemoss. An additional 100 runners-up will receive a Gamma Vanguard Starter Pack, which unlocks items to help them battle the Hur'q.
Enter the contest below for your chance to win. Good luck!
Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game where players can pioneer their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship or champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy as a Klingon Warrior. Following major expansions, players are also able to rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird, or carry out daring missions on behalf of the Dominion as a Jem'Hadar soldier. In Star Trek Online, players have the opportunity to visit iconic locations from the popular Star Trek universe, reach out to unexplored star systems and make contact with new alien species. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.
To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, visit www.playstartrekonline.com.
Star Trek Online is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.
After several years of waiting, Capcom has finally debuted its remake of classic survival-horror game Resident Evil 2. If you only watched its E3 2018 reveal trailer, chances are you have some questions regarding how it plays and how faithful it is to the 1998 original. There are still plenty of details that we don't know, but Capcom has at least offered some clarity on its most curious changes.
To ensure you're kept up to date on everything there is to know about Resident Evil 2 remake, we've compiled all the information we have on the game so far: how it came to be, why its camera is from the third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, and more.
While not explicitly titled "Resident Evil 2 Remake," the game is in fact a total remake of the classic survival-horror game, and not a remastered version of the PS1 original with touched-up graphics--much in the same vein as 2002's Resident Evil remake. You once again control rookie cop Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield, who must escape Raccoon City after its citizens are transformed into zombies by a virus two months after the events of the first Resident Evil.
The project came to be after Capcom producer Yoshiaki "H" Hirabayashi took to Facebook on July 30, 2015 to ask the Resident Evil community if they'd be interested in a remake. The request was met with enthusiastic support, which prompted Hirabayashi to pitch the idea to his boss sometime later. The result of the pitch meeting was confirmed the following August when the game was formally announced by Hirabayashi in a special message to fans.
How It Plays
The Resident Evil 2 remake plays from a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, similar to Resident Evil 4. If you're worried this deviates too far from the original's fixed-camera system, don't let this get you down: the remake still emphasizes survival-horror above all else. You're not given the same amount of power that the more action-oriented games in the series offer you.
The new aiming style feels like a modernized version of the aiming from classic Resident Evil games that allows you to move and pick out where you want your shots to land.
This manifests itself in combat. When you aim, the cardinal markers on your reticle slowly move until they're closed in on the center, allowing you to fire a more precise shot. But when you move, the reticle resets and takes time to close in again. Shots take time to line up and you need to stand still to get them just right; you can't instantly fire from the hip and expect to hit your target. It's a small change, but it completely alters your sense of control. The new aiming style feels like a modernized version of the aiming from classic Resident Evil games that allows you to move and pick out where you want your shots to land.
Progression also remains largely the same as the original Resident Evil 2. You're still solving puzzles, tracking down keys, gathering resources, and putting them back into item boxes for later use. But there's more freedom to explore and discover secrets at your own pace and in varying orders--which is a welcome change of pace from the more constricted adventure game-like progression of the original. You're constantly investigating new pathways and gaining new items that might help you open up the way to your objective.
In the same way Resident Evil 7 felt like a classic Resident Evil game played from the first-person perspective, the Resident Evil 2 remake feels the same--but from an over-the-shoulder perspective.
Why The Third-Person Camera Perspective?
As stated, Resident Evil 2 remake will play from a third-person over-the-shoulder view. Hirabayashi told GameSpot that he and his team chose the perspective because they wanted the experience of playing the game to be "intimately terrifying in nature, to [have] up-close and personal zombie encounters that you can only get with that kind of view." He commented further that the perspective was also chosen to open up new possibilities for the series' classic puzzle-solving.
Based on our time spent playing the game at E3 2018, the third-person perspective plays well with the labyrinthian corridors of the police department, making exploration feel unsettling and claustrophobic. We're curious how it'll be effectively used in the latter portions of the game.
How Faithfully Does It Recreate The Original?
Currently, all we have to go in terms of judging the game's faithfulness is the Racoon City Police Department--the primary location of the first playable demo at E3. The remake appears to closely recreate many of the area's iconic rooms and corridors, while adding in new details to give it a more modern flair. Some rooms have been slightly rearranged, but the overall structure of the police station remains largely the same--at least from the first floor. Some areas are much darker than in the original too, forcing Leon to brandish a flashlight in order to safely navigate the environment. Also, there are no longer any loading screen doors, so say goodbye to your old-school escape techniques, zombies will now follow you from room to room whether you like it or not.
Leon is still the rookie cop with a heart of gold that we all remember, yet his naivety and sense of honor is reframed and more subtly reflected in his line delivery. Commanding officer Marvin Branagh appears to be a more substantial character who still warns Leon of the dangers ahead, but who seems to have a larger presence, remaining in the main hall after gifting you with a survival knife (and not a keycard).
Story events seem to be remixed as well. The beats we've seen so far are incredibly similar, with Leon reaching the police station, but the story progresses slightly differently. For example, you're forced to explore the Eastern side of the police station first before encountering Marvin, instead of meeting up with him first to unlock the doors to both the Western and Eastern sections.
How Will The Leon/Claire Campaigns Work?
One of the most unique aspects of the original Resident Evil 2 was how it separated its campaign; you had the option to start the game as either Leon or Claire. And depending on who you finished the campaign with, you could then start a new one from the other character's perspective. This closely tied into the Zapping System, where each of the two playable characters are confronted with different storylines and puzzles depending on the order you choose to play their scenarios. You had the option of starting the "A" scenario with either of the two protagonists and then completing their subsequent "B" scenario, resulting in a total of four different scenarios.
It appears that the remake won't use the Zapping System, but will instead offer a total of two completely separate campaigns starring Leon and Claire. It's unclear if your actions in either of the two campaigns will impact the other.
Any Other Fancy New Features?
Similar to Resident Evil remake, whenever you're grabbed, you can instantly stab a zombie to push them away and avoid damage. Interestingly, your knife will remain in the body of the zombie until you pick it back up. We're curious what would happen if you left the knife in the zombie and carried on, as there also seem to be puzzles that involve using your knife. Are you forced to backtrack and retrieve it? Or are there multiple combat knives you can find? Time will tell.
As you explore the RPD, you'll get your hands on wooden boards that you can use to barricade doors and windows from zombies and other bioweapon threats. If the absence of loading screen doors hurts your sense of safety, then these new wooden boards can serve as a decent--albeit temporary--replacement.
Lastly, a gunpowder crafting mechanic is present, which allows you to create much-needed ammo from scratch. If it's anything like past games, you'll likely be relying on it to create the fancier ammo types needed to swiftly take down strong opponents.
What's The Release Date?
Resident Evil 2 remake will release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 25, 2019. That's not too far away, but gosh doesn't it just feel like an eternity?
After the amazing gaming year that was 2017, many wondered how well 2018 would turn out. Fortunately for everyone, it has been great. The first half of the year has yielded a wealth of fantastic games, and there's more on the horizon. Upcoming games for the rest of this 2018 include slew of hotly anticipated new games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and a whole lot more. To help you keep track of all the games coming out and what has already released, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2018 so far.
Game release dates change all the time and new ones arrive every month. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this article with more release dates or any potential changes to any of the dates below. And if you're eager to figure out the release dates from games next year, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2019.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime this year. There are also games listed that we expect to launch in 2018. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
Update: After being teased by the writers, the sequel is now official. According to Variety, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin are all returning for the film, along with director Ruben Fleischer. Production is expected to begin in January 2019, with an October 2019 release in the works. The original story follows.
The cult classic Zombieland, which came out in 2009, may be getting a sequel. Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick--who wrote the original--told Vulture that a sequel with the original cast might be in theaters by October 2019 to celebrate the original's 10-year anniversary.
"We're going on the tenth anniversary of Zombieland," Wernick said. "Zombieland came out October of 2009. We don't know what you get someone for their tenth anniversary, but it may be a Zombieland 2...with the original cast, by the way."
Zombieland starred Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Woody Harrelson, as well as Bill Murray in a wonderfully silly and morbid cameo. The movie, which was directed by Ruben Fleischer, made $102.4 million against a $23.6 million budget. It was generally well-liked by critics for its silly story and zombie-killing mayhem.
Wernick added that they will hopefully be able to share more news soon about the sequel, which will reportedly start shooting in early 2019.
"We are sitting on information that we can't entirely share at this moment," he said. "But we can just say we think fans of Zombieland who have been hoping for a Zombieland 2, that we will grant their wish very, very soon."
Wernick and Reese went on to enjoy even more success after Zombieland, as they wrote 2016's beloved and commercial smash Deadpool; they also wrote Deadpool 2.
The long-anticipated Metal Gear Solid movie is still coming along slowly, but the director is signaling that the project is very much on his mind with a celebration of the series' 31st anniversary. He sent out a note marking the date, and promised he'll be dropping 31 days of fan art with "some surprises along the way."
In a tweet, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts provided a playful CODEC scene with Roy Campbell explaining that Snake has been sent to retrieve new information about the Metal Gear Solid movie. In the meantime, he's giving us a look at concept art he's created, though the message is careful to note that this shouldn't be interpreted as hints at the film itself.
"As a thank you to fans of this franchise, that bearded director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, will be releasing concept art he created with a series of 'next-gen artists,'" reads the message. "For the next 31 days, we will be releasing 31 pieces of art. We must stress that this is, quote, 'fan art', and is not meant to represent what is or not in the forthcoming film."
❗️Follow and retweet this thread to celebrate the 31st anniversary of @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN's METAL GEAR with 31 pieces of never before seen nano-machine-infused-artwork.
Tune in every day for new updates. Some surprises along the way...
Today's art is a piece by Nick Foreman, showing an iconic Metal Gear mech over a dimly lit scene. Thirty more are set to follow, and Vogt-Roberts may drop a hint or two about the film given his promise of surprises.
DAY 1 of #METALGEAR31st There's many beautiful+insane+iconic images to come...but I want to start with this piece by Nick Foreman. The bond we formed via mechs reinforced that we should be loud w/ our love of this franchise as we may find friends & collaborators in the process. pic.twitter.com/5Zj4vRsu5T
As of last year, the director was reworking the script to make it more reminiscent of the work of Hideo Kojima. To that end, he even met with Kojima himself.
Do you like excitement? Dare I say, do you like things to go to the extreme? Well, make sure to break out your Steve Blackman signed escrima sticks, your used kendo sticks, and unbreakable tables, as WWE's most insane PPV of the year, Extreme Rules, comes to the WWE Network on Sunday, July 15. During this event, many matches have rules that are... well... extreme. From table matches to steal cages to matches with weapons are allowed to be used, Extreme Rules tends to be one brutal event, but not like ECW in its heyday extreme. That's a bit too much.
This year's over-the-top PPV will take place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and those going to the event or watching from the comfort of their homes will be in store for a night of hard hits and unconventional items being used as weapons. For those not attending the live event, Extreme Rules begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT with a Kickoff Show starting one hour prior. Normally, one match takes place during the Kickoff, but as of this writing, there are actually two.
For the first time in a while, there's actually a few fun tag team matches happening at a major WWE event. Daniel Bryan and Kane reunited recently on Smackdown, and now, they have a chance to win the Smackdown Tag Championships from The Bludgeon Brothers. Additionally, it's brother (Bray Wyatt) against brother (Bo Dallas) as the champions The Deleters of Worlds take on The B Team (The "B" stands for "Best") for the Raw Tag Championships. There are seven championships on the line that evening, and the only major title that won't be defended is the Universal Championship--because Brock Lesnar never defends it. At the time of this writing, there are twelve matches on the card. More than likely, this is in the finalized card.
Strangely enough, as of this writing, there is only one Extreme Rules match for the PPV, and that's for the Raw Women's Championship. As of this writing, a Tables Match has been added, but there are no more Extreme Rules matches.
Extreme Rules Match Card:
Sin Cara vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas (KICKOFF SHOW)
The New Day vs. SAnitY (Tables Match on KICKOFF SHOW)
Braun Strowman vs Kevin Owens (Steel Cage Match)
Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley
Finn Bálor vs. "Constable" Baron Corbin
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins (30-Minute Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Championship)
The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. Team Hell No (For the Smackdown Tag Championship)
Deleters of Worlds (c) vs. The B-Team (For the Raw Tag Championship)
Carmella (c) vs. Asuka (For the Smackdown Women's Championship with James Ellsworth suspended above the ring in a Shark Cage))
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax (Extreme Rules match for the Raw Women's Championship)
Jeff Hardy (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura (For the United States Championship)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev (For the WWE Championship)
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, July 15 for live coverage of WWE's Extreme Rules. For now, check out our predictions for the event.
We're sure you're familiar with the Fortnite: Battle Royale phenomenon at this point. We've been keeping you up to date on the weekly challenges, the latest updates and changes, and offered some perspective on things we'd like to see added to the game. And although we still enjoy battling it out against 99 other players on the game's current map, it's easy to imagine how a new map could keep us coming back for more Victory Royales in the long run.
There is currently one map in Fortnite: Battle Royale, but to Epic Games' credit, it has evolved over time. With new seasons comes new content and actual changes to the lone map's layout and features. When Season 4 hit, so did a comet that destroyed Dusty Depot to create a new area called Dusty Divot, which fed into the superhero theme the game was going for. Now with Season 5 currently going (starting July 12), we started to think about how Fortnite's world is going to evolve further given the arrival of a new desert biome and refinements made to existing areas. Could there eventually be a new map, though? And if so, what might that look like?
For the latest on Fortnite, be sure to read through our Season 5 challenges guide that covers lightning bolts, the Risky Reels treasure map, and more. If you're just getting into the game, you can pick up a few tips and tricks with our guide on how to survive battle royale and heighten your chances of securing a Victory Royale. You can also view all the new outfits, back bling, contrails, and gliders that came along with Season 5.
A Snow Map Where You Need Warmth
In creating a new map, Epic could take the approach of releasing something that isn't meant to be much more than a simple alternative to the existing island, offering a different look and feel but not much else. Alternatively, it could release something that is much more specialized, with its own custom set of rules, almost like a new playlist that happens to have a map that is catered specifically to it.
One such possibility: a winter map where snow has a real impact on gameplay. A snow-covered map would make distant enemies easier to see, making long-range weapons more valuable. But snow could periodically fall during the match, reducing visibility and thus emphasizing close-range combat for a period of time.
Movement speed could be impacted by the amount of snow you're walking through, but what's even more intriguing is the prospect of needing to keep yourself warm. Similar to Company of Heroes 2, which requires you to garrison units or get them near a fire periodically, Battle Royale's gameplay could really be shaken up if you also had to account for your body's temperature. If you're cold, do you risk suffering damage to grab that desirable weapon in the distance, or do you find a place to warm up first?
So many new wrinkles would make for a technical challenge, but a new map that impacts gameplay in so many ways would be a great way to show how meaningful new locales are going to be in Fortnite.
Flat Terrain Map With Max Resources
Admittedly, this sounds a lot like an experimental limited-time mode, but a map that's essentially a flat, wide-open field could be a ton of fun. Here, players would have to put their building skills to the ultimate test. Matches would probably boil down to a build-your-own map type of game, where things would play out in even more unpredictable fashion than they already do. We imagine players would have to do more than just protect themselves; with the storm closing in and not much in the way of natural defenses, creativity would be pushed and building structures with mobility in mind would change the way Fortnite is traditionally played.
To make this work, you'd probably have to start players with maximum (or unlimited) resources so everyone can get to building as soon as they land. Weapon scavenging might be tricky to implement in this type of map, but maybe weapons stashes can act as hot dropzones for players to start building out from. This type of map can highlight one of Fortnite's strengths and the feature that has helped distinguish itself from other battle royale games in the first place.
A Volcano Map
What really sets Fortnite apart from other battle royale games are building mechanics, and while they are used in fast combat situations, it could be really cool to require them during the running phase of a match to overcome obstacles. A giant volcano map with peaks, chasms, and lava tubes would add another layer of thinking and movement. A volcano map could also vary the distances at which players fight in the final circle. Maybe there'd be close-range final circles in caves, long-range final circles over a giant magma chamber, hilltop-to-hilltop fights similar to those that take place now, and possibly small island battles in the water around the base of the map.
Epic has been really good so far at planned events, such as the recent rocket launch, but why not take this one step further with random events? Matches could have a lava tube that opens and floods the map, or one match the lava chamber is empty and cavernous. With dimensional rifts opening up, the possibilities for random events are endless. The volcano map could even take place during different eras-- dinosaurs, anyone?
A Land Filled With Stuff From Other Worlds
Fortnite's island has variety, as you've got everything from swamps to suburban towns to junkyards to (more recently) a giant crater with some kind of scientific base built inside of it. But it all generally makes sense and seems like it fits in the same general area.
With Season 4's rifts causing objects to disappear, it would be fun to see that serve a purpose. What if these rifts are not just on the Battle Royale island, but all over the world--or even different dimensions? Rather than having these things blink out of existence, maybe these rifts are instead transporting them elsewhere. That elsewhere could be the setting for a new map.
It might be a bit extreme as the concept for what would only be Battle Royale's second map, but it would be great to eventually see a location full of weird juxtapositions. A jumbo jet inside of a gym? Sure. Alien plants that attack you lined outside of a toy store? Why not! Fortnite already embraces silliness, and this would allow Epic to truly go all-out with a map that's unlike anything else in the battle royale space. It would also feature a perfect, built-in excuse to continue updating the map with new elements as more things are teleported in and out.
Fighting In A Post-Apocalypse
Epic has the flexibility to take Fortnite in almost any direction it wants to, thematically. And given the premise of the original Save The World mode--defending yourselves from the undead and mutated monsters--going with a post-apocalyptic theme for a new map is well within the realm of possibility. This would be more than just a cosmetic overhaul, too. It'd be interesting to see how radiation zones could factor into matches; clever ways to build around dangerous areas on top of avoiding enemies and the deadly storm might spice things up a bit. Maybe irradiated zones can be randomized just like the storm to ramp up the tension even more. Geiger counters going off when you least expect it while thinking you're building into a safe zone could make for a real curveball.
A post-apocalyptic map may serve as the impetus to bring in new weapons as well. A nuke launcher could be wildly devastating, but highly sought out by players. We'd be hesitant to ask for hostile hordes as a factor when it comes to a battle royale match, but it's an aspect that could be cleverly implemented in this specific type of map.
According to Deadline, Jeremy Renner has been cast as Detective "Twitch" Williams in the upcoming Spawn movie. He'll be starring alongside Jamie Foxx, who's portraying the titular character. The film marks the directorial debut of Todd McFarlane, the creator of the original Spawn comic.
Mainstream fans of Marvel or DC Comics might not recognize the name of the superhero Spawn, as he doesn't belong to either universe. Spawn's first issue debuted in May 1992, telling the story of Albert "Al" Simmons, a CIA operative who's killed by his best friend and subsequently sent to hell. There, Al makes a deal with an evil being known as Malebolgia, where Al exchanges his soul for a chance to walk the earth again and be with his wife.
Al is brought back to life, but five years have passed and his wife has moved on, married someone else, and had a daughter. Even worse, Al has little to no memory of his past life other than his wife, and his body has been reduced to a twisted corpse covered by a demonic supernatural cape. An agent of Malebolgia, known as the Violator, checks in with Al to let him know he's been reborn as a Hellspawn (or Spawn for short) and must enact horrific violence on the world in order to spread Malebolgia's evil. Al retreats to a near-abandoned alley in a desperate attempt to hide away from his growing desire to inflict violence on others, vowing to only venture into the world to watch over his ex-wife and her family. However, unable to suppress his rage at his hideous appearance and unfair situation, Spawn dispenses the bloodiest, most visceral punishments he can think of upon the criminals he finds, whether they be human, angel, or demon.
Spawn has very few allies, but Twitch proves to be one of the anti-hero's most valuable. Unafraid of Spawn's demonic appearance and powers, Twitch will sometimes help Spawn on his mission to rid the world of criminals. Twitch's intelligence and intuition make him one of the world's best detectives, and the sheer breadth of his knowledge has helped Spawn on more than one occasion. Twitch is also an incredible marksman, as his ability to solve advanced trigonometric functions on the fly makes him a near perfect shot.
As many people know, this isn't Jeremy Renner's first superhero rodeo, as the actor plays Hawkeye in Marvel's cinematic universe. Renner's fellow star, Jamie Foxx, is also a comic movie veteran, having played Electro in Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, both actors are in for a very different kind of superhero story this time around. Spawn is one of the most graphic comics out there, featuring large amounts of gore, sex, torture or some combination of the three. It comes as little surprise that Todd McFarlane has claimed the movie will be more R-rated than Deadpool. This movie will be dark.
What does come as a surprise is the report that Foxx will have few lines while in costume as Spawn, considering the comics feature numerous instances of Spawn speaking to himself. In another twist, Spawn won't cover Spawn's origin and instead deliver viewers straight into one of the demon's later stories. Though skipping the hero's origin has been done with comic book movies before, rarely is it done with characters with convoluted backstories.
Bandai Namco released two more character trailers for the company's upcoming action-RPG Code Vein. Whereas the first trailer focuses on Mia Karnstein, a young woman who fights to protect her younger brother, these two new ones offer backstory on the former mercenary Yakumo Shinonome and researcher Louis.
All three of these characters are Revenants, vampiric humans who gain power in exchange for lost memories and a bloodlust. Each acts as a possible "buddy" that travel with the player and assist with combat, while also offering their own quest line that influences Code Vein's overall story.
As the player slashes their war across the world of Vein, a cursed landscape that's collapsed beneath the Thorns of Judgment and been overrun by The Lost, they'll begin to unlock the secrets as to what happened to the Revenants' home and why it's been infested by monsters. To survive, players will need to rely on their buddies and master Code Vein's challenging stamina-based combat.
At first glance, Yakumo Shinonome seems to be a much more relaxed companion in comparison to Mia. However, his trailer quickly reveals that the man also has a troubling past. He can't remember the specifics, but he knows he had good friends and can't understand why he would have left them behind. His Hounds-type Blood Veil doesn't give him the same precision as Mia's Stinger-type, but when combined with his massive broadsword it seems to do more damage and have a wider area of effect.
Unlike the other two, Louis has no last name. His trailer also offers the least amount of backstory on his character. Despite his youth, Louis is the leader of the Revenants and he's searching for a cure to his and his fellow Revenants' growing bloodlust. Louis fights with the Ogre-style Blood Veil, which morphs his arm into a giant claw that looks straight out of Prototype.
Code Vein is scheduled to release on September 27 in Japan and worldwide on September 28. The game is launching on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Octopath Traveler's box art celebrates the eight-person traveling troupe in its entirety, but if you find yourself especially fond of one character, Nintendo has provided additional box art you can use instead. The box art is limited to North America.
There are eight designs in total, one for each main character. All eight box arts can be downloaded from My Nintendo for 50 Platinum Points. You can buy them right now. They'll remain on My Nintendo through the rest of 2018 if you'd rather wait until after you've beaten the game though.
Don't worry, Platinum Points aren't related to Nintendo's Gold premium currency. You won't have to purchase more games to get the points you need. Platinum Points are typically unlocked by performing small tasks after you've logged into the My Nintendo home page, such as entering the eshop or linking your account across multiple Nintendo platforms.
My Nintendo has a new Octopath Traveler wallpaper as well. You can download it on and use it for PC, smartphones, and tablets. It also costs 50 Platinum Points and is available through 2018.
If you've already managed to beat all eight stories in Octopath Traveler, be sure to read up on how to unlock the optional post-game Ruins of Hornburg dungeon. It's a challenge to beat, but it may hide the secrets behind the lore that connects the eight main stories.
We gave Octopath Traveler an 8/10. In our Octopath Traveler review, Peter Brown wrote, "Despite the lackluster stories that pull you through the world, Octopath thrives on its character progression and the temptations of high-level challenges and rewards. The promise of new jobs, exciting boss fights, and powerful gear will inspire you to poke around every corner, and there are no shortage of discoveries to strive for. And all the while, you're treated to one of the most interesting and effective re-imaginings of a retro aesthetic around. Octopath will likely be a divisive game due to its fractured storytelling, but it's one worth playing despite its lesser qualities. Its high points are simply too good to ignore."
With July's Community Day now behind us, Pokemon Go developer Niantic has shared the first details about next month's event. August's Community Day will kick off on Saturday, August 11, but unlike previous events, it will return for an encore the follow day, August 12, giving players two chances to participate next month.
Despite being available for an extra day, August's Community Days will still each only run for three hours, as was the case with previous events. During the designated times, players will find increased spawns of a particular Pokemon and earn bonus rewards for playing.
Niantic will host August's Community Day during the same window of time each day, although the time the events begin will vary depending upon where you live. You can find the scheduled Community Day hours for each region below.
The featured Pokemon during August's events is Eevee. In addition to appearing in much greater numbers than usual, players will presumably also have a chance to find a Shiny Eevee during the event hours. As with previous Community Days, Eevee will also be able to learn a special move during the event, although Niantic has not yet revealed what that will be.
On top of increased Eevee spawns, players who participate in August's Community Days will earn other in-game bonuses. This time, players will receive triple the normal amount of Stardust for capturing Pokemon. Additionally, any Lure Modules that are activated during the event will last for three hours, rather than their usual 30 minutes.
While August's Community Days are still a few weeks away, the next real-world Pokemon Go event is right around the corner. The second annual Pokemon Go Fest takes place in Chicago this weekend, from July 14-15. Even if you can't attend in person, players can participate in Global Challenges; if each region is able to meet its Global Challenge goal, Niantic will host a special Zapdos Day event on July 21.
Moreover, the Alolan forms of Diglett and Geodude will begin appearing in the wild around the world beginning July 14. Niantic has also announced that the Legendary Pokemon Lugia will return to Raid Battles this weekend only, temporarily replacing Regice. The latter will return as a Raid Boss following Pokemon Go Fest and will remain in the game until July 19.
The upcoming Pokemon RPGs for Nintendo Switch, Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee, are set to launch this November, and The Pokemon Company has shared a few new details about the new games. Along with a new trailer, the company revealed that some monsters will only be available in each version.
As in previous Pokemon RPGs, Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee will each feature a handful of exclusive Pokemon that cannot normally be obtained in the other game. Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe have been confirmed to only appear in Let's Go, Pikachu, while Bellsprout, Vulpix, and Meowth will only be available in Let's Go, Eevee.
It remains to be seen if there will be any other version-exclusive monsters in each game beyond the aforementioned Pokemon; the original Red and Blue versions, for instance, each had six exclusive species (excluding evolutions), so it seems likely that there will be a few other Pokemon that can only be captured in each game. However, even if you only pick up one version, you will still be able to obtain the missing Pokemon by trading with a player who has the opposite version--although you'll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to trade with others online.
The Pokemon Company also showcased some of the new customization options available in Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee. In addition to being able to dress Pikachu and Eevee up in accessories and outfits, players will be able give their partner different hairstyles, as well as feed and pet them. The new trailer also showed off more of the world and the characters you will encounter on your adventure, including the games' new rival and the popular Gym leader Misty.
Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee launch for Switch on November 16. The games are based on the classic Pokemon Yellow version and take place in the Kanto region. They also feature integration with Pokemon Go; players can catch wild Pokemon in the Switch games by simulating throwing a Poke Ball, as well as transfer monsters they've captured in the mobile game over to the Let's Go titles. You can read more about the upcoming RPGs in our roundup of everything we know about Pokemon Let's Go.
Version-Exclusive Pokemon
Let's Go, Pikachu
Oddish
Sandshrew
Growlithe
Let's Go, Eevee
Bellsprout
Vulpix
Meowth
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