At Gamescom 2018, Nvidia held a press conference to announce and detail its next generation of video cards, which will launch on September 20, 2018 with three models: the GeForce RTX 2070 ($500 USD), RTX 2080 ($700), and RTX 2080 Ti ($1000). These new cards use the Turing GPU architecture and boast the ability to perform ray tracing technology (or RTX for short, hence the card names).
Nvidia's presentation included live in-game demonstrations of ray tracing in action from Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro: Exodus, Assetto Corsa, and Battlefield V. In short, ray tracing technology is capable of more realistic global illumination and accurate projections of ambient light, and affords the ability to efficiently calculate the reflections and light sources that exist outside of the screen space. For ray tracing specifically, the Turing architecture is four times faster than Volta-based workstation GPUs and ten times faster than the current Pascal GTX 10-series--not to be confused with overall performance outside of ray tracing.
It's been over two years since the current generation of Nvidia's graphics cards were released. The GTX 10-series (Pascal) first hit the market in May 2016 with intermittent releases of different models afterward. AMD released its RX Vega line of cards in August last year, which competed with the GTX 10-series.
You can get a small taste of what to expect from real-time ray tracing in the video below, which shows it both enabled and disabled in Battlefield V.
Real-time ray tracing is coming to #BattlefieldV with GeForce RTX.
Some of the casting scripts for Netflix's upcoming TV show based on The Witcher have leaked, though you shouldn't get too excited. The scripts that leaked are for the purposes of casting, so the dialogue is unlikely to be featured in the actual show. These scripts, called "Sides" in the TV casting parlance, are given to potential actors to see what they're capable of. The casting scripts that leaked involve a pair of scenes with Geralt and Yennefer. These may be lines and scenarios that won't be in the final TV show, but this is the first time we're getting an understanding of the show's writing style and more.
Some took issue with the way in which Geralt speaks to Yennefer. Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich defended the writing, saying on Twitter, "We write scenes to evoke specific emotional reactions in actors. Ego, jealousy, confidence, pain, pleasure. We need to see the full spectrum."
And again, she pointed out that what is written for the casting scripts is not what you'll see and hear on the show itself. Hissrich also said she expected the casting scripts to leak. "It happened. As we knew it would. Don't worry. All is okay in the Witcher world," she said.
Remember when I said that casting sides would leak and not to worry because they are not real scenes or scenarios or even storylines from the show? It happened. As we knew it would. Don't worry. All is okay in the #Witcher world.
It's fascinating to watch the PASSIONATE debate about Geralt's and Yen's thoughts/emotions/intentions on the casting sides. Everything from "this reads like canon" to "Geralt would NEVER say that word." I only hope #Witcher fans are as invested in the, you know, actual series.😊
Hissrich said previously that the Witcher show is expected to premiere in 2020. "We're moving quickly ahead with everything--like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession--but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed," she said.
The latest instalment in the Witcher video game series was 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. No new projects in the series have been announced. CD Projekt Red is currently working on the much-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077; and more Witcher games could follow after that.
Monster Hunter World has now shipped more than 10 million units, including digitally delivered units. The new sales milestone comes shortly after the game's release on PC in early August. This is up from the 7.9 million unit shipment tally that Capcom announced in May.
Capcom also confirmed that the entire Monster Hunter franchise has now sold more than 50 million combined units as of August 20. The franchise debuted in 2004.
Monster Hunter: World is the "best-selling title" in Capcom's history. While the PC launch helped the game pass 10 million units, Capcom said the title continues to see "robust sales" on console. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, having launched on console in January.
Far Cry 5's next expansion, Dead Living Zombies, will launch on August 28, Ubisoft has announced. The expansion sees players meet up with "D-tier" film director Guy Marvel who has a number of ideas for an "epic zombie saga." You will play seven different "film scenarios," which are maps made using Far Cry 5's Arcade Editor tools.
As you'd imagine, you will be fighting against "hordes of undead" in all manner of different environments. Once you beat each map, you'll unlock a Score Attack mode. If you get a 3-star rating you'll get weapons and gear that you can use in the story mode.
The Dead Living Zombies expansion costs $7 on its own, while it's also included with Far Cry 5's $30 DLC Pass. You don't have to pay to get new stuff, however, as Ubisoft is adding more scripting tools and destructible objects, as well as "more new assets," to the free Far Cry 5 map-editor in the next title update.
Dead Living Zombies is the third and final Far Cry 5 expansion, following the previously released Hours of Darkness and Lost on Mars. You can watch a trailer for Dead Living Zombies in the embed above; there is only a very brief gameplay segment, right at the end.
Part of what makes Fortnite great is that it gets new skins, gear, and emotes all the time. One of the newly released pieces of equipment is a cow bell emote, only it's not called that.
In keeping with Fortnite's fascination with Llamas, developer Epic Games has released a "Llama Bell" emote in Fortnite. "Distract your opponents with more Llama Bell," Epic wrote about it. You can purchase the Llama Bell emote right now from Fortnite's in-game store.
As you can see, this Llama Bell emote is very clearly a re-creation of Will Ferrell's dance from the famous 2000 Saturday Night Live"More Cowbell" sketch.
In other Fortnite news, the game's latest update, 5.21, was released last week. It added a new mode called Soaring 50s and brought back the Sniper Shootout mode. Additionally, Epic added a new, mega-powerful weapon in the form of the Heavy Sniper. For lots more, you can read the full patch notes here and our impressions piece about the good and the bad of the update.
It's the end of the road for Microsoft's racing game Forza Horizon 2. Microsoft has announced that the 2014 racing game will be removed from the Xbox Store on September 30. As part of the game reaching "end of life" status, all of its DLC will also be yanked.
If you already own the game, you can still play it, while you'll also be able to re-download it should you need to delete it to clear up space. It's not immediately clear if Forza Horizon 2's online services will remain available after the game is removed from sale.
Microsoft did not say why it is removing Forza Horizon 2 from the Xbox Store, but there is a pattern for "sunsetting" the Horizon games. Microsoft de-listed Forza Horizon 1 back in 2016, which was four years after it was initially released in 2012. Whatever the case, you should absolutely go download Forza Horizon 2 now, as it's free for Xbox Live Gold members currently.
Forza Horizon 3 remains available to buy from the Xbox Store. The next entry, Forza Horizon 4, launches in early October for Xbox One and PC. It's developed by Playground Games, a UK studio that made the earlier titles; it was recently acquired by Microsoft.
It's that time of year again, when Universal Studios theme parks around the world gear up for the spookiest time of year. Every Halloween, the theme parks present haunted mazes and scare zones based on some of the scariest movie and TV franchises in an effort to terrify those who dare enter Halloween Horror Nights.
Thankfully, 2018's version of the annual event is no different. While there are a handful of original maze concepts and scare zones, especially at Universal Studios Orlando, there are also some very exciting movie and TV show adaptations being presented. If you're wondering about the difference in mazes and scare zones, the former is a walkthrough experience meant to guide you through a particular story, while the latter are themed areas within the parks where monsters and ghouls are on the loose.
In past years, a wide variety of modern and classic franchises have been brought to life, including The Shining, American Horror Story, The Cabin in the Woods, Resident Evil, Freddy vs. Jason, and The Exorcist. This year, there are eight different properties being adapted, promising a creepy and fun time with some of the most recognizable titles in horror, including the first-ever Stranger Things maze, which will be seen at multiple parks. And if you're a true completist, it's important to note that no two mazes are identical. Each park has it's own creative team, meaning Orlando's Stranger Things maze will be quite different from the one in Hollywood.
Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights kicks off at the Universal parks in Hollywood and Orlando on September 14 and runs through November 3. Singapore's take on the event launches on September 27 and ends on October 31.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Location: Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando
Type of haunt: Maze
Trick 'r Treat
Location: Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando
During Gamescom 2018, Activision announced the official release date and a new edition for From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The Collector's Edition of Sekiro will release alongside the normal version on March 22, 2019.
"We can't wait for fans to finally get their hands on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," said Steve Young, chief revenue officer at Activision. "Fans will get a taste of the multiple tools available for the prosthetic shinobi arm this week at Gamescom, and will be able to fully dive into the brutal, dark world of 1500s Sengoku Japan when the game launches [this March]."
Sekiro's Collector's Edition includes the full game contained in a steelbook case, as well as a 7" shinobi statue, art book, physical map, digital soundtrack, and replica game coins. It is now available for pre-order.
Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki--who previously oversaw Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls 3--Sekiro is a third-person, action-adventure RPG that borrows many of its mechanics from the Soulsborne games. Sekiro adds a few new features to the fan-favorite formula, the most notable of which is the ability to die twice by quickly resurrecting from a hasty death. Sword combat has also received a few changes by incorporating both Prosthetic Tools, such as the Grappling Hook, and special Sword Arts to supplement regular attacks.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will release for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
When it comes to colorful game controllers, you might think Microsoft has the market cornered with its Xbox Design Lab, which lets you go nuts with color customization. But PlayStation 4 owners who want to add a splash of color to their gaming rigs aren't left in the cold. You can already find a variety of DualShock 4 controllers in colors beyond the standard black, and starting in September, Sony will add four new colorful designs.
The new controllers will sell for $65 ($75 CAD) each at participating retailers. Pre-orders are not yet live but will be available sometime before the controllers release. European customers will get three of the new designs starting in October.
Two of the new colors are notably bolder than the ones Sony has released in the past. While nearly all of the currently available DualShock 4 colors are monochromatic, these will feature two combinations of eye-catching colors. One is a light blue and maroon design called Berry Blue. The other is an orange and navy blue design, called Sunset Orange. The Sunset Orange controller will not release in Europe.
A Blue Camo controller is also on the way, featuring hidden DualShock 4 camouflage shapes. It's similar to the Green Camo model that's already available for $47. The only monochromatic addition is the Copper DualShock 4. In the US, it will be a GameStop exclusive at first, before becoming available at other retailers later. It's similar to the Gold and Silver models available now for $47 each.
Other recent additions to the DualShock 4 lineup include Midnight Blue and Steel Black, both of which debuted in March. Also coming in September is the $200 Scuf Vantage PS4 controller. It's similar to the Xbox One Elite controller in that it offers programmable buttons and paddles on the back for quicker button access.
While the first two seasons of Stranger Things debuted a year apart, fans will have to wait until summer 2019 for Season 3 of Netflix's hit sci-fi thriller. However, David Harbour, who plays cop Jim Hopper in the series, has been speaking about what fans can expect from Season 3, and its unlikely influences.
As reported by Variety, Harbour appeared at a post-screening Q&A and revealed that although Season 3 would be "darker" than the previous two, one movie that had been a big influence on creators Matt and Ross Duffer was the classic 1985 comedy Fletch, starring Chevy Chase.
"The Duffers are so specific each year with the movies," he said. "And Fletch is one movie we get to play around and have some fun with this season, which you wouldn't expect from Stranger Things and you wouldn't expect from the Spielberg universe and you certainly wouldn't expect from a darker season."
In Fletch, Chase plays a unscrupulous journalist who adopts multiple guises in order to investigate a mystery. While Harbour didn't provide any more details about how Fletch might have influenced Stranger Things Season 3, we do know that Jake Busey plays a journalist that Netflix previously described as a "corrupt and sexist news reporter."
In addition, Harbour hinted at what's in store for his character, in particular his relationship with the powerful Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown), who he looks after. "Their relationship is going to get far more complex, because, you know, things happen to girls and boys when they're 13 and 14," he said. "A lot of changes go on in the body and in your social life, and I don't think he's going to handle watching her become a woman in front of his eyes very well. That's a horrifying thing for him--maybe even more so than fighting inter-dimensional monsters."
The 2019 release date for Stranger Things Season 3 was confirmed last month at the TV Critics Association press tour. The first teaser was revealed, and Netflix programming boss Cindy Holland explained that one of the reasons for the delay is the amount of special effects required. "It's a handcrafted show," she said. "The Duffer Brothers and [producer] Shawn Levy--they understand the stakes are high. They want to deliver something bigger and better than last year. I think it's going to be a fantastic season. It will be worth the wait. It's a really exciting season, just takes a little more time."
From Software, the makers of Bloodborne and the Dark Souls series, have a new game in the works--and it looks surprisingly different from those recent games. It's called Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and you play as the "one-armed wolf," a nimble warrior who has pledged to protect a young lord in 1500s Japan. When the lord gets kidnapped, it's your job to get him back using stealth and prosthetic tools to take down enemies. The game doesn't launch until March 22, 2019, but you can pre-order it now.
If you're ready to do so, you'll probably want to know where it's available, how much it costs, and what comes with it. Read on for everything we know so far about pre-ordering Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
No Pre-Order Bonus Announced Yet
We don't have any information on pre-order bonuses for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice yet. As the release date nears, it's possible From Software will announce something. If it does, we'll put it here.
Pre-Order Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Standard Edition
Similarly, no special editions of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice have been announced, so your only pre-order option at the moment is the standard edition. If new editions are announced in the future, we'll add them below. In the meantime, here's where you can pre-order the game and how much it costs.
Pre-Order Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector's Edition
It's not available for pre-order yet, but the Collector's Edition comes with the game, a 7-inch Shinobi statue, a steelbook, collectible artbook, map, digital soundtrack, and replica game coins. We'll update this article when this edition becomes available.
An anticipated update for PS4's God of War launches today, August 20. Its biggest feature is the introduction of New Game Plus mode, although that's not all it has in store--it also includes some changes for those who have not yet completed their initial playthrough. [Update: The update is now live on PSN.]
New Game Plus is the headliner, and it allows you to play through the game again from the start, but with access to your various unlocks, abilities, and weapons. That's particularly notable, because it means you'll have both weapons right out of the gate.
When starting New Game Plus, you'll be able to select a new difficulty; you aren't tied to the choice from your previous playthrough. There's a variety of new and different challenges, like timed Realm Tears, altered attack patterns for enemies, and more.
There is actually new content to check out in New Game Plus, as you'll be able to forge new armor for both Kratos and Atreus. Developer Sony Santa Monica teases this includes "some with exciting new gameplay abilities, such as a chest piece which creates massive explosions whenever Health or Rage stones are stomped on." There are also enhanced versions of armor and other items, with a new rarity level--Perfect--you can upgrade to by getting your hands on a new resource called Skap Slag.
By starting New Game Plus, you'll receive a new shield skin. Finish the mode on Give Me God of War+ difficulty and you'll also unlock a second exclusive shield skin.
In terms of what's changed even for those not playing in New Game Plus, you can now skip any cinematic, provided you've finished the game once. Additionally, you can more easily switch armor, as a button has been added that lets you easily transfer your enchantments. And finally, there have been quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes. We did not receive a comprehensive list of these, but they include improving the Wrath of the Frost Ancient Runic attack and changing Parry Attacks to protect Kratos from damage "at all times."
By Anonymous on Aug 20, 2018 10:30 pm We get a chance to play some co-op Diablo 3: Eternal Edition on the Nintendo Switch locally and in handheld mode. A Wizard and a Demon Hunter make their way through a Greater Nephalem Rift.
Set for release later this fall, Blizzard's legendary action-RPG series will be making its Nintendo debut in the form of Diablo III: Eternal Collection. As the most complete version of the long-evolving title, this will mark the first time where players can engage in the series' slash-and-loot gameplay on the go, with the treasure falling in droves and legions of monsters swarming en masse. As the first Blizzard game released on a Nintendo platform in 15 years, the upcoming release of Diablo III is a strong way for the publisher to make its return. Shortly before its reveal, we had the chance to go hands-on with the game and chat with Blizzard about the development of the Switch port.
As a refresher, Diablo III on console is quite different compared to the original PC release. With a totally redesigned control scheme, along with an added dodge move for characters, Diablo III on consoles retains the focus on fast and class-focused action-RPG gameplay while presenting a different take on the series' particular style of combat. While far more accessible compared to its PC counterpart, the console version totally stands side-by-side with the original, making for two unique editions of the Diablo III experience. The Eternal Collection for Switch features all of the game's existing content--which includes the base game with all its revamped content, the Reaper of Souls expansion, the new Necromancer class, and the ongoing Season events.
Speaking with senior producer Pete Stilwell, he detailed the project's beginnings, and what was needed to adapt the game to the new hardware.
"We were essentially sitting around and talking about projects that would be amazing and additive to what the company has, and maybe even trailblaze some new things," said the producer, who previously worked on StarCraft: Remastered. "The Switch was a thing we were all playing, and something we were all interested in. We thought of it as something sweet to bring [Diablo III] onto, and then we started experimenting with the Switch and then got to talking with Nintendo--where we believed that it would be feasible and fun to play on. We wanted to guarantee that it would be smooth and responsive, to ensure that it was everything that you wanted it to be for an [action RPG]."
With the Eternal Collection on Switch, the port takes advantage of the console's functionality and portability, while still retaining the core aspects of the Diablo experience. Running at 60 frames per-second both docked and undocked--rendered at 720p resolution in handheld mode and at 960p when docked--the game runs well on the modest platform, which has managed to prove time and again that it can handle ports of titles from more powerful platforms. While there are some noticeable drops in graphical quality, such as the textures appearing somewhat muddy and less detailed compared to other releases, Diablo III on Switch is a consistent and smooth experience--especially during its hectic, screen-filling battles.
One of the most interesting features to come with the Eternal Collection is the drop-in co-op play via LAN, without the need for an online connection. Players with their own devices nearby, or playing off a single Switch with Joy-Cons and controllers, can sync up with others and drop into games on the fly. However, if you're not able to find others nearby, online co-op via Battle.net is still an option.
During our session, we got to engage in a game of couch co-op play with three different Switch units. It felt incredibly organic diving into a game with a nearby player, and it will no doubt be one of the Switch version's most defining features. With the expectation that players will be on the move when playing Diablo III, the developers added in offline saves and stat-tracking, which are uploaded to the cloud when players have their Battle.net accounts synced up to their game. The majority of the game can be played offline; however, participating in the ongoing Season event will require online play.
Much like other Switch ports, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the new release also takes the liberty to add in some Nintendo-themed content. We saw an early look of the new armor sets for the Barbarian and Crusader, which players can acquire by visiting the transmog vendor to turn their gear into items belonging to Ganondorf. The Dark Lord's armor pulls from his Twilight Princess incarnation--which fits well into the Diablo aesthetic. Furthermore, players can also acquire a unique Tri-Force portrait emblem for their character, along with a pet Cuckoo that will follow their character into battle.
Diablo III has continually gotten better with age, and experiencing it in this new format was a fresh way to dive back into the dungeon-crawler. The Eternal Collection doesn't look to reinvent things in a big way, and it's largely what you might expect from a Switch port, but the small changes and additions play well to the console's strengths. Though the exact release date is still unknown at this time, it's reassuring to see that the port is in great shape--which will it yet another in a long line of solid ports for Nintendo's console.
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Hunting for new items, pommels, armor and more in New Game Plus mode in God Of War.
We get a chance to play some co-op Diablo 3: Eternal Edition on the Nintendo Switch locally and in handheld mode. A Wizard and a Demon Hunter make their way through a Greater Nephalem Rift.
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