The next Operation for Rainbow Six Siege adds two new Operators and a map rework to the game. Titled Grim Sky, the Operation is a part of Siege's Year 3, Season 3. It follows Season 2's Operation Para Bellum and Season 1's Operation Chimera.
According to Rainbow Six Siege's blog, Operation Grim Sky adds Operators from two different organizations. The first "is a Defender from Great Britain. She's a tough police officer who's an expert on mob behavior and snatch-squad tactics. She knows she belongs on the front line and she won't tolerate any nonsense." The second "is an American Attacker, a specialist with a remarkably sharp mind when it comes to tactical operations. He has seen the worst in Kabul. Despite it all, he fell in love with the city. Legendary for his surgical precision, he remains an enigma within Rainbow Six."
Operation Grim Sky also adds a map rework for Hereford Base. Hereford Base was one of Siege's first maps--introduced in the beta--and also acted as a tutorial area. The map will receive an overhaul for competitive play.
Like the Operations before it, Grim Sky also implements several gameplay updates to Siege. It addresses weapon sights misalignment and adjusts Operator idle picks on all systems. It also scales resolution on consoles.
The full reveal of Operation Grim Sky takes place during Six Major Paris, which occurs August 17-19. The event will be streamed live via Twitch. Rainbow Six Siege is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Last month, it was reported that a standalone Batwoman show was in development at The CW, following the character's upcoming debut in the network's annual DC Crossover Event this fall. It has now been confirmed that The Meg star Ruby Rose will play Batwoman.
The CW announced that Rose will make her first appearance as Kate Kane in the Crossover Event, which will incorporate all four of the shows in the Arrow-verse, namely The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. Rose is best known for her role as the assassin Ares in John Wick: Chapter 2, as well as for movies such as xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and this month's shark thriller The Meg.
The Batwoman series is expected to premiere in the fall of 2019, with The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries writing and executive producing the pilot. The CW also released a synopsis for the character, which reads: "Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city's criminal resurgence. But don't call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham's symbol of hope."
Unlike Marvel's shows and movies, The CW's DC offerings exist in a singular universe apart from the movies. New trailers for the upcoming seasons ofThe Flash, Supergirl, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow were all revealed at last month's San Diego Comic-Con.
In related news, it was reported in May that a DC show focusing on the early life of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler, is in the works. This series is being developed by the team behind Gotham, although it won't be narratively connected to that show.
A new week means a new selection of PS4 game discounts are live on the PlayStation Store. You can see them all if you click over to the deals page. But instead of wading through a long, jumbled list of games and add-ons, why don't you check out the highlights we've selected below? It'll save you time and money. Just note that the deals end on August 14 and you'll need a PS Plus membership to get the full discount for some of the games.
The meat of this week's deals is the Quake-Con Sale Bethesda is running to go along with the gaming conference happening this week. For starters, you can grab Fallout 4 for $22.49 or the Game of the Year Edition, which comes with all the DLC expansions, for $30.
The shape-shifting alien shooter Prey is on sale this week for $15. Sizable discounts are also available on the games in the Dishonored, Evil Within, and Wolfenstein series (see below). And if you happen to have a PSVR headset, you can pick up Doom VFR for $20 or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR for $42.
Aside from Bethesda's offerings, it's mostly indie games on sale this week. You can curse at the delightfully difficult platformer N++ for $7.49, or pick up the Amnesia: Collection, which contains three spooky games that put you in the shoes of nearly helpless protagonists subjected to a series of horrors.
And one recent game that got largely overlooked is Onrush, available for $36. It's technically a racing game, but it has a lot more going on in it than just trying to finish in first place. From GameSpot's 9/10 Onrush review: "Calling Onrush a racing game is a tad reductive and maybe even a little disingenuous. Sure, there are two- and four-wheeled vehicles careening around a track with reckless abandon. But with no finishing lines in sight, achieving victory in Onrush is about much more than simply seeing who can reach a chequered flag first."
Microsoft's steady drip feed of backwards compatible games continues, as three more Xbox 360 titles are now playable on Xbox One. Bucking the trend of recent weeks, the latest additions to the BC library are all taken from a different series and encompass a range of genres.
First is Prince of Persia, the 2008 reboot of Ubisoft's acrobatic platforming series. It is joined by the Xbox 360 version of Sine Mora, the acclaimed side-scrolling shoot-'em-up by Suda 51's studio, Grasshopper Manufacture. Rounding out the batch is the third-person shooter Earth Defense Force 2025.
Prince of Persia
If you still own a physical copy of any title, you can begin playing it on your Xbox One simply by popping the disc into the console. Conversely, if you've previously purchased any of the games digitally, they will appear automatically in the Ready to Download area of the My Games and Apps menu. If you don't already own the titles, they are also available to download from the Microsoft Store.
More than 400 Xbox 360 games--as well as more than 30 original Xbox titles--have been made backwards compatible with Xbox One since the feature was introduced in 2015. You can see all of them in our full list of backwards compatible games. You can also check out our gallery of the best Xbox One backwards compatible games for recommendations on which classic titles are worth playing.
Following a tantalizingly brief teaser trailer back in March, Nintendo formally unveiled its next Super Smash Bros. game at E3 2018. The new installment in the beloved fighting series arrives on Nintendo Switch later this year, and while there are still undoubtedly many details we don't yet know about it, Nintendo revealed a ton of information about the game during its June presentation, giving us a good idea of what to expect.
To catch you up on everything Nintendo has revealed about the game so far, we've compiled everything we know about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate below, from the game's release date and new characters to the many changes being made to its gameplay. We'll continue to update this list as new details emerge, so be sure to check back for the latest information on Nintendo's highly anticipated mascot fighter.
Prior to its official reveal at E3, there was much speculation over whether Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would be a new installment in the series or an expanded port of the Wii U entry, in the vein of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Nintendo cleared up any misconceptions during a Q&A session at this year's expo, confirming that Ultimate is indeed a brand-new title built for Nintendo Switch.
How Many New Characters Are There?
Nintendo has revealed three new fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Inkling, Ridley, and Daisy. The first two are brand-new additions to the series, and both boast their own unique movesets and play styles that draw from their respective franchises. Inkling can splatter opponents with ink and use a variety of weapons from Splatoon, such as Splat Bombs and the Splat Roller, while Ridley can spew fire and spear other combatants with his tail.
Unlike the other two newcomers, Daisy isn't an entirely new addition to the roster, but rather an Echo Fighter--a clone of an existing character, in the vein of Lucina and Dark Pit. Her moveset and play style are based on Princess Peach, although she boasts some different characteristics to set her apart. Beyond those three fighters, Nintendo hasn't revealed if any other new characters will appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, although it seems likely that a few surprises still remain in store for fans.
Which Characters Are Coming Back?
Everyone! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features the largest roster in the series to date with 66 confirmed fighters (and presumably a couple of surprises still to be revealed). Every playable character who has ever appeared in a Smash Bros. game will return in Ultimate, including all of the DLC fighters released for the Wii U and 3DS installments--such as Bayonetta, Corrin, and Mewtwo--as well as third-party characters like Sonic, Cloud, and Street Fighter's Ryu.
The roster even encompasses characters who have previously only appeared in a single Super Smash Bros. game, including Pichu and Young Link (whose sole appearances were in 2001's Melee), and Wolf and Snake from 2008's Brawl. Longtime Metal Gear Solid voice actor David Hayter revealed he is reprising his role as the latter in Ultimate, and Snake's signature stage, Shadow Moses Island, has also been confirmed to return.
It's unclear just how many of these characters will be available from the outset; Nintendo teases that the starting roster could be as small as that of the first Super Smash Bros. for N64--eight characters--but an exact count has not been confirmed. However, the company says the conditions for unlocking characters have been streamlined this time around, and new fighters will be doled out frequently, giving players the feeling that they're constantly making progress.
How Many Stages Are There?
Nintendo hasn't revealed the full list of stages in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate yet, but the company says a "massive list" of them will return in the game. Among the many that have been confirmed thus far are Spirit Train and Tortimer Island from Super Smash Bros. for 3DS; Princess Peach's Castle and Great Bay from Melee; New Pork City and Frigate Orpheon from Brawl; and Mario Galaxy from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. At least two new stages will be introduced in the game as well: Great Plateau Tower (based on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), and Splatoon's Moray Towers. Every stage in the game will also have a Battlefield and Omega form.
What Else Is Different?
Aside from all of the new characters, stages, and items, Nintendo is making a ton of mechanical and balance changes in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Game director Masahiro Sakurai says the amount of tweaks in the game could number in the "tens of thousands," and they range from subtle visual upgrades--like Wii Fit Trainer's refined face--to reworked movesets and other dramatic overhauls.
One of the most notable changes is the pace of the game. Combat in Ultimate feels speedier than in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, resulting in quicker and more intense matches. Moreover, Nintendo has introduced some new techniques, such as directional air dodges, and simplified other ones, like short hop attacks, improving the game's accessibility while also allowing for more skillful play. In keeping with this emphasis on speedier matches, players will dish out more damage in one-on-one battles, while those who excessively dodge will now be penalized with slowed dodge movement and a smaller window of invulnerability.
Most Final Smashes have also undergone some dramatic changes in Ultimate. Some existing specials, like Pikachu's Volt Tackle and Sonic's Super Sonic transformation, are now uncontrollable, lightning-fast attacks, while other characters have received new Final Smashes entirely. This time, Link fires a devastating Ancient Arrow, while Pit barrels through opponents in the Lightning Chariot. Nintendo says that nearly every Final Smash has been reworked in Ultimate to be more immediate, allowing players to get back into the fray more quickly.
Likewise, many returning characters have received significant overhauls in Ultimate, both in terms of their appearance and their movesets. Ganondorf, for instance, is modeled after his classic look in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and he now uses his sword for his smash attacks. Princess Zelda's new model is based on her appearance in A Link Between Worlds, and Link dons his Champion's Tunic from Breath of the Wild. Shulk can now choose Monado Arts directly rather than having to cycle through them, while Palutena's special attacks have been streamlined.
Can I Use GameCube Controllers?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will support several different controller options, including the Switch Pro controller, a single Joy-Con, and many Smash fans' preferred gamepad, the GameCube controller. As was the case with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the latter will be compatible with the console via a separate adapter. This peripheral plugs into the Switch dock and works with both standard wired GameCube controllers and the wireless WaveBird.
Those who already own the Wii U GameCube controller adapter will be able to use it with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Switch. Nintendo will also release a new controller adapter later this year, along with a new line of Smash-branded wired GameCube controllers. Both are already available for pre-order from various retailers such as Amazon and GameStop; the adapter retails for $20, while the GameCube controllers run for $30 each.
Will It Work with Amiibo?
Nintendo confirmed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be compatible with the existing range of Smash Bros. Amiibo, and data saved to those figures will carry over to the new game. The company has also announced it will produce several new Smash Bros. Amiibo. During E3 2018, Nintendo showcased figures of Ridley and Inkling, two of the new fighters making their debut in Ultimate. The third new fighter announced for the game thus far, Daisy, will likewise receive an Amiibo, although it wasn't on display at E3.
In addition to the new figures, Nintendo announced it will also produce Amiibo for returning characters. The company has specifically confirmed Wolf, Ice Climbers, and Pichu will receive Amiibo, although that will presumably apply to other returning fighters, such as Young Link and Snake, as well. The Ridley, Inkling, and Wolf figures will launch alongside Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this December and retail for $16 each. Reprints of many previous Smash Bros. Amiibo will also be available later this year for $13.
Will I Need to Pay to Play Online?
While online play on Nintendo Switch has been free up until now, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (and other online-enabled games like Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee) will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription once the premium service rolls out this September. Subscriptions will be available for one month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three months (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12 months (US $20 / £18 / AU $30). Nintendo will also offer a Family Plan, which allows up to eight accounts to share one membership for US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55 a year.
Will There Be DLC?
Nintendo hasn't given any indication as to whether or not it will release additional content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, the most recent installments in the series received an extensive amount of DLC following their release, from new stages and characters to a wide assortment of Mii Fighter costumes, and it seems likely that Ultimate will get a similar level of post-launch support, although nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
When's the Release Date?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch later this year, on December 7.
Some more Super Smash Bros. Ultimate news is on the way very soon. Before the Super Smash Bros. Melee Grand Finals kicked off at EVO 2018, Nintendo announced it is going to broadcast a special Nintendo Direct presentation all about the upcoming Smash game for Switch this Wednesday, August 8.
The Direct will begin at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET / 3 PM BST. Nintendo hasn't revealed how long the presentation is scheduled to last, nor has it divulged any further details on what will be shown off, only confirming that the Direct will be delivered by series director Masahiro Sakurai and will feature "new game information." You'll be able to stream the presentation on Nintendo's website and right here on GameSpot.
This marks the first new information Nintendo is sharing about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate since the game was formally unveiled at E3 this past June. During the company's E3 presentation, we learned that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will feature the largest roster in the series to date, with every single character from previous games returning for the Switch entry. Nintendo also confirmed that Ultimate is a new game built for Switch, not a port.
Perhaps most notably, we got our first look two brand-new additions to the roster at E3: Samus's much-requested nemesis, Ridley, and Princess Daisy. Both characters will receive their own Amiibo figures, as will returning fighters such as Wolf and Ice Climbers. Nintendo confirmed all existing Super Smash Bros. Amiibo will be compatible with Ultimate, and reprints of many previous figures will be made available later this year.
The arcade sports game Windjammers is coming to the Nintendo Switch this year. DotEmu announced it will hit the console within a few months, and a separate (and very zany) trailer cheekily calls it the best game of 2018.
Windjammers was originally released for Neo Geo in 1994 and faded into relative obscurity, but earned a cult following in 2013 after being featured on GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb. The game works mostly like a combination of air hockey and the classic game Pong, as a set of six characters ricochet a flying disc into each others goals. The game is known for its character variety and the surprising depth behind taking different types of shots.
An exact release date wasn't mentioned. Windjammers is already available on the PlayStation 4 and Vita for $15, so we can probably expect the Nintendo Switch version to come at the same price.
Despite a much better critical reception, Resident Evil 7 didn't quite match the financial success of its predecessor, Resident Evil 6. Capcom says it's comfortable with that, though, since artistry counts for more and it would prefer a better critical reception at the cost of some sales.
"While we have shareholders to appease, it's not just about commercial performance," Capcom Europe COO Stuart Turner told GameIndustry.biz. "There is an artistic element that always comes in where we know this is the right way. And while if we compare RE7 to RE6 the absolute numbers are not the same, in terms of the profitability... it's completely fine. It ticked all of our boxes internally. It was really well received. And in some respects, getting some very good review scores counts as much for Capcom as a game that sells millions and millions and millions. We'd prefer a game that got a 9 and sold less, than got a 6 but sold more."
Those numbers aren't far off. RE7 received an aggregate score of 86 on GameSpot sister site Metacritic, while RE6 received only a score of 60. The two received an 8/10 and a 4.5/10 in GameSpot's reviews, respectively. RE7 has only sold 5.1 million units so far, compared to RE6's 7.1 million. But the company also says it's taking a longer view for measuring success. Resident Evil 7 hasn't sold as much yet, but it's making steady progress and may still surpass RE6 in the long run.
"We are less focused on day-one sales these days, too. We are looking much more at the long-term. And in that case RE7 is performing amazingly," said Capcom's Antoine Molant. "Even now, after almost two years, it's still the VR flagship title. That helps keep the game selling well."
In the same interview, Capcom opened up about its trepidation around the reveal for the upcoming Resident Evil 2 remake. The fan response so far has been largely positive, so it appears this approach is paying off in terms of reputation.
Last week saw Final Fantasy's Behemoth cross over into Monster Hunter World, and now a monster from Capcom's series has invaded the world of Eorzea. The fearsome Rathalos arrives as part of Final Fantasy 14's big 4.36 patch, which introduces an assortment of Monster Hunter-inspired content, along with a new area to explore in the Forbidden Land of Eureka, to the MMO.
Rathalos is the target of "The New King on the Block," a quest available to players who have reached level 70 and completed Stormblood's main campaign. If you meet those prerequisites, you can accept the mission by speaking to the hearty hunter found in Kugane.
The questline culminates in an eight-player battle against the dragon, which Square Enix says also "incorporates mechanics inspired by Monster Hunter World." Once Rathalos has been defeated, players can take on an even more challenging version of the fight that lowers the player count to four and introduces "additional hurdles to overcome."
Players who slay the Rathalos will be rewarded with a handful of Monster Hunter-inspired items, including a set of Rathalos armor, as well as a Rathalos mount. Players will also be able to get Poogie and Palico minions, Monster Hunter Orchestrion rolls, and BBQ Spit outdoor and indoor furnishings. You can read more details about the quest and rewards on Final Fantasy 14's website.
In addition to the Monster Hunter content, patch 4.36 adds a new area to the Forbidden Land of Eureka called Pagos. In order to travel to the new area, players will first need to have completed the Anemos story. Once that condition has been met, they can head to Pagos by speaking to Rodney near Pier #1 in Kugane.
Beyond the new 4.36 content, Final Fantasy players also have the Moonfire Faire to look forward to soon. The annual summer event returns next week beginning August 13 and features an assortment of new and old event-exclusive items to obtain. This year's Moonfire Faire runs until 7:59 PM PT / 10:59 PM ET on Sunday, August 26.
The World Ends With You: Final Remix, the port of the Nintendo DS classic action-RPG, is coming on October 12. Nintendo announced the release date alongside a new trailer for the update, which includes HD visuals, new content, and gameplay tweaks.
Final Remix lets you use the original touch controls or a new Joy-Con option. It also includes a whole new story scenario for longtime fans who want to sink their teeth into something fresh. The visuals have also been overhauled to take advantage of modern HD hardware.
TWEWY was highly regarded as an instant classic when it released in 2007, introducing a stylized world set in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan. The combat had a flair of its own, thanks to highly customizable pins to tailor your own moves, and it was topped off with a memorable soundtrack. GameSpot's original The World Ends With You review gave it a 9/10. This is the second port, following a mobile "Solo Remix" that hit iOS and Android in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
"Flawless presentation, gameplay depth, an engaging story, and innovation all add up to make The World Ends With You a worthy addition to the already-impressive pantheon of Square Enix works," said Randolph Ramsey. "There's very little to complain about in this package, which makes The World Ends With You a must-have for any DS owner needing an RPG fix."
If you're a fan of the cult-favorite tactical-RPG series Valkyria Chronicles, you'll be happy to know that you can download a demo of its fourth entry right now. It's available as a free download on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the first non-portable mainline entry to launch on major consoles since the series' debut in 2008.
The demo allows you to play through Valkyria Chronicles 4's prologue up until the end of its second chapter. According to Sega, this amounts to around two or so hours of gameplay. Any progress you make is transferable to the final game, so any customization options and lasting consequences you make, like dead comrades, will follow you should you choose to allow it.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 is set in the same timeline as the previous games, taking place during the events of the first game. It depicts the battles between the Atlantic Federation and the Autocratic Eastern Imperial Alliance on the Eastern front. In a last-ditch effort to end the war and capture the imperial capital, the Federation executes Operation Northern Cross. You play as Commander Claude Wallace and his friends in Squad E, who are sent to fight imperial soldiers and the Valkyria.
Much like the original, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is split between the gameplay of turn-based strategy RPG and the mechanics of third-person shooting. You command units on a map towards strategic positions, but when you move a unit, you directly control them and execute actions in real-time.
New to the formula this is the addition of the Grenadier class, along with a suite of battleship support options. In addition, it introduces a feature known as the Brace system, which, when used, allows you to enhance the abilities of troops when a soldier is killed or fatally wounded in action.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 is set to release on September 25 for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. It's currently available on all digital store platforms for pre-order.
This week's Xbox One game sale is now live on the Microsoft Store, giving players an impressive set of deals on downloadable titles between now and August 13. Several of the best discounts are on games that have sequels coming up, so if you haven't played them, now is a great time to catch up. Note that some of the deals require an Xbox Live Gold membership (noted with an asterisk below). Let's dig in.
With Fallout 76 landing on digital and physical store shelves on November 14, you can pick up Fallout 4 for $15 / £10 right now. It introduces some of the ideas this year's installment will expand upon, like building settlements. And if you want all the DLC, you can grab Game of the Year Edition for $30 / £25.
Lara Croft's next adventure kicks off with the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider on September 14. Xbox Live Gold members can pick up her previous outing, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, for $15 / £11.25. One of the later games coming this year is Just Cause 4, releasing on December 4. To get a head start on the outrageous action it's sure to offer, you can grab Just Cause 3 for just $6 / £5. Other series have numerous games on sale, including Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and The Evil Within. You can find pricing for those games in the list below.
If you've been enjoying Forza Horizon 2 this month (it's free for Xbox Live Gold members until August 31), you can pick up the DLC at a massive discount. The Storm Island expansion, which introduces a new area and extreme weather conditions, is on sale for $5 / £4. And if you want to add 31 new cars to your game, you can pick up the Car Pass for the same price.
You can find these and more highlights listed below, or click over to Major Nelson's blog to see the full list of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games and add-ons that are on sale this week.
H1Z1 has officially left open beta and launched on PlayStation 4 as a free-to-play game, Daybreak Games announced. The update, which converts the early access version to an official release, makes launch bundles and a season pass available, as well as a new vehicle to roll around in.
Battle Passes are available across three tiers: free, premium, and PS Plus. You can purchase the Premium for $5.50 / €5.50. Plus members will be given that level for free and level progression can be transferred between tiers. You can also purchase a Viper Starter Bundle ($5 / €5) or Hardline Deluxe Bundle ($35 / €35). The Deluxe bundle includes a Premium Battle Pass. Both will be offered at a launch discount until September 4.
Also marking the event are a few new in-game items to purchase with an airdrop ticket. A new explosive RPG from gold-level airdrops can help you take out vehicles, and a SOCOM sniper rifle from purple airdrops gives you another long-range option. A new ARV can help transport you and your entire team, and even includes a hatch for one of the squadmates to fire from.
"Everyone here at Daybreak Games is thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response to H1Z1's debut on PS4," said H1Z1 producer Terrence Yee in the announcement. "10 million new players in our first month in open beta is an incredible milestone, and our entire development team has worked tirelessly to build on that early success. We're beyond excited to officially launch H1Z1 on PS4—this is our fully realized vision for battle royale on console."
Coming from the same team behind the Aliens vs. Predator and the Sniper Elite series, Rebellion's Strange Brigade focuses on overcoming unique challenges and trials in the vein of a pulpy 1930s action-adventure film. With four-player co-op in mind, you're tasked with facing off against hordes of ghouls, mummies, and other supernatural beings as your expedition ventures deeper into ancient ruins and lost lands. Set for release on August 28 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, we spent some time going hands-on with the game's offerings, which goes beyond the standard story campaign.
In the video above, we dive into a co-op session with Rebellion's head of creative Tim Jones, who helps break down what to expect with Strange Brigade. In the main campaign, your squad of explorers will use their particular skill-sets--including specific weapon loadouts and special powers--to discover the origins of the supernatural threat, while also collecting the lost treasures hidden within the ruins. In similar style to co-op oriented action games like Left 4 Dead, you'll have to work together to make it through dangerous traps and waves of monsters.
Along with the main campaign are several side-activities and challenges in the form of the Score Attack and Horde modes. In Score Attack, your squad will have to clear through smaller stages as quickly as possible before the time runs out--all the while racking up score multipliers and taking out as many enemies as possible. As is tradition, the Horde mode has your team face off against waves of monsters in levels filled with environmental hazards and other dangers. After the end of each wave, you can turn in cash for new weapons, upgrades, and the unlocking of new areas on the map. But as you branch out further into the level, more enemies will come flooding in, requiring far more coordination within the team.
Strange Brigade looks to be a fun send up of the classic adventure serials, which promised dramatic action and exotic locales to explore. The developers at Rebellion also have plans in store for the game after its release, which will also come packed in with the game's season pass. Along with a set of new weapons and costumes for existing squad throughout the several content updates, additional characters, weapons and a bonus campaign will also become available sometime post-launch.
For more info on Strange Brigade--releasing August 28 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One--be sure to check back in with GameSpot for more info.
A new in-game event is underway in Pokemon Go. Following the recent rollout of Lucky Pokemon, developer Niantic has kicked off a special trading-focused event that nets players extra Candy, XP, and other bonuses when they trade Pokemon with friends.
The event runs from now until 9 PM PT on August 19 (12 AM ET on August 20). During that time, all trades with friends--even those who you've only recently added--will cost 25% less Stardust than they normally do. This applies to both standard and Special trades, the latter of which are for Legendary or Shiny Pokemon.
As a further incentive to trade Pokemon with friends, you'll be able to earn more Candy than before--up to six Candies during every trade, according to Niantic. If you receive a Pokemon that wasn't previously registered in your Pokedex, you'll also net triple the usual amount of XP, making this a good opportunity to fill out any blank spaces in your collection.
The event is also especially handy if you're looking to get your hands on a Lucky Pokemon. These special variants can only be received through trades. They're denoted on the collection screen by a sparkling background and require less Stardust to power up than typical Pokemon. According to Niantic, the longer a Pokemon has been sitting in a player's storage, the higher its likelihood is of becoming a Lucky Pokemon when traded to another player.
Beyond the trading event, Pokemon Go players have a couple of other activities to look forward to in August. First is this month's Community Day, which takes place across two days--August 11 and 12--and features Eevee. Then, from August 29 - September 2, Niantic will host a special Safari Zone event in Yokosuka, Japan. Even if you can't attend in-person, you'll be able to take part in a series of Global Challenges during the event for a chance to unlock a special global reward.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 controversy continues, as Dave Bautista has even more some strong words about director James Gunn's recent firing. If Disney thought the recent joint-statement from the Guardians of the Galaxy cast was the end of the controversy that has followed the firing of writer/director James Gunn, it was mistaken. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax in the Marvel series, has more to say about his future with the series.
While Dave Bautista is contractually obligated to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, there could be some problems if Marvel plans on doing completely away with Gunn's work on the next film, including his completed script. In an interview with Shortlist, Bautista drew a line in the sand about appearing in the third Guardians movie without Gunn's direction: "Nobody's defending his tweets, but this was a smear campaign on a good man," Bautista said. "I spoke to Chris Pratt the day after it happened, and he's a bit religious, so he wanted time to pray and figure it out, but I was more like: 'f*** this. This is bullshit.' James is one of the kindest, most decent people I've met… Where I'm at right now is that if [Marvel] don't use that script, then I'm going to ask them to release me from my contract, cut me out or recast me. I'd be doing James a disservice if I didn't."
At this time, Disney and Marvel have not commented about the possibility of Gunn's return--which seems unlikely--or whether or not they will be using the writer/director's script for the next movie.
Original story below.
Bautista replied to a fan on Twitter who asked him what his plans were if Gunn was not rehired for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3. Bautista stated that he would do what he was "legally obligated" to, which suggests that he is under contract to return for the next movie. However, he went on to state that making the films without Gunn was not "what I signed up for," and that it would be "nauseating" to work for a studio that would "empower a smear campaign by fascists." Check the tweet out below:
I will do what Im legally obligated to do but @Guardians without @JamesGunn is not what I signed up for. GOTG w/o @JamesGunn just isn't GOTG. Its also pretty nauseating to work for someone who'd empower a smear campaign by fascists #cybernazis . That's just how I feel https://t.co/Ym4FwruVDu
The tweets that led to Gunn's dismissal last month date back almost a decade, and saw the director joking about topics such as pedophilia and rape. They resurfaced online via conservative website The Daily Caller, and Disney was quick to sever ties with him.
Bautista was quick to condemn this decision, and remains the most outspoken cast member on the issue. The cast, which also includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel, offered Gunn their support in their statement, but stopped short of stating that he should be rehired or that they wouldn't return for Vol.3. While the movie has never officially been given a release date by Disney, it was reportedly set to start production in February 2019 ahead of a 2020 release.
Last week, it was reported that despite the statement, Disney had no plans to rehire Gunn. Variety spoke to "multiple people familiar with the studio's current thinking," and stated that, despite the support from the cast, the tweets that ultimately led to his dismissal remain totally at odds with Disney's family-friendly image.
Soon after he was fired, Gunn offered a statement in which he took responsibility for the tweets and accepted Disney's decision. "My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative," his statement read. "I have regretted them for many years since--not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don't reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.
"Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse."
Bandai Namco has revealed some more details on the next DLC characters coming to Dragon Ball FighterZ. Following the DBFZ Grand Finals at EVO 2018, the publisher shared a new trailer that gives fans another look at the game's two most recently announced fighters--base Goku and Vegeta--and reveals an entirely new one: Cooler.
The trailer, which you can watch above, begins with a reenactment of the Saiyan invasion story arc from Dragon Ball Z, showing the Z Fighters falling one by one to Nappa and Vegeta before Goku arrives and confronts the two Saiyans. The video then moves on to introduce the game's next DLC fighter, Cooler--the older brother of Frieza and the main antagonist of the film Cooler's Revenge.
This makes Cooler the second movie villain to join the Dragon Ball FighterZ roster, following Broly (who, incidentally, was recently confirmed to be the antagonist of the upcoming Dragon Ball Super film). Based on the brief footage featured in the trailer, Cooler appears to bear some similarities to his brother Frieza, although he battles in his final form, making him a much more physically imposing character.
Base Goku and base Vegeta will be available to download in Dragon Ball FighterZ beginning August 8. Those who've purchased the game's season pass will receive the two characters at no additional charge, while everyone else will be able to purchase them separately. Bandai Namco hasn't revealed how much either fighter will cost, although each previous DLC character could be downloaded for $5 US / £4 / $7.55 AU.
Cooler, meanwhile, still doesn't have a release date, although his announcement lines up with the list of leaked DLC characters discovered earlier this year. Given that the list has proven to be accurate thus far, the next and eight DLC character will presumably be Android 17--although Bandai Namco has yet to formally announce the fighter.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is available now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is also coming to Nintendo Switch on September 28. Ahead of then, Switch owners will be able to take part in a free Dragon Ball FighterZ open beta, which begins later this week on August 9. Those who pre-order the Switch version will also get a digital copy of the rare Super Famicom Dragon Ball Z game, Super Butoden.
The action sequel Mission Impossible: Falloutmaintained its position at the top of the box office chart in the first weekend of what is often one of the quietest months for theater-going. With all the big Hollywood blockbusters now on release and the more prestigious awards-oriented movies still a couple of months from theaters, August release slots are often used by studios as a dumping ground for movies that aren't expected to do as well.
In terms of box office, 2017 had the worst August in 20 years, but the mammoth success of Fallout has at least ensured that 2018 will be better. The movie made $35 million in its first three days, bringing its domestic total to $124.8 million to date. The family movie Christoper Robin opened in second place, with a $24.5 take, with the R-rated comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me at No.3 with $12.1 million. Both films fell short of studio expectations, but as Box Office Mojo points out, a lack of competition in the next few weeks should help their ongoing performance.
The week's only other new release was the Young Adult sci-fi adaptation The Darkest Minds, which debuted at No.8. Despite a wide release, the movie only made $5.8 million, which is the 11th worst opening of all time for a movie released onto more than 3,000 screens.
Elsewhere, the musical comedy Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again slipped to No.4 in its third week on release, while the Denzel Washington-starring The Equalizer 2 dropped to No.5. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Incredibles 2 all continued to do solid business at No.6, 7, and 9 respectively. The animated Teen Titans Go! To the Movies fell to No.10 in only its second week.
You can see the full Top 10 list for the August 3-5 US box office below, as compiled by Box Office Mojo.
US/Canada Box Office For August 3-5:
Mission Impossible: Fallout – $35.1 million
Disney's Christopher Robin – $24.5 million
The Spy Who Dumped Me – $12.1 million
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again – $15.0 million
The Equalizer 2 – $14.0 million
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – $8.0 million
With Mission Impossible: Fallout currently conquering the box office, Henry Cavill has found a second blockbuster role alongside playing Superman. Cavill is currently promoting Fallout, in which he plays CIA assassin August Walker, and was asked about other roles he would like to play. The answer was Geralt in the upcoming adaptation of The Witcher.
The Witcher is currently in development at Netflix, and Cavill made it clear that he would love to be involved. "The Witcher 3. I just replayed all the way through," he said, when asked by IGN about other projects he would like to be involved in. "Love that game. Really good game." Cavill was then asked specifically about playing the lead character of Geralt in Netflix's adaptation. "Absolutely," he said. "Yeah, that would be an amazing role."
The show was announced by Netflix in May, and is based on the eight-part novel series written by Andrzej Sapkowski, on which the games are also based. Sapkowski is set to work on the English language drama series as a creative consultant.
Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich recently stated that the first season will consist of eight episodes, and that the show was likely 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.
A Polish TV series based on The Witcher aired in 2002, but that has been the only adaptation of the franchise for TV so far. A Witcher movie with some big-name talent behind it was was announced for 2017, but that never happened.
As for the Witcher game series, the newest instalment was 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. No new projects in the series have been announced, and developer CD Projekt Red is now working on the much-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077.
While comic book legend Todd McFarlane is perhaps best known for the demonic anti-hero Spawn, he also played a vital role in bringing the Spider-Man villain Venom to life. McFarlane worked for Marvel back in the late-'80s, and is credited as the co-creator of Eddie Brock, the character that was the first host for the alien symbiote. McFarlane's work on The Amazing Spider-Man helped turn Venom from just a scary costume to a fully-formed supervillain, making McFarlane one of the most iconic artist/writers of the era.
With theVenom movie set for release in October, McFarlane took to Facebook to critique the movie's representation of the character. In a new video, McFarlane is actually quite complimentary about the movie Venom, stating that he thinks it looks "pretty cool." Nevertheless, McFarlane had a few adjustments to make to the freeze frame of Venom from the latest trailer, and set about making the character look distinctly scarier. Check it out below:
Venom hits theaters on October 5. The movie stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, plus Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, and Woody Harrelson. The new trailer was released week, and it gave us the first look at what appears to be Riot, another symbiote.
In related news, McFarlane is set to make his directorial debut with a movie reboot of Spawn. The film will star Jamie Foxx as the title character, and it will be produced by Blumhouse Films, the company behind Get Out, Paranormal Activity, and the Purge movies. It was also announced last month that Foxx will be joined by Avengers star Jeremy Renner. The film does not yet have a release date but McFarlane has previously stated that he wants it to have a hard-R rating and expects the budget to be between $10-12 million.
Servers for Epic's massively popular battle royale game, Fortnite, have gone down for routine maintenance. As announced on Twitter, the developer has take the game offline early on August 7 while it implements a new update across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. [Update] The servers are now live again. You can read the full Fortnite update 5.20 patch notes to see exactly what's changed in the game.
The maintenance period is scheduled to begin at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 5 AM BST. As usual, Epic hasn't revealed how long the downtime is expected to last, although it typically doesn't take too long. Maintenance periods for Fortnite routinely run between one to two hours, though that could vary depending on the update.
Once maintenance is complete, players will be able to try out Fortnite's v5.20 update. Epic hasn't revealed what new content is being added in this week's patch, although the studio has been introducing new weapons to the game on a regular basis. Fortnite's previous update brought back the controversial Guided Missile and kicked off the limited-time Fly Explosives mode.
It also remains to be seen if shopping carts and ATKs will return with the new update. Epic recently had to disable both of the game's vehicles in all game modes due to an unspecified bug. This is particularly problematic because one of the game's most recent challenges, jumping through flaming hoops, depends on being able to drive a shopping cart or ATK, meaning that players who haven't already completed the task are currently unable to until the vehicles are re-enabled.
The next set of weekly challenges is scheduled to roll out on Thursday, August 9. Until then, you can see all the challenges currently available in the game in our complete Fortnite Season 5 challenges roundup. You also have until one hour before maintenance begins on August 7 to complete Fortnite's special birthday challenges and unlock a birthday cake back bling.
We're in the thick of Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. As before, the latest season brings with it a selection of new challenges to complete on a weekly basis, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock for your troubles. 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 newest Season 5 challenges, details on all of the ones available so far, and exactly how to get them all done.
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.
There are two other types of challenges to complete this season as well: Road Trip and Drift. The former are much like the Blockbuster challenges from Season 4; when you complete all of the challenges in a given week, you'll receive a special loading screen that points to the location of a hidden Battle Star. 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. For a limited time, you can also complete special anniversary challenges tied to Fortnite's birthday event.
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
In Season 5 of Fortnite's challenges, developer Epic Games has introduced a secret Road Trip challenge that allows you to get a free Battle Pass tier, if you know where to look. To do this you need to follow a clue to a specific location. However, there are some steps you need to complete before you can do this. The first of these is to successfully finish all of the challenges from a week for the fourth time, at which point a special loading screen will be unlocked that provides the clue you need to find the hidden Battle Pass tier.
The new secret loading screen shows a bunch of Fortnite characters having a jolly old time at the pool party in Lazy Links. If you look past all the fun and frolicking to the back wall, you'll spot an image of a camel and a drinking cup, along with a picture of the Battle Star--that's the clue you need.
The location of the prize is on the road between Paradise Palms and Lucky Landing, in quadrant G9. Head over there and you'll quite easily spot the statue and the extra goodie too. Take a look at the video above to watch us track down the Battle Star, or use the images below to see a precise location map. Remember that this will only appear if you've completed all of the challenges from four different weeks.
If you're looking for something else to do, Fortnite's 5.10 content update introduced a new limited-time mode called Fly Explosives. Jump into this and you'll be outfitted with a jetpack and explosive weapons to do some high-flying damage. After spending some time in the vault, the Guided Missile has also been re-introduced, with some changes that you can read about in the patch notes linked above. For more Fortnite Season 5 coverage, including guides on previous challenges, take a look below.
Season 5, Week 4 of Fortnite is in full swing, and that means there's a bunch of new challenges to undertake. Among the latest set of challenges available to all players is one that asks you to jump through flaming hoops with a Shopping Cart or ATK. The easy part of this challenge is getting your hands on a Shopping Cart or an ATK, but from that point on you'll have to put in some legwork to find the firey hoops and hurl yourself through them. But never fear, we've got a guide here along with a map to help you find the locations of each ring you'll need. Before long you'll have that challenge done and dusted.
Statistically, finding five flaming hoops is actually a little easier than you might expect, since there's more than five on the island. The easiest way to locate them is to watch our video above and follow along. We've also got a map below pointing where the flaming hoops are, as well as details on where the ones we jumped through can be found. If you're struggling to find a vehicle, the ATK--All-Terrain Kart--can typically be found without much trouble around the buildings located at Lazy Links, Fortnite's recently added golf course.
Flaming Hoop Locations
Over the cavern west of Lazy Links
Over the ice cream van between Lazy Links and Loot Lake
South of the Tomato Town tunnel
Multiple surrounding the stunt mountain
Between the Viking village and Snobby Shores
Hills north of Flush Factory
Under the bridge where the desert biome starts
East side of the southern desert bridge, near the dinosaurs
East of Paradise Palms
The other tricky challenge for Season 5, Week 4 involves searching for a Battle Star hidden somewhere on the map. As always, Epic provides a clue as to its location, but it's purposefully vague. We've hunted it down, and put together a Search Between Gas Station, Soccer Pitch, Stunt Mountain guide, so you won't have any trouble if you use that.
Another week has come and gone, and that means a new crop of Fortnite challenges for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS players to get to work on. We're now in Season 5, Week 4, and there's a full lineup of seven more challenges, ranging from fairly easy to this-is-gonna-take-a-while. You can read about those below, complete with a map and location details on how to complete the week's most difficult challenge: search between a gas station, soccer pitch, and Stunt Mountain.
This challenge is only available to those with the Season 5 Battle Pass. All you have to do for it is head to the designated location and pick up the Battle Star, which can be found in grid C5 on the map, at the base of Stunt Mountain, just northwest of Tilted Towers--it's hidden near a pale white tree. This tree is located north of the gas station and just south of Pleasant Park. You can look at the images below to see exactly where it is on the map and also get a breakdown of all the challenges. Alternatively, watch the video above to see us do the challenge.
Click images for a full-size view
Other Battle Pass-only challenges for Week 4 are more straightforward. These include dealing 500 damage to enemies with a Sniper Rifle, searching seven chests in Flush Factory, and getting three pistol eliminations. None of these need to be completed in a single match, so you can slowly make progress at your own pace over the season.
In the free challenges section, the two most straightforward challenges involve building 250 structures and eliminating five opponents in Dusty Divot. The one that will eat up some time is jumping through five flaming hoops with a Shopping Cart or an ATK; we've got a separate guide to help you find all of the hoops.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 4 Challenges
Free
Build structures (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Jump through flaming hoops with a Shopping Car or ATK (5) -- 5 Battle Stars
Eliminate opponents in Dusty Divot (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Deal damage with Sniper Rifles to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Flush Factory (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search between a gas station, soccer pitch, and Stunt Mountain (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Pistol Eliminations (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Fortnite's weekly challenges allow players to unlock Battle Stars by fulfilling specific objectives. These range from simply taking out a specific set of enemies, to trickier challenges that involve following treasure maps. Completing these unlocks unique customisation items and also levels up your Battle Pass--if you have one. Challenges are split into two categories, with a set of quests for all players and then a second set available exclusively to Battle Pass owners.
Developer Epic Games recently launched Fortnite's 5.10 content update, which introduces a limited-time mode called Fly Explosives. In this mode, players are equipped with jetpacks and explosive weaponry to wreak havoc on their fellow combatants. The update also pulls the Guided Missile out of the vault and puts it back into play, albeit with some changes.
For those still doing Season 5, Week 3 challenges, you can take a look at out our guide on how to follow the Flush Factory treasure map and also the locations of all the Clay Pigeons. If you haven't already done the Fortnite birthday challenges, we've got a guide for where to find the birthday cakes too. Take a look below for a comprehensive list of our Fortnite Season 5 coverage. The list includes guides to all the challenges so far, as well as a gallery of the new cosmetics introduced in the latest season, among other recent developments surrounding the game.
Epic Games has detailed the latest patch for Fortnite on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. Servers for the game were taken offline while update 5.20 was implemented and, among the various performance and gameplay tweaks, the update introduces new features to both the Battle Royale and Save the World modes.
One of the major additions in Battle Royale is the new Double Barrel Shotgun, which Epic describes in its Fortnite 5.20 patch notes as "devastating at close range." It continues: "the Double Barrel Shotgun packs a punch with each of its 2 shots." The update also throws a new limited time mode called Steady Storm into the mix: "This Storm waits for no player and there are no safe zones," Epic says. "Stay aware of the map and keep moving it to the center of the circle in the Steady Storm LTM."
In the Save the World mode, Ragnarok, The Dark Viking has appeared, giving players a Mythic Outlander with a ground shattering ability called Seismic Impact to contend with. On top of that, there are new Horde Challenges that will let players "test [their] skills and earn lots of loot."
Take a look at the full patch notes for Fortnite update v5.20 below, courtesy of Epic. To see the Save the World patch notes, click here.
Fortnite Update v5.20 Patch Notes (Battle Royale)
General
The remaining time left in the Item Shop and Event Store will now appear correctly in Battle Royale and in Save the World.
Certain interactions will now interrupt reloading.
Bug Fixes
Reset to Default will now properly reset keys to the default values.
Changing input options will show a confirmation message if replacing a current input bind.
Audio for automatic weapons no longer cuts out after tapping the fire button and then immediately pressing and holding the fire button.
Fixed an issue that could cause multiple selection boxes to appear when using a controller.
Reduced memory usage of internal object reference search systems. This will help prevent out of memory crashes.
Non-English audio device names in the audio settings menu will now display correctly.
Players using voice chat will no longer join the wrong channels when rapidly switching parties, join the wrong voice channels, or be unable to send or receive voice chat in most cases.
The mouse cursor lock state in windowed mode will now function properly. Alt-tabbing will return mouse lock status.
The 'Sprint Cancels Reload' option will now function properly with "Sprint by Default" enabled.
Fixed some display issues with the interaction between the display resolution, 3D resolution, and video quality settings in the Options screen.
The keyboard 'key' hotkey background has been updated to increase legibility.
Party system is now more responsive to errors related to connection loss when sending certain party messages like kicking and promoting. Should reduce issues with managing party.
Battle Royale
Limited Time Mode: Steady Storm
Summary: Steady Storm has one constantly moving storm closing in on the island. Stay ahead of it and take down the other players to earn a Victory Royale!
Mode Details
One Storm that closes in over the course of 15 minutes.
There are no safe zone circles. Keep an eye on the map to predict where the Storm will close in.
The Storm does 10 damage per second.
Profile Stats (K/D & Wins) and Challenges are tracked in this mode.
Weapons + Items
Double Barrel Shotgun added.
Available in Epic and Legendary variants.
Can be found from floor loot, chests, Supply Drops, and Vending Machines.
Delivers high burst damage at very close range but damage falls off heavily at distance.
Fires 10 pellets like other Shotguns, has a larger spread, lower critical damage multiplier (1.25x), and a 2 second cooldown time when swapping weapons.
Epic Variant
Up to 143 base damage per shot at extreme close range.
Legendary Variant
Up to 150 base damage per shot at extreme close range.
Vending Machine rebalance.
Vending Machines spawn more often, cost less, and have an increased chance to spawn at a higher rarity.
Common Vending Machine
Spawn chance reduced from 7.27% to 6.67%.
Material cost reduced from 100 to 75.
Uncommon Vending Machine
Spawn chance increased from 14.55% to 20%.
Material cost reduced from 200 to 150.
Rare Vending Machine
Spawn chance increased from 14.55% to 20%.
Material cost reduced from 300 to 225.
Epic Vending Machine
Spawn chance increased from 5.45% to 18.67%.
Material cost reduced from 400 to 300.
Legendary Vending Machine
Spawn chance increased from 3.64% to 8%.
Material cost reduced from 500 to 375.
Chance for no Vending Machine to spawn at a location reduced from 54.67% to 26.66%
Reduced Remote Explosives drop count and max stack size.
Drop count reduced from 4 to 3.
Max stack size reduced from 10 to 6.
Added a higher accuracy penalty to jumping and sprinting for Dual Pistols, Submachine Guns, and Hunting Rifles.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause the storm in phase 6 to do 1 less damage than intended.
Fixed replication issues caused by interacting with a Guided Missile.
Gameplay
The weapon fire position now more closely follows the actual player position when crouching and un-crouching.
Shooting while leaving the crouched stance will no longer fire bullets from full standing height until the animation is complete.
Crouch does not interrupt emotes anymore and is disabled when emoting.
Bug Fixes
Certain player models will no longer obstruct camera angles or block crosshairs on slopes.
Fixed an issue where a wall would become invisible when destroyed on a client, but would still have some health on the server.
The camera will no longer instantly transition when attempting to aim certain weapons while in midair.
Trap selection will no longer unintentionally cycle when switching to available traps.
Fixed an unintentional camera adjustment when entering and exiting targeting while transitioning in and out of crouch.
Visual effects will now properly play when a vehicle impacts an environment prop.
Fixed reliability issues when using a rocket launcher to boost shopping carts or the ATK.
Fixed an occasional failure of glider deploying after exiting a Rift.
Switching weapons after an emote will now play the correct weapon switch animation.
Slurp Juice will no longer continue to heal or provide shields after being knocked down.
Player placed map markers will no longer appear to jitter on the minimap or in the world.
Performance
Significant GPU optimization on Switch. Moved to the high-end forward renderer. This increases dynamic resolution by 10% in expensive scenes.
Optimized the way explosives modify buildings to lighten the load on dedicated servers.
Building props have more efficient network usage when taking damage.
Melee animation trails now use significantly less network traffic.
Optimized C4 network usage, the impact sound no longer broadcasts to players outside a certain range. It now only plays for players that are close enough to the impact.
Audio
Added new equip sounds to grenades.
Add the ability to honk while driving the ATK.
Lowered the volume of impact sounds when harvesting vehicles.
Added audio effects for when spectating squadmates leave the match.
In the Locker menu, glider audio will fade out when it's unselected.
Bug Fixes
Thermal Scoped Assault Rifle scope-in sounds are no longer hard-panned to the left on Switch.
Audio for the rocket incoming sound will now properly play during close range fights.
Ambient audio loops will no longer stack on each other and play at once. This was creating a sound phasing issue that sounded similar to a "fighter jet".
Footsteps will no longer sound uneven for players outside your field of view.
Players will no longer hear 'ghost footsteps' after eliminating an enemy.
UI
The Challenges menu can now be opened in-game.
Additionally, Daily and Suggested Challenges have been added to the in-game map screen.
Modified the Battle Royale Challenges screen to display the remaining challenge bundle unlock time as a countdown once it is less than 13 hours away.
Show off your skills in the elimination feed when you land a trick in All Terrain Karts.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with the buttons at the top of the Outfit style selection screen overlapping with the draggable window title bar area.
Eliminations at Haunted Hills Challenge will now display as hard.
Players who have unlocked the ability to select color styles for the Carbide and Omega Outfits will no longer randomly become locked out of that option.
The 'Toggle Favorite' option no longer shows when selecting styles.
The Build Bar no longer stays active if it was active on the warmup island.
Quest updates and vehicle key hints no longer overlap on the HUD.
Punctuation in the Challenge descriptions has been corrected.
Fixed clipping on the Item Return screen for systems with aggressive Safe Zone settings.
Changing setting while inside the Battle Bus will no longer bring up the full HUD earlier than intended.
The HUD will now show the vehicle currently being driven rather than the one that was driven last.
Art + Animation
Updated the effect of lighting on character models.
Added equip and holding animations for all grenades.
Bug Fixes
The size of the Soccer ball in the juggling emote has been fixed.
Leaning while on All Terrain Karts no longer cancels emotes.
Player models will no longer appear twisted while controlling the Guided Missile.
Replay System
Bug Fixes
Cameras no longer get stuck in a bad state while following the Battle Bus.
Rapidly skipping through a replay on non-desktop platforms no longer causes a crash.
The players remaining counter for the 50v50 LTM now appears properly when viewing replays.
The damage numbers toggle in replays now works properly.
Damage numbers now properly appear on the final elimination during replays.
Player list on the Map screen now works correctly using a gamepad.
Health and shield bars on map screen player list now display correctly.
Mobile
Customizable fire mode selection screen added to mix and match fire modes.
Added FPS (frames per second) mode setting for mobile devices.
Added another individual quickbar button to the HUD layout tool.
Added mobile Elimination Feed.
Separated Quickbar buttons are more visible in the HUD Layout tool.
Harvest tool will now alternate between itself and the previously selected item when tapped.
Bug Fixes
Completed or expired Challenges are now cleared while navigating between Challenges.
Ramps will no longer be built through other ramps.
Shooting when interacting with objects no longer occurs.
Fixed inconsistency with mobile low power mode support.
A new set of weekly challenges will scheduled appear in Fortnite on Thursday, August 9. If you need a hand doing the current challenges, you can take a look at our Fortnite Season 5 challenges roundup for information on each one, as well as guides on how to do them.
Nintendo's timeline of the Legend of Zelda series has been altered to make a minor revision, as well as to find a spot for the latest entry in the series. Surprisingly, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild now officially falls at the end of every branch of the timeline.
Officially, the Legend of Zelda timeline splits into three branches, with Ocarina of Time acting as the inflection point. One branch, in which the Hero of Time is defeated, leads to a dark timeline that covers Link to the Past and the original Legend of Zelda. The other two, in which the Hero of Time is victorious, branches from the childhood and adult versions of Link. The child has his own adventures leading to Majora's Mask and his legacy being remembered in Twilight Princess, while the adult timeline eventually floods Hyrule and brings about Wind Waker.
It's all very confounding, but one aspect of the revision simplifies it quite a bit. According to the latest official timeline on the Japanese site, all three of those possibilities end with Breath of the Wild. That means that whether it's in the ruined Hyrule, the legacy Hyrule, or the new Hyrule established after the flood, the events in BotW can work out. That potentially gives Nintendo a nice clean start-point for any sequels that follow BotW.
One other minor revision to the timeline switches the order of two games. Link's Awakening had been listed as following the Oracle of Ages and Seasons games, but now Link's Awakening comes first. It's a minor change, but it makes a bit more sense. The western site has not been edited yet to make any such changes to the timeline.
One of 2018's biggest games, Fallout 76, will not be available to buy on the world's largest PC game store--at least not at launch. A Bethesda spokesperson told PC Gamer that the upcoming beta and the full game for PC will be exclusively available on Bethesda's own website, not Steam.
"The PC version of Fallout 76, for both the B.E.T.A. and the launch, will be available only via Bethesda.net, not on Steam," a Bethesda representative said. Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines also tweeted about the Bethesda.net exclusivity for Fallout 76.
In releasing Fallout 76 through its own launcher, Bethesda avoids paying Steam operator Valve its cut of sales. Still, it's a noteworthy move to skip Steam in part because the previous Fallout games were released on Valve's store.
Just because Fallout 76 won't launch on Steam right away doesn't mean it won't eventually come to the platform. As PC Gamer reminds us, Fallout Shelter launched as a Bethesda.net exclusive before eventually launching on Steam at a later date.
The Fallout 76 beta starts in October, though specific start dates for PS4, Xbox One, and PC have not been announced yet. A line on the FAQ page states that this will be the full version of the game, with progress carrying forward to the full release in November.
Fallout 76 launches on November 14 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Unlike previous entries in the acclaimed RPG series, Fallout 76 is an always-online, multiplayer-focused game, so it will be interesting to see how the community responds to this big change.
Johnny Depp's Notorious B.I.G. movie, City of Lies, has been pulled--at least temporarily. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was pulled from Global Road Entertainment's schedule just a month before it was due to open on September 7. A new date has not been announced.
No reason was provided for the move. But the announcement comes after the publication of a Rolling Stone interview with Depp in which the actor said a lot of things including that he would have dropped LSD on Osama Bin Laden's compound.
City of Lies also stars Forest Whitaker. It tells the story of the unsolved murder of B.I.G., with Depp playing Los Angeles police detective Russell Poole and Whitaker as a journalist.
"In search of the truth, the two team up and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies," reads a line from the movie's description. "Relentless in their hunt, these two determined men threaten to uncover the conspiracy and crack the foundation of the L.A.P.D. and an entire city. Based on the nonfiction book LAbyrinth, written by Randall Sullivan."
City of Lies is off the release schedule, for now at least, but a much bigger movie starring Depp, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, is due out in November. Last year, J.K. Rowling defended casting Depp in the role of Grindelwald amid the domestic violence allegations from Depp's ex-wife, actress Amber Heard.
"Nothing is impossible for PUBG Mobile, the world's most popular mobile battle royale game--not even a partnership with an iconic movie franchise such as Mission: Impossible," said PUBG Mobile general manager Vincent Wang. PUBG Mobile now has over 100 million downloads, and Wang hopes this Mission: Impossible Fallout tie-in brings in more players.
The update adds Mission: Impossible background music to the game, as well as new parachute customizations that are themed to the film. Players can also unlock the attire of Ethan Hunt and his fellow agents, and compete in Mission: Impossible inspired challenges for various rewards.
PUBG Mobile is available to download for free on the Apple App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android devices. PUBG is available on PC and Xbox One.
On PC, PUBG has a new limited-time event called Sanhok Forty-Fives where 80 players face off against one another on Sanhok in teams of four. The catch is that only throwables and firearms that take .45 ammo spawn during the match, so players are forced to rely solely on Tommy Guns, Win94s, R45s, P1911s and Vectors.
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