After the delayed launch for Week 7, Fortnite's challenges are back in their usual slot for Season 5, Week 8. That means PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile players have new rewards to work towards earning right now. As with previous weeks in this season, challenges are partitioned into two categories, with some available to all players and others only to those that have paid for a Battle Pass. As always, we've got a breakdown of all the new Fortnite challenges and guides to help you get them done, including one of the trickiest of the bunch: use a Rift at different Rift spawns.
On the free side, this week's challenge involve placing 10 traps, searching seven chests in Wailing Woods and getting four kills with a shotgun. While the free challenges this week are relatively easy, the ones in the paid Battle Pass section will require a little more time, effort, and perseverance.
The first involves doing 250 damage to enemies with the pickaxe, which means you'll need to get up close and personal. Since enemies may opt to just gun you down, you'll have to be sneaky and try not to get discouraged by all the bullets flying your way while you're trying to do some nice, wholesome melee damage.
The remaining paid Battle Pass challenges are the quite tough. One is a three-part challenge that begins by asking you to eliminate an opponent in Greasy Grove. Completing this is all down to your prowess as a hunter, so hang around in the area and see if you can pick of an unsuspecting enemy. Once done, you can progress on to the next stage of the challenge. Another challenge involves searching between three oversized seats, while the final one requires you to use a Rift at 10 different Rift spawn locations.
The Rifts were introduced at the start of Season 5, and generally they all appear in the same location. Since the challenge is very similar to previous ones that have also required interacting with Rifts, you should have a good feel for where they are. As a refresher, here are some of the common locations that you can find rifts.
Rift Spawn Locations
Southeast of Junk Junction near the Easter Island statue
Northeast of Risky Reels around the Noms sign
Northwest of Dusty Divot in the mountain
Northwest of Tomato Town around the river
East of Pleasant Park close to the Durr Burger statue
North of Paradise Palms in the town
Northwest of Paradise Palms around the lake
Southeast of Shifty Shafts around the Easter Island statue
West of Lucky Landing around the Easter Island statue
Northeast of Paradise Pals around the Go Kart track
If you need further help locating the Rifts, we've also put together a map of common Rift location and a video of us completing the challenge above to give you a better idea of where to go. You can see all the other Week 8 challenges, and their rewards, below.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 8 Challenges
Free
Place traps (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Wailing Woods (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Shotgun eliminations (4) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Deal damage with pickaxe to opponents (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Rift at different Rift spawn locations (10) -- 5 Battle Star
Search between three oversized seats -- 10 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Eliminate an opponent in Greasy Grove -- 3 Battle Stars
Stage 2: Eliminate an opponent in Lonely Lodge
Stage 3: Eliminate an opponent in Fatal Fields
On August 28, Epic launched a new update for Fortnite, introducing a new weapon and a Limited-Time Mode to Battle Royale. The Shockwave Grenade, classed as an Epic rarity item, can be acquired from Supply Drops, Vending Machines, chests, and llamas. Upon detonation, it knocks back anyone caught in the blast, and although the victims don't take fall damage, they will destroy any structures they crash through.
The new Limited-Time Mode, meanwhile, is called "Solid Gold." This can be played in the standard and 50v50 variations and, as in past iterations, weapons and items that spawn will all be of the Legendary variety. Those are the headliners, but you can see everything new from the Fortnite 5.30 content update here.
The patch also made a significant change to the challenge that tasks players with opening chests in specific locations, making it a little more manageable. We analysed the impact this change has had, saying that Fortnite has finally made the treasure chest challenges fun.
It seems like Flash Sales on the PlayStation Store used to be a relatively rare occurrence, happening once a month at most. Lately, though, Sony has been doing them every couple of weeks--and a new Flash Sale just went live. That's good news for anyone with a PS4 who's looking for a deal on games. So even if you didn't find anything you wanted in this week's regular sale, something here might catch your eye. Let's look at the discounts you can get between now and September 4.
It's a big Flash Sale this weekend, with lots of standout titles. Among them is Bloodborne, the stellar gothic action game by From Software. It's on sale for $7, and The Old Hunters DLC is down to $6. Or you can buy a bundle of both for $12.24.
RPG fans with a ribald sense of humor can pick up South Park: The Stick of Truth for $15 and its sequel South Park: The Fractured But Whole for $30. You don't need to be into crude jokes to enjoy Persona 5: Ultimate Edition for $58 (regularly $115). It comes with the game, plus a bunch of add-ons, including Personas and costumes that offer fan service for anyone who enjoys Atlus RPGs.
September is upon us, and Nintendo is ringing in the month with a new batch of rewards to spend your My Nintendo points on. As usual, these come in the form of discount coupons on select 3DS and Wii U games, and this particular batch covers some great titles for both platforms.
On 3DS, My Nintendo members can get a 30% discount off of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and the Mii life sim Tomodachi Life for 400 Platinum points each. Nintendo is also offering 40% off of the acclaimed 3DS Eshop platformer BoxBoy for 150 Platinum points, and 30% off of the classic Game Boy Color game Pokemon TCG for 140 Platinum points.
If you have a lot of Gold points saved up, you can trade them for discounts on a handful of more recent 3DS titles. You can get 30% off of the Mii RPG Miitopia and the multiplayer Zelda adventure Tri Force Heroes for 90 Gold points each. There are also 30% off coupons for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Kirby Triple Deluxe for 50 Gold points each.
Wii U features a much slimmer selection of new discounts. You can get 50% off of the mini-game collection Nintendo Land for 500 Platinum points, and 50% off of Pikmin 3 for 80 Gold points. There's also a 40% off discount for the classic SNES game Kirby's Dream Course; that can be redeemed on either Wii U or New 3DS for 200 Platinum points.
For the last time before Destiny 2's new DLC expansion, Forsaken, releases, Xur has arrived. But this appearance is notable because it's the first since the huge update that dropped recently, dramatically revamping numerous areas of the game. Among the elements it has touched is Xur himself, whom you might notice no longer appears on the in-game map. Here's where he is and what weapon and armor he's selling--and there are some notable differences.
Patch 2.0 removed the waypoint from the map that directs you to Xur, but it also changed where he shows up. Previously, he would be in the same location as the current week-long Flashpoint. But with Flashpoints now rotating on a four-day basis, Xur's "will is not his own," as the patch notes put it, meaning he can show up anywhere--Flashpoint or not.
As of August 31, Xur can be found in the European Dead Zone. Although it's not marked on the map, he's returned to his usual spot in the Winding Cove; to find him, just spawn in at the landing zone and make your way directly north. He can be found on a hill next to a crashed ship.
As for his wares, he has the typical Isochronal/Fated Engram (more on that in a moment), Three of Coins, and Five of Swords challenge card. It's the Exotic items that are significant: Although you'll simply find a typical lineup of one weapon and one piece of armor for each class, random rolls--something from the original Destiny being re-introduced with Forsaken--may be in effect. The armor available each have different perks from those you already own, and will be superior due to the sheer fact that they have more perks than existing versions. It's unclear if these are random rolls or the new set perks for these Exotics, but either way, they might be worth purchasing. Here's what you can get and how much it all costs:
One other 2.0 update change for Xur to be aware of concerns the Fated Engram. Buying this expensive item previously ensured you'd receive an Exotic you didn't already own. Going forward, this will only consist of Exotics available prior to Forsaken. That may be disappointing to those hoping for a reliable way to secure Forsaken Exotics, but this will at least remain a viable way for seeking to round out their Year 1 Exotic collection.
Forsaken releases on September 4 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4--with a variety of timed-exclusive content on PS4. On September 1, all Destiny 2 players (which now includes everyone with a PS Plus subscription) can take part in a 24-hour trial of Gambit, the new PvP/PvE hybrid mode being introduced in Forsaken.
There is still roughly a year before Star Wars fans will be able to step into the movie franchise's universe thanks to the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Disneyland and the Walt Disney World resort. Unfortunately, the latest piece of concept art is going to make the wait a lot harder to deal with.
The Disney Parks Blog has released the first look at Oga's Cantina, which will be open for business in Galaxy's Edge Black Spire Outpost when it launches in 2019. At first glance, it looks like the absolute coolest place anyone could possibly hang out in a theme park. It's sparsely populated with a variety of alien races, along with some First Order stormtroopers. "You never know when a stormtrooper or a familiar face will show up," the description says.
According to the blog, Oga's will offer "famous concoctions created with exotic ingredients using 'otherworldly' methods, served in unique vessels." It also notes that the menu includes options for kids, as well as "libations" for adults. That's correct, a Disney Parks representative confirms to GameSpot that alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served at the cantina, a first for Disneyland--unless you're somehow lucky enough to visit the ultra-exclusive Club 33. While adults can already purchase alcohol at Hollywood Studios, the future home of Walt Disney World Resort's Galaxy's Edge, it's a different story for Disney's original theme park. This is the first time the park will offer alcoholic drink options. Currently, Disneyland's sister park Disney California Adventure sells wine, beer, and other spirits.
What's a cantina without music, though? Thankfully, Oga's has that covered. "Musical entertainment is provided courtesy of RX-24, the former StarSpeeder 3000 pilot droid we first met in Star Tours, who has re-envisioned himself as the cantina's DJ," the blog says. "As quirky and talkative as ever, he's still trying to do his best on the job."
For Star Tours fans, seeing RX-24--Rex to his friends--get a new job is exciting. After all, Galaxy's Edge isn't the first time Star Wars has been featured in the parks and including this piece of history is a great nod.
Oga's Cantina is just one piece of a very impressive puzzle the Disney parks are putting together for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The land will also include two new rides, one in which riders take control of the Millennium Falcon. The other will drop visitors into the middle of a conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.
Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge is expected to open in the summer of 2019, with the Walt Disney World Resort version launching in the fall. The good news is that's still before Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters that next December.
Pokemon Go's Summer Tour 2018 concludes later this week with one final stop in Yokosuka, Japan. Even if you can't attend in-person, Niantic will run a series of Global Challenges during the event that give players around the world a chance to help unlock rewards, including another encounter with the Legendary Pokemon Moltres.
The Safari Zone Yokosuka event takes place this weekend, on September 1 and 2. All throughout, there will be Global Challenges for each region of the world to complete. If the regions are able to meet their requirements, then Niantic will unlock limited-time bonuses in the game, such as extra Stardust for capturing and hatching Pokemon.
If all regions are able to complete the Global Challenge, they'll unlock the biggest reward of all: another chance to capture Moltres. The Legendary bird will return to Raid Battles for a three-hour window of time on September 8. This time, Moltres will know the powerful Flying-type move Sky Attack, and you'll even have a chance to find a Shiny version of the Legendary.
You can read more details about Moltres Day on the official Pokemon Go website. Moltres isn't the only Legendary returning in September; Entei will also be available again next month. Players who achieve a Research Breakthrough in September will earn another chance to capture the Legendary Fire-type. Meanwhile, the last of the Legendary titan trio, Regirock, is scheduled to appear in Raid Battles until September 20.
Shortly after Regirock leaves the game, Niantic will host the next Pokemon Go Community Day event. That takes place on Saturday, September 22, and features one of the starter Pokemon from Gold and Silver, Chikorita.
Dragon Quest is one of gaming's oldest and most beloved series, spanning more than 30 years and multiple consoles. Its latest chapter, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, arrives on PS4 and PC this September (with a Switch version following down the line), and it marks a return of sorts for the long-running series, after its foray into MMO territory with Dragon Quest X.
In grand RPG tradition, Dragon Quest XI puts players in the role of a silent protagonist known as the Luminary, who is sent to jail early on in the story by King Carnelian because he believes Luminaries are conspiring with darkness. Like other mainline installments in the series, the game features a classic turn-based battle system, which is accentuated with the new Zone and Link systems.
With its release quickly approaching, reviews of Dragon Quest XI have begun to appear online. We've collected a sample of them below to give you a cross-section of what critics think about the title. For a broader look at the game's critical reception, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, PC
Release date: September 4
Price: $60 / £45
GameSpot -- 9/10
"Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that's full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale." -- Heidi Kemps [Full review]
Eurogamer
"[A]fter the boldness of past entries--whether that's the not-so-recent Dragon Quest 9, or even the perfectly executed Builders spin-offs--Echoes of the Elusive Age ends up feeling like it's missing a trick. This is a pointed return to a different age of RPGs, a throwback to a golden era that shines brightly in its splendour. You'll be hard pushed to find a more lavish production this year, or one that's so generous, though you can't help but wonder whether it's too much of a backwards step." -- Martin Robinson [Full review]
US Gamer -- 5/5
"Even though Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the 11th installment of the series, it feels like a natural follow-up to Dragon Quest VIII. That makes it a good entry point for Dragon Quest-curious players, too. There's a lot of RPG here, but it all goes down easy. Enjoy it: Games like this only visit us once in a rare while." -- Nadia Oxford [Full review]
Game Informer -- 8.25/10
"Dragon Quest XI stays to true the series' sense of adventure, and the long journey culminates in something cool for longtime fans (be sure to reload your save after the credits roll). I had my share of fun, especially as someone who grew up with the franchise and could appreciate the callbacks littered throughout. At times, I was glued to my controller as I discovered the next village, plot revelation, or impressive boss. Dragon Quest has stuck around for a reason: It does what it does well, and the formula still works. However, Dragon Quest XI's lack of evolution is a hindrance. It's about time the series took some risks." -- Kimberley Wallace [Full review]
Polygon
"A lot of my complaints are about the core conceits. The graphics and scope, while updated, are grafted onto a frail and aging skeleton. The huge map that amounts to hallways, the NPCs with endlessly frivolous dialogue, and the incessant load screens all point to an update--in hardware and software--rather than an evolution. Dragon Quest 11 is a beautiful example of what a JRPG can be after 30 years of lovingly guided evolution. Its success is irrevocably tethered to those decades of development, though, and that means you probably already know if this is a game for you. If you're not already one of the faithful, Dragon Quest 11 is unlikely to make you a convert." -- Jeffrey Parkin [Full review]
EGM Now -- 8.5/10
"Dragon Quest XI brings the legendary Japanese RPG franchise to consoles (properly) for the first time in 13 years, and it's a mostly fantastic new chapter of the series. Its story, gameplay, characters, and visuals all work to blend timeless series elements with newer-era genre refinements, and most of the time, the results are great. Unfortunately, there are a few times when honoring tradition is a weakness, not a strength—most specifically in the case of the game's protagonist." -- Mollie L. Patterson [Full review]
Nintendo has shared a load of new details on its next mobile title, Dragalia Lost. Unlike the company's previous smartphone efforts, Dragalia Lost marks the first Nintendo mobile game based on an entirely new IP, and it's slated to launch on iOS and Android devices in late September.
Co-developed by Cygames (the studio behind the popular mobile RPG Granblue Fantasy), Dragalia Lost is an action RPG set in the Kingdom of Alberia, a fantasy realm in which humans and dragons live together in harmony. When the forces of darkness threaten the kingdom, the seventh prince of Alberia sets out on a journey to partner with a dragon of his own and drive back the monsters.
Players will guide the prince of Alberia and his party through a variety of isometric 3D levels. The game is played entirely using touch controls; sliding your finger on the screen will cause the party to move in that direction, and you'll attack enemies by tapping on the screen. Battling foes will also cause your Skill Button to gradually fill up; once it's full, it can be tapped to unleash a powerful special ability.
You can create your own four-person party out of more than 60 different characters, who can be summoned using Dragalia Lost's two forms of in-game currency: Wyrmite, which are earned by completing quests, and Diamantium, which are purchased with real-world money. Additionally, you can summon and form pacts with new dragons and shapeshift into them during a battle when you collect enough crystals. You can also team with up to three other players to complete quests together.
Dragalia Lost releases in the App Store and Google Play on September 27. You can pre-register for the game now on the official Dragalia Lost website; if 500,000 players pre-register ahead of its launch, everyone will receive 1,500 Wyrmite.
Dragalia Lost isn't the only mobile game Nintendo has in the works; the company also announced a mobile version of Mario Kart called Mario Kart Tour, which is slated to launch sometime before March 2019. A Zelda mobile game is also reportedly in development.
BlizzCon 2017 was big; 35,000 people attended, and more than 1 million people from 180 countries tuned in online to watch live. Those are just some of the numbers Blizzard is sharing ahead of BlizzCon 2018, which the company says will be even larger with an expected record attendance.
This year, BlizzCon is promising "new ways to engage" with content online, like interactive polls, and more exclusive content related to Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, Diablo III, and Heroes of the Storm. The trade floor itself is huge, Blizzard shared, spanning 21 football fields with a giant LED screen in the Overwatch Arena that weighs the same an elephant. The convention (and online content) will also be offered in Spanish and Portuguese this year, in addition to the several other languages, so online attendance may be up too.
It's no wonder BlizzCon is such a big deal, when you look at the overall stats Blizzard is sharing about its community. On Battle.net, there are 37 million active players from more than 200 countries each month, with an average 30K logins per minute and 30 million chat messages per day. The average player has 21 friends on Battle.net, with Koreans having the most at an average 28 friends. On the more random side:
Players have given more than 7.4 billion commendations in Overwatch to both friends and enemies.
Murky has been killed almost 390 million times in Heroes of the Storm
In World of Warcraft, Legion, Dungeon, and Raid bosses have killed players 2.8 billion times, while players have slayed bosses 1.4 billion times.
23.3 billion Murloc cards have been laid down in Hearthstone since it launched.
Necros have more than 10 million skill build combos in Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer.
Blizzard's community forms get around 1 million posts per month.
StarCraft II players have raked in more than $25 million in esports prize money since its launch.
For all the bewilderment that accompanied its initial announcement, Nintendo's DIY game/toy line, Labo, turned out to be a remarkable showpiece for Switch, using the console's hardware in some ingenious and mind-bending ways. Having already witnessed the technical wizardry behind the Variety and Robot Kits, Nintendo's third Labo pack, the Vehicle Kit, doesn't inspire the same initial wonder as its predecessors, but it does a much better job of integrating its constructions into a more traditional gaming experience.
As its name describes, the Labo Vehicle Kit features an assortment of projects all related to vehicles. There are three different types in its accompanying game (car, airplane, and submarine), and each of the peripherals you build is used to maneuver these around the world; the car, for instance, is controlled using the steering wheel Toy-Con, while the airplane is piloted with a flight stick. You also need to assemble two general accessories, a pedal and a "key", in addition to the vehicle-specific Toy-Cons in order to drive them in-game. The pedal rests on the floor while you play and causes you to accelerate when depressed with your foot, while the key houses the right Joy-Con and is inserted into each of the main Toy-Cons to switch between vehicles on the fly.
We only had a chance to assemble the key during our hands-on time with the Vehicle Kit, but just from a glance, the new Toy-Cons are generally more intricate than most of those found in the Variety Kit. The steering wheel is the most elaborate of the bunch, requiring between two and three hours to assemble by Nintendo's estimates. Despite their complexity, the building process is just as intuitive as before, with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for each one displayed on the Switch screen as you build it.
Once the Toy-Cons have been assembled, you're able to use them to play several different vehicle-based game modes. The biggest of these, both in terms of scale and the amount of content it contains, is Adventure mode, which has you explore a surprisingly large sandbox world made up of 10 distinct areas. You can freely drive or fly around the world as you please--provided you have enough gas in your tank--but the ultimate goal is to complete missions. Refueling at one of the gas stations scattered about the world will open up a list of tasks that are available in that area, which can range from finding hidden items to chauffeuring an NPC to a specific location; one of the missions we came across during our demo session involved driving a dog to its favorite tree because it needed to relieve itself. A second player can also join in at any time locally by inserting a key into one of the other Toy-Cons, piggybacking onto your vehicle, Mario Kart: Double Dash-style, to blast targets with a bazooka.
Outside of Adventure mode, we got to go hands-on with Battle mode, a head-to-head competition that pits two cars against each other. This can either be played solo against an AI opponent or with another player using a second steering wheel Toy-Con, and the objective is to pummel each other with spring-loaded fists and be the first to rack up three wins. Various power-ups also spawn during the match to give you a temporary advantage over the other player; one causes your vehicle to grow in size, allowing you to run your opponent over for an instant KO. The final mode on display at the demo event, Slot Cars, is a four-player race around winding tracks using only the Toy-Con pedal. Despite its simplicity, Slot Cars was a highlight; you need to cautiously press the pedal to ensure your car doesn't go careening off the track, making for some intense races.
There are still several other modes we didn't get to try, but based on what we've seen so far, the Vehicle Kit seems like it could be the strongest Labo pack to date, featuring a more fully fleshed out collection of game modes that offer more replayability than the previous two kits and utilize the Toy-Cons in more satisfying ways. The Labo Variety Kit launches for Nintendo Switch on September 14 for $70.
Ah, September. That wonderful month when so many of us begin our struggle of going back to school. At least Netflix has a bunch of new movies, TV shows, and original series for those weekend binge sessions. There's a lot of new goodies this coming month, although we're losing quite a few movies and series as well. Here's the full rundown on what's new and leaving in September 2018.
The big addition in September is Black Panther, the Marvel superhero movie that took the world by storm this past February. If you happened to miss out on this celebration of African culture--which we described as "a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody" in our Black Panther review--then now's your chance. Other film highlights coming in September are Groundhog Day, Scarface, Bruce Almighty, The Breakfast Club, Lilo & Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Netflix exclusive Next Gen.
The list of new TV shows isn't as impressively large, but there are a few stellar options being added. Both Bojack Horseman and Stranger Things are getting new seasons. If you like staying appraised of everything going on in the MCU, Iron Fist is also returning another season.
If animation is your thing, new anime series Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan--about a rookie air force pilot who finds herself being chosen as the destined rider for an actual dragon--and animated series The Dragon Prince--which is created by the same folks behind Avatar: The Last Airbender--debut on Netflix this September.
Of the movies and TV shows being removed, Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are the two noticeable standouts. If you want to watch either movie again, do so soon before they're gone for good.
Arriving in September
September 1
Unforgiven
10,000 B.C.
Another Cinderella Story
Assassins
August Rush
Bruce Almighty
Delirium
Fair Game
Groundhog Day
King Kong
La Catedral del Mar
Martian Child
Monkey Twins
Mr. Sunshine
Nacho Libre
Pearl Harbor
Scarface
Sisters
Spider-Man 3
Stephanie
Summer Catch
Sydney White
The Ant Bully
The Breakfast Club
The Cider House Rules
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Keeping Hours
The River Wild
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Two Weeks Notice
September 2
Lilo & Stitch
The Emperor's New Groove
Maynard
Quantico: Season 3
September 3
A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities
September 4
Black Panther
September 5
Van Helsing: Season 2
Wentworth: Season 6
September 6
Once Upon a Time: Season 7
September 7
Atypical: Season 2
Cable Girls: Season 3
City of Joy
Click
First and Last
Iron Fist: Season 2
Next Gen
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser
Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters: Season 2
The Most Assassinated Woman in the World
September 10
Call the Midwife: Series 7
September 11
Daniel Sloss: Live Shows
The Resistance Banker
September 12
Blacklist: Season 5
Life
On My Skin
September 14
American Vandal: Season 2
Bleach
Boca Juniors Confidential
BoJack Horseman: Season 5
Car Masters: Rust to Riches
Ingobernable: Season 2
Last Hope
Norm Macdonald has a Show
Super Monsters Monster Party: Songs
The Angel
The Dragon Prince
The Land of Steady Habits
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 2 Part A
September 15
Inside The Freemasons: Season 1
September 16
Role Models
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
September 17
The VVitch
September 18
American Horror Story: Cult
D.L. Hughley: Contrarian
September 21
Battlefish
Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan
Hilda
Maniac: Limited Series
Nappily Ever After
Quincy
The Good Cop
September 23
The Walking Dead: Season 8
September 25
A Wrinkle in Time
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
September 26
Norsemen: Season 2
The Hurricane Heist
September 28
Chef's Table: Volume 5
El Marginal: Season 2
Forest of Piano
Hold the Dark
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 2
Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane
After nearly three months of waiting, fans have finally gotten a look at Cyberpunk 2077's first gameplay footage. CD Projekt Red, the acclaimed developer of The Witcher series, recently released the gameplay demo that was first shown behind closed doors at E3, and then again at Gamescom. It consists of a 48-minute look at the first-person RPG, and as was the case in its private showings, it remains extremely impressive. But, given the great deal of acclaim it's received, just why did CD Projekt Red wait so long to share the video?
That very subject is addressed by Adam Badowski, the game director and CD Projekt Red's studio head, in a press release accompanying the release of the trailer. "What we're releasing today was recorded from a game deep in development," he explained. "Since many of the assets and mechanics in the current version of Cyberpunk 2077 are most likely to be modified, we initially decided to show this gameplay only to media. Elements like gunplay (both in terms of visuals and how RPG stats influence it), netrunning, car physics, or the game's UI--everything's pretty much still in the playtest phase and we felt uneasy about publicly committing to any particular design. Animation glitches, work-in-progress character facial expressions, early versions of locations--all this made us hesitant to release what you're about to see."
Some of these concerns might stem from the complaints about how The Witcher 3's final release had been "downgraded" from the earlier, pre-release looks we got at the game. Whatever the case, despite the worries, CD Projekt Red has obviously decided it would rather get Cyberpunk 2077's first gameplay in front of people--though it is warning that the final product may be different in a variety of ways.
"However, we are also well aware that many of you want to see what the media saw," Badowski said. "Although this is probably not the same game you'll see on your screen when we launch, we still decided to share this 48-minute video with you. This is how Cyberpunk 2077 looks today. Let us know what you think!"
You can watch the full gameplay video above; it shows off numerous parts of the game, including combat, dialogue, and the ability to upgrade your character. We also get a good look at Night City, the sprawling metropolis that serves as the setting for Cyberpunk 2077.
Unfortunately, while we now have gameplay for everyone to see, CD Projekt Red still has not announced a release date for Cyberpunk 2077. Whatever it might be, it isn't soon enough.
In an unusual move, Sony has released one of September's free PlayStation Plus games on PS4 early. Rather than wait for the first Tuesday of the month as usual (September 4, in this case), Sony has both announced the full lineup and offered one of the games for free right now: Destiny 2, which just got a massive pre-DLC update.
It's a clever move, as Destiny 2's next big expansion, Forsaken, releases on September 4. While you'll need to purchase that DLC (along with the previous ones) to get the most out of the game, you can see what it's like and begin to get caught up so you can dive into the new expansion next week. Given that Forsaken has been positioned as the equivalent of the first Destiny's excellent Taken King DLC, that's an enticing proposition.
Further making this timing work out well is the upcoming Gambit trial. Gambit is the signature new mode in Forsaken, offering a blend of PvP and PvE. Ahead of Forsaken's launch, all Destiny 2 players will be able to try Gambit out for 24 hours on September 1. Although you won't be getting the same rewards you will once Forsaken is out, you can at least get a taste for what the mode is all about. Bear in mind you'll need to purchase the existing DLC to jump into Forsaken, which you'll also need to buy.
This PS Plus release comes just a day after the launch of a massive 2.0 update for Destiny 2. This overhauls the weapon slot system and numerous other areas of the game. Bungie has also shared a roadmap for the DLC and free updates coming in the year after Forsaken's launch.
Bungie has released detailed information about the launch for Destiny 2: Forsaken. The expansion comes to all platforms on September 4, but you'll need to download a Day 1 patch before you can play.
On September 4 at 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM BST, Destiny 2's servers will go offline for maintenance. Bungie predicts the necessary patch to play Forsaken will go live about 30 minutes later. At 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST, Destiny 2 will go back online. The Forsaken expansion will be playable at that time assuming you've finished downloading the patch.
Figuring players would need time to level up in preparation for it, Forsaken's raid, Last Wish, won't go live as quickly after the expansion's launch as previous raids did. On Bungie's website, Destiny 2 senior designer Joe Blackburn said that Last Wish will go live on September 14 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST.
Bungie has been advertising Forsaken's launch with the tease that the expansion would mark the death of Cayde, one of Destiny 2's more beloved NPCs. A new trailer showcasing Cayde's final moments was just released and it's one of Destiny's more badass cinematic videos. Forsaken also adds a hybrid PvP/PvE mode called Gambit. Pre-ordering Forsaken allows you to play Gambit on September 1 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST.
Destiny 2: Forsaken will be available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. A huge pre-DLC patch is now live.
Sony has revealed the timed exclusive PS4 content included in the upcoming Forsaken expansion for Destiny 2. If you own Destiny 2 on PS4 and you buy Forsaken, you'll get access to a new armor set for each class, an Exotic weapon, a ship, and a Strike. This content will unlock for Xbox One and PC players sometime in Fall 2019.
Sony Interactive social media manager Justin Massongill detailed the PS4 exclusive content on the PlayStation Blog. In terms of armor sets, players will receive the Thorium Holt for Warlock, Red Moon Phantom for Hunter, and Mimetic Savior for Titan. All three have very muted default color schemes of black and silver, although Red Moon Phantom does have splashes of vibrant blue and red.
The new Exotic weapon, Wavesplitter, fires an energy beam that can be shot at three different power levels. Holding down the trigger increases the laser's size and damage output. Collecting an Orb of Light immediately powers the Wavesplitter to full strength, so keep that in mind if you add the firearm to your loadout.
The new ship is called the Great Beyond, which is described as such: "It comes from an undiscovered country from which no explorer has returned ... until now." The new Strike, titled Broodhold, pushes you to explore the furthest depths of the Tangled Shore to destroy a Hive infestation. The mission ends with a fight against the nightmarish Hive Brood Queen.
Destiny 2 is currently free on PS Plus if you want to pick up the game prior to Forsaken's launch on September 4. If you pre-order Forsaken--on any platform--you'll unlock a 24-hour trial of the new Gambit mode on September 1. In preparation for the new expansion, Bungie has already released an update which adds five huge changes to Destiny 2.
After Forsaken, Bungie has a whole year's worth of content planned out for Destiny 2, with two different paths depending on whether you're willing to pay.
Hot on the heels of the launch of Yakuza Kiwami 2--the full remake of the series' second entry--Sega put out a survey asking if people are interested in more. Specifically, it asks four separate questions that seemingly point to different projects that you may be aware of (see below).
First, "how interested are you in remasters/remakes of existing Yakuza games?" is likely to be in relation to the remasters of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 that are currently only slated for release in Japan. There aren't any known plans to re-localize those games, but this may hint at them coming to the West. All three original games are available for PlayStation 3.
Second, "how interested are you in new games set in the world of Yakuza?" could be pointing to both Ryu Ga Gotoku Online (Yakuza Online) and Shin Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza 7) which are still in development. A new protagonist named Kasuga Ichiban has been detailed for the next game in the series and will make an appearance in Ryu Ga Gotoku Online which is set to launch sometime this year in Japan. No plans have been announced for a Western release.
The question "how interested are you in purchasing games created by the Yakuza team in other worlds, like the upcoming Fist of the North Star game?" might be related to Sega's unannounced project being handled by the Yakuza team. More details are coming in September, likely during Tokyo Game Show, but we know the game will be a new IP.
Lastly, for those crossing their fingers for localized and remastered versions of Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan and Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin, there could be hope. "How interested are you in various spin-off titles that never received Western release?" is more than likely to be gauging interest for the two historical games. Kenzan takes place during Japan's Edo period while Ishin is set during the Bakumatsu period--both games use character models and voice actors from the mainline series to tell its historical fiction.
Season 5 of Fortnite may be winding down, but developer Epic Games still has a few surprises in store for players before the season wraps up. Ahead of PAX West, the studio has announced it is kicking off a new High Stakes event in Fortnite: Battle Royale next week, which will encompass a new limited-time mode, a special set of challenges, and more.
Details on the High Stakes event are still scarce, but it appears to be themed around gambling and heists. The new LTM will be called Getaway, although Epic hasn't shared any further information yet on what that will entail. Players will also have a series of High Stakes challenges to complete and be able to get their hands on the new Wild Card skin. You can take a look at the latter below.
Epic will give fans their first look at the High Stakes event during its PAX West stream. The stream will be broadcast on the official Fortnite Twitch channel and is scheduled to run "all weekend long," beginning tonight, August 31, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.
Ahead of the High Stakes event, Epic has added a similarly themed Ace Pack to the Fortnite store. Like the Starter Pack before it, this bundle can only be purchased once per account and includes two cosmetic items: the new Ace Outfit and the Swag Bag Back Bling, which looks like a duffle bag stuffed with cash. The pack also comes with 600 V-Bucks, giving it particularly good value even if you don't care for the included cosmetics. You can purchase it for $5.
Fortnite's 5.30 content update recently arrived, and it introduced another item to Battle Royale: the Shockwave Grenade, a new type of weapon that launches players a great distance when activated. Epic also recently rolled out a new set of weekly challenges, which have players searching between oversized seats and using rifts. You can find guides for all of this season's challenges in our complete Season 5 challenge guide.
Anyone looking for a new PC game to play is in luck right now. Humble is giving away a free copy of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine to anyone who signs up for the Humble Bundle newsletter. The The only catch is that you have to do it fast--the offer goes away September 1 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET).
If you secure your copy before the deal ends, you'll receive an email with a Steam code you can redeem to add the game to your library. Note that you have to redeem it before September 15 for the code to work. Once you do, though, the game is your to keep forever, even if you unsubscribe from the newsletter. (And don't worry if you're already subscribed; you can still get the game for free).
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a third-person shooter from 2011 that's set in the tabletop game's apocalyptic distant future. You play as an Ultramarine, a super soldier whose job is to blast, chainsaw, and generally eviscerate hordes of Ork enemies.
The game received a 7/10 in GameSpot's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine review. While critic Kevin VanOrd appreciated the game's setting and combat, he found the scale and set pieces lacking compared to some of the competition.
"In fact," he wrote, "it's the 'Warhammer' part that Space Marine does best. You get to don the famous armor and fend off the forces of Chaos, bolter and chainsaw in hand, on battlefields where rusted structures puncture the clouded orange sky. If only the game had done more than send endless waves of Orks and daemons toward the dangerous end of your meltagun."
In any case, if you passed up the game before, you won't find a better time to add it to your collection than now.
The Humble Bundle newsletter you have to sign up for regularly lets you know what kinds of deals are available at the online retailer. The Humble Store often has killer deals, so you might not want to unsubscribe to this one.
Battlefield V has been delayed. The World War II shooter will now launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 20, publisher EA confirmed in a statement. The company says the delay will give developer DICE additional development time to fine-tune the game as it sees fit.
"We're going to take the time to continue to make some final adjustments to core gameplay, and to ensure we really deliver on the potential of [new Battlefield live service] Tides of War," wrote DICE General Manager Oskar Gabrielson. "We know moving the launch date means that we all have to wait a little longer. But we're going to take our time to make sure we get it right."
Battlefield V was previously scheduled to launch on October 19, meaning the new date represents a delay of a month. It also means the game will now be released after Red Dead Redemption 2, along with other big titles like Hitman 2 and Fallout 76. Battlefield's biggest rival, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, launches on October 12.
Epic Games this week rolled out another patch for Fortnite. The 5.30 content update is now available on all platforms--PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile--and it introduces a new item and limited-time mode to Battle Royale, while Save the World receives a new hero and Horde Challenge to take on.
On the Battle Royale side, the recently teased Shockwave Grenade has been added to the ever-expanding weapons list. The Shockwave Grenade is an Epic rarity item that can be found in Supply Drops, Vending Machines, llamas, and chests, and when used, it launches players a huge distance. Those who've been knocked back by the Shockwave Grenade won't take any fall damage, but they'll destroy any structure they fly through.
The new content update also marks the start of another LTM: the returning Solid Gold mode. This time around, Solid Gold is playable in standard and 50v50 iterations, and as before, the only weapons and items that spawn in this mode are of the Legendary variety. Since launch, Epic has flipped this from a Solo playlist to a Duos one.
On the Save the World front, Epic is introducing a new hero: Mythic Bladestorm Enforcer Ninja. It will be available from the Event Store beginning tomorrow, August 29, at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET and features the new Bladestorm subclass. Players can also unlock Redline Ramirez, a Legendary variant of the Raider, by completing the new Week 4 Horde Challenge.
You can find the full patch notes for the 5.30 content update on the official Fortnite website. Additionally, Epic has rolled out a client update to "improve stability." The update is available now for most platforms, but the developer says the Switch patch will follow "a little bit later" as it will also include matchmaking improvements for that console.
Onimusha: Warlords is the game that officially kicked off the Onimusha series, spawning many sequels to the fantasy action game. Now, the PS2/PC game is returning in remastered form, and will release on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC at the start of the new year. You can get a look at the new version of the game in the announcement trailer above.
The action game, first released in 2001, follows samurai Samanosuke Akechi and ninja Kaede as they fight to rescue Princess Yuki. Set in feudal Japan, the two must save Yuki from mysterious demons that have invaded her castle while uncovering the fiends' plot. Players wield katanas and other weapons as Samanosuke and Kaede battle their way to the castle.
The game is receiving a high-definition graphics overhaul of its characters, environments, and cinematics, and Capcom is adding widescreen support as well that allows for quick changing between widescreen and classic display modes. The studio is also adding support for analog sticks to boost movement accuracy during combat. Unlike the original Onimusha: Warlords, Easy Mode will now be available from the start of the game (whereas you had to fail a battle several times before it would unlock in the 2001 version). Lastly, a new soundtrack is being added to the game after the original game's composer was found to be using a ghostwriter (and possibly even faked being deaf).
Onimusha: Warlords HD will release on all systems on January 15, 2019 and will cost $20. In North America, you can already pre-order a physical copy of the game, with a digital pre-order coming soon. Players in Europe will be able to buy the digital version only.
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale continues on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and--most recently--Android. As with the previous seasons, this one brings with it a selection of fresh challenges to complete on a weekly basis, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock for your efforts. This time, however, Epic has made a few tweaks to the way certain Battle Pass challenges operate, including the introduction of free challenges for all players. Here's everything you need to know about the newest Season 5 challenges, details on all of the ones available so far through Week 8, 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
Reward: Legendary skin (Enforcer) and Back Bling (Subjugator)
A new batch of challenges for Fortnite Season 5, Week 8 are now available. One of the more difficult ones that paid Battle Pass owners will face is one that asks players to search between three oversized seats. Doing so will net you 10 Battle Stars, but unless you're quite familiar with the map, you may find yourself at a loss for where to go. For those people, we've put together a short and sweet guide on where to go to get the challenge done.
To complete this challenge, all you've got to do is head to the mountain just north of Flush Factory and you'll find the Battle Star, as it's pretty easy to spot in that location. You can take a look at the exact location below, where you'll find a few images of the map zoomed in to where you need to be. Alternatively, you can watch the video above and see us complete the challenge for a better idea of where to go.
Click image to view in full screen
The other tricky challenge involves using a Rift at 10 different Rift Portal spawn locations. If you play a lot of Fortnite you'll no doubt have seen these countless times on your travels, so you should have a good feel for where to go. All you need to do is travel around the island to 10 of them, interact, and you're good to go. However, if you need a little guidance, we've got a Rift spawn location guide to make things a bit easier.
If you're still catching up on older challenges, we can offer a helping hand with those too. Just head over to our full Fortnite Season 5 challenge guide, where you'll find a complete breakdown for every challenge from this season, the rewards you get for completing them, and guides to make things quick and easy for you to do.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 8 Challenges
Free
Place traps (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Wailing Woods (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Shotgun eliminations (4) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Deal damage with pickaxe to opponents (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Rift at different Rift spawn locations (10) -- 5 Battle Star
Search between three oversized seats -- 10 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Eliminate an opponent in Greasy Grove -- 3 Battle Stars
The next game from developer Suda51 (Goichi Suda) and Grasshopper Manufacture, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, has an official release date. It'll be launching exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on January 18, 2019. Travis Strikes Again is a spin-off from the No More Heroes franchise with series protagonist Travis Touchdown still at the helm, but in a slightly different form.
Those familiar with No More Heroes will instantly recognize the game's crude humor and off-the-wall premise. This story takes place seven years after No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle and pits Travis in a sticky situation--Badman, father of Bad Girl (a boss from the first game), tries to avenge her death, but ends up getting himself and Travis stuck in a haunted game console called the Death Drive Mk-II. They then have to fight their way out of the Death Drive's six different games hack-and-slash style.
We had a chance to get our hands on Travis Strikes Again during Nintendo's PAX West showcase, and you can watch our gameplay in the video above. The game offers co-operative play with one player as Travis and the other as Badman; there are also unique co-op special attacks to pull off, which can be seen during the boss battle.
The Nintendo Eshop doesn't have regular weekly sales like Microsoft and Sony's digital stores do, but it does offer game discounts periodically. So if you're looking for something new to play on your Nintendo Switch or 3DS, you can generally find some good deals on games worth playing. We've combed through the deals available now and picked out some of the highlights below. So get out your Switch or 3DS and let's save some money.
The Metroidvania game Axiom Verge is currently half off, at $10. Battle Chef Brigade, a brawler-meets-puzzle game that recently got a big update, is on sale for $12. The adventure games Syberia and Syberia 2 are discounted to $20 each.
Looking to add some retro action to your gaming life? Capcom has dropped the price of Mega Man Legacy Collection to $11.24. It comes with games 1-6 in the series and adds some nice quality-of-life touches to these old-school-tough games. Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, which bundles games 7-10, is on sale for $15.
Push Me Pull You developer House House has announced a release window for its latest project: Untitled Goose Game. The humorous puzzle game will launch for PC and Mac in early 2019, and now the developer has confirmed it will also arrive for Nintendo Switch during that same time frame.
Untitled Goose Game puts players in the roll of a mean goose that wreaks all manner of trouble on unsuspecting NPCs. The game gives you a "to-do" list of tasks to complete, and you'll need to manipulate objects around the environment to figure out how to clear each objective. One, for instance, is to enter a garden, but the gate is closed. You need to pick up a nearby radio with your beak to get the groundskeeper's attention, then slip in when he opens the gate to investigate.
Alongside the release window announcement, publisher Panic has shared a new trailer for Untitled Goose Game. The video, which you can watch above, showcases the kinds of mischief you'll be able to cause in the game. A new website and Steam listing for Untitled Goose Game have also just launched following the game's showing in the latest Nintendo Direct.
We got our first look at Untitled Goose Game back in 2017. The developer shared a three-minute clip of pre-alpha gameplay, showing the goose harassing the aforementioned groundskeeper, getting him wet, stealing his keys and carrots, and finally holding a little picnic for itself by the lake.
PAX West attendees will have a chance to go hands-on with Untitled Goose Game. Panic will have an "early version" of the game--along with the "near-final" Switch build of Firewatch--on display at its booth. Untitled Goose Game will also be playable at Nintendo's booth. Additionally, Panic will have a variety of Untitled Goose Game t-shirts and socks for sale in limited quantities. You can take a look at the t-shirt designs above.
Like many other free-to-play games, Fortnite features a variety of options for spending real-world money if you so choose, between its seasonal Battle Pass and various V-Buck bundles. Epic has introduced yet another bundle to Fortnite's in-game store, and it's a particularly good deal if you're looking to get more V-Bucks.
The new Fortnite Ace Pack is now available to purchase on all platforms--PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile. The pack costs $5 and includes two new cosmetics: the Ace Outfit and the Swag Bag Back Bling, both of which can be seen below.
In addition to the customization items, the Ace Pack comes with 600 V-Bucks, which can be spent on other cosmetics for Battle Royale or put toward your Battle Pass. V-Bucks can typically only be acquired by playing Fortnite's paid Save the World mode or purchasing them directly with real-money, and the cheapest tier nets you 1,000 for $10, making this pack a very good value, even if you aren't interested in its cosmetics. However, the pack can only be purchased once per account.
The Ace Pack replaces the similar Starter Pack that Epic introduced to Fortnite: Battle Royale earlier this year. That likewise cost $5 and included 600 V-Bucks, along with a different pair of cosmetics--the Rogue Agent outfit and the Catalyst Back Bling--but it is no longer available for purchase.
In addition to the Ace Pack, Epic recently rolled out Fortnite's 5.30 content update. That brought a new weapon to Battle Royale called the Shockwave Grenade and marked the start of the game's latest limited-time mode, the returning Solid Gold. Save the World, meanwhile, received a new hero and another weekly Horde Challenge.
CD Projekt Red has finally revealed the first gameplay footage of Cyberpunk 2077. After cryptically broadcasting lines of code being typed out on a screen for several hours as part of a recent Twitch livestream, the developer shared a nearly hour-long gameplay demo of the upcoming open-world sci-fi RPG, and it was certainly impressive.
The footage on display during the stream was taken from the same gameplay demo CD Projekt Red showcased to press at E3 and Gamescom 2018. The demo begins with V, your customized protagonist, traveling to a gang hideout with her ally Jackie to locate a missing cyborg. That mission quickly escalates into a firefight with the gang members, showing off Cyberpunk 2077's RPG-rooted take on gunplay. Later in the demo, V is given a quest to acquire a drone, which takes her and Jackie into the compound of the Maelstrom gang. Perhaps most impressive, the footage also provides a much closer look at Night City, the sprawling and richly detailed futuristic metropolis that serves as the game's setting.
"What we're releasing today was recorded from a game deep in development," game director Adam Badowski said in a message accompanying the release. "Since many of the assets and mechanics in the current version of Cyberpunk 2077 are most likely to be modified, we initially decided to show this gameplay only to media. Elements like gunplay (both in terms of visuals and how RPG stats influence it), netrunning, car physics, or the game's UI--everything's pretty much still in the playtest phase and we felt uneasy about publicly committing to any particular design. Animation glitches, work-in-progress character facial expressions, early versions of locations--all this made us hesitant to release what you're about to see.
"However, we are also well aware that many of you want to see what the media saw. Although this is probably not the same game you'll see on your screen when we launch, we still decided to share this 48-minute video with you. This is how Cyberpunk 2077 looks today. Let us know what you think!"
Despite being announced several years ago, Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't formally unveiled until E3 2018 this past June, when CD Projekt Red shared the first cinematic trailer for the game during Microsoft's E3 press conference. The developer also showcased nearly an hour of gameplay footage to press during a behind-close-doors demo at the convention, which was so impressive in its scope and detail that it solidified Cyberpunk as one of our four favorite games from the show.
"The E3 2018 demo for Cyberpunk 2077 was overwhelming with all its detail, but it did give us the impression that there was a large world with all sorts of systems to explore and mess with," GameSpot's Alessandro Fillari wrote in reaction to the demo. "The setting and some gameplay ideas are certainly a big departure for CD Projekt Red, but it also has a number of cool and visually stunning details that show off an incredibly rich world to jump head-first into."
CD Projekt Red would give fans another glimpse at Cyberpunk 2077 at Gamescom last week. During the convention, the developer released a handful of new screenshots that showed off some characters and environments from the game. The studio also shared several pieces of Cyberpunk 2077 concept art that contained a hidden link to another image that displays the phrase "more than meets the eye."
Cyberpunk 2077 is in development for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. CD Projekt Red hasn't announced a release date just yet, but the developer says the game is already playable from start to finish--although it still doesn't have all of its assets, nor have all of its bugs been addressed yet.
We got a chance to speak with Cyberpunk 2077 producer Richard Borzymowski at Gamescom. During our interview, Borzymowski discussed how the studio was able to switch gears from the fantasy universe of its other notable video game franchise, The Witcher, to the sci-fi world of Cyberpunk. He also talked more about the move from the third-person perspective of its previous RPGs to Cyberpunk's first-person viewpoint.
Microsoft has added another game to Xbox One's steadily growing backwards compatible library. Only one new Xbox 360 title is playable on the current-gen console this week, but it's one of the system's most popular: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Originally released in 2009, Modern Warfare 2 was one of the most acclaimed entries of its generation and was one of the installments responsible for propelling the Call of Duty series to its current popularity. GameSpot awarded the Xbox 360 version a 9/10 in our Modern Warfare 2 review and called it "a thoroughly excellent package that is sure to thrill shooter fans and deprive them of sleep for months to come."
If you still have an Xbox 360 copy of Modern Warfare 2, you can pop the disc into your Xbox One to initiate a download and begin playing. If you've previously purchased the game digitally, it'll automatically appear in the Ready to Download section of the My Games and Apps menu. Modern Warfare 2 is also available to download from the Microsoft Store, and it's on sale for $15 as part of this week's Xbox One Deals with Gold.
Microsoft has been rolling out new backwards compatible games for Xbox One on a near weekly basis recently. Earlier this month, two Xbox 360 Tomb Raider games, Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary, were added to the backwards compatible library, while a pair of Splinter Cell games arrived at the start of this month.
More than 400 Xbox 360 games and 30 original Xbox titles are now playable on Xbox One. You can see them all in our full list of backwards compatible games. You can also check out recommendations for which ones to play in our gallery of the best Xbox One backwards compatible games.
From Software rose to prominence with Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but the studio's newest title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is a marked departure from its previous works. The game still retains the unforgiving difficulty and deep combat system that have become From Software's hallmarks, but it trades the established worlds of Dark Souls and Bloodborne for an entirely original one based on feudal Japan. However, it seems Sekiro wasn't always intended to be a new IP.
Speaking to Games Industry, From Software community manager Yasuhiro Kitao revealed that Sekiro was originally planned as a new installment of Tenchu, the studio's long-dormant stealth-action ninja series. "When we originally set out to create something different from Dark Souls and our previous titles, we thought it would be interesting to make a Japanese themed game. So from that we started going in the direction of the shinobi and ninja, and of course Tenchu was an IP with that history; that was the original impetus for this project," Kitao explained.
According to Kitao, From Software approached "a number of companies" with the project, and Activision was immediately on board. As the two studios worked together, the project eventually grew beyond its Tenchu roots and into its own original title. "[A]s we developed and as we partnered with Activision, and started building it together, it started becoming its own thing and the game we wanted to make was no longer just Tenchu, so it really evolved into its own thing," Kitao said.
In addition to its Japanese-inspired setting, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice diverges from Dark Souls and Bloodborne by introducing a resurrection mechanic; when you fall in battle, you're able to use a limited number of life tokens to instantly revive. Your protagonist also has a prosthetic arm that can be outfitted with a shuriken, axe, and other kinds of weapons.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 22, 2019. The game will release in both standard and collector's editions; the latter includes a steelbook case, shinobi statue, art book, replica coins, and other bonus items. You can learn more in our Sekiro pre-order guide.
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