Here's some good news for fans of retro gaming: Sony has announced it will release a miniature original PlayStation console that comes pre-loaded with 20 PS1 titles. Similar to Nintendo's throwback NES and SNES consoles, it's significantly smaller than the original (about 45% smaller), but the included replica controllers will be full size. The PlayStation Classic, as it's called, is set to release on December 3, exactly 24 years after the original system launched in Japan. It will cost $100 / $130 CAN.
The unit will ship with an HDMI cable, USB cable, and two wired controllers. Notably, it does not come with an AC adapter. Also, it ships with replicas of the original PS1 controller, which doesn't have analog sticks. In 1997, Sony released the DualShock controller for PS1, which many people regard as a significant improvement, thanks to its two analog sticks and vibration function. There's no word yet on whether Sony will release DualShock controllers for the PlayStation Classic.
Pre-Order PlayStation Classic
It's unclear how many PlayStation Classic units Sony will make available at launch. But since the NES and SNES Classic consoles were notoriously difficulty to find early on, it's probably wise to pre-order the PS Classic if you're interested in picking one up at launch. Here's where you can place a pre-order.
Rockstar has taken the wraps off of its plans for Red Dead Redemption 2's online mode, named simply Red Dead Online. The mode is planned for launch in November 2018--after Redemption 2's October release date--and will start as a public beta. Access will be free to owners of RDR2, and the announcement doesn't specify any plans to make it available separately.
"Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players," the announcement states.
But in a moment of expectations-setting, the announcement also warns that players who hop on immediately are likely to experience some growing pains. Specifically, the studio says it expects turbulence at launch, and to work with the community to overcome "teething problems" and develop Red Dead Online over time.
That roadmap makes it sound very similar to Grand Theft Online, which was fairly rough when it first launched a few weeks after the launch of Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar has been treating it as a live service since then, though, and has continuously added new features, modes, and cosmetic items over the course of years. Red Dead Online is likely to get a similar treatment given the phenomenal long-term success of GTA V.
The November launch target also sets it apart from the release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 itself, which is set to release on October 26. For more details, check out our wrap-up of everything we know so far.
Fortnite's otherworldly cube continues to trudge along on its journey of destruction. But what does it all mean? The fans have passionately followed the exploits of the cube, and while its eventual Season 6 implications are still shrouded in mystery, the community is pretty sure it's nailed down where it's going.
A thread on the Fortnite subreddit has been tracking the cube's movements, and even predicting them with some success. The cube, affectionately nicknamed "Kevin" and sometimes referred to as a "he," has been sporadically changing its movement intervals and direction. Fans quickly realized that the runes it was "printing" in select spots on the map drew an image of a 3D cube. Kevin is very body-positive about his shape, apparently.
Tracking the path from that, fans ascertained that it was headed for the new Tilted Towers building. Sure enough, the cube plopped itself on top of the building and wrecked half of it. Now as it continues its movements, fans believe it's heading towards the lake. Given its movements, it appears primed to reach that area around 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET today, Wednesday, September 19.
What happens when it reaches the lake is anybody's guess. It could fall into the lake and begin the next phase of this slow world event. It could go straight down the middle of the dock and destroy more buildings on the way. Or it could even turn back to fake out the fans and head off somewhere else. Fans have speculated that it could drain or otherwise terraform the lake to reveal a new area entirely.
Whatever the cube has in store, it appears to be setting the stage for the next season. Season 5 is set to wrap up next week, on September 25. Epic tends to roll straight from one season into the next, so we're likely to see Season 6 kick off then. While we wait for the cube to make its move, you may want to catch up on Season 5's Challenges while you still can.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate means another round of Amiibo figurines to collect and train, and Best Buy has announced it has an exclusive on one of the collectibles. The new reprint of the Pac-Man figure will only be available at Best Buy when it launches on October 19.
This version of Pac-Man was first released in 2015 to pair with Super Smash Bros. Melee. Like a lot of Amiibo figures, though, it became difficult to find. If you've had trouble snagging one over the last few years, Best Buy looks like your best bet. Alongside the release of Ultimate on December 7, a few more reprints will become available only at Best Buy: Captain Falcon, Marth, and Ganondorf.
Of course, Smash Bros. Ultimate is also introducing a slew of new characters, who are also getting their own brand-new Amiibo figurines. These include Ridley, Star Wolf, the Inklings, Simon and Richter Belmont, King K. Rool, Chrom, and Dark Samus. No word yet on if the newest addition to the roster, Isabelle, will get her own new figurine as well. She already had one released in conjunction with Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.
The Smash Bros. Ultimate roster is massive, promising the return of every character who has ever been playable in any Smash Bros. game--plus some brand new additions like the ones above. It launches on December 7. For more details check out our pre-order guide.
Rockstar Games has released a series of new screenshots from Red Dead Redemption 2 that show off some of the numerous and varied places you'll explore in the open world (and in the newly announced Red Dead Online).
The gorgeous-looking and highly detailed images come from the game's newly updated website that reveals some of the game's locations such as bayous, snowy mountains, busy cities, and more. Click through each image in the gallery below to see it in full size.
Red Dead Redemption 2 stars Arthur Morgan, who is a member of the Van der Linde gang in a story that sees the gang on the run across America. The game is set 12 years before the first Red Dead Redemption, which came out in 2010.
Looking for something to play this weekend and don't want to spend any money? Ubisoft's open-world action game Ghost Recon: Wildlands will be free this weekend on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but only for a limited time.
From September 20-23, Ubisoft will offer the full game, as well as some of its PvP and PvE missions, to everyone on all platforms for free. Presumably the progress you make during the free weekend will carry forward to the full game should you decide to pick it up.
And if you do want to purchase the game, Ubisoft just announced two new versions of the game, including the Year 2 Gold Edition ($80) and the Ultimate Edition ($120). The Ultimate Edition features the Year 1 season pass that comes with the expansions Narco Road and Fallen Ghosts. It also includes the Year 2 season pass, as well as a variety of in-game extras
The Year 2 Gold Edition, meanwhile, comes with the base game and the Year 2 season pass.
In other news, Wildlands got a new update this week, Update 16, that added a new "mood" matchmaking system that allows players to select a particular "mood" for the match they are looking for. The update also adds other quality of life updates and features.
For more on Wildlands, you can check out GameSpot's feature in the video embed above in which we talk about giving the game a second chance.
Arrow fans are in for a very different Season 7. With Oliver (Stephen Amell) in prison, cut off from the rest of his team, the Green Arrow isn't able to protect Star City; he also can't protect himself.
The first batch of photos for the new season have been released, keeping a literal divide Oliver and those he cares about most. While his face can't be seen clearly, it's easy to tell the slammer isn't doing Oliver any favors--he's battered and bruised. What else did they think would happen when they tossed in the rich vigilante with all of the guys he's captured over the years?
Another face seen in the photos, visiting Oliver, is Diggle (David Ramsey). Ramsey previously confirmed to GameSpot that he would be one of Oliver's only allies in prison as the two have put their differences behind them and are now friends once again. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be much help to the imprisoned Green Arrow, though.
The only other character shows in the photos is Oliver's wife, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards). She looks quite a bit different than fans last saw her, though. Felicity and William, Oliver's son, have gone into witness protection after he was imprisoned, which seemed to come with a makeover. Now she has pink hair and a nose ring. We are here for punk rock Felicity. She's almost as cool as goth Felicity was in Season 5.
While these images don't show much in the way of action, the first trailer for the new season was packed with it. As Oliver faces off against some of his old foes--including Cody Rhodes returning as Derek Sampson--the fights are going to be utterly vicious. Hopefully, Oliver gets out of all of those alive and reunites with his team sooner, rather than later.
Arrow returns Monday, October 15, on The CW. Before then, make sure to check out all of the spoilers and teases we know about the show so far.
Disney's new streaming service will include brand-new TV shows based on "beloved superheroes" who haven't received their own movies. That's according to a report from Variety, whose sources said there will be shows for Loki and Scarlet Witch, both of whom have appeared in numerous Marvel films, but haven't had their own movies as of yet.
Intriguingly, Variety reports that Disney is looking for the movie actors to play the same roles in the TV shows, instead of going for a different cast. That means Tom Hiddleston is lined up to play Loki and Elizabeth Olsen tapped to play Scarlet Witch.
Each show will be 6-8 episodes and be made using a sizable budget, according to the report. They will be produced by Marvel Studios, and studio boss Kevin Feige is reportedly going to have a "hands-on" role in them.
Another important note from the report is that the new shows will focus on "second-tier" MCU characters, not topline ones like Captain America and Iron Man who have previously have their own movies. No story details for the new shows were referenced in the report. You can read Variety's full story here.
Disney's upcoming streaming service is poised to be a rival of sorts to Netflix. It is reportedly due to launch at the end of 2019; details on subscription pricing has yet be announced.
The rumoured new superhero shows join the previously confirmed Season 7 for Star Wars: The Clone Wars for the Disney streaming service. What's more, there will be a live-action Star Wars series on the new service, which will be set seven years after Return of the Jedi.
What a horribly cursed town Riverdale is, especially if your name is Archie Andrews (KJ Apa). The teen has been through a lot in two seasons. He slept with his teacher, started and ended a football career, seemingly started and ended a music career, helped track a serial killer, joined the mafia, and now has been framed for murder.
The first photos for Riverdale Season 3 have arrived and it looks like that little framed for murder problem isn't going away for at least half an episode. In the photos, Archie is in court, being represented by his mom (Molly Ringwald). Across the courtroom is the prosecutor, Ms. Wright (Penelope Ann Miller).
It doesn't seem like his trial will last long, though, as other photos from the episode show Archie as a free man, hanging out at the ol' swimming hole with his friends Jughead (Cole Sprouse), Betty (Lili Reinhart), and Veronica (Camila Mendes). Chances are he wouldn't be allowed to hang out with his friends and go swimming if he were found guilty.
What these photos don't do is give any hints about the overarching story for Season 3. However, given that it was Hiram (Mark Consuelos) that framed Archie for murder, it seems the war between the mafia boss and his former teen underling is far from over.
Riverdale returns to The CW on Wednesday, October 10. Before then, check out our spoilers and teases for Season 3.
2K Sports has announced the soundtrack for WWE 2K19, and it includes some very big names from across a number of different genres. Some of the artists featured on the soundtrack include Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Metallica, Slipknot, Rancid, and Post Malone.
The songs were chosen by WWE athletes like The Miz, Elias, Triple H, and Daniel Bryan, among others. The songs are apparently some of their favourite songs to listen to when getting ready for a match or chilling at home (and they're also the songs that 2K was able to get the licenses for). You can se the full soundtrack below.
While WWE 2K19 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One in early October. It is skipping out on a Switch edition this year. The regular edition launches on October 9, but the more expensive Deluxe "Woo" Edition lets you play four days early.
By Anonymous on Sep 19, 2018 11:32 pm FX's new spinoff series Mayans M.C. has it's roots deeply set in Sons of Anarchy. Find out which connections we've seen so far as Chris breaks down the origins of the Mayans Motorcycle Club and its relationship to SAMCRO.
Nintendo's NES-style Joy-Con controllers for Switch are available for pre-order. However, there are a few considerations to think about before you decide to buy one.
To pre-order these controllers, you need to have a subscription to Nintendo's new Switch Online service. You can't sign up for the free seven-day trial and pre-order the controllers; you need to be paying for a subscription. The subscriptions cost $4 / £3.50 for one month, $8 / £7 for three months, and $20 / £18 for 12 months--which you can pay for with My Nintendo points if you prefer.
These NES controllers also don't work like regular Joy-Cons. They can only be used to play Switch Online's exclusive library of classic NES games, such as Metroid, Super Mario Bros., and The Legend of Zelda. The NES controllers cannot be used while playing in handheld mode either, so your Switch will need to be in kickstand mode or docked and connected to a TV. The NES controllers do at least charge when connected to the Switch in handheld mode.
The NES controllers are sold in pairs of two and cost $60 / £50. You'll be able to use both controllers to play couch co-op in most of the NES games that come included in Switch Online. For some of the single-player games that don't support cooperative play, the second person can point out enemies, hidden areas, and items for their partner.
The NES Switch controllers will start shipping out in mid-December 2018.
Destiny 2's Forsaken expansion has been out for a few weeks and the Raid is live, but that doesn't mean Bungie is done trying to entice people to play the game. This weekend, between September 21-23, anyone with Destiny 2 (which is free this month for PlayStation Plus members) has a chance to try out Gambit mode for free.
In Gambit, two teams of four face off against separate waves of enemies. Fallen enemies drop "motes," which you can collect and deposit into a bank in the center of the map. Once a team has deposited 75 motes, a "primeval" boss appears. The first team to kill its boss wins the round.
That would make for an enjoyable PvE race, but a few additional rules apply, ratcheting up the excitement of each Gambit match. Banking a group of motes all at once temporarily removes your opposing team's mote bank, while a mini-boss appears in its place. Also, at various points during the match, a portal will open up, letting one player travel to the opponents' side, where they can attack and kill players, causing additional setbacks.
The free trial includes all four Gambit maps. It's an exciting mode, and one anybody who's interested in Destiny 2 should give a shot. The trial begins at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET) September 21 and ends at the same time on September 23. For tips to help you win, be sure to check out our Gambit guide and, for the love of all that's good, use Sleeper Simulant if you have it.
The Dragon Prince has some serious talent behind it, including Avatar: The Last Airbender writer, Aaron Ehasz. Clearly, Netflix is hoping to recreate the magic that captured fans of Nickelodeon's epic from 2005. That said, it has some serious standards to live up to as well. Though there are some missteps along the way, The Dragon Prince succeeds in creating a lush, engaging new world, a mostly likable trio of new heroes, and at least for now, some interest in seeing what happens in Season 2.
The Dragon Prince's world borrows heavily from Avatar; you can even replace some words in Avatar's iconic intro, and it describes The Dragon Prince pretty well: Sun. Moon. Stars. Earth. Sky. Ocean. Long ago, the two nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the humans attacked. Only the Dragon Prince, raised by both Humans and Elves, could bring balance to the world. See?
But thankfully, the setup is unique enough to set itself apart for a whole new tale. In The Dragon Prince, there are six Primal Sources of magic based on the elements. One day, a human Mage discovers a seventh source of dark magic that drains the life from magical creatures to draw strength, so the elves banish humans to the western half of the continent, where there is no magic to take. Finding themselves caught in the middle are two human princes, Callum and Ezran, as well as their half-bulldog, half-frog, Bait. They eventually team up with an Elven Assassin, Rayla, and endeavor to return a lost dragon egg to where it belongs, which will supposedly end the war.
Predisposed to distrust each other, they don't have the immediate chemistry of Avatar's Aang, Sokka, and Katara, but they're given just enough time in the spotlight for us to root for them.
Callum begins his journey much like Sokka began his (he's even voiced by the same actor, Jack De Sena) in that he's unsure of his abilities, and lacks confidence. He makes up for it with his empathy towards others, and his protectiveness over his little brother Ezran. However, we quickly learn that Ezran (voiced by Sasha Rojen) doesn't always need that protection, as he's generally a step ahead of everyone thanks to his good intuition. Rayla (Paula Burrows) is the sarcastic and quippy elf--rightfully so, because she's the only one with any initial competency in defending them from danger, but is burdened by her pacifism clashing with who she was raised to be.
All three voice actors suit their characters well and have some great chemistry together in some of the more humorous scenes with Rayla's authoritative Scottish dialect perfectly juxtaposing Callum's aloofness. There are some genuine moments between the three in their early adventures, although their eventual friendship does feel a tad forced, considering how few episodes they were given to adjust to this reluctant camaraderie.
In addition to our main characters, there's a strong supporting group. Fleshing out the cast are two siblings who are tasked with tracking down the princes: Claudia, a ditzy yet maniacal wielder of magic, and her brother Soren, a brawler who can't stand the stuff. There's also Aunt Amaya, who despite speaking entirely through sign language has a dominating presence whenever she's in a scene (though the same can't be said for her translator, Glen--all he's done so far is yell and get thrown in a dungeon). A few standouts show up in the journey later on who could potentially join the main trio, so I'm hopeful to see whether or not they end up as important as characters from Avatar like Toph, Zuko, and Suki.
Even if that doesn't end up being the case, The Dragon Prince's beautiful settings make up for any potential lack of meaningful side characters. The world of The Dragon Prince is absolutely gorgeous. Like, I wanted to pause the video on my laptop and hang the screen to the wall like a picture frame kind of gorgeous. From the very first shot of a dragon soaring through the clouds, to the mountains doused in the fleeting light of sunset, nearly every frame of animation is a privilege to watch. Nestled snug within the blurred lines of the Impressionism-influenced The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, The Dragon Prince perfectly uses visuals to emphasize its themes of finding a connection with nature through the elements.
While I could sit staring at a single frame from the show all day, the fight scenes choreographed here are equally impressive. One thing I never anticipated was that two characters with swords could ever compare to the agility and creativity of the element-infused duels from Avatar. Rayla is nimbler on her feet than even Aang (which is notable, considering one of Aang's nicknames in Avatar was Twinkle Toes), and with her twin blades, she can climb up surfaces, dancing around her often larger opponents. It was amazing to see how much use they got out of a fighter with just a bow and arrow, or a fighter with a grappling hook, or a big sword, or a little sword, or even just a dagger. Don't get me wrong, nothing here is as impressive as Zuko's Agni Kai against Azula from the finale of The Last Airbender, but give it time--it could happen.
All that said, as much as I enjoy the spectacle of this world and its animation (except the random choppiness in character movement at the beginning of episode 5--what the hell happened?), The Dragon Prince is constantly reminding me I'm watching something that wasn't made for me. I'm not the teenager I was when Avatar: The Last Airbender was released and some of its jokes and shortcuts in storytelling fall flat because of it. It still has that great, sometimes clever, sometimes absurdist humor that I loved back then, but it's occasionally forced because characters break the fourth wall and talk like edgy teens using memes to make fun of their parents who "just don't get it".
On the other side of the issue, Ezran hardly says anything at all these first nine episodes. One could perhaps chalk it up to him being more on the introverted side, but even when he does speak, his lines don't give us insight into his personality or motivations. The writers more often than not use him to ask follow up questions as an excuse to relay exposition, or to add a one-liner about the problem they're currently facing. As one of the three main characters, he feels underdeveloped given how much time he's on screen.
In addition to characters not pulling their weight in personality, some of them are too overt in foreshadowing their eventual allegiances. Several plot twists can be seen coming from a mile away. Even after the first four episodes, you'll have a general idea of entire character arcs in terms of enemies becoming allies (or vice versa), and the eventual key confrontations they'll face.
If you're on the younger side or plan on watching with your kids, The Dragon Prince has started off well, but that's the thing--it barely feels like it's started at all. With only nine episodes at roughly 25 minutes each, we've spent very little time with these characters, and while they succeeded in getting me invested, it was just barely. Just as the story starts to take off and the characters begin to effectively work together, the season ends and we're left in this uneasy middle ground between anticipating more, and forgetting that it even happened. Because it doesn't necessarily end on a cliffhanger, it felt like if I waited another ten seconds, another episode would auto-play and the story would continue. In that sense, The Dragon Prince Season 1 feels less like an entire season than a half season.
If you're curious about The Dragon Prince and want to tap into another grand animated adventure, you should. It begins more confident in its worldbuilding, tone, and themes than Avatar did, but when The Last Airbender finished its first 20 episodes, I was hooked. With The Dragon Prince, I'll have to see more to know whether I'll fall completely in love with this world.
FX's new spinoff series Mayans M.C. has it's roots deeply set in Sons of Anarchy. Find out which connections we've seen so far as Chris breaks down the origins of the Mayans Motorcycle Club and its relationship to SAMCRO.
Siegecraft Commander is now available on the Nintendo Switch!
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