Yet another detail about Red Dead Redemption 2 has come to light--and it has to do with selfies. During our preview recently, we encountered a mission with a character who gave us a camera. You can take out the camera at any time to snap pictures of the gorgeous surroundings, but of course, the first thing we tried to do was take a selfie.
You can take selfies in Red Dead Redemption 2, but not quite in the same way you can in Grand Theft Auto V. Instead of holding the camera and extending your arm, the "selfie" perspective is called "self-portrait" and it shows Arthur Morgan from a further away perspective. Presumably, that's to be era-appropriate, with the camera being set up on a tripod or something of the sort. Still, if you want to snap a picture of Arthur, you do have a means for doing so.
There are a number of different poses--like squatting and standing with your arm on your waist--and expressions you can select from. You can then share your snaps to your Rockstar Social Club page. it's not immediately clear if you can post your selfies directly to social media from the game, but we hope so. If nothing else, you can use the PS4 and Xbox One's built-in sharing functions to accomplish that.
If you want to know more, we've rounded up everything we saw in Red Dead Redemption 2. We got to go hands-on with the game and came away very impressed. We've also broken down all the details you could want in the stories below. This is a big, dense game, and we've only just gotten a taste of it, but it's wildly apparent that there is a lot to take in.
Nintendo's online subscription service for Switch has arrived, and along with online play and cloud save backups, one of the benefits it provides is access to NES - Nintendo Switch Online, a library of classic NES games exclusively for subscribers. There are 20 titles available in the library right now, with more to come every month, and they all feature modern amenities such as save states, HD resolution, and even online play. If you're interested in trying out the latter, however, it may not be readily apparent how exactly to play NES games online with a friend.
If you subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online service, you'll be able to download the NES app from the Switch Eshop or Nintendo's website for free. You'll have unlimited access to this app for as long as your remain a subscriber, and the NES games can be played offline for up to seven days, but you'll need to "check in" periodically to verify that you still have an active subscription.
Once you've installed the NES app, you'll be able to play any of the included NES games either solo or with another player. Many of the titles in the initial lineup feature a dedicated two-player mode, but some, such as The Legend of Zelda, only support one player; in these games, you and your friend will be able to share the same screen and switch between who is controlling the game at any time.
To set up an online session, you'll first need to select the Play Online option from the left sidebar. Once you've chosen that, you'll see the screen below, which displays a box of the players on your friends list who are playing the app online. Chances are the box will say it is unable to find a friend's game session; if so, select the Play While You Wait option beneath the box, and one of your friends will then be able to join you.
The user hosting the session will choose which games are played. If you select one that features a two-player mode, such as Dr. Mario or Super Mario Bros. 3, simply select that option and you'll play together just as you would locally. In any game, you can also move the right control stick on the Switch Pro Controller (or the right Joy-Con's control stick if you're playing with a Joy-Con Grip) to bring up a hand cursor, which you can use to point things out to the other player or applaud by pressing the stick in.
Another benefit Nintendo Switch Online subscribers receive is access to special offers, such as a set of NES-style Joy-Con controllers that only members can purchase. The controllers can only be used to play the aforementioned NES games and don't work in handheld mode, but they can be slotted into the sides of the console to recharge, just as regular Joy-Cons. Each set comes with two controllers and costs $60; if you're a subscriber, you can pre-order the NES Joy-Cons now.
Nintendo is offering Switch Online subscriptions in three increments: one month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three months (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12 months (US $20 / £18 / AU $30). You also have the option to sign up for an annual Family Play, which costs US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55 and can be shared with seven other Nintendo Account holders. If you're on the fence about subscribing, Nintendo is offering a seven-day free trial of the service, but you'll need to opt out of automatic renewals, otherwise it'll become a one-month subscription.
After 10 weeks of challenges, Fortnite Season 5 is drawing to a close, which means Season 6 of the phenomenally popular (and matrimonially detrimental) battle royale game is just around the corner. Developer Epic Games hasn't formally announced when the new season will begin, but all signs indicate that Season 6 will kick off next week. We still don't know what to expect, but the mysterious cube plunged into Loot Lake after making its way around the map.
According to the official Fortnite website, Season 5 is set to conclude on Tuesday, September 25. In the past, Epic would begin a new season just as the previous one was ending, which suggests that Season 6 should arrive shortly after Season 5 officially wraps up. Tuesday is also typically the day the developer rolls out a new Fortnite update, further suggesting that Season 6 will start early next week.
As for what we can expect, the lead up to Season 6 has been fairly quiet, particularly compared to that of Season 5. In the weeks running up to that season, mysterious rifts started to form in the game, which would eventually swallow up Fortnite objects and "drop" them in the real world. There haven't been any unusual happenings on that scale recently, but there have been some strange in-game phenomena. A giant lightning bolt struck the desert last month, leaving the aforementioned a mysterious purple cube in its wake.
Epic hasn't formally commented on the cube or its purpose, but it certainly has some relation to Season 6. It also has some rather strange properties; when it first materialized, it would rejuvenate a player's shields when they stood near it, but striking it would cause them to launch backward and take damage. The cube also began to mysteriously roll around the map, ultimately ending up in Loot Lake--which is now purple and has the same properties as the cube.
Last year, to commemorate the release of Pokemon Gold and Silver on 3DS Virtual Console, The Pokemon Company gave players who purchased either title a free gift: a download code for the Mythical Pokemon Celebi. If you've yet to pick up one of the classic games, you can still do so and receive the free code, but you only have until the end of this week.
The free Celebi code will be given out with a purchase of Pokemon Gold or Silver until this Friday, September 21. This offer only applies to the Gold and Silver versions; Pokemon Crystal, which released on the 3DS Eshop several months after the other two Gen 2 titles, doesn't come with a free code as you're able to catch Celebi in the game after completing the main adventure.
The Celebi code can be redeemed in either Pokemon Sun and Moon or the newer Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon versions. Regardless of which game you claim it in, the Mythical Grass/Psychic-type comes at level 30 and knows the moves Heal Bell, Safeguard, Ancient Power, and Future Sight.
Redeeming the Celebi code is a bit trickier than usual, as you'll first need to go into the 3DS Eshop, access your Account Activity, and look through your receipt for Pokemon Gold or Silver to find the code. You'll then need to input that via the Mystery Gift option in your Gen 7 game of choice. You can see exactly how to redeem the code here.
The next Pokemon Go Community Day is nearly here. This month's event takes place this coming Saturday, September 22, and as usual, it'll give players a chance to capture rare Pokemon and take advantage of other in-game rewards for a brief window of time.
Live previous Community Days, this month's event will be held around the globe, but it will only run for three hours, and its timing will vary depending on which part of the world you live in. You can find the full schedule for each major region, as taken from the official Pokemon website, below.
Every Community Day stars a special "featured Pokemon" that will spawn much more frequently in the wild than it typically does for the duration of the event. This month, the featured Pokemon is the Gold and Silver starter Chikorita. On top of appearing in greater numbers than usual, you'll also have your first chance of encountering a Shiny Chikorita during the event.
Each Community Day also provides an opportunity to get a Pokemon with a special move that it cannot typically learn in the game. This time around, any Bayleef that you manage to evolve into Meganium before the Community Day ends will learn the powerful Grass-type attack Frenzy Plant, even if they were caught outside of the event.
Niantic will also provide a few other bonuses as an incentive to take part in this month's Community Day. First, you'll earn triple the usual amount of XP for capturing Pokemon. Lure Modules will also last longer than they normally do; any that are used during the event will remain active for three hours, rather than their typical 30-minute duration.
While you're out participating in the latest Community Day, you may also have a chance of encountering a Mewtwo. As part of the Ultra Bonus Event, the Legendary Psychic-type will appear in regular Raid Battles for the first time from September 20 - October 23. Previously, Mewtwo could only be found through the invite-only EX Raids.
Nintendo's online subscription service for Switch has launched, and one of the benefits you get for subscribing is access to a library of NES games. Each of these classic titles supports some form of online play, whether that be competing directly against another player in Balloon Fight or taking turns controlling the action in a traditionally single-player title, but until recently, it had been unclear whether or not the NES games could be played offline. It turns out they can, but there's a slight caveat.
According to the FAQ page on Nintendo's website, the NES games included in the Nintendo Switch Online service can be played offline for up to seven days. That means you'll periodically need to "check in" online every week in order to verify that you still have an active subscription and maintain your access to the games.
20 NES titles are available now that the Nintendo Switch Online service has launched, including some of the console's most iconic games, with additional titles coming each month. As previously mentioned, each NES game supports online multiplayer; in single-player titles, you'll be able to switch between who's controlling the game, or the second player can use a hand-shaped cursor to point out hints and applaud certain actions. You can take a look at the complete launch lineup below:
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Donkey Kong
Double Dragon
Dr. Mario
Excitebike
Ghosts'n Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
The Legend of Zelda
Mario Bros.
Pro Wrestling
River City Ransom
Soccer
Super Mario. Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
Yoshi
In addition to the NES library, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to back up their Switch data via cloud saves; however, not all Switch games will support the feature, and you'll need to have an active membership in order to keep your cloud saves. There will also be "special offers" exclusive to Switch Online subscribers, such as a pair of NES-shaped Joy-Cons for use with the aforementioned NES titles.
Nintendo offers Switch Online subscriptions in three increments; you'll also have the option to purchase an annual family plan, which will extend the service's benefits to up to eight Nintendo Accounts across multiple consoles. If you're unsure about subscribing, you can sign up for a seven-day free trial, but if you don't cancel before the trial period ends, it will automatically turn into a one-month subscription. You can read more about the service in our roundup of everything we know about Nintendo Switch Online.
Latios and Latias aren't the only Legendary Pokemon players can pick up for free this month. To celebrate the release of the newest Pokemon TCG expansion, Dragon Majesty, The Pokemon Company has announced it is giving away a free Poipole in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon--but as usual, the way to claim it will vary by region.
Originally unveiled under the codename UB Adhesive, Poipole is one of the new Ultra Beasts introduced in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, meaning you'll need to own one of those two versions to receive it. What makes this particular Poipole special is that it's a Shiny; unlike most of the ones you're likely to encounter in the game, this one is white and gold rather than the usual purple.
In the US, the Shiny Poipole will be given away as a download code at GameStop stores from September 17 - October 7. In the UK, players will be able to pick up a code for the Pokemon at Smyths stores from September 17 - October 15. Poipole will be distributed throughout the rest of Europe in the September Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter.
Unlike most of the other Legendary Pokemon given away this year, this Poipole comes at level 40 and isn't carrying any held items. It also knows the moves Venom Drench, Nasty Plot, Poison Jab, and Dragon Pulse. It needs to know the latter move and level up in order to evolve into the Poison/Dragon Pokemon Naganadel.
The aforementioned Latios and Latias are this month's free gifts as part of the ongoing Year of Legendary Pokemon promotion. The pair are claimable in any seventh-generation Pokemon game, although the one you receive will depend on which version you own. You can read how to get them here. You can also see the other freebies available now in our roundup of all the free Pokemon for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Listen up, soccer fans: FIFA 19 is set to launch on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 28. The game looks to be shaping up nicely. In fact, this installment marks the first game in the franchise to hold the official Champions League license since the 2007 spin-off UEFA Champions League 2006-2007, giving FIFA a near monopoly over the world's major soccer licenses.
Whether that news has you looking to get into the franchise for the first time, or you're a long-time fan who buys the newest edition each year, you might be wondering what editions of FIFA 19 are available, how much they cost, and where to pre-order. We have you covered on all counts below. Read on for the goods.
FIFA 19 Standard Edition
Suggested Retail Price: $60
This is the standard version of the game. Pre-ordering the Standard Edition nets you five Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (one per week for five weeks), Cristiano Ronaldo as a loan item for seven FUT matches, and Special Edition FUT kits designed by FIFA soundtrack artists.
The Champions Edition costs $20 more than the standard edition, but it gets you everything in the Standard Edition, plus a number of extras. Buying the Champions Edition bumps your FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs up to 20 (one per week for 20 weeks), nets you a UEFA Champions League Gold Player Pick (choose one of five 80 to 83 rated gold players from qualified teams), and adds Neymar Jr. loan items for seven FUT matches.
Like with the Standard Edition, pre-ordering from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate redeemable at Best Buy. And regardless of where you pre-order the Champions Edition, you'll get access to the game three days early (September 25).
The Ultimate Edition is the most expensive version of FIFA 19 but it offers the largest collection of loot. With the Ultimate Edition, players get everything from the Champions Edition, but their FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs is upped to 40 (two per week for 20 weeks).
Like the Champions Edition, if you pre-order the Ultimate Edition, you get access to the game three days early (September 25). The Ultimate Edition is not available for Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo's online subscription service for Switch is finally. The service rolled out earlier this week, and you'll now need to have an active subscription in order to play most Switch games online going forward. If you're still undecided about signing up, Nintendo offers a free trial--but like most trial periods, you'll be charged if you forget to cancel.
Switch owners can now sign up for one seven-day free trial of the Switch Online service from the console's Eshop. However, as detailed on Nintendo's website, if you don't disable automatic renewal before the trial period ends, your trial will automatically convert into a one-month subscription, which runs for US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6.
In addition to online play, the Nintendo Switch Online service provides subscribers with access to a library of classic NES games. 20 titles are available at launch, with more to be added to the service on a regular basis. These classic games also boast online play and other modern amenities, such as HD resolution, voice chat through the Nintendo Switch Online phone app, and save states.
A new month is now upon us, and The Pokemon Company is continuing its Year of Legendary Pokemon campaign with another pair of free Legendaries for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. During September, players will be able to claim one of the two Eon Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire, Latios and Latias, but as usual, the way to get your hands on them will vary by region.
Once again, those who live in the US will need to go to a participating retailer to pick up a free download code for the Legendaries. This time, the code will be distributed at Best Buy stores around the country from September 2-29. Players in Europe and Australia, meanwhile, will be able to download the Legendaries directly from the Nintendo Network between September 1-23.
As usual, the Pokemon you receive will depend on which version you're playing. You can claim the Legendaries in any seventh-generation Pokemon game, but there's an added incentive to redeem them in the Ultra titles; not only will the Legendaries come at higher levels and know different moves, they'll be equipped with a Gold Bottle Cap, a rare item that can be exchanged to Hyper Train a Pokemon. You can see their movesets and other details below.
Pokemon Ultra Sun
Latias -- Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
Mist Ball
Psychic
Draco Meteor
Tailwind
Pokemon Sun
Latias -- Level 60
Mist Ball
Dragon Pulse
Psycho Shift
Wish
Pokemon Ultra Moon
Latios -- Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
Luster Purge
Psychic
Draco Meteor
Tailwind
Pokemon Moon
Latios -- Level 60
Luster Purge
Dragon Pulse
Psycho Shift
Dragon Breath
To get the Legendary, select Mystery Gift from the main menu and choose the option to receive your gift with a code/password. Enter the download code you picked up and the Pokemon will be downloaded into your game. (Players in Europe and Australia, meanwhile, will simply need to select the option to receive their gift via the internet.) Once those steps have been completed, you'll be able to pick your Legendary up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center around Alola.
You also still have time to redeem your download code for August's free Legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre. If you still haven't picked one up, however, you're out of luck, as codes for the Ruby and Sapphire cover monsters were only being given away from GameStop stores until August 26. You can see all of the other free Pokemon available for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon right now in our roundup.
Like 2010's Red Dead Redemption, October's Red Dead Redemption 2 will let you skin animals and sell their meat for profit (assuming it doesn't go bad first). But the skinning animation in the sequel is extremely different from what you might remember--and it's a lot more intense.
During my time with the game, tracked and killed a deer in Red Dead Redemption 2's open world. I walked up to it and pressed the button to enter the skinning animation. I was not prepared for what happened next. In one seamless animation, Arthur Morgan plunges his knife into the animal, sending its guts spilling onto the ground. He then removes the fur, and you see the fur peel back over the animal's body. It was shocking.
By contrast, in the 2010 game, the camera cut away from the animal as John Marston plunged his knife into it to remove the meat. Blood splashed on the screen, and Marston sometimes makes remarks about the animal smelling bad. But in the sequel, the animal-skinning experience gets elevated to a new, more visceral level with Arthur Morgan in the driver's seat.
We only saw the skinning animation for the medium-sized deer, and we can only imagine what it will look like for bigger animals like bears, as well as alligators and more.
We also learned a little more about hunting. Once you kill an animal and skin it, you can place it on the back of your horse to bring to a town to sell. The meat and the pelt are separate objects in the game, sitting on your steed independently.
Once you reach a town, you can sell the meat and the pelt like you could in Red Dead Redemption 1. But one of the twists for the sequel is that you must sell the meat in a timely fashion to get the best price. Wait too long and merchants will pay less for your time-spoiled meat.
Also new for the sequel is hunting-related advancements to Dead Eye. You will eventually earn upgrades for Dead Eye that let you target specific animal organs when you shoot. This is important because getting clean kills through the heart will keep the meat in its best condition. Fail to drop an animal cleanly, and you might see it squirming on the ground in pain. If this happens, you might want to put the animal out of its misery.
For even more on Red Dead Redemption 2, check out our hands-on preview that looks at two stories missions and some open-world exploration. We've got even more coverage through the links below.
Like Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar's next big open-world adventure, Red Dead Redemption 2, will feature a sprawling online component titled Red Dead Online. The mode will launch as a public beta this fall, and judging by the level of support GTA Online has enjoyed, it will likely receive a regular stream of updates for a long time to come. With a second open-world multiplayer game to support now, fans may wonder if GTA Online's updates will slow down, but Rockstar assures this won't be the case.
In an interview with IGN, Rockstar North director of design Imran Sarwar said the developer still intends to support GTA V's online mode after Red Dead Online arrives. "We still have big plans for Grand Theft Auto Online and we will continue to roll out updates for the foreseeable future," Sarwar said.
To avoid competition between its two big online games, Sarwar says Rockstar hopes to "stagger" updates for each one out so that players will be able to keep up with both, but there may be some overlap. "We vaguely plan to stagger the updates of both games so that players can switch between the two, but our development plans may not always allow this!" Sarwar said.
Rockstar still hasn't revealed many details about Red Dead Online. According to the studio, the mode is "an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience in the original Red Dead Redemption, blending narrative with competitive and cooperative gameplay in fun new ways." The public beta will go live sometime this November; those who own Red Dead Redemption 2 will be able to jump in for free, although the studio warns "there will inevitably be some turbulence at launch" given the scale of the endeavor.
When Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted, Sony touted PS4-exclusive content and promised we would hear "more details soon." A year later and even having gotten hands-on with the PlayStation 4 version of the game, we still have no idea what it is.
"We are pleased to announce that PS4 players get first access to earn select online content in the vast open world of Red Dead Redemption 2," said a post on the PlayStation Blog. "Check back on PlayStation Blog for more details soon and for all of the latest information on Red Dead Redemption 2."
This is noted "online content" specifically, so it would make sense for it to be tied to the recently revealed Red Dead Online multiplayer mode, which will launch roughly a month after single-player game. It stands to reason that any announcement would have to wait for Rockstar to take the wraps off of Red Dead Online, but now that it has, we can likely expect more firm details on the exclusive content to be on the way as well. With the game fast approaching, this could help fans determine which version to pre-order.
Like Rockstar's previous open-world adventure, Grand Theft Auto V, the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 will be playable in both first- and third-person. The third-person camera is the default perspective, as in the original Red Dead Redemption, but you can also choose to play from a first-person viewpoint, lending a much different feel to the experience.
As was the case with GTA V, the first-person perspective can help bring you into the game at a deeper level. Riding a horse in first-person gives you a new sense of perspective and place, while combat can feel more confronting. Some wacky stuff can happen, too. In my session, I was walking through town in first-person when I got run over by a horse who was trotting by. With a third-person camera I would have seen it coming.
GTA V launched in 2013 without a first-person option. It was added to the game when GTA V launched years later on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The feature was also included with the subsequent PC release--a platform Red Dead Redemption 2 is only rumored to be coming to. RDR2 is taking after GTA V in a number of ways beyond just this camera view; its multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, will launch as a beta a month after the base game's release.
For more details, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 preview that covers everything we learned from going hands-on with the game. We have even more information through the links below.
The mysterious purple cube in Fortnite has finally stopped moving. It ended up falling into Loot Lake and melting. No one really knows why or what any of it means. But hey, Season 6 is right around the corner and will hopefully provide some answers.
It's anyone's guess as to what's actually happening in Fortnite: Battle Royale in the meantime. Weeks ago, a giant purple rift in the sky started shooting out lightning and destroying objects. The final strike left behind a massive purple cube in the middle of the desert. Covered in strange glowing symbols, the cube reacted differently depending on how players interacted with it.
A few weeks after that, the cube suddenly began moving on its own and rolling across the map. It finally ended up splashing into Loot Lake, where it promptly melted and filled the once pristine water with a mysterious purple goo. As you might imagine, this chain of events has both excited and perplexed Fortnite's players, who've taken to Twitter to discuss the latest developments.
Michael Anderson (@nminus1) immediately wanted to know what the new name for the lake should be. Loot Lake just doesn't seem to do the body of water justice anymore.
We're thinking Purple Pool or Leaping Lagoon. Why Leaping Lagoon? Because--as Martita (@MartitaaCano) discovered--the cube has made the entire body of water into a giant trampoline.
Jumping on the pool of water is more than just fun. @Bigus_Daddius discovered that bouncing on the lake while in the shopping cart can net you some seriously large rewards.
So it turns out you can get a very high score on the lake since the Cube melted with a Golf Cart. I think I reached the highest as it wouldn't go up anymore. Have to do spins - quite fun as can't really control it lol. #fortnite@FortniteGame@FortnitesMobilepic.twitter.com/FF9HzqYFsf
If you want to see the new lake yourself, just jump into a round of battle royale in Fortnite. The game is available on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
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. [Update: The cube has indeed made its way to Loot Lake, where it sank or melted. The water is now purple and causes you to bounce, just like the cube did.]
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.
Since the launch of Destiny 2: Forsaken, players have been hard at work getting ready for the next Raid. Though we're still in the dark about what sort of challenges the Last Wish Raid will have, we do know that it finally takes us away from the Leviathan, and will offer the most challenging six-player mission to date. But as many players discovered after finishing the main campaign, the new soft cap of 500 Power brings in a rather steep climb to overcome for Guardians looking forward to the next big activity.
Historically, the Power and Engram systems have undergone major changes and revisions with each big expansion, and Forsaken is no different. Ahead of the expansion's launch, the game has seen some updates to the frequency of loot drops and the systems that players have become accustomed to. With a minimum power level of 550 required for the upcoming Raid, players will have to take advantage of every resource and opportunity they have available to them to prepare for what's to come. With this in mind, we've come up with 5 useful tips to help you get ready for the upcoming Raid, which releases on Friday, September 14.
Finish The Campaign And Embrace The New Grind
Firstly, it's important that you finish the main campaign for the Forsaken DLC. While this may seem obvious, completing the story is the fastest way to reach level 50 and 500 power level for your Guardian. As you're taking on the story missions and Adventures throughout the campaign, you'll be swimming in new gear--mostly blue items--while getting accustomed to the new changes added into the Forsaken expansion. What's abundantly clear is that many of the alterations to Destiny 2's established systems have removed some shortcuts and dialed down certain methods players liked to use to get over the hump.
Once you reach 500 power level, you'll encounter the first soft cap for leveling. Going forward, most blue and purple gear found from ordinary drops, vendors, and standard missions will cap at 500, and you'll need to take advantage of the more challenging missions to steadily increase your power. But bare in mind, just when you start hitting your stride and rise in power, another soft-cap at 520 awaits. Just remember, there is no quick way to increase your strength; it will take time to steadily buff your character's stats from here on out.
Acquire Powerful And Prime Engrams
In order to overcome the steep climb past 500, you'll need to acquire the new type of rewards found from completing the harder bounties and milestones. Similar to the Luminous Engrams from the original Destiny 2, Powerful Engrams are the rare loot you can find from completing key missions and milestones around the various planets and activities you can take part in. These Engrams house Legendary and Exotic gear--the latter of which have also seen reduced drop rates. In addition to Powerful Engrams, Prime Engrams have also been thrown into the mix.
While the Cryptarch Master Rahool has taken a less hands-on role with cracking open Engrams--most of which unlock instantly--you'll need his help to open up Prime Engrams. Unlike Powerful Engrams, however, Prime Engrams require Prime Attunement, a special buff that comes only once a day. With the prime attunement, the special Engram can drop from powerful enemies in public events, Strikes, and Heroic missions, and from taking part in multiplayer matches. Though totally RNG-based, it's generous enough where it will only take a few missions to see a drop. Interestingly enough, Prime Attunement can stack if you don't take advantage of it on the day you receive it--it will carry over to the following day. The gains you can get from these special Engrams can offer up an increase of 5 power on the specific item, which may not seem a lot, but can go a long way in upping your strength. To sum it up, be sure to keep an eye out for powerful enemies in the strikes and heroic missions, and stay focused during PvP to get those drops.
Keep Up With Daily And Weekly Bounties
Though the usefulness of bounties took a backseat throughout the first year of Destiny 2 compared to the original game, Forsaken has brought them back in a big way. Over the course of the main story, you'll interact with many of Destiny 2's key characters, including newcomers Spider and The Drifter, along with other returning characters like Petra and the members of the Vanguard. Several of the key NPCs will offer daily and weekly bounties for you to take on. The bulk of these bounties don't require much effort and can be accomplished while engaging in other activities. While a number of these tasks will only yield glimmer, materials, and other rewards, the resources gained can be turned in for rewards to vendors and NPCs.
However, there are several high-profile bounties that are far more challenging and only come once a week. Found from Petra and Spider, some of these bounties will task you with heading to some of the more obscure areas of Destiny 2's worlds to find hidden targets. The higher-tiered bounties from Spider will have you confront the escapees from the Prison of Elders, while Petra's bounties at the Dreaming City will task you with handling many of the new location's unique events and missions, some of which are a bit more complex than they let on. But when it comes to bounties, always check in Petra and Spider to stay up to date on the newest goals they have to offer.
Head To The Dreaming City
After finishing the main story, you'll eventually gain entrance to the Dreaming City, the new end-game zone in Forsaken. While exploring the Dreaming City, you'll find several events around the map that are a bit different from what's available on the Tangled Shore and other planets. Once you visit Petra in The Strand, you can take on a number of bounties and pursuits, both of which can offer Powerful Engram rewards. From here, you can explore the area and engage with the key points within the Dreaming City.
One of Petra's pursuits tasks you with completing an Ascendant Challenge, a new weekly activity bringing Guardians to the Taken realm. By using a Tincture of Queensfoil, found from public events and chests around the Dreaming City, you'll gain access to a hidden portal on the map. Every week, this portal's location is changed from three different areas, and they can only be found after consuming the aforementioned Tincture of Queensfoil. Inside the Ascendant Realm, you'll engage with several powerful Taken while completing minor goals. It's best to complete these with a group, as you can get easily overwhelmed. Completing the Ascendant Challenge pursuit from Petra will reward you with a Powerful Engram.
However, the clear standout in the Dreaming City is the public event known as The Blind Well. Similar to The Taken King's Court of Oryx, it's a multi-tiered activity within the open world that tasks players with taking out increasingly difficult waves of Scorn and Taken. While most players can take part in the first tier challenge of The Blind Well by using a Tier 1 Charge of Light (found from most activities in the field or by purchasing them from Petra), the upper tiers are much more difficult to carry out. With that said, Tier 1 of The Blind Well is manageable. To gain a guaranteed Powerful Engram, complete the Gateway Between Worlds pursuit from Petra by clearing the activity multiple times, which will earn you an Offering. Take this item to the Oracle Engine in The Dreaming City, located in the Spine of Keres, to collect your reward.
Pace Yourself And Complete Milestone Challenges
Along with collecting Prime Engrams and completing bounties from Petra and Spider, the most important thing you can do to power up is to stay on top of your weekly and daily milestone challenges. From the director menu, you'll be able to see the available activities across the various game modes and planets that will offer up Powerful Engrams. These include vanguard Strikes, Nightfalls, flashpoint, and clearing games in the Crucible and Gambit modes. Also, be sure to keep up with your clan bounties as well, as maxing your rep can also lead to powerful engram. Along with taking on the bounties from various NPC characters, you'll be able to acquire materials and other rewards while clearing out these challenges.
As previously stated, the grind post 500 power will take some time to overcome. With the Raid requiring 550 power, and with yet another hill to climb once you hit 520, you'll need to stay on to top of all these activities and bounties in order to reach Raid status in a reasonable amount of time. With that said, there's still much to be gained from completing the game's shifting challenges, which you get you up to right power level sooner than you think.
For more info on Destiny 2: Forsaken, be sure to check out our review in progress, along with our look at the game's new lineup of Exotics for all three characters classes.
Rockstar recently began to take the wraps off Red Dead Online, the separate online component of Red Dead Redemption 2 that will launch in beta a month after the main game. The roadmap sounds similar to that of GTA 5's GTA Online, given that Rockstar is already warning of some growing pains and signaling plans for long-term support with community feedback. The studio has also opened up about what it learned from GTA Online, and how this one will differ.
"One of the biggest differences between GTA and Red Dead universes is that you're often speeding through or flying over a GTA world, whereas in Red Dead Redemption the change of pace elevates the intimacy of the overall experience," Rockstar San Diego producer Josh Needleman told IGN. "We've tried to take the best elements and best content packs from Grand Theft Auto Online and use them for templates for what we are making here."
Needleman also said that the original Red Dead multiplayer fractured the audience as it added more content updates. The team learned that lesson and corrected it in GTA Online, and plans to make sure not to repeat those mistakes. He also suggested that GTA Online didn't really find its narrative voice until the advent of Heists, so the team is looking to that as an example.
None of this means GTA Online itself is going anywhere, though. It's been consistently supported for years since launch, and Rockstar North design director Imran Sarwar says that won't change.
"We vaguely plan to stagger the updates of both games so that players can switch between the two, but our development plans may not always allow this!" Sarwar said. "We think there will be a lot to love about Red Dead Online for fans of Grand Theft Auto Online, but we think that Red Dead Online will generate its own audience ready for something entirely new – however, exactly what form Red Dead Online will take as it finds it's feet, we are not sure ourselves, but we think really want a focus on role-playing and morality."
We know Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place in a massive open world, but that setting is now beginning to come into focus. Developer Rockstar Games has updated the Red Dead Redemption 2 website to include new information on the "frontier, cities, and towns" that players will find in the upcoming western. We've also learned the first details about Red Dead Online.
It appears there will be a great diversity of locations in Red Dead Redemption 2. One of the locales is Valentine, in The Heartlands of New Hanover. This is a "raucous, rough-and-tumble town" featuring livestock auctions. According to the game's website, these auctions "attract traders, ranchers, cowboys, gamblers, outlaws and prostitutes from far and wide, all looking to make some money, raise some hell, and have a good time."
Another location is Annesburg, in Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. This is a mining town next to the Lannahechee River. "Working conditions are terrible for little pay, and many men have lost their lives down the pit," reads a line from the town's description.
Players can also travel to a city called Saint Denis in a different region called Lemoyne. Described as a "bustling city," the region is populated with "businessmen, socialites, sailors, laborers, beggars, and thieves" living together.
There are also snowy regions, like the Grizzlies in Ambarino, as well as a bayou town called Lagras with alligators in the water. Go to Rockstar's website to see a rundown of the locations you can explore in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2 launches on October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In addition to a campaign, the game will have a multiplayer mode called Red Dead Online featuring PlayStation-exclusive content. As was the case with Grand Theft Auto V's GTA Online mode, however, this won't be available right at launch; rather, it'll arrive sometime in November 2018, first as a public beta.
Devil May Cry 5 is heading to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 8, 2019. A direct sequel to 2008's Devil May Cry 4, this installment kicks off when a murderous tree bursts through the ground in Red Grave City and begins draining residents of their blood. Enter Nero, who sets about slaying the demonic hordes that spring up around town. Before long, he's joined by series regular Dante and another hero, all of whom have different--yet equally stylish and fluid--fighting styles. For more information, check out our Devil May Cry 5 hands-on preview.
Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or you're looking to dip your toe in these demonic waters for the first time, you may be itching to place a pre-order for the game. Luckily for you, we've gathered all the information you need to make an informed decision below.
Devil May Cry 5 Pre-Order Bonus
If you pre-order Devil May Cry 5 from certain retailers, you'll get a handful of in-game items. Standard edition pre-orders come with the alternate costumes seen in the image above. Pre-order the Deluxe edition, and you'll get an additional 100,000 Red Orbs. Pre-ordering either edition on PS4 also gets you a Devil May Cry 5 PS4 theme.
If you want some extra in-game goodies with your copy of Devil May Cry 5, you can pick up the Deluxe edition for an additional $10. It comes with the following in-game items:
Devil Breaker weapons: Mega Buster, Pasta Breaker, Sweet Surrender, Gerbera GP-01
Dante weapon: Cavalier R
Alternative voices: style rank announcers, title calls
Behind-the-scenes live action cutscenes
Battle music: 3 tracks each from Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, Devil May Cry 3, and Devil May Cry 4
Here's where you can pre-order the Deluxe Edition.
We may be only in the middle of 2018, but there's already an exciting roster of games releasing in 2019. Highly-anticipated games like Anthem, Days Gone, and Kingdom Hearts III make up only a small number of what's ahead. And that's not to mention the all the big games recently revealed at E3, like Resident Evil 2 Remake, Gears 5, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which we can't wait to get our hands on. To help you keep track of all the games coming out next year, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2019 so far.
More dates are sure to be confirmed as the year goes on, so be sure to check back often as we update this article with new additions or potential changes. But if you're looking for this year's release dates, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2018.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime in 2019. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
As is to be expected from a new project that Rockstar has been working on for years, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an incredibly dense open-world game that's jam-packed full of details. We recently got to go hands-on with the high-anticipated sequel, and while playing we discovered numerous mechanics and details that go above and beyond those from the original Red Dead Redemption. While the game features improvements to pre-existing mechanics, there are light survival systems this time around. These require you to pay attention to things like your body temperature, gun maintenance, and meat expiration. As fans of the original, all of these new details are surprising and unexpected. But what has us the most enthused about it all is how these mechanics are likely to foster tons of ridiculous shenanigans in the game's world--especially once Red Dead Online releases.
We got to experience many of the new systems at work--most of which you can read about in our comprehensive feature compiling them all. But there were some fascinating standouts we wanted to highlight that we feel will contribute to some of the game's most memorable and entertaining moment-to-moment experiences. Included in this feature are nine of the most unexpected mechanics and details in Red Dead Redemption 2.
If you haven't already seen our Red Dead Redemption 2 preview covering the story missions we saw, make sure to read it for our in-depth impressions on the game. Though, if you want to get caught up with everything there is to know about Red Dead Redemption 2, check out our roundup of everything we've learned about RDR2. In the meantime, what details are you most excited to experience in Red Dead Redemption 2? Let us know in the comments below.
Clothes Make The Outlaw
The game's clothing customization options are comprehensive--each character will have different sets to coincide with hot and cold weather conditions. The type of clothes you wear will affect Arthur's performance. For example, if you wear a weighty jacket during a hot summer day, your running stamina will take a big hit.
Other customizations will allow layering and minor adjustments, like the option to roll up your sleeves or tuck your pants into your boots. Whatever you end up choosing, you're free to craft Arthur into the high plains drifter you want him to be.
You Can Fire Warning Shots And Whistle For Fun
By having your gun unholstered and holding Up on the d-pad, you can fire warning shots into the air. This is handy for intimidating people, scaring off animals, or generally being a rowdy buffoon while you're riding around.
Speaking of possible buffoonery, you can even whistle at people to get their attention or call your horse. And if you keep holding down the button, you can keep whistling until Arthur runs out of breath. Imagine combining both warning shots and whistling; you'll become the countryside menace you've always dreamed of being.
Your Guns Can Degrade And Jam
You need to take care of your weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2. You have the option to clean them, which is incredibly important to do regularly because guns can jam mid-fire due to disrepair and environmental conditions. You don't want to be caught with a rusted gun--lest you seek to dig yourself an early grave.
Hunted Materials Can Rot And Be Damaged
The components you acquire from hunting all have an expiration date. If you're not careful, time will eventually take its toll and both the fresh pelt and carcass you've acquired will start to rot and attract vermin, reducing its value and making you generally unpleasant to be around. Not only that, but if you use a firearm to kill an animal as opposed to an arrow or knife, its pelt will be damaged and will sell for less at local stores.
Cleaning, Grooming, And Feeding Yourself
Speaking of unpleasantness, NPCs will react not just to the stink of your rotting deer corpse, but also if you haven't taken a bath in a while. Arthur needs to get clean and change his clothes every once in a while, since townsfolk may refuse to talk or serve him based on his appearance--having blood on your jacket doesn't attract the best reactions.
Time also has an effect on Arthur's hair, which actually grow longer. Customizing Arthur's haircut and facial hair styling is also dependent on length since you're allowed to cut things shorter, but won't have access to options that require more hair--a more realistic take on customization compared to GTA V. Of course, you're welcome to not pay attention to grooming. In fact, you can totally rock the mountain man look by just letting Arthur's hair and facial hair grow to its max.
Arthur will need to eat to keep his health and stamina meters up, but will also lose and gain weight depending on his food intake. He'll have to stay active in order to keep in top shape.
You Will Get A Camera
We started a side quest during our time with Red Dead Redemption 2, and the mission giver handed Arthur a camera. This camera could be used at any time via your inventory, and yes, the first thing we did was take a selfie.
These aren't arm-out handheld selfies, though. The mode is titled "self-portrait" and will frame Arthur's whole body as if the camera were set up on a tripod. You'll be able to adjust expressions and poses, too--expect to see a whole bunch of self-portraits depicting Arthur squatting in front of various things on Twitter once the game releases.
You Can Lose Your Hat
If you're not careful, you can easily lose your hat in the midst of a shootout. If you drop your hat, you need to physically pick it back up to get back to looking like a proper outlaw. Though, if you ride away from your hat, it'll appear as an icon on the map. However, it will reappear back on your horse if you go too far away. Alternatively, Arthur can swap his hat for any other one that just happens to fall off someone else's head. Sometimes you just have to adjust your style on the go.
There's A Killcam That Changes Depending On Your Honor
When you take out the final opponent during a gunfight, a killcam will frame that final blow a la Max Payne 3. This will change depending on Arthur's moral standing: If you've been a naughty cowboy, these kill cams will be gorier. If you've been upstanding and honorable, they'll be framed in a more heroic fashion like those from the classic film Westerns of old.
You Can Break Enemy's Weapons
Speaking of heroic behavior: if you want to go the more non-lethal route, it's possible to shoot weapons out of enemy hands. Not only that, but you can even shoot at their weapons and break them. This seems like a handy technique if you're looking to be an outlaw with a heart of gold as opposed to a straight-up cold-blooded killer.
Horse Dressage And Drifting Techniques
Horses are an important part of Red Dead Redemption 2, but it seems like they're far more capable creatures than they've ever been in previous games. During our hands-on, we were able to rear our horse on its hind legs, perform drifts to change direction quickly (apologies to equestrian enthusiasts), and move our horse precisely by performing dressage techniques.
The release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 is fast approaching--it's due out for PS4 and Xbox One on October 26 (with a rumored PC version to perhaps come some time after that). With launch about a month out, it was surprising that we still knew very little about the game beyond what we could glean from a few previous trailers and screenshot dumps. That all changed today, as the embargo was lifted on a huge amount of information concerning the open-world western game.
We actually got to go hands-on with Rockstar's new game for ourselves, and we learned a much amount about what to expect. Rockstar also shared the first real tidbits about Red Dead Online, the game's multiplayer mode that won't debut until November.
As you'd expect from a new Rockstar game that has been in development for years, this is a deep, detailed game. And as a result, there's a lot to dig into. More information is sure to come between now and launch, but below we've rounded up everything new that we've just learned about the game. For more on how to buy it, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order guide.
We Played Red Dead Redemption 2
A number of us at GameSpot recently got to go hands-on with the game. The demo lasted 90 minutes and included two story missions, but we were also able to check out the open world itself. In addition to writing up everything we saw, we've rounded up all of the new features, as well as the details that surprised us.
Red Dead Redemption Can Be First-Person, Lets You Turn Off The Hud
One of the many ways Red Dead Redemption 2 follows the path that Grand Theft Auto V established is in adding a new perspective. While third-person remains the default, Rockstar has introduced the option to navigate the world with a first-person camera. Additionally, those looking for a less game-like experience can opt to disable the hud.
Like the GTA games of old, Red Dead Redemption did not allow you to swim. But like more recent entires in the series, Red Dead Redemption 2 protagonist Arthur Morgan is capable of jumping into the water--he just doesn't much care for it. Additionally, Arthur gets his hands on a camera, which he can use to take pictures of the world or even himself for some old-school selfies. And when you're on horseback, you'll be able to pull off some neat tricks, like essentially drifting to change directions.
If you were a fan of the music from the original Red Dead Redemption, you're in luck. RDR2 features the return of composer Woody Jackson, and the game's original soundtrack remains quite good.
In what's obviously the most significant bit of news to come out as part of this embargo is word that you can lose your hat. If you want your hat back, you'll have to guide Arthur to where it was lost. Alternatively, you can pick up someone else's hat. This has been your Hat Update.
Red Dead Redemption had a distinct cutscene of sorts that would play out whenever you skinned an animal, but it didn't involve watching the animal be cut up. RDR2 goes a different and much more intense route.
Alongside all of this information, Rockstar shared some new screenshots from the game. In addition to the videos and screens we got recently, these provide yet another look at what to expect from the game's world.
Just prior to all of this information hit, Rockstar actually shared the first details about the game's online component, which is known as Red Dead Online. As with GTA V and GTA Online, Red Dead Online won't launch at the same time as the game. Instead, it'll hit in November--and even then, only in the form of a beta. Rockstar has warned players in advance that they may encounter some difficulties, as it's learned from GTA Online that launching a mode of this magnitude is never going to be problem-free.
If you're a GTA Online fan, you needn't worry. Rockstar reaffirmed it will continue to support that game. In fact, it even plans to stagger the release of updates for it and Red Dead Online to avoid overlapping too heavily.
Red Dead Online, the new "online connected experience" for Red Dead Redemption 2 will not be available at launch. Players will have to wait until sometime in November to try it out, when it debuts in the form of a beta open to all owners of the base game on PS4 and Xbox One.
But why? Design director Imran Sarwar said in a new interview that Rockstar sees the single-player and the multiplayer elements as "separate products." Each will "grow and evolve independently of each other," he told IGN.
Sarwar added that Rockstar learned from previous releases that launching big online games is a tricky task. "There are bound to be a few issues and we want to ensure that we have time to gradually roll out the game and make the experience as smooth as we possibly can for everyone," he explained. "We believe this way of rolling out will give people the best overall experiences with both single player and multiplayer."
The launch of Red Dead Online comes in the form of a public beta, so players can expect the experience to be a work in progress. Rockstar is expecting some "turbulence" at launch, adding that the studio looks forward to working with the community to make Red Dead Online everything it can be.
Rockstar's last big release, Grand Theft Auto V, also saw its single-player and multiplayer modes released separately. GTA Online launched about a month after GTA V came out back in 2013. It had numerous serious and significant issues, for which Rockstar apologised. GTA Online went on to become a massive hit for Rockstar, bringing in mountains of money from its microtransactions. Rockstar will be looking to replicate that success with Red Dead Online, which will also get numerous and frequent updates.
In the wake of the news about Red Dead Online launching after Red Dead Redemption 2, Take-Two's stock dropped today, though only slightly.
Red Dead Redemption 2 launches on October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on the ambitious open-world western.
We've finally learned a lot more about Red Dead Redemption 2 now that we've gotten to go hands-on with it. That includes discovering a ton of new mechanics, from the big (like weapon degradation) to the small but delightful (you can lose your hat and then pick up someone else's). Before this huge information drop, we only knew what we could glean from trailers. One of the notable tidbits we had learned concerned its story. We know that, as a prequel, this tells the story of Dutch's gang, where the first game's protagonist, John Marston, made his outlaw name. However, the new trailer reveals that his family is along for the ride too.
In a pair of blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos, we see both Abigail Marston and her son, Jack. Both of them are sitting at a campfire as the gang gathers around. In a separate scene, Abigail talks to Morgan one-on-one, and the mini-map at one point shows an "A" icon--possibly for Abigail. It seems the whole Marston family will factor into this story.
Conspicuously absent is John Marston's daughter, who was mentioned but unnamed in the first Red Dead Redemption. She was said to have died of a fever a couple years after he left Dutch's gang, so it's possible she'll factor into the story too, and simply wasn't seen in the footage released today. Alternately, she could have both been born and passed away after Marston left the gang.
The rest of the trailer focused mostly on how Morgan and his gang will operate within the world, moving from the heartland to the Wild West as law enforcement chases them out of their hideouts. And naturally, it's full of sweeping vistas of mountain ranges and prairies, dangerous wildlife, card games, and shoot-outs. This trailer kicks off a series that will explore the gameplay systems in-depth, and more are on the way.
Take-Two has staked a claim that that RDR2 will "redefine" gaming. Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Rockstar unveiled a deluge of new details about its highly anticipated open-world game, Red Dead Redemption 2. As part of the big information blowout, the developer released more than two-dozen new screenshots from the upcoming western, showcasing protagonist Arthur Morgan, some of the other characters you'll encounter, and the stunning environments you and the Van der Linde gang will trek through on your adventure across the American frontier.
The first set of images, which you can take a look at below, show off Morgan and various other members of the Van der Linde gang doing shooty things and riding horses across numerous and varied gorgeous outdoor and indoor environments. Click through the images in the gallery to see all of the newly released shots, and be sure to click each picture to bring it up in full size.
In this next wave of screenshots, Rockstar really shows off its attention to detail. This lead image of the revolver showcases its intricate design, while you'll see in one of the other images that horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 look stunningly realistic and all-around really, really good.
And in this final wave of new images, we see more of Arthur and company blasting enemies and another shot of Arthur on his horse overlooking a town in the distance.
If you're curious about what you're seeing, we cover everything we witnessed in our Red Dead Redemption 2 hands-on preview. We discuss the two story missions we got to play through, as well as the other new features we discovered during our hands-on session with the open-world game. For even more, check out all of our coverage below.
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. If this isn't enough for you, Rockstar subsequently shared even more screenshots for you to peruse.
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.
We've finally gotten to play Red Dead Redemption 2, and there's quite a lot to take in. We had largely been in the dark on what to expect from many areas of the game, although an earlier gameplay trailer did reveal new mechanics behind how protagonist Arthur Morgan will interact with the world, his gang, and even his horses and assorted wildlife. Rockstar is making sure that the world and its inhabitants can be interacted with in ways aside from shoot-outs, and one large part of that is an expanded conversation system.
In the trailer, Morgan is seen interacting with characters in a variety of ways based on contextual conversation prompts. Two prompts are available at a time, and they change based on actions you've already taken. We see prompts for Greet, Defuse, Antagonize, Threaten, Dismiss, Beat, Rob, and Choke, among others.
In practice, the trailer shows a few examples. Arthur antagonizes a local into fighting, and later defuses a tense situation with a man brandishing a gun by telling him he doesn't care about his business. He stops a witness by firing a warning shot, and then he can threaten him to keep him quiet. At one point he comes along a man hanging precariously from a ledge, and can either help him up or kill him. That segment of the trailer ends by saying it's up to you decide just how honorable Arthur Morgan is.
While the focus of the new trailer was definitely gameplay, we got a little hint of story as well, including the return of some notable characters. RDR2 releases on October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, although its multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, does't come out until November.
Rockstar has taken the wraps off of its plans for Red Dead Redemption 2's online mode, named simply Red Dead Online. As was the case with Grand Theft Auto V's online component, GTA Online, Red Dead Online will not launch alongside the game itself; instead, it will debut sometime in November 2018--one month after Redemption 2 itself releases--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.
Nintendo fans have had it good for a long, long time. Unlike Xbox and PlayStation owners, they've never had to pay to play their games online. This free period, like all good things, has come to an end. With the launch of Nintendo Switch Online--which is now live with the 6.0 system update--Nintendo has begun charging for online play, although there is a free seven-day trial available to sample it first.
As with Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus, anyone who wants to get the most out of their Switch will all but have to subscribe. (Note: this doesn't affect Wii U or Nintendo 3DS owners; online service for those systems will remain free). And while it's not ideal having to pay for something you used to get for nothing, you won't have much of a choice.
Here's a look at everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch Online.
Pricing
First, some good news: Nintendo Switch Online costs significantly less than the competition. While you have to pay $60 for a year's subscription to Sony and Microsoft's services, Nintendo only charges $20. You can order a subscription here. Here's the breakdown of pricing for a single account holder.
One month -- $4
Three months -- $8
One year -- $20
If you have multiple people in your house who want their own accounts, you'll need to spring for the family plan. It costs $35 per year and allows up to eight people to play online.
Now let's take a look at what you get for your money.
If you look at the Eshop page for online first-party games like Mario Tennis Aces, you'll see Nintendo has added a disclaimer warning that online play will require a subscription. Free games like Fortnite don't have the disclaimer and can continued to be played online for free.
Nintendo Switch Online App
Some games, like Fortnite, have voice chat built in. Unfortunately, many games--including Nintendo's first-party titles--don't. And while voice chat is a standard built-in feature for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live, that's not the case with Nintendo Switch Online.
This feature is already in place, but to talk with other players while playing online, you need to download the Nintendo Switch Online app (you can grab it here: iOS, Android). Yes, you'll need two separate devices to play and talk to people online.
Save Data Cloud Backup
If you were to lose your Nintendo Switch and buy a new one, all of your save data would be gone forever. But with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, most of your save data is backed up on Nintendo's servers.
Unfortunately, it's not all sunshine and cool breezes when it comes to Nintendo's cloud saves. Some games don't support online save data, and if you let your subscription lapse, you could lose your saves.
Access to Classic NES Games
PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscribers get free games each month they can download and play on their respective systems. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will get a similar benefit, but with much older games.
When Nintendo Switch Online launches, subscribers will get access to a selection of 20 classic NES titles. The games will also have added online play, so you won't need your second player to be in the same room with you. Here's the launch lineup of NES games:
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Donkey Kong
Double Dragon
Dr. Mario
Excitebike
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
The Legend of Zelda
Mario Bros.
Pro Wrestling
River City Ransom
Soccer
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Soccer
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
Yoshi
Nintendo has also announced what games are coming to the service through the end of the year. In October, we'll get Solomon's Key, NES Open, and Super Dodge Ball. November will bring Metroid, Mighty Bomb Jack, and Twinbee. In December, Nintendo will add Wario's Woods, Ninja Gaiden, and Adventures of Lolo.
Special Offers
Nintendo will also offer exclusive special deals and offers to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. So far, the company has detailed two of these offers. One is a download code for exclusive in-game Splatoon 2 gear that will be available for anyone with a 12-month membership. The other is the ability to purchase the Switch-compatible NES controllers seen above.
That's all we know so far about Nintendo Switch Online. Presumably, more information will be available as the release date nears.
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