In addition to its regular weekly sale on Xbox One games, Microsoft's digital store is running an enormous sale on backward compatible games. Between now and September 10, you can find some fantastic deals on some of the best games the Xbox 360 has to offer--and you can play them all on your Xbox One. We've combed through the deals and picked out some of the highlights below.
Let's kick things off with Red Dead Redemption, which is on sale for $10 / £8. As you've probably heard, it's getting a sequel--really a prequel--on October 26 that promises to set up many of the events of the original game. What better way to prepare for Red Dead Redemption 2 than by picking up the original on sale and playing through it? Several other Rockstar games are on sale as well, including Grand Theft Auto IV ($7 / £6) and Bully: Scholarship Edition ($6 / £5).
Many other major series from the 360 era got discounts. You can pick up any of the BioShock or Borderlands games for under $10 / £8 each. The entire Dead Space trilogy can be yours for less than $15 / £14. And anyone looking to sink their teeth into a meaty RPG can grab Dragon Age: Origins for $4 / £4 or Dragon Age 2 for $8 / £6.
Some of the standalone highlights include the compelling, narrative-driven puzzle game Catherine for $5 / £5, the classic platformer Sonic CD for $3 / £2, and the surprisingly deep meditation on the nature of war, Spec Ops: The Line, for $6 / £4.
These are all fantastic games, and it's convenient you can play them now without having to dust off your old console. You can find more of our picks below, or check out the full list of backward compatible games on sale here.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, the Nintendo Switch version of the 3DS game, is out now, and the critics' reviews are rolling in. Generations Ultimate doesn't stray far from the original, and little has been done to lower the barrier-to-entry to the game (it can be punishingly hard at times), but there have been new additions that do add some freshness to this port.
For starters, you'll have access to two new Hunting Styles (Alchemy and Valor), an additional Elder Dragon, and a new endgame boss. You'll also be able to go on "G Rank" quests that task you with hunting more difficult versions of enemies. Then, there's the crossover content: players can access armor based on Link's Champion's Tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and you're also able to craft a Korok costume for your Palico.
So, are the game's additions and appearance on the Switch enough to warrant its re-release? We've collected a sample of the critics' impressions below. For a broader look at the game's critical reception, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Release date: August 28
Price: $60 / £50
GameSpot -- 7/10
"Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate game is not for the faint of heart. It is a commitment, and it's not something that you genuinely play casually. You can sink dozens of hours into the game and still not get close to conquering the full set of monsters contained within. For those that are down for such an extraordinary adventure, there's more than enough here to thrill and delight. Just know what you're getting into. You will struggle to understand the basics if this is your first Monster Hunter game, but there are incredible rewards should you make it over every one of its initial hurdles." --Daniel Starkey [Full review]
IGN -- 8.3/10
"Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate brings the majority of the series' monsters into one package for a lengthy and exciting hunting extravaganza. While it feels dated in some ways post-Monster Hunter: World, it's a great farewell tour for the old style of the franchise. If you can stomach the pacing problems and obtuse menu systems, it's a worthwhile and challenging trek through the history of Monster Hunter." --Steven Petite [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4.5/5
"While it comes in the form of a no-frills port, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate exists as the most thorough exploration of Monster Hunter to date. If you can get over its 3DS-era visuals, you're in for a seemingly endless experience you can easily devote a lifetime to—and one worth devoting a lifetime to. Whether you're new to the series, someone who started with Monster Hunter World, or just a fan of the previous 3DS games, you're bound to get addicted once MHGU gets its hooks into you. Just don't be afraid to ask for help." --Bob Mackey [Full review]
Fandom -- 4.5/5
"Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate has some of the best kineticism and game feel of any game you can play on handheld consoles right now. Its graduation from 3DS to Switch is nothing short of mind-blowing. Granted, World introduced many quality of life improvements to the series as a whole, but compared to Generations Ultimate, it barely scratches the surface of what Monster Hunter has to offer." --Dom Peppiatt [Full review]
Nintendo Life -- 9.5/10
"Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate may lack the smoothness and accessibility that made Monster Hunter: World such a smash hit, but it more than makes up for it by being a sort of 'greatest hits' collection of the high points of the series, giving you hundreds of hours of content to play through. Couple this with the HD visuals, easy to use multiplayer, and the ability to play the full experience on the go, and you've got a game that will easily appeal to both veterans and newcomers alike. It may not necessarily represent the future of the series, but Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is an utterly fantastic experience in its own right and a worthy follow up to the 3DS original, and one that no Switch owner will want to be without." --Mitch Vogel [Full review]
Press Start -- 8/10
"Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate builds upon the already comprehensive celebration of the Monster Hunter franchise that was established in the original Generations. There is heaps to do here regardless of whether you've played before, and the sheer volume of content on offer here is staggering. Yes, it's slightly less easy to pick up and play than Monster Hunter World, but what Generations Ultimate lacks in polish and pizazz it makes up for with unbridled depth and longevity." --James Mitchell [Full review]
The Daily Dot -- 2.5/5
"While it was clear that Monster Hunter: World would never come to Nintendo Switch, Generations Ultimate is far too much of a compromise. The lack of guidance for newcomers is borderline insulting, and the main draw is content that dedicated fans might have experienced years ago. Playing on Switch does feel great compared to older titles, but I can't call it enough. At the end of the day, Generations Ultimate is a greatest-hits collection that doesn't go out of the way to re-contextualize why the hits are so great in the first place. While it still provides the thrills that made Monster Hunter huge, it's hard to argue the series isn't ready for something else." --AJ Moser [Full review]
PlayStation Plus members can now head to the PSN to pick up their free PS4, PS3, and PS Vita games for September. This month has some excellent games on offer, including most notably Destiny 2. God of War III Remastered is the other big PS4 game, though this month every game is playable on PS4 thanks to Cross Buy.
With the release of Forsaken, Destiny 2 gets its major year-two expansion. You don't get Forsaken with the free version of Destiny 2 for PS Plus members, but at least you can get your feet wet in the game and decide whether or not you want to buy the DLC. God of War III Remastered is the upscaled version of the epic PS3 brawler.
Moving down the line, PS3 owners can pick up the classic action platformer Another World - 20th Anniversary Edition, which lets you switch between the new and original graphics on the fly and adjust the difficulty settings. The other PS3 game is the first-person puzzle game QUBE Director's Cut. Vita owners can grab the puzzle game Sparkle 2 and the co-op brawler Foul Play.
We're not done yet. Sony is offering another pair of PS4 games for free to PS Plus members. You can grab download the smart phone-controlled trivia game Knowledge is Power between now and November 6 and the PSVR horror game Here They Lie through October 2.
You can add all of these games to your account here.
September 2018 PS Plus Games
PS4
Destiny 2
God of War III Remastered
Another World - 20th Anniversary Edition (Cross Buy with PS3 and Vita)
QUBE Director's Cut (Cross Buy with PS3)
Sparkle 2 (Cross Buy with PS3 and Vita)
Foul Play (Cross Buy with Vita)
PS3
Another World - 20th Anniversary Edition (Cross Buy with PS4 and Vita)
Is your collection of Overwatch gear looking a little stale these days? Could you use some extra loot to add a burst of freshness to your characters' skins, emotes, and voice lines? If you're an Amazon / Twitch Prime member, you can grab a free Golden Loot Box right now. All you have to do is hop over to Twitch and click the crown-shaped icon near the search bar. There you'll find a new Overwatch bonus waiting for you. (And if you haven't grabbed September's free PC games, you can pick them up as well).
PC players can hop right into Overwatch to find their loot box waiting for them. Console players can click here to link their PlayStation or Xbox Live account with their Blizzard account. Once you've jumped through the hoops, you're good to go. Read the FAQ if you run into trouble during any of the steps.
Golden Loot Boxes contain a random assortment of goodies for your characters, but they're guaranteed to have at least one Legendary item. You can secure this free loot box between now and October 10, and you'll have to boot up the game to claim it before the end of the year, or you'll lose out.
This Overwatch freebie follows two Wrecking Ball loot boxes Twitch offered to Prime members in August. One additional Golden Loot Box will be free for Prime members in October.
If you don't have a Prime account, you can get a free one-month trial by signing up here. It gets you free two-day shipping on many items and access to Amazon Prime video and music. Also included is Twitch Prime, which gets you a free channel subscription and a handful of free PC games each month, plus in-game loot for titles like PUBG, Fortnite, and of course Overwatch.
It's September, which means Xbox Live Gold subscribers can download a new batch of Games with Gold. The newly available games are Prison Architect for Xbox One and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars for Xbox 360 (also playable on Xbox One). The former is free through the end of September, while the latter is free between now and September 15.
As you can probably tell from the title, Prison Architect puts you in charge of a prison. You get to design the layout of the building and manage how the occupants are treated. You can aim to make your prison a pleasant place designed to rehabilitate the misguided criminals, or you can give into your darker urges and inspire things like arson, murder, and riots.
Also available for free between now and September 15 is Ubisoft's medieval brawler For Honor. Now is a good time to grab this game, because this fall it's getting a free major update with a new faction and a castle siege mode.
After Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars goes back to full price, you'll be able to get the 360 game Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World September 16-30. The other mid-month addition for September is the Xbox One game Livelock, which will be available September 16 - October 15.
It's a lot of dates to keep track of, so here are September's games listed out with their availability windows in an easy-to-read format.
Games With Gold: September 2018
Xbox One
Prison Architect (September 1-30)
For Honor (August 16-September 15)
Livelock (September 16-October 15)
Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (September 1-15)
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World (September 16-30)
NBA 2K19 doesn't come out for a few more days, but fans hungry for this year's edition of the basketball franchise can get a taste of it right now. Publisher 2K has released NBA 2K19: The Prelude for free on Xbox One and PS4. Though the game will also come to PC and Nintendo Switch, the demo is not available on those platforms.
The Prelude is the first chapter in the MyCareer story mode that comes in the game. This year's story mode is called "The Way Back," and it has an all-new narrative that follows a young basketball player through a career that takes you from the Chinese Basketball League all the way to the NBA.
A number of recognizable actors appear in the "The Way Back," including Anthony Mackie (Avengers), Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), Michael Rapaport (Atypical), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton), and Rob Huebel (Transparent). You can watch the trailer above.
While the standard edition of NBA 2K19 is scheduled to release on September 11, the 20th Anniversary Edition lands a few days earlier on September 7. The standard edition's cover athlete is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, while LeBron James takes the cover spot on the 20th Anniversary Edition. You can check out our pre-order guide for details about what's included in each version of the game.
As for the game itself, this year's installment will bring some big changes to the popular MyTeam mode. We also spoke with a 2K representative to get answers to some burning questions about NBA 2K19.
The dinosaurs are back once again, along with Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, and company. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the sequel to 2015's Jurassic World, a resurrection of the series that examines everything that would definitely go wrong if we brought back dinosaurs and used science to make them even better at hunting prey (including humans).
This blockbuster sequel released on digital platforms on September 4; on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD, it's coming on September 18. If you're wondering whether the movie is any good, you can check out GameSpot's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom review. And when you're ready to secure your copy, you'll probably want to know what your options are. Let's break down what comes with the home versions of the movie, where you can pre-order it, and how much it costs. Read on for the details.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Digital Edition
If you want to grab the movie as early as possible, you'll have to go with the digital version. Here's where you can order it now and how much it costs.
If you have a 3D television, you'll probably want to make full use of it by getting the movie in 3D. This version also comes with a standard non-3D Blu-ray as well as a digital copy.
Maybe the new movie isn't enough to satisfy your Jurassic needs. If you want a full collection of Jurassic Park/World films, you can pre-order this set. It comes with the original Jurassic Park trilogy as well as the two movies from the current series.
What's a home version of a movie without bonus features? Some of the bonus features included with home copies of the movie are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and digital copies. Here they are:
The Kingdom Evolves--Filmmakers discuss how the second chapter in the Jurassic World trilogy pushes the franchise in a new direction.
Return to Hawaii--Cast and crew discuss shooting the film in Hawaii.
Island Action--A behind-the-scenes look at the bunker scene and runaway gyrosphere sequence.
Aboard the Arcadia--Cast and crew discuss working with the animatronic dinosaurs.
Start the Bidding!--A behind-the-scenes look at the auction scene.
And here are the bonus features you'll find on the DVD, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and digital copies of the film:
On Set with Chris & Bryce--Go behind the scenes with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Birth of the Indoraptor--An inside look at the genetically designed monstrosity known as the Indoraptor.
Death by Dino--Go behind the scenes as the Indoraptor faces off with a key character.
Monster in a Mansion--Director J.A. Bayona discusses how Jurassic Park and Dracula (1979) influenced his approach to directing the monster in a mansion scene.
Rooftop Showdown--A look at the terrifying showdown on the rooftop of the Lockwood Mansion.
Malcolm's Return--Behind the scenes with the one & only Jeff Goldblum.
VFX Evolved--The team at ILM discuss their cutting-edge approach to creating dinosaurs.
Fallen Kingdom: The Conversation--Filmmakers and cast sit down for a candid and casual conversation about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
A Song for the Kingdom--Justice Smith sings for the cast and crew of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Chris Pratt's Jurassic Journals
Vivian Baker, Makeup Artist
Mary Mastro, Hair Stylist
Chris Murphy, 1st Assistant Sound
Dean Bailey, Stunt Edge Car Driver
Peter Harcourt, Diver
Daniella Pineda and Justice Smith, Actors
Jody Wiltshire, Set PA
Kelly Krieg, Assistant Script Supervisor
J.A. Bayona, Director
James Cox, Stunt Performer
Rachelle Beinart, Stunt Double
Bryce Dallas Howard interviews Chris Pratt, Actor
Jurassic Then and Now--Presented by Barbasol – Key moments from the Jurassic saga that tie into Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Amazon didn't win over any gamers when it killed off its pre-order discount program recently, but that's not the only video game deal the company offers to Prime members. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you also get free PC games through Twitch each month. All you have to do is link your Twitch and Amazon accounts, and you can get free games, plus in-game items for titles like Fortnite and Overwatch. And unlike some competing services, the games are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your Prime subscription.
The Adventure Pals is a colorful side-scrolling platformer about a boy and his pet giraffe. The art style looks nice--even if it veers too close to a certain cartoon that clearly inspired it--and the gameplay has received high praise in reviews. Guild of Dungeoneering puts you in the role of the dungeon master. Your job is to create the game world by laying down cards that represent monsters, rooms, hallways, and treasure.
Gunpoint is a side-scrolling spy game in which your nimble character is tasked with breaking into high-security buildings. The Original Strife is a re-release of a shooter from 1996 that looks a lot like the original Doom. And finally, Pumped BMX+ is a stunt biking game in the vein of the Trials series.
Make sure to pick up these free games before they go away at the start of October. To get them, just visit Twitch and click the crown-shaped icon next to the search bar.
Bungie has announced a new rewards program built around Destiny 2: Forsaken. Called Bungie Rewards, enlisting in the program allows you to earn Destiny 2 collector's items by completing limited time in-game challenges.
You can become a part of Bungie Rewards and start working your way towards completing the first challenge right now. According to Bungie's website, signing up is a simple two step process. Go to the Bungie Rewards' page and then verify your PSN, Xbox Live, or Battle.net account via your email. The first challenge ends in about a month, so if you want to participate, you should sign-up for Bungie Rewards sooner rather than later.
To earn the first reward, you'll have to complete the entire Destiny 2: Forsaken campaign by September 30. Doing so nets you a digital copy of Forsaken's soundtrack, which also includes two bonus tracks from the Whisper of the Worm quest. You can buy the digital soundtrack from the Bungie Store for $10, but the two bonus tracks are only available via this Bungie Rewards challenge.
Forsaken kicks off Destiny 2's Season of the Outlaw. Bungie Rewards will offer more limited-time exclusive items throughout the season for completing different in-game challenges. Though additional rewards haven't been listed yet, Bungie has outlined what the next year of Destiny 2's DLC looks like.
Last week was big for Netflix, as the streaming service added nearly 40 TV series and movies, including films both beloved, like The Breakfast Club, and infamous, like Spider-Man 3. Although not nearly as many movies and series are being added this week, there's a lot of good stuff to look forward to--including Marvel hit Black Panther.
Netflix added animated classics Lilo & Stitch and The Emperor's New Groove on September 2. If you're looking for something a little more recent, then check out Next Gen on September 7. It's an animated movie about a rebellious teen named Mai who befriends an advanced combat robot and then has to figure out a way to stop a technological genius from taking over the world. The movie has a similar tone and art style to Big Hero Six, but takes inspiration for its battles and music from Japanese anime. Next Gen stars Steven Universe's Charlyne Yi as Mai.
Two more pieces of Marvel's Cinematic Universe come to Netflix this week too. You can now watch Black Panther, which follows the rise of King T'Challa between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. The second season of Iron Fist goes live on Netflix on September 7 and continues Danny's story after the events of Netflix's The Defenders.
The full list of new movies and TV series coming to Netflix this week are listed below. If you want to stay up to date on the whole month, you can check out everything that's coming to Netflix in September.
Rainbow Six Siege Year 3, Season 3--called Operation Grim Sky--launches today and adds a bunch of new updates into the first-person shooter game. The most notable addition is two new operators, codenamed Clash and Maverick, but Operation Grim Sky implements several multiplayer improvements as well.
Both Defenders and Attackers get a new operator in Operation Grim Sky, and each shakes up Siege's meta in different ways. Clash is the first Defender to come equipped with a shield, which fully extends in front of her and fires a taser. She's perfect for crowd control and holding off a team of Attackers while her teammates regroup and come up with a new strategy. Maverick uses a custom blowtorch to breach through any surface. He can't easily create a man-sized entry point, but Maverick can cut a hole large enough for his teammates to shoot through. Given that his torch is nearly silent, this allows Attackers to quietly get eyes on the opposing team through a reinforced wall.
New cosmetic changes have also being implemented into Rainbow Six Siege. Four new UK-themed weapon skins can only be unlocked during this season. Once unlocked, these skins carry over into later seasons. Canadian operator Frost also now has a new Elite set, which dresses her in her Huntress uniform, unlocks a new victory animation, and provides new skins for her Sterling MK2 LHT, Super 90, 9mm C1, and MK1 9mm.
Operation Grim Sky adds a map rework for Hereford Base. The base is now much larger and includes more avenues for Attackers to get to the Defenders--ranging from new staircases to destructible hatches in the floor. Although certain aspects of Hereford Base remain the same, most of the floor plan has been completely reworked. Consulate is getting a few changes too. Attackers will now have an easier time getting into the building, as the police line has been extended to provide more cover on approach and a wall near the gas station spawn point--that Defenders often used to spawn kill their opponents--has been removed. A fourth site for the bomb placement in the Bomb game mode has also been added, so both Attackers and Defenders will need to come up with new strategies on the map.
The full list of general tweaks and improvements implemented via Operation Grim Sky can be found on Rainbow Six Siege's website. The update also fixed many of the bugs in the game, which we've outlined below.
Rainbow Six Siege is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Operation Grim Sky Bug Fixes
Gameplay
Fixed - Players who join in a game in progress during the action phase will negatively impact the key bindings for the observation tools of teammates.
Fixed - Players can sometimes pass through reinforced walls using a deployable shield.
Fixed - The framerate drops when going to the tactical map in prep phase.
Fixed - Receiving damage while crouching with a shield will result in the weapon wielding hand to clip through the shield.
Fixed - Operators clip through barricades. Enabling them to be seen and shot in some cases.
Fixed - It is possible to place a barricade or reinforcement while standing far away from the door/wall.
Fixed - Longer delay than intended when switching from BOSG 12.2 to secondary weapon.
Fixed - The color filter of an observation tool goes away if you are brought to low health while watching in it.
Fixed - If the walk option is set to toggle, the player will walk after alt-tabbing.
Fixed - It is possible to prone and melee simultaneously with a shield.
Fixed - Weapons can clip through the floor if a player goes prone and leans.
Fixed - Corrupted animations happen while switching weapons or throwing gadgets in prone.
Fixed - Players receive no damage if they rappel into Smoke's Gas Grenade cloud.
Fixed - Kill info is not displayed if the player dies from the gadget of a dead enemy.
Fixed - Defuser animation resets when switching views.
Fixed - Textures between reinforceable and indestructible walls allow bullets to pass through.
Operators
Bandit
Fixed - Players are able to use Shock Batteries on Castle's Armored Panels using a deployable shield.
Dokkaebi
Fixed - Ice textures cover the Logic Bomb interrupt screen when one is performed while a defender is looking at cameras.
Tachanka
Fixed - Tachanka's LMG shield is inconsistent and players can be shot through it.
Fixed - After rapidly switching between his gadgets and weapons, Tachanka will look broken on 3rd person when mounting his Mounted LMG.
Twitch
Fixed - Shock Drone is unable to pass over some props that have a climbable height.
Vigil
Fixed - The reload animation of the BOSG 12.2 is incorrect.
Lesion
Fixed - GU mines will get triggered if they are placed beneath a reinforced hatch.
Mira
Fixed - A gap between two reinforcements can be created by Mira's Black Mirror
Montagne
Fixed - Shield extending animation resets when switching views.
Fixed - Players are able to vault over Montagne's shield.
Hibana
Fixed - In some instances, reinforced wall debris will remain floating when the reinforced wall is being destroyed by Hibana's X-KAIROS Launcher.
Finka
Fixed - Right hand becomes offset on the weapon when Finka activates her Adrenal Surge.
Fixed - The fire rate for the Spear .308 is listed in menus as 780 RPM, but it is only 700.
Blitz
Fixed - Blitz's shield's hit boxes do not match the curves of his shield.
Blackbeard
Fixed - Head hit box clips through the Rifle Shield when standing against some surfaces.
Level Design
Border
Fixed - Clipping occurs for players hiding under a desk in 2F Offices and they can receive damage.
Fixed - Frost traps clip through the cable protectors located in 1F Server Room making them partially invisible.
Fixed - Operators can clip through the desk in 2F Archives, 1F Server Room, and 1F Ventilation Room.
Bartlett
Fixed - Frost's Welcome Mat clips through the table in 1F Dining Room and becoming invisible.
Hereford Base
Fixed - Dynamic Clipping is not present with some indestructible objects or walls.
Tower
Fixed - Drone can be placed inside the ceiling from 2F Elevator.
Consulate
Fixed - Drone can be placed inside the ceiling from B Cafeteria, giving drone view over multiple objective sites.
Fixed - Clipping issues in multiple spots.
Skyscrapper
Fixed - Multiple floating debris are present after destroying the wall between the 2F Work Office and the 2F Lounge locations.
Villa
Fixed - Fuze's cluster charges remain stuck and explode inside the ceiling if placed close to the middle of the 4th wooden tile.
Fixed - Defenders can hide on top of cabinet in B Old Office.
House
Fixed - Character model will become invisible if standing under the staircase in B Laundry Room.
Fixed - Shield operators can melee defenders through metal blinds.
Kanal
Fixed - It is possible to hide inside the panel in Electric Room on Kanal.
Fixed - In some spots, Fuze's Cluster Charge backfire killing the player that placed it.
Yatch
Fixed - Attacker can place a drone into the ceiling at 2F Engine Utility.
Coastline
Fixed - A wall from the 2F Hallway disappears when looking at it with a Valkyrie camera from the other side of the hallway.
Fixed - Players are able to reach the purple tarp in EXT Pool.
Clubhouse
Fixed - Drones can clip through 1F Kitchen Entrance rooftop.
Fixed - Attackers can throw a drone inside the wall of Clubhouse from EXT Eastern sub-roof.
Fixed - The Operator is clipping through the floor when prone on the toilet.
Fixed - Operator model can clip through stair fence from 2F Central Stairs 1F Central Stairs and B Central Stairs.
Theme Park
Fixed - Players can go outside through the wall during the preparation phase.
Chalet
Fixed - Players can shoot enemies through the stairs in 1F Great Room.
Kafe
Fixed - Valkyrie can place cameras inside the wall between 1F Cold room and 1F Kitchen.
Oregon
Fixed - Drone can fall out of the map from multiple locations.
Fixed - Clipping issues in multiple spots.
Fixed - There is space between the window frame and wall at EXT Junkyard and the player can see inside the building.
User Experience
Fixed - Infinite loading time when using the name sorting option in the charms menu.
Fixed - Pack collection Icon flags are present on Operator cards with non-elite uniforms.
Fixed - Gold Vigil Chibi charm position makes it clip through shields.
Fixed - The smoke effect is no longer colored from the second opened Alpha pack onwards.
Fixed - Some black collection icons are attached to random weapon skins.
Fixed - Graphic options are not applied when accepting the apply changes on popup.
Fixed - A slight delay can be seen when scrolling through uniforms.
Fixed - Players cannot hear voice chat from his teammates.
Fixed - Players is returned to main menu instead of next situation after completing the previous one.
Fortnite's recently teased High Stakes event is coming a little later than planned. Developer Epic Games announced on Twitter that the event--along with the 5.40 update--will now roll out for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile on Thursday, September 6, which will also delay the arrival of Week 9's challenges. [Update: Epic has confirmed the update is all set for launch on Thursday. Before you can dive in, servers will go down at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM BST; we don't yet know how long that will take, but there should be a lot of new things to dig into once things come back online.]
According to the studio, the event and new patch have been pushed back "due to the discovery of a critical controller issue." Epic didn't divulge any further details about the issue, but as a result of its discovery, this week's new set of challenges will also arrive a little later than normal; they're now slated to go live on Friday, September 7, as opposed to their usual Thursday rollout.
Epic first announced High Stakes just before the start of PAX West last week. The heist-themed event will feature its own set of challenges and skins. Epic is also introducing a new limited-time mode called Getaway that completely changes the game. The objective here is to locate four safes that have been dropped around the item, extract the valuables inside, and safely reach the extraction zone.
The aforementioned 5.40 patch will also make some notable changes to the game. First, the edge of the storm will now deal damage to player structures "in the final phases" of the match, which Epic says will "provide a little more dynamic gameplay." The developer is also vaulting the Revolver as part of an initiative to keep the item pool feeling fresh and dynamic."
Season 5 of Fortnite has almost come to an end. The season concludes later this month, but as it has done in the lead up to previous seasons, Epic has already begun teasing what's in store for Fortnite in the near future with some strange in-game phenomena. Recently, a giant lightning bolt emerged from the rift in the sky and struck the desert, leaving a mysterious purple cube in its wake. Players have since noticed the cube moving toward an unknown destination on the map, although what that signifies remains a mystery.
One of the big new additions coming to Fortnite in its next update is an event called High Stakes. It is scheduled to be one of the last major surprises in the game's fifth season and, at PAX West, developer Epic Games detailed what players will have to do to complete the High Stakes challenges and earn its rewards. [Update: The High Stakes update has been delayed due to the discovery of a serious controller issue. It's now due out on Thursday, while the standard Week 9 challenges will release on Friday. According to Epic, the Thursday update will be preceded by downtime beginning at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM BST.]
Like the new limited-time mode, Getaway, High Stakes is themed around heists and tasks players with stealing, killing, and escaping. The first part of the challenge offers up 5,000 XP to anyone that plays 10 matches of Getaway. If you're able to deal a total of 500 damage to opponents carrying the coveted jewel, you'll also get a special spray. Those that manage to pick up a jewel in five different matches of Getaway will get a special skydiving trail that features money flying off your character. Finally, if you complete all three of those challenges you'll get a crowbar skin for your pickaxe.
The upcoming update will also introduce one new skin and four masks, which will be available to purchase from the in-game store. For those that missed the initial reveal, Getaway involves four safes being dropped onto the map. Working in groups, players must find these safes, grab the jewel from inside it, and take it to the extraction zone without being killed.
A new Grappler gun will also be added in, and it functions pretty much as you'd imagine; fire it at a wall and it latches on, allowing you to launch yourself in that direction. Of course, the gameplay implications of this new weapon are significant, so it should be an exciting new addition. As of yet, Epic has not confirmed an exact release date and time for the new patch, but it is expected this week.
The last patch for Fortnite was the 5.30 content update, which marked the debut of the Shockwave Grenade, a new type of weapon that throws players a great distance when activated. Epic also rolled out the latest set of weekly challenges, which involve searching between oversized seats and using rifts. You can get help for all of this season's challenges in our complete Season 5 challenge guide.
The spirit of Sons of Anarchy is alive and well in Mayans MC. In fact, it's even more alive than most fans of the FX biker drama expected. It was already known that Emilio Rivera would be reprising his Sons role as Mayans godfather Marcus Alvarez in the new series. That's far from the only link to Sons of Anarchy that can be found in the first episode of Mayans MC, though. Warning: The following contains spoilers from the pilot episode of Mayans MC.
In one of the episode's flashbacks to eight years before the current time, none other than former biker queen Gemma Teller (Katey Sagal) appears. She can be seen in the background of a prison visiting room as a recently-incarcerated EZ (JD Pardo) breaks up with Emily (Sarah Bolger). When the split gets louder and more dramatic than is allowed in prison, Gemma is seen more clearly, reacting.
While this is an exciting moment for Sons fans, it's not just a throwaway cameo. In fact, it's a small piece of a bigger puzzle according to Mayans MC co-creator Kurt Sutter. "Having Gemma there in the pilot was fun for us and will speak to something we want to do later on," he explained at the Television Critics Association press tour in a small group interview. "It's a little bit of a nod to Sons, but I think also there's a reason why she was there and we'll find out what it is later on."
As co-creator Elgin James told GameSpot, this isn't the last connection to the original series that will build to something more. "All these little things that [Kurt] plants all pay off somehow," he teased. "So that's all I know is that nothing is just thrown away."
Making sure nothing is a simple cameo is what helps Sutter to ensure Mayans MC doesn't trample on the mythology built by Sons, which is the one unbreakable rule James says he was given. As for what Gemma's appearance means, there's no telling. After all, while she was alive eight years ago, she's dead now. So anything they do to include Gemma in the Mayans storyline will have to remain in the past.
She's also not necessarily the last Sons character fans will see pop up on Mayans MC. Truthfully, anyone is on the table--even Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) himself. That is, as long as it means something. "Whomever I bring back, I can't do it for a sensational one hit kind of thing," Sutter said. "There has to be an integral part of why it's important to the new mythology."
Still, Jax is a long shot. Hunnam has yet to appear on a TV series since the conclusion of Sons of Anarchy and has a number of films in the works. However, if it makes sense from a plot standpoint, Sutter isn't opposed to calling on his former star. "For me to bring Jax back in a flashback, it would really have to be integral to the story," he said.
If you're looking to save some cash on PC games, you don't have to look far. On any given day, you can find some digital game distributor offering sales and discounts on games you probably want to play. Steam itself has a list of week-long deals it refreshes every Tuesday. This week's new discounts are live, so let's take a look at what's on offer between now and September 10.
Anyone looking to spend several hundred hours fighting monsters on a freelance basis can pick up the entire Witcher series for cheap. All of the games can be purchased for less than $25 / £20--not a bad deal at all. For less fighting, you can pick up the mind-bending puzzle game The Witness for $20 / £15.
Horror aficionados may be interested in Witch Hunt, which is on sale for $9 / £6.50. It's a slow-paced game about--yes--hunting witches in a creepy, rural environment in the 1800s.
A number of other games are on sale for hardly any money at all. You can scoop up Dragon Age: Origins or Spore for $3 / £2 each. The video interrogation game Her Story is down to $5 / £4, while the action RPG Grim Dawn is $6 / £5.
You'll find more of the sale's highlights below, or you can view the whole long list of discounted Steam games here.
It's a big day for those who have been impatiently awaiting the arrival of Captain Marvel. Not only has the first image of star Brie Larson in her superhero costume arrived, but with it a slew of new information and photos from the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
The new looks at the film, which come directly from Entertainment Weekly, where you can see all 10 photos, are the first we've seen from Larson's superhero debut, and they don't disappoint. Not only can she be seen in her costume as the titular Captain Marvel--in an image featuring far less Photoshopping than the cover--but several other details are given away.
First and foremost, not only is Nick Fury back, but he has both of his eyes. As the movie is set in the 1990s, a younger version of the director of SHIELD will be introduced, long before he starts wearing his signature eye patch. Perhaps the movie will actually show how he loses his eye?
Also seen in the photos are the introduction of the Skrull alien race. In one image, they are walking out of the ocean, led by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). According to a caption from EW, the Skrulls are among the "nastiest and most notorious baddies" in all of Marvel comics. Take that, Thanos.
The last photo we want to highlight is the first look at Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch). As EW explains it, Maria is one of Carol Danvers' oldest friends and a fellow Air Force pilot, who flies under the call sign Photon. She's also a single mother to a young daughter, which is where things get interesting. In the comics, Maria's daughter is Monica, who ends up with superpowers and grows up to become an Avenger.
Monica has been known as Photon, but also Captain Marvel for a time. She's currently known as Spectrum. As Marvel plots out phase four of the MCU, it will be interesting to see if the introduction of Maria opens the door for Monica to become a big part of the franchise's future.
You can see the rest of the photos over at Entertainment Weekly. Captain Marvel is in theaters on March 8, 2019.
Are you running out of things to watch on Amazon Prime? Well, September is here, and that means there is a whole slew of new TV shows, movies, and Prime Originals for you to binge in your free time. Here is what you have to look forward to throughout this month.
For new movies coming to the service that you may have missed in theaters, September 29 marks the arrival of the horror movie Jigsaw, which is part of the gruesome Saw franchise. There is also Escape Plan 2--which wasn't in theaters--and while the movie's focus isn't on Sylvester Stallone as much as we'd thought it would be, it's still a solid action movie.
If you're looking something from the past, Amazon has a ton of movies you'll want to rewatch including Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, arriving on September 1. If you're getting ready a bit early for Halloween, there a few horror movies as well, including Pumpkinhead, Poltergeist II, the original The Amityville Horror, and the 1989 Adam Sandler movie Going Overboard, which may be the scariest of them all. Check out the complete list of everything coming to Amazon Prime in September below.
Everything Coming To Amazon Prime In September 2018
September 1
Asylum, Season 1
The Blue Rose, Season 1
The Broker's Man, Seasons 1-2
The Field of Blood, Seasons 1-2
Golden, Season 1
The Kevin Bishop Show, Season 2
London Irish, Season 1
The Palace, Season 1
Parents, Season 1
Rocket's Island, Seasons 1-3
Sam's Game, Season 1
Texas Rising, Season 1
The Triangle, Season 1
Trust, Season 1
Westside, Seasons 1-3
Wild at Heart, Seasons 1-8
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
A Field in England (2013)
A Good Woman (2006)
A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
A Murder of Crows (1999)
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (2010)
A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise (2012)
All You Can Eat Buddha (2017)
Bandits (2001)
Beowulf (2007)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Blow Out (1981)
Bolero (1984)
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police (2012)
September is officially here--that wonderful month when so many of us begin our struggle of going back to school. On the bright side, Netflix is introducing a load of new movies, TV shows, and original series for when you have time for some weekend binge sessions. There's a lot of new stuff to look out for in the coming weeks, although we're losing quite a few movies and series as well. Here's the full rundown on what's new and leaving in September 2018.
The big addition in September is Black Panther, the Marvel superhero movie that took the world by storm this past February. If you happened to miss out on this celebration of African culture--which we described as "a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody" in our Black Panther review--then now's your chance. Other film highlights coming in September are Groundhog Day, Scarface, Bruce Almighty, The Breakfast Club, Lilo & Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Netflix exclusive Next Gen.
The list of new TV shows isn't as impressively large, but there are a few stellar options being added. Both Bojack Horseman and Stranger Things are getting new seasons. If you like staying appraised of everything going on in the MCU, Iron Fist is also returning another season.
If animation is your thing, new anime series Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan--about a rookie air force pilot who finds herself being chosen as the destined rider for an actual dragon--and animated series The Dragon Prince--which is created by the same folks behind Avatar: The Last Airbender--debut on Netflix this September.
Of the movies and TV shows being removed, Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are the two noticeable standouts. They've unfortunately left the service already, but you can get a look at what you still have time to watch below.
Arriving in September
September 1
Unforgiven
10,000 B.C.
Another Cinderella Story
Assassins
August Rush
Bruce Almighty
Delirium
Fair Game
Groundhog Day
King Kong
La Catedral del Mar
Martian Child
Monkey Twins
Mr. Sunshine
Nacho Libre
Pearl Harbor
Scarface
Sisters
Spider-Man 3
Stephanie
Summer Catch
Sydney White
The Ant Bully
The Breakfast Club
The Cider House Rules
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Keeping Hours
The River Wild
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Two Weeks Notice
September 2
Lilo & Stitch
The Emperor's New Groove
Maynard
Quantico: Season 3
September 3
A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities
September 4
Black Panther
September 5
Van Helsing: Season 2
Wentworth: Season 6
September 6
Once Upon a Time: Season 7
September 7
Atypical: Season 2
Cable Girls: Season 3
City of Joy
Click
First and Last
Iron Fist: Season 2
Next Gen
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser
Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters: Season 2
The Most Assassinated Woman in the World
September 10
Call the Midwife: Series 7
September 11
Daniel Sloss: Live Shows
The Resistance Banker
September 12
Blacklist: Season 5
Life
On My Skin
September 14
American Vandal: Season 2
Bleach
Boca Juniors Confidential
BoJack Horseman: Season 5
Car Masters: Rust to Riches
Ingobernable: Season 2
Last Hope
Norm Macdonald has a Show
Super Monsters Monster Party: Songs
The Angel
The Dragon Prince
The Land of Steady Habits
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes: Season 2 Part A
September 15
Inside The Freemasons: Season 1
September 16
Role Models
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
September 17
The VVitch
September 18
American Horror Story: Cult
D.L. Hughley: Contrarian
September 21
Battlefish
Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan
Hilda
Maniac: Limited Series
Nappily Ever After
Quincy
The Good Cop
September 23
The Walking Dead: Season 8
September 25
A Wrinkle in Time
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
September 26
Norsemen: Season 2
The Hurricane Heist
September 28
Chef's Table: Volume 5
El Marginal: Season 2
Forest of Piano
Hold the Dark
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 2
Lessons From A School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane
Like a growing number of shooters, Battlefield V is looking to capitalize on the success of battle royale games by offering its own take on the genre. EA first announced the title's battle royale mode during its E3 presentation earlier this summer, but since then, we've learned very little about it. The publisher has now shared a new trailer that gives fans an extensive look at Battlefield V, and it includes the first details about its mysterious battle royale mode.
As revealed in the new video, which you can watch below, Battlefield V's battle royale mode will be called Firestorm. Unlike PUBG or Fortnite, both of which pit 100 players against each other, Firestorm will feature 64 players divided up into 16 teams of four. Like a typical battle royale game, the object is to compete against other teams as a ring of fire continually closes in on the map and be the last remaining squad, but developer DICE says the mode is done "the Battlefield way."
The video didn't go into many more specifics beyond that, but it did reveal that Firestorm matches will be contested on "the largest Battlefield map ever." The mode will also feature "destructible buildings, weaponry, and vehicles;" a handful of the latter are briefly showcased in the video, including various types of tanks.
Additionally, the video provides more details about Battlefield V's other modes, including the single-player War Stories, which will allow players to "experience untold stories of World War II." It also gives fans a look at Tides of War, a series of post-launch content that will be available for all Battlefield V players. The first chapter is called "The Fall of Europe" and will be available shortly after release.
Battlefield V launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 20. The game was originally scheduled to release on October 19 but was recently delayed to further refine it before launch. Players will have a chance to try Battlefield V later this week. Its open beta kicks off on September 6, but those who've pre-ordered the title will be able to jump in beginning September 4.
Among the most exciting additions in Destiny 2's new Forsaken DLC is that of new subclass trees. While not a full-on new class or subclass, these branches do provide some variety for Titans, Warlocks, and Hunters to enjoy. You might be eager to start getting your hands on these--here's what you'll need to do to get your first one.
After completing the opening mission, you'll receive a milestone called New Powers. This tasks you with collecting Visions of Light, which are items that seem to be dropped exclusively by enemies with yellow health bars. You'll see an on-screen indication when you pick one up; on the ground, they look like bright blue feathers, and they're accompanied by a visual effect in the air above them that makes them fairly easy to spot. If you take part in a fight that covers a large area, just be sure to swing back around and pick up any you might have missed.
You'll need 100 Visions of Light to advance to the next part; you can track your progress from the Director. Be sure to keep a close eye on this--aside from a single pop-up notification, it can be easy to collect all 100 you need without realizing you're ready for the next step.
Once that is done, you'll get access to a new mission on Io called Visions of Light. We'll leave the specifics of the mission to you, but suffice it to say it involves taking down a lot of Taken and receiving a message from the Traveler.
Toward the end of the mission, you'll receive a new item, the Seed of Light. Once you've obtained this, you can go into each of your subclasses' Details screen to see a new, third tree. Like the other trees, it consists of four different upgrades that you'll receive in time. You start out by spending the Seed of Light to unlock the first of the four upgrades, but beware--the game makes it clear the seeds are "very rare," so you should be sure to pick the subclass you want to focus on first. In time, you'll get them all, but it's unclear at this point just how long the process of obtaining additional seeds takes.
With that choice made, you're left to kill a seemingly endless supply of Taken with an unlimited supply of Super energy. It's a fun sequence that also nets you some nice new upgrades for your subclass of choice.
Marvel's iconic comic book hero Spider-Man has starred in numerous video game adaptations over the years, and while some of his outings have been excellent, the results haven't always lived up to the webslinger's reputation. His latest title, Marvel's Spider-Man, arrives exclusively on PlayStation 4 later this week, and judging by the game's early reception, it's one of his best video game adventures yet.
Developed by Insomniac Games (the studio behind Ratchet & Clank and Sunset Overdrive), Marvel's Spider-Man is set in an original, standalone universe separate from the comic series. The game casts players in the role of an older, more experienced Peter Parker, who must use his powers to save New York from some of his most memorable villains, including Electro, Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, and Silver Sable.
GameSpot's Edmond Tran praised Insomniac's take on the comic book hero for its excellent narrative and satisfying web-swinging mechanics. "Swinging around New York as Spider-Man is endlessly fulfilling. It's a relatively straightforward system that isn't overly demanding on inputs, but the minor adjustments and variables in terrain you need to consider while in motion (webs require tangible attach points), as well as the weighty feeling of Spidey makes the process feel satisfyingly manual--there's just enough effort required to make you feel as if it's all on you," he wrote in GameSpot's Spider-Man review.
With its release only a few days away, reviews of Marvel's Spider-Man have begun appearing online. We've rounded up a sample of them below to give you a quick overview of what critics have to say about Spider-Man's latest outing. For a broader look at Marvel's Spider-Man's critical reception, be sure to visit GameSpot's sister site, Metacritic.
Game: Marvel's Spider-Man
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platform: PS4
Release date: September 7
Price: $60 / £45
GameSpot -- 9/10
"Minor shortcomings don't detract from Insomniac's achievement in creating a game that feels like an authentic interpretation of a beloved creation. The feeling of embodying Spidey and using his abilities is astonishing, and the time spent on exploring its major characters help make its story feel heartfelt, despite superhero bombast. There have been open-world Spider-Man games before, but none so riveting and full of personality, none that explore and do justice to this many facets of the universe. Insomniac has created a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that has you longing for just one more swing around New York City, even after the credits roll." -- Edmond Tran [Full review]
IGN -- 8.7/10
"I wanted Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 to make me feel like Spider-Man: To sail between the highrises of New York City, to nimbly web up hordes of enemies, and tussle with familiar, animal-themed villains. Insomniac Games' first foray into the world of Marvel handily delivers on all of that. But what I didn't expect from Spider-Man was to come away feeling just as fulfilled to have inhabited the life of Peter Parker. Aside from a few odd pacing issues, which momentarily took me out of the experience of being a superhero, and a world of optional missions that don't always quite live up to the heft of the main story, Insomniac has delivered a Spider-Man story that both surprised and delighted me, coupled with gameplay that made me feel like Spider-Man nearly every step of the way. The Wall Crawler's open world doesn't consistently deliver the thrilling moments of its main campaign, but the foundation laid here is undoubtedly a spectacular one." -- Jonathon Dornbush [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Recommended
"What I love more than anything, is that behind the traversal and combat, Insomniac is a wonderfully controlling developer. For the entire length of the campaign they won't hand the city over to a day/night cycle or randomise the weather because they want total command of the atmosphere for the beats big and little to play out in. Just like they want those webs to attach to buildings in a convincing manner, they don't want to leave too many other details to be ground up in the cogs of an open-world. Somebody, in other words, is looking out for Spider-Man, a superhero whose pleasing vulnerability means that he needs looking after now and then--just as he could do with a little help getting his belongings out of the trash." -- Christian Donlan [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4.5/5
"Insomniac Games takes Marvel's most popular character for a spin and the results are fantastic. The developer establishes its own Spider-Man with a unique supporting cast and a beautiful recreation of New York to play around in. This is an absolutely beautiful game, with solid combat and a great story. Most of all, it really sells the feeling of being Spider-Man. The gaming history of Spider-Man has been uneven, but this is an amazing entry in that history. Pun intended." -- Mike Williams [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.5/10
"Like Batman: Arkham Asylum before it, Spider-Man raises the bar for one of the world's most beloved heroes. You feel like you're doing everything he's capable of. Insomniac succeeds in making Peter and the supporting cast just as memorable and engaging as the wall crawler. Excitement is delivered consistently from the outside of play right up to the last story frame, which is a real shocker that contains a reveal that will make the wait for the sequel almost unbearable." -- Andrew Reiner [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4.5/5
"Spider-Man is still a hugely enjoyable adventure full of great characters and moments, and just about one of the best videogame realisations of superheroing to date. Insomniac are a studio with nearly 25 year's experience of producing slick, tactile action adventures that feel great to play, and seeing that expertise turned to a licensed game has created an impressively, polished and crafted experience." -- Leon Hurley [Full review]
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale continues on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and--most recently--Android. As with the previous seasons, this one brings with it a selection of fresh challenges to complete on a weekly basis, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock for your efforts. This time, however, Epic has made a few tweaks to the way certain Battle Pass challenges operate, including the introduction of free challenges for all players. Here's everything you need to know about the newest Season 5 challenges, details on all of the ones available so far through Week 8, and exactly how to get them all done.
Once again, players who purchase the Season 5 Battle Pass will get a set of objectives to complete every week, which in turn will go toward leveling the Battle Pass up and unlocking new rewards. Unlike past seasons, however, weekly challenges are now divided into two categories, Free (which are available to all Fortnite players) and Battle Pass (which are reserved for those who've purchased the Pass). That means that even if you haven't bought the Battle Pass, you'll still be able to complete certain objectives and earn rewards.
If you do decide to pick up the Battle Pass partway through the season, you'll be also able to retroactively unlock any premium rewards you've earned based on the tier that you've already reached. However, one of the advantages of purchasing the Battle Pass early is bonus XP, which is awarded for playing in general and for playing in a party with friends. Since leveling up with XP translates into Battle Stars, you'll want to grab the Battle Pass as soon as you can and take advantage of these bonuses.
There are two other types of challenges to complete this season as well: Road Trip and Drift. The former are much like the Blockbuster challenges from Season 4; when you complete all of the challenges in a given week, you'll receive a special loading screen that points to the location of a hidden Battle Star. Drift challenges, on the other hand, task you with gaining a certain amount of XP. There are five Drift challenges to complete in total in Season 5, each of which reward you with a new style option for the Drift skin. If you manage to complete four out of the five Drift challenges, you'll also unlock the Rift Edge, an alternative for the pickaxe. For a limited time, you can also complete special anniversary challenges tied to Fortnite's birthday event.
You'll find a complete list of all Season 5 challenges available so far below, along with links to our maps and guides that will help you complete them all. You can see all of the new skins, cosmetics, emotes, sprays, and other items to unlock this season in our gallery of Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 Challenges
Road Trip
Complete all challenges from any week -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 2 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 3 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 4 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 5 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 6 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 7 different weeks -- loading screen
Reward: Legendary skin (Enforcer) and Back Bling (Subjugator)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 arrives this October, and one of its most anticipated features is a new battle royale-inspired mode called Blackout. When Treyarch first announced the mode at E3 this past June, the studio said it hadn't yet settled on how many players it would support, but it seems the developer has now decided on a player count--at least, for the mode's beta test.
Game Informer recently spoke with Treyarch about Blackout, and the developer revealed that the mode will support 80 players during the upcoming private beta, which is scheduled to kick off next week. That's fewer players than both PUBG and Fortnite--the two games that helped popularize the battle royale genre--support, but Treyarch says it is more focused on the quality of the experience than the quantity of players it features.
"What's really more important to us than a number is that the gameplay experience is as refined as it can be, that it's the ideal perfect format for what players are going to play," Treyarch co-head Dan Bunting told Game Informer. However, he notes that Blackout's final player count is still subject to change; Treyarch may tweak the number before the game's release based on player feedback.
"Whenever we launch a game as a beta or whatever, that's the beginning of something," Bunting said. "We're going to actively be participating in the community and taking feedback, making changes and adapting, evolving the game as feedback rolls in. So there's a lot that can go on that can happen beyond that first impact of the game going out there."
The first Blackout beta session kicks off exclusively for PS4 on September 10; Xbox One players, meanwhile, will be able to jump in a few days later, beginning September 14. The console Blackout beta will only be open to those who've pre-ordered a copy of Black Ops 4. On PC, everyone with a Battle.net account will be able to participate in the beta starting September 15, but players who've pre-ordered the title will get access to it 24 hours early.
Treyarch says Blackout features the largest map it has ever created, with areas that draw heavily from previous entries in the Black Ops series. The official Call of Duty Twitter account recently shared an image of the map, giving fans a glimpse at just how large it is before the beta begins. You can take a look at the map below.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 12. In addition to Blackout, the game features a handful of new and returning modes, including an expanded Zombies experience. Activision also recently revealed another new addition to the game called signature weapons--cosmetic variants of guns you'll be able to unlock by completing challenges.
After the delayed launch for Week 7, Fortnite's challenges are back in their usual slot for Season 5, Week 8 (although we'll again see a delay for Week 9 challenges). That means PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile players have new rewards to work towards earning right now. As with previous weeks in this season, challenges are partitioned into two categories, with some available to all players and others only to those that have paid for a Battle Pass. As always, we've got a breakdown of all the new Fortnite challenges and guides to help you get them done, including one of the trickiest of the bunch: use a Rift at different Rift spawns.
On the free side, this week's challenge involve placing 10 traps, searching seven chests in Wailing Woods and getting four kills with a shotgun. While the free challenges this week are relatively easy, the ones in the paid Battle Pass section will require a little more time, effort, and perseverance.
The first involves doing 250 damage to enemies with the pickaxe, which means you'll need to get up close and personal. Since enemies may opt to just gun you down, you'll have to be sneaky and try not to get discouraged by all the bullets flying your way while you're trying to do some nice, wholesome melee damage.
The remaining paid Battle Pass challenges are the quite tough. One is a three-part challenge that begins by asking you to eliminate an opponent in Greasy Grove. Completing this is all down to your prowess as a hunter, so hang around in the area and see if you can pick of an unsuspecting enemy. Once done, you can progress on to the next stage of the challenge. Another challenge involves searching between three oversized seats, while the final one requires you to use a Rift at 10 different Rift spawn locations.
The Rifts were introduced at the start of Season 5, and generally they all appear in the same location. Since the challenge is very similar to previous ones that have also required interacting with Rifts, you should have a good feel for where they are. As a refresher, here are some of the common locations that you can find rifts.
Rift Spawn Locations
Southeast of Junk Junction near the Easter Island statue
Northeast of Risky Reels around the Noms sign
Northwest of Dusty Divot in the mountain
Northwest of Tomato Town around the river
East of Pleasant Park close to the Durr Burger statue
North of Paradise Palms in the town
Northwest of Paradise Palms around the lake
Southeast of Shifty Shafts around the Easter Island statue
West of Lucky Landing around the Easter Island statue
Northeast of Paradise Pals around the Go Kart track
If you need further help locating the Rifts, we've also put together a map of common Rift location and a video of us completing the challenge above to give you a better idea of where to go. You can see all the other Week 8 challenges, and their rewards, below.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 8 Challenges
Free
Place traps (10) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Wailing Woods (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Shotgun eliminations (4) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Deal damage with pickaxe to opponents (250) -- 5 Battle Stars
Use a Rift at different Rift spawn locations (10) -- 5 Battle Star
Search between three oversized seats -- 10 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Eliminate an opponent in Greasy Grove -- 3 Battle Stars
Stage 2: Eliminate an opponent in Lonely Lodge
Stage 3: Eliminate an opponent in Fatal Fields
On August 28, Epic launched a new update for Fortnite, introducing a new weapon and a Limited-Time Mode to Battle Royale. The Shockwave Grenade, classed as an Epic rarity item, can be acquired from Supply Drops, Vending Machines, chests, and llamas. Upon detonation, it knocks back anyone caught in the blast, and although the victims don't take fall damage, they will destroy any structures they crash through.
The new Limited-Time Mode, meanwhile, is called "Solid Gold." This can be played in the standard and 50v50 variations and, as in past iterations, weapons and items that spawn will all be of the Legendary variety. Those are the headliners, but you can see everything new from the Fortnite 5.30 content update here.
The patch also made a significant change to the challenge that tasks players with opening chests in specific locations, making it a little more manageable. We analysed the impact this change has had, saying that Fortnite has finally made the treasure chest challenges fun.
EA has announced it is making the Premium Pass for Battlefield 1 available for free for a limited time. From September 11 to September 18, Battlefield 1 players will be able to get the premium pass at no cost, giving them access to all the additional content released after the game's initial launch.
The Battlefield 1 premium pass includes a total of four expansions: They Shall Not Pass, In the Name of the Tsar, Turning Tides, and Apocalypse, all of which encompass new multiplayer maps, Operations, and Elite classes, among other things.
"Battlefield 1 Premium Pass is a great way for Battlefield 1 base game owners to play all the great post-launch content and whet your appetite as we enter mankind's greatest conflict in Battlefield V, come November," EA said on its website.
By playing Battlefield 1 (and Battlefield 4), players will also unlock content such as weapon skins and special tags for Battlefield V as part of the Road to Battlefield program. These items will play into Battlefield V's customization options, which allow characters to be outfitted with "soldier sets" that include camo patterns, head gear, face paint, and weapon skins. Although six of these soldier sets are included in Battlefield V's Deluxe Edition, two of them can only be unlocked through Road to Battlefield V.
Battlefield V's open beta will be available to everyone on September 6. However, those that have early access through pre-orders or by being an EA Access/Origin subscriber will be able to play from September 4. PS4, Xbox One, and PC owners can now pre-load the beta client on any of these platforms. All you have to do is add the Battlefield V open beta to your download queue by selecting it here for Xbox One or here on PlayStation 4. PC Origin users can head to Battlefield V's store page and click the "Try it First" button and then add the beta client to their library.
Battlefield V was originally set to release on October 19, however it was delayed to November 20 to give developer DICE extra time to fine-tune the game. "We're going to take the time to continue to make some final adjustments to core gameplay, and to ensure we really deliver on the potential of [new Battlefield live service] Tides of War," DICE General Manager Oskar Gabrielson previously explained. "We know moving the launch date means that we all have to wait a little longer. But we're going to take our time to make sure we get it right."
The first image from Captain Marvel is here. Brie Larson stars in the upcoming Marvel movie, which is set for release in March 2019. She is the first female superhero to headline a film within the MCU, and the image comes via Entertainment Weekly.
The EW image shows Larson as Carol Danvers wearing the iconic Captain Marvel costume from Marvel's comic books, which will be good news for those fans who were worried that she might be wearing something a little different. Check it out below:
Captain Marvel is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who collaborated on Ryan Gosling's breakthrough Half Nelson and have directed episodes of hit TV shows The Affair and Billions. The cast features Samuel L. Jackson as SHIELD boss Nick Fury and also includes Ben Mendelsohn (Star Wars: Rogue One), Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It), and Gemma Chan (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them). According to EW, the movie will not include an origin story and will initially see Danvars working in space as part of the elite Kree military team Starforce. The magazine also released additional Captain Marvelimages and details.
Larson spoke about what we can expect from her character. "She can't help but be herself," she said. "She can be aggressive, and she can have a temper, and she can be a little invasive and in your face. She's also quick to jump to things, which makes her amazing in battle because she's the first one out there and doesn't always wait for orders. But the [not] waiting for orders is, to some, a character flaw."
October is the month when film studios often release their biggest horror movies, and this year one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time returns. Halloween is a direct sequel to John Carpenter's classic 1978 slasher movie of the same name and it hits theaters on October 19. A new trailer has now been released.
The latest trailer opens with masked killer Michael Myers back on the street of Hannonfield on Halloween night, having escaped while being transferred between prisons. We see him walking amongst trick-or-treating kids, before entering a house to commit gruesome murder. Jamie Lee Curtis provides a voiceover as Laurie Strode, the character she played in the original movie, explaining that she has waited 40 years for Michael to escape so she can finally kill him. Check it out above.
Halloween is directed by acclaimed indie director David Gordon Green (George Washington, Pineapple Express), with a script co-written by comedian and actor Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down, Alien Covenant). Carpenter is involved as a story advisor and has composed the movie's score. Check out the previous trailer here.
In a recent interview with Collider, Curtis spoke about returning to the role which made her a star, and how Laurie Strode would differ in the new movie. "Laurie isn't a badass, she's smart and she survived," she said. "In this movie, I also don't want her to be a badass, I want her to be prepared. I want her to still be who she is but prepared, because she's not Linda Hamilton, I don't have those arms."
"She was strong because she was smart, education I think gives you strength, it's not muscles, it's brains," she continued. "Brainpower is the strongest message, so I've tried not to become some badass bitch because I don't think that's correct. It's tricky because we've turned strong women into superhero women and that isn't what makes a woman strong, we're not talking about physical strength, we're talking about intelligence and wile and all the beautiful things that make a smart woman so dynamic."
Mission Impossible: Fallout actor Henry Cavill will star in the upcoming TV series adaptation of The Witcher. The actor, also known for playing Superman in DC's movies, hinted last month that he would like to play Geralt in the Netflix show. Now the streaming giant has confirmed that he will indeed take on the role.
Cavill will play Geralt in the eight-part show, which is based on the fantasy novel series written by Andrzej Sapkowski, on which the games are also based. Sapkowski is set to work on the English language drama series as a creative consultant.
The star gave fans the first clue that he was in line for the role in August. IGN asked him about other projects he would like to be involved in, and he expressed his love of the Witcher games. "Love that game. Really good game," he said. Cavill was then asked specifically about playing the lead character of Geralt in Netflix's adaptation. "Absolutely," he said. "Yeah, that would be an amazing role." Cavill also dropped some hints when he reposted fan art imagining him in the role on Instagram.
The show is being developed by Lauren S. Hissrich, who previously worked on Daredevil, The Defenders, and the upcoming Netflix drama Umbrella Academy. The show was announced in May, but it is not expected to hit the service until 2020. "We're moving quickly ahead with everything--like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession--but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed," Hissrich said at the time.
A Polish TV series based on The Witcher aired in 2002, but that has been the only adaptation of the franchise for TV so far. A Witcher movie with some big-name talent behind it was was announced for 2017, but that never happened.
As for the Witcher game series, the newest instalment was 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. No new projects in the series have been announced, and developer CD Projekt Red is now working on the much-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077.
It's a good week to be a frugal PS4 owner. That's because you get not one, not two, but three video game sales on the PlayStation Store between now and September 10. If you enjoy the Assassin's Creed series or games made by Rockstar or Bandai Namco, there's a good chance you'll find something worth buying this week. As usual, PS Plus members will get additional discounts on some of the games. Read on for the details.
Fans of historical bloodshed can pick up most of the Assassin's Creed series at a discount right now. Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, which contains remasters of Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations, is on sale for $20. The seafaring Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is down to $10, while Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered is on sale for $18. And if you haven't picked up Assassin's Creed Origins yet, you can do it now for $24, before Odyssey lands in October. Additionally, a hefty amount of Assassin's Creed DLC and expansions is also on sale.
That's a lot of deals, and we only really scratched the surface of what's available on the PSN. You can find the full listings for all of the sales right here.
Each Monday night, Microsoft drops prices on a selection of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. This week's sale has nice discounts on some fantastic games across a variety of genres. So whether you're into action games, fighting games, survival games, racers, or something else, you can probably find something that appeals to you. And be sure to check out the massive backward compatibility sale for discounts on Xbox 360 games. With that out of the way, read on for some of our picks of the best Xbox One deals available between now and September 10.
With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice coming in March, you might want to try out From Software's previous game, Dark Souls 3. It offers a serious challenge, but its finely tuned gameplay usually keeps your failures from feeling cheap. And when you win, victory is that much sweeter. It's on sale for $15 / £13. Or, if you want to see where the story began, you can pick up Dark Souls Remastered on sale for $28 / £25.
Conan Exiles is a recent survival game that starts when the Cimmerian frees your personalized character from being crucified in The Exiled Lands. Which would be great if you didn't have to fight tooth and nail to survive. It's on sale for $30 / £25.
We've highlighted even more deals in the list below, and you can find the full list of discounts right here. Also be sure to check out the backward compatible game sale, because it's filled with bangers from the 360 era.
No comments:
Post a Comment