To celebrate Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate coming to Nintendo Switch on August 28, 2018, we're giving away 10 copies of the game and 1 Nintendo Switch!
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a Nintendo Switch, plus a copy of the game, and nine (9) runner-ups will receive the game on Nintendo Switch.
Entry is open to United States residents only. No purchase necessary. Competition ends September 9, 2018 at 11:59 PM PDT.
About the game:
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is the follow-up to Monster Hunter Generations, and marks the Monster Hunter series' debut on Nintendo Switch as an exclusive. Hunters can face off against the largest roster of unique monsters in any Monster Hunter game to date. Players take on the role of a brave hunter challenging larger than life beasts that yield valuable resources used for crafting unique weapons and equipment. Accept hundreds of quests solo or with friends in this nostalgic look back at the series' beginnings and evolutions. Along the hunter's journey, players must defend each of the game's four villages from major threats known as the Fated Four, plus an even more dangerous new Elder Dragon. This game features a blend of classic gameplay and unique new twists, brand new explorable areas and monsters, plus returning fan-favorites like the lightning fast Zinogre and the stealthy long-tailed Nargacuga. Fans will be able to play in tabletop mode or in handheld mode on-the-go with up to three other hunters locally or online when it releases on August 28, 2018.
So you've purchased a PlayStation 4 or PS4 Pro console. That's a great thing, because it opens you up to an incredible library of games. But what if you could make your whole PS4 experience even better? With a few thoughtfully selected accessories, you can. We've pulled together an array of helpful items that can make the time you spend with your PS4 more enjoyable. Take a look at our picks below. And if you have any PS4 accessories you couldn't live without, let us know in the comments.
PlayStation Plus Subscription
As you might have noticed, lots of the biggest blockbusters these days are online multiplayer games. To play the vast majority of these titles on PS4, you need a PlayStation Plus subscription. Thankfully, PS Plus also gives you free games each month as well as special discounts.
Whether you want to play local multiplayer games or you you want to keep going when your controller runs out of batteries, it's always nice having at least one more controller around. They also come in a variety of colors, so you can pick the one you like best.
It doesn't matter whether you play physical or digital PS4 games--your onboard storage can fill up fast. Plugging in an external hard drive is the easiest way to get additional storage space, but upgrading your internal hard drive is a pretty easy DIY project as well.
Is it a first-world problem to be annoyed by the brief time it takes to turn on your PS4 controller to pause Netflix? Certainly. Is it nice having a remote control that works instantly? Absolutely.
Calling PSVR an accessory is selling it short. It's a comfortable headset that acts as a gateway to virtual worlds ranging from Doom to Skyrim to Resident Evil 7. Read our PSVR review for more details.
Whether you want a way to communicate with your online teammates or you're after incredible 7.1 virtual surround sound, the PlayStation Gold wireless headset has you covered.
If you're like me, you don't always remember to plug in your controller to keep it charged up. But if you store your controllers on a charging station, you don't have to.
The new challenges for Season 5, Week 9 of Fortnite are now available. You can see the complete list of them here, where you'll also find a guide to following the treasure map in Shifty Shafts. That's one of the tougher challenges in the free section, but over in the paid Battle Pass group there's one specific challenge that'll require a fair bit of legwork to get done. This one tells you to visit seven different Stone Heads around the map. Here's where to find them.
If you're a hardcore Fortnite player, you'll probably have a good idea of what to do and where to go, considering that the Stone Heads are always in the same position, and this kind of challenge has popped up previously. However, if you're new to the game and this challenge, we're here to lend a helping hand. Below you'll find a list of all the locations we've spotted the Stone Heads, so simply high tail it between these and you'll be done in no time. You can also watch the video above to see us do it, and follow along.
Fortnite Stone Head Locations
South east of Junk Junction
North of Tomato Temple
North west of Dusty Divot
East of Lonely Lodge
North east of Greasy Grove
South east of Shifty Shafts
West of Lucky Landing
Once you're done with this week's challenges, there's still more to do, as developer Epic Games also has rolled out Fortnite's 5.40 update. This introduces the High Stakes event, which is a new limited-time mode has its own set of challenges to complete. You can read about what the High Stakes challenges are and the rewards that you can earn by completing them. You can read the full Fortnite update 5.40 patch notes here.
If you're still working on challenges from previous weeks, head over to our full Fortnite Season 5 challenge guide to get help with every single challenge in the season thus far.
Fortnite Week 9, Season 5 Challenges
Free
Deal damage with Explosive Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Get Trick Points in a Shopping Car or ATK (150,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Shifty Shafts -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
(Stage 1) Search Chests in Pleasant Park (1) -- 5 Battle Stars
After being delayed slightly, the latest batch of Fortnite challenges (Week 9) are now available in the Battle Royale mode for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile, which means new Battle Stars to earn. You should know the drill by now, but if you're new to the game, we'll break down how this works. Challenges are split into two categories, with one selection of them available to all players and the other exclusively to those that have paid for a Battle Pass. All you've got to do is complete the objectives and, in return, you get Battle Stars that unlock new goodies. Here's how to do them, including where to find the Shifty Shafts treasure map.
The treasure map is the week's challenge likely to take the longest--that is, if you do it the hard way and actually find the treasure map, then follow it. The alternative way is to just follow our guide: Since you don't technically need to get the map to complete the challenge, you can skip going to Shifty Shafts and locating the map and instead head to the location it's ultimately pointing you toward. In this case, it's in mountains just north Salty Springs and South of Dusty Divot. Once there, you'll spot a little collection of stone pillars where you'll also see the Battle Star. We've put images of the treasure map and the precise location of the Battle Star in the gallery below; you can also watch the video above to see us do it.
Click image to view in full screen
This week's other challenges aren't too tricky. On the free side, you'll need to deal 500 damage with explosive weapons, use an ATK or a Shopping Cart to rack up 150,000 Trick points, and follow the aforementioned Shifty Shafts treasure map.
For those who have paid for the Season 5 Battle Pass side, there are four more challenges to complete. You'll need to search for one chest in Pleasant Park (this is the first stage of the challenge, at which point four further stages will unlock one by one). On top of that, you'll need to visit seven different Stone Heads, take out five players with an assault rifle, and also eliminate three enemies in Tomato Temple. Here's the complete list:
Fortnite Week 9, Season 5 Challenges
Free
Deal damage with Explosive Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Get Trick Points in a Shopping Car or ATK (150,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Shifty Shafts -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
(Stage 1) Search Chests in Pleasant Park (1) -- 5 Battle Stars
Developer Epic Games also has rolled out Fortnite's 5.40 update, which introduces the High Stakes event. This new limited-time mode has its own set of challenges to complete. Here's what the High Stakes challenges are and the rewards that you can earn by completing them. The update also adds the Grappler item in, which is used primarily to zip around the environment. You can read the full Fortnite update 5.40 patch notes here.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched for 3DS back in November, marking the mainline series' swan song on Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. As it did for the original Sun and Moon versions, The Pokemon Company is continuing to support the pair in the months following their release with free items and Pokemon. The company has a lot of giveaways lined up for 2018, which it has dubbed the Year of Legendary Pokemon, though those certainly won't be the only freebies players can expect to find this year.
We've rounded up all of the free distributions currently running for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon below, many of which are also open to Sun and Moon players. We'll be updating this list as more giveaways are announced, so check back often to see what free items and Pokemon you can get. In the meantime, you can learn more about the latest Pokemon games in our rundown of everything new in Pokemon Ultra Sun And Ultra Moon. We also break down the differences between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, if you're still unsure of which version to pick up.
Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Free Gifts
Latios/Latias -- Ends Sep. 29
September's freebies are the twin Eon Pokemon, Latios and Latias. Once again, the Legendaries are being distributed in the US at a specific retailer--this time Best Buy--from September 2-29, and the Pokemon you get depends on which version you own: Sun and Ultra Sun players will receive the more defensive Latias, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will get the more attack-oriented Latios. Players in Europe and Australia can download the Legendaries from the Nintendo Network until September 23.
Celebi -- Ends Sep. 21
Players who purchase either Pokemon Gold or Silver from the 3DS Eshop by September 21, 2018 will receive a bonus download code for the Mythical Pokemon Celebi. The code can be redeemed in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. We've outlined the steps you need to take to find and redeem the code here.
Shiny Poipole -- Ends Oct. 7
To celebrate the release of Pokemon TCG's new Dragon Majesty expansion, The Pokemon Company is giving away a Shiny Poipole for a limited time. US players will be able to pick up a download code at GameStop stores from September 17 - October 7, while those in the UK can grab one at Smyths until October 15. Unlike a typical Poipole, this one is white and gold, and it already comes with Dragon Pulse, the move it needs to know in order to evolve into Naganadel.
Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina -- Ends Oct. 31
Players who have a Pokemon Bank account can receive the final forms of all three Alola starters--Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina--as a free bonus for using the cloud storage service. What sets these three Pokemon apart from the ones you can obtain in-game is that they each come with their Hidden Abilities, which aren't typically available through normal play. You'll receive a notification about the gifts the next time you access Pokemon Bank, and they can be picked up in your game of choice from the deliveryman waiting in any Pokemon Center.
Magearna
Unlike most other gift Pokemon, the Mythical Steel/Fairy-type, Magearna, is not available through the Mystery Gift feature, but via a QR code, which is compatible with Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, you can use the QR Scanner to scan the code below. Once you've done that, visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City and pick your Magearna up from the deliveryman waiting there.
Past Gifts
Dialga/Palkia -- DONE
Kicking off the Year of Legendary Pokemon are the Space and Time Pokemon, Palkia and Dialga. The two are being distributed in the US at GameStop from February 2-28, while UK residents can pick them up from participating Game stores. The Legendary you receive will depend on which version you have: players with either Sun or Ultra Sun receive Palkia, while those playing either Moon or Ultra Moon get Dialga. You'll need to redeem your download code by May 23 to claim the Legendaries.
Regigigas/Heatran -- DONE
The Year of Legendary Pokemon continues with another pair of Legendaries originally from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas and Heatran. As before, the Pokemon you receive will depend on which seventh generation title you're playing: Sun and Ultra Sun players will get Regigigas, while those with a copy of Moon or Ultra Moon will receive Heatran.
Unlike the Dialga and Palkia distribution, The Pokemon Company is giving away the download code for Regigigas and Heatran in the March Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter, so you'll need to create a free Trainer Club Account here and opt-in to the newsletter before March 1 in order to get the code.
Entei/Raikou -- DONE
The Johto Legendary dogs Entei and Raikou are April's free gift for Pokemon players. The Pokemon are being distributed in the US via a free download code from participating Target stores, and as before, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing: those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Entei, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will receive Raikou. In Europe, the Legendaries are being distributed as a free online Mystery Gift until April 25.
Xerneas/Yveltal -- DONE
Pokemon X and Y's cover monsters, Xerneas and Yveltal, are the free Legendary Pokemon available in May. From May 4-27, US players can snag a download code for the monsters at no charge from GameStop stores, while those in the UK can grab one from Game. As usual, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing: Sun and Ultra Sun players will get Yveltal, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will end up with Xerneas.
Shiny Zygarde -- DONE
The Kalos Legendary Zygarde is June's free Pokemon. Regardless of which game you own, you'll get the Order Pokemon, although its moveset will differ depending upon which version you're playing. What makes this particular Zygarde special is that it's a Shiny. Players in the US can pick up a free download code for the Legendary at GameStop from June 1-24, while those in Europe and Australia can get it via Mystery Gift over the Nintendo Network.
Tornadus/Thundurus -- DONE
Tornadus and Thundurus from Pokemon Black and White are July's free Legendary Pokemon, and as usual, the one you receive will depend on which version you're playing. Those with a copy of Sun or Ultra Sun will get Thundurus, while players who have Moon or Ultra Moon will receive Tornadus. To get the Legendaries, US residents will need to pick up a free download code at Target stores from July 13-28, while players in Europe can download the Pokemon over the Nintendo Network via Mystery Gift.
Groudon/Kyogre -- DONE
The cover monsters of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Groudon and Kyogre, are the two free Legendaries available in August. In the US, the Pokemon are being distributed via a free download code, which can be picked up at a participating GameStop store from August 3-26. As with previous giveaways, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you own; those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Kyogre, while players who have Moon or Ultra Moon will get Groudon.
For the first time since the release of Forsaken, Destiny 2's mysterious merchant Xur has arrived. As always, he has a selection of Exotic armor and a weapon for sale. But in a change we first saw last week, you won't find Xur on the map. Here's what he has for sale and where to find him.
Destiny 2's 2.0 update made some notable changes to Xur, the most significant of which concern where he's located. Not only can you not find him on the map, you'll no longer simply find him wherever the current Flashpoint is happening.
For this weekend's appearance, you can find Xur at the Tower. He's returned to his usual spot, just behind Dead Orbit's area. When you spawn in, turn left and make your way toward the hangar. Go under the Future War Cult area and toward the Dead Orbit section. Just up a set of stairs, next to a landing pad, you'll see Xur hanging out by himself.
In terms of his wares, he now offers a more limited selection of items overall. For consumables, the Three of Coins (now deprecated) is gone; he only has the Five of Swords challenge card. For Exotics, however, he does have one weapon, as well as one piece of armor for each class. Disappointingly, both the weapon and Titan armor--Prometheus Lens and Ashen Wake, respectively--are the same as last week's offering. The Fated engram, which guaranteed you an Exotic you don't already own, is nowhere to be seen.
Here's what's on sale right now and how much it costs:
Young Ahamkara's Spine (Exotic Hunter Gauntlets) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Nezarec's Sin (Exotic Warlock Helmet) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Ashen Wake (Exotic Titan Gauntlets) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Again, you'll find that you may want to purchase Exotics you already own, as these versions feature more and different perks than existing versions. These may also be higher Power level than those you already have, which spares you the trouble of spending Masterwork Cores to infuse them.
Destiny 2's new DLC just recently released, and you can see what we think about it in our Forsaken review-in-progress.
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.
Sony has revealed the timed exclusive PS4 content included in the upcoming Forsaken expansion for Destiny 2. If you own Destiny 2 on PS4 and you buy Forsaken, you'll get access to a new armor set for each class, an Exotic weapon, a ship, and a Strike. This content will unlock for Xbox One and PC players sometime in Fall 2019.
Sony Interactive social media manager Justin Massongill detailed the PS4 exclusive content on the PlayStation Blog. In terms of armor sets, players will receive the Thorium Holt for Warlock, Red Moon Phantom for Hunter, and Mimetic Savior for Titan. All three have very muted default color schemes of black and silver, although Red Moon Phantom does have splashes of vibrant blue and red.
The new Exotic weapon, Wavesplitter, fires an energy beam that can be shot at three different power levels. Holding down the trigger increases the laser's size and damage output. Collecting an Orb of Light immediately powers the Wavesplitter to full strength, so keep that in mind if you add the firearm to your loadout.
The new ship is called the Great Beyond, which is described as such: "It comes from an undiscovered country from which no explorer has returned ... until now." The new Strike, titled Broodhold, pushes you to explore the furthest depths of the Tangled Shore to destroy a Hive infestation. The mission ends with a fight against the nightmarish Hive Brood Queen.
Destiny 2 is currently free on PS Plus if you want to pick up the game to check out Forsaken (which is a separate purchase). After Forsaken, Bungie has a whole year's worth of content planned out for Destiny 2, with two different paths depending on whether you're willing to pay.
Sure, we've known about Captain Marvel's imminent arrival in the MCU for a while now, but if you're anything like us, the whole thing didn't start feeling real until this week. With our first official look at Carol and her crew of cohorts, both alien and human alike, we've finally been able to nail down and definitely confirm a number of rumored roles and character appearances that have been swirling around the internet for what feels like forever.
We've also got more info on the plot than ever before. In case you need a refresher, it goes like this. Carol Danvers is a human who, in the comics (and we can assume in the movie as well) had her genes spliced with the genes of the superpowered alien race, the Kree, which in turn gave her an incredible array of superpowers. Now, according to Entertainment Weekly's cover story, Captain Marvel will be picking up with this process (or whatever the live-action adaptation of it winds up being) already over and done with. Carol's already left Earth, embraced her newfound Kree heritage, and has been training with the Kree military outfit known as the Starforce under an "enigmatic commander" played by Jude Law.
In all likelihood, Law will be playing the Kree hero, Captain Mar-Vell, but we'll get to that in a second.
EW reported that the movie will pick up with Carol returning to Earth only to find herself beset upon by another alien society, this time in the form of the Skrulls, a race of powerful shapeshifters known to infiltrate and destabilize planets by impersonating their inhabitants.
Oh, right, and all of this is set in the 1990s, an almost entirely unexplored era of the MCU, home to only a small handful of flashbacks and oblique on-screen references which leaves plenty of room for Carol to work. We also know that we're going to be seeing the 1990s version of SHIELD (complete with a digitally de-aged, two-eyed Samuel L. Jackson), meaning there's a pretty strong chance for whatever happens in Captain Marvel to dramatically and forever alter the way we see the MCU in the modern day. Expect a lot of dot-connecting and circling back to all those little moments in the last ten years worth of movies that are about to be put in an entirely new light.
Now that we've got some more information (and some official confirmation), here is the list of exactly who is playing who in Captain Marvel, which has a release date of March 8, 2019.
Brie Larson -- Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers
An airforce pilot turned superhero, Carol has spent some time away from Earth as a member of the Kree military unit the Starforce. As the most powerful superhero in the Marvel Universe, Carol represents the ultimate bridge between cosmic and terrestrial--and she's returning to earth to prove it as she faces off against a secret Skrull invasion in the 1990s. You might recognize Larson from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Room.
Jude Law -- "Enigmatic Kree Commander" (Mar-Vell? Yon-Rogg?)
We have yet to officially confirm just who Law's character actually is, but it's long been assumed he would be playing Mar-Vell, a Kree soldier who wound up with a soft spot for Earth after he was eventually exiled from his homeworld. Alternatively, Law could be playing Yon-Rogg, a Kree zealot and commander in the military. Law has previously appeared in big budget franchises like Sherlock Holmes and The Young Pope.
Ben Mendelsohn -- Talos
Previously, it had been assumed Mendelsohn joined the cast as Yon-Rogg, but EW's first look has confirmed his role as Talos, a powerful Skrull commander and leader of the invasion on Earth. Mendelsohn recently appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ready Player One.
Lee Pace -- Ronan the Accuser
We've actually met Pace's Ronan before, back in Guardians of the Galaxy where he was working with Thanos to hunt down the Infinity Stones. Now we're going to see him in a brand new light, hopefully stripped of his genocidal urges, working as a Kree judge. Pace is reprising the role, but you'll also recognize him from the TV show Halt and Catch Fire.
Gemma Chan -- Minn-Erva
A Kree geneticist and member of the Starforce who became obsessed with modifying and purifying the Kree genetic code, Minn-Erva wanted desperately to advance her race by any means necessary, even if it meant crossing some serious ethical lines. Chan recently appeared in Crazy Rich Asians.
Samuel L. Jackson -- Nick Fury
You don't have to be an MCU fan to know exactly who Nick Fury is anymore--he's been a part of this whole thing from the very start. Finally making a major return after his post-credits-only appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, Jackson will be digitally de-aged to look like his 1990s self for this movie.
Clark Gregg -- Phil Coulson
One of the breakaway fan favorites of the MCU, Coulson hasn't actually been in the big screen universe for a while now, having made the transition to the small screen Agents of SHIELD TV show. That's about to change, however, with Coulson set to pop in, digitally de-aged like Jackson, to work in 1990s SHIELD.
Lashana Lynch -- Maria Rambeau
Rumors of Lynch's role have been swirling since her casting announcement with most fans assuming she would be playing Monica Rambeau, another woman to hold the superhero codename Captain Marvel for a time. It turns out this was partially correct--Lynch will actually be playing Maria, Monica's mother, who uses the air force call sign "Photon," another one of Monica's heroic code names. Lynch can be found in the TV shows Still Star-Crossed and Bulletproof.
The Nun is the latest chapter in the Conjuring's horrifying shared universe, and it centers around an oh-so-familiar threat. Valak, the demon nun who has been raining death and destruction down around Ed and Lorraine Warren, is back, this time with a prequel origin story to give a little order to the demonic chaos. And like last year's Annabelle: Creation before it, The Nun both stands on its own and relates to the Conjuring franchise as a whole.
This of course begs the question: Where exactly does The Nun fit into the Conjuring Universe's bigger picture? It's all a bit more complex than saying The Nun slots into one part of the timeline. To really make sense of where Valak, the demon nun in question belongs in all of this, we're going to have to handle things a bit out of order, starting not from the beginning, but with the sequel.
The Conjuring 2
Valak's first confirmed appearance was actually back in 2016's The Conjuring 2, which brought Ed and Lorraine Warren to England to investigate what they thought was a nasty poltergeist. But rather than a ghost, they found Valak, who had been puppeteering not one, but two individual entities before ultimately revealing itself like the world's spookiest Matryoshka doll.
The first ghost Valak "impersonated" in the England case was an old man named Bill Wilkins who had died in the house. Janet Hodgeson, one of the young girls living in the house, had been experiencing increasingly violent nightmares and visions before the Warrens were called in, claiming she kept seeing an angry man who insisted the house belonged to him.
However, after the Warrens began their investigation, Janet's visions of the man became more and more monstrous, slowly evolving into "the crooked man," an inhuman spirit who seemed to be a mutated form of Wilkins who sought to infect Janet and drive the Hodgesons out of the house. But once the case was fully underway and the pieces began to fall into place, it was revealed that there was actually no such thing as "the crooked man" and the spirit of Bill Wilkins wasn't actually reaching out in anger--he was reaching out for help. Something else had invaded the house and had been puppeteering Bill's spirit as a disguise. That thing just so happened to be Valak, a demon that Lorraine had been experiencing visions of for a while.
Those visions actually dated back to the Warrens working with the Amityville house, though Valak's presence wasn't explicitly stated in that case. Lorraine just had a stark vision of a demon nun--an image that she, inexplicably, decided to paint for some reason--that deeply unsettled her. The nightmares kept coming, even after they put Amityville in the rearview and, eventually, they coalesced enough for Lorraine to know the demon's name, which she scribbled out in a trance on the pages of a bible.
It was knowing Valak's name that ultimately saved the Hodgesons once all the puzzle pieces had been sorted out and Lorraine successfully (or so we hope) was able to banish Valak back to Hell.
The story was far from over, however, and for more we have to jump back even further.
Annabelle: Creation
Taking place in the early 40s, before the first Annabelle prequel and well before the start of the first Conjuring movie, Annabelle: Creation was essentially an origin story for Annabelle, the demonic doll that had been featured in the Warren's collection and also in its own solo spin off movie. Here, we learned that the actual demonic entity attached to the Annabelle doll had been invited into the world by a grieving family who had lost their daughter in a tragic accident. This demon really kicked things into high gear when the family opened their home to a troupe of orphans under the care of a group of--wait for it--nuns.
Valak isn't actually in Annabelle: Creation--at least not directly--but it does show up in a photo presented by one of the nuns, Sister Charlotte, who spent some time at "a monastery in Romania" but has no recollection of who the odd looking nun in the photo might be. Later, the post-credits scene features Valak in the flesh, stalking the halls of the monastery alone in the year 1952--which is when The Nun takes place.
The Nun spoilers below! You have been warned.
The Conjuring and The Nun
The Nun takes place in 1952, zeroing in on the events surrounding Valak's escape from its holy prison, preceding the demon's invasion of the Warrens' life. Things come full circle when it's revealed at the very end of The Nun that "Frenchie," the plucky expat who winds up secretly possessed, was actually the man on whom Ed and Lorraine performed an exorcism before the events of the first Conjuring movie, shown in one of their college lectures.
It was the events caught on tape during this exorcism that prompted a major scare for Ed and Lorraine. During the proceedings, Lorraine was grabbed by Maurice ("Frenchie to his friends" Ed explains in a line added to the scene for The Nun) which prompted her to have a vision so distressing and terrible, she withdrew into herself for days at a time. The whole thing terrified Ed so much he considered quitting the supernatural business entirely--to the point where he almost refused to help the Perron family and their struggle against the entity in their home.
The Conjuring 3, The Crooked Man, and The Future
Now, the first Conjuring takes place in the late '60s and early '70s, while the Conjuring 2 takes place in the late '70s, meaning that Valak had been unleashed and moving freely in the world for almost two decades before Lorraine was able to banish it--possibly longer, if you start to extrapolate a bit on Sister Charlotte's experience in the '40s. This makes it one of the most consistent manipulative and inciting forces in the Conjuring Universe at large, even if it's not always obviously responsible for the events of each movie. It also means that Valak's influence could be far from over, even after it was ultimately defeated. Twenty plus years is a long time to have been uncaged and unnoticed--who can really say what the demon might have gotten up to while flying under the radar?
It's unlikely that Valak's time in the spotlight is done.The next Conjuring spinoff movie is reported to be The Crooked Man, the creature Valak disguised itself as in The Conjuring 2--which means we're either about to get yet another Valak focused story, or we're about to learn what Valak's relationship to the "real" Crooked Man actually is, assuming there is a "real" Crooked Man at all.
We don't know much about The Conjuring 3, so it's difficult to say if Valak's influence will continue to be felt in the main Warren-focused movies. Lorraine seemed pretty successful in her exorcism, but then again, so did Irene in The Nun. Also, given the non-linear progression of the franchise, it's entirely possible that the next Conjuring could be set before the other two, and potentially even fill in that ten year gap between the end of The Nun and the start of The Conjuring.
Civilization VI is coming to Nintendo Switch on November 16, 2018, publisher 2K Games has announced. The Nintendo Switch version will have "the latest game updates and improvements, and four pieces of additional content which adds four new civilizations, leaders, and scenarios." These new scenarios are the Vikings pack, Poland pack, Australia pack, and the Persia and Macedon pack.
"Civilization VI for Nintendo Switch includes four playable scenarios, each with a different setting and style of gameplay inspired by history," the game's official website (which has been taken offline since we first published this story) reads. "Be part of the colonization of Australia in 'Outback Tycoon,' defend Poland from invaders in 'Jadwiga's Legacy' choose a Viking leader to plunder Europe in 'Vikings, Raiders, and Traders,' or conquer the known world in the 'Conquests of Alexander.'
The Nintendo Switch version of Civilization VI will also allow up to four players to cooperate or compete in wireless local multiplayer.
Civilization VI originally launched in 2016 and received a 9/10 from GameSpot. In his review, critic Scott Butterworth said the game "has a few rough edges, but they're pushed far into the periphery by spectacular strategic depth and intricate interlocking nuances."
He continued: "Any frustrations I experienced were immediately eclipsed by my desire to continue playing. Just one more turn, every turn, forever." You can read our full Civilization VI review for more on the game.
In February, 2018 the new Rise and Fall expansion was released for Civilization VI, and it was received well by Kallie Plagge, who awarded it an 8/10. "As Civ VI's first expansion ... Rise and Fall works so well with the base game that lingering issues are minor," she said.
"It enhances, rather than overcomplicates, systems that were already deep and layered to begin with, while introducing features that keep each game engaging from start to finish. Ages in particular provide room for struggling civs to climb the ranks in the late game and keep leading civs on their toes, and the Governor and Loyalty systems add to the city-specific strategies that helped make the base game great." Read the full Civilization VI: Rise and Fall review here.
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, has released 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.
Ahead of its release, reviews of Marvel's Spider-Man began 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]
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. If you're undecided about picking up the expansion, check out our Forsaken review-in-progress.
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.
Destiny 2's new DLC, Forsaken, has finally arrived on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It introduces a wealth of new content, including missions, Gambit mode, Crucible maps, and a whole lot more. On the PvE side, you can also expect to happen upon a new Public Event (Cryo-Pod) while exploring the new Tangled Shore zone. As with existing ones, it's possible to activate a Heroic version of the event, as seen in the video above--here's how.
In typical fashion, you'll need to fulfill several objectives that aren't explained in-game--if you simply do what you're told, you'll only complete the standard version of the event. To activate the Heroic version, you'll start out by locating the cryo-pod, which is a sort of prison cell that crashes on the map (and is marked by the usual Public Event icon). You'll then neutralize the nearby defenders, which involves clearing out two waves of enemies, and then proceed to stop the Wanted enemy who emerges from the pod.
Once you've done enough damage to this enemy, the cryo-pod begins venting a freezing gas that does damage to anything nearby. Once this begins, look for a vent on the side of the pod and begin shooting it. You can then grab the Core (a glowing ball) from inside the vent and throw it at the Wanted enemy. Do this enough times and you'll freeze the enemy in place, creating a circle around them. You then need to stand in the circle and fight off waves of enemies until the Wanted can be recovered.
Opting for the Heroic version of this event--while more difficult--also provides you with better rewards. It may prove to be too challenging if you're early in the DLC, but once you've raised your Power level (or simply have enough nearby players to attempt it), you'll want to do the Heroic version whenever possible.
If you haven't yet jumped in, you can watch the opening mission from Forsaken, which features some key story developments. The expansion is out now and requires both the base game and the first two DLC packs.
Last week was a big one for streaming service Netflix, as it added nearly 40 TV series and movies to its library, 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. As noted above, 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.
A new season of basketball approaches, and just like clockwork this year's basketball video games are starting to come out. NBA 2K19 is slated to launch September 11 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, but you can pre-order a copy now. And if you pre-order the 20th Anniversary Edition, you'll get to play it early, starting today, September 7.
If you're particularly eager to get your hands on the game, GameStop has announced plans to open early to let players in the US pick it up early (whether that's on the night of September 6 or September 10). Alternatively, you can check out the Prelude demo that is available now and gives a sampling of the game's story mode.
Below, we've rounded up all the information you need to know about what comes in each edition of the game, what kinds of pre-order bonuses to expect, and where you can pre-order the game right now.
Pre-Order NBA 2K19 Standard Edition
Pre-order NBA 2K19 standard edition, and you'll receive 5,000 Virtual Currency, 10 MyTeam packs (delivered one a week), and a Giannis Antetokounmpo Sapphire MyTEAM card. Here's where it's available and how much it costs.
If you pre-order NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition, you'll get to play the game four days early, on September 7. This version of the game costs $40 more than the standard edition, so what do you get for that extra money? Here's a rundown.
100,000 Virtual Currency
50,000 MyTeam points
20 MyTeam League Packs (delivered one a week). Build your perfect fantasy team featuring a guaranteed Sapphire LeBron card and more.
10 MyTeam Heat Check Packs (delivered one a week beginning at the start of the NBA season)
Anime Crimes Division is returning for a second season. The popular web series stars Riley Rose Critchlow and YouTuber SungWon "ProZD" Cho and is produced as a collaborative effort between RocketJump and Crunchyroll.
In the exclusive clip above, RocketJump co-founder and Anime Crimes Division director Freddie Wong talks about what viewers can expect to see in the show's new season. Full warning, if you haven't watched Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood yet, the above clip contains a spoiler of one of the more prominent character deaths in the series. Some of the other trailers for Anime Crimes Division showcase the same death scene so if you don't want to be spoiled, watch Brotherhood first.
Crunchyroll's synopsis of the second season is as follows: "Detectives Joe Fuyara and Diesel are back for a second season, working to solve a series of anime-inspired crimes taking place in Neo Otaku City. In order to do so, Joe and Diesel must defeat TOXIC: a terrorist group from nearby Prestige City who want to steal all the anime from Neo Otaku City because they don't believe anyone else is worthy. Joe and Diesel battle these evil terrorists in order to restore order to Neo Otaku City, and ensure anime is still something for everyone to enjoy."
Anime Crimes Division Season 2 begins airing today on Crunchyroll and new episodes will go live every Friday. The season is composed of six episodes. Season 2 moves away from the villain of the week formula the show used in the first season, and is instead structured like a segmented film with one overarching plot.
The PS4-exclusive game Spider-Man doesn't just rehash the hero's origin story. Instead, it finds an experienced Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego defending New York City from a super villain threat. The new title from Insomniac Games (the maker of Sunset Overdrive and Ratchet & Clank) has reached its release date of September 7, and it has been receiving stellar reviews (including ours).
"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," Edmond Tran wrote in GameSpot's Spider-Man review. "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."
If you're ready to pick up Spider-Man for PS4, you'll probably want to know what your options are. We have you covered below, with all the information you need about the various editions, where to buy it, and how much it costs at each retailer. Let's swing into the details (sorry).
Pre-order bonus
If you pre-ordered any version of Spider-Man, you got a number of extra digital goodies. Here's a rundown of what you could have received.
Spidey Suit Pack--Gain instant in-game access to three suits that alter your appearance and unlock new suit abilities: Iron Spider, Spider-Punk, and Velocity Suit.
Skill Points--Get a head start by having skill points to unlock abilities from the start of the game like active finishers, web grab, or faster web swinging.
Early unlock of a Spider-Drone Gadget--Unleash a mobile Spider-Drone to distract and web your enemies.
Spider-Man PS4 Custom Theme--Customize your PS4 with artwork from legendary comic book artist Adi Granov.
Spider-Man PSN Avatar--Represent your PSN profile online with the bold White Spider icon for your PSN avatar.
Spider-Man Standard Edition
The standard edition is just the core game, but if you pre-ordered it, you get the bonuses listed above. Here's where you can find the standard edition.
The Digital Deluxe Edition of Spider-Man comes with the core game, the pre-order bonuses, plus a couple of extras, both digital and physical.
Marvel's Spider-Man: The City that Never Sleeps--consists of three post-launch story chapters featuring new characters and missions. Users will receive DLC by March 2019.
If pre-ordered before September 7, 2018, receive all pre-order bonus content, plus a custom, one-of-a-kind physical pin for Marvel's Spider-Man.
Here's where you can find the Digital Deluxe Edition:
The Collector's Edition of Spider-Man comes with all the stuff included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, plus the following items.
Custom steelbook
White spider sticker
Mini artbook--contains unique, early-look concepts and unreleased artwork
Collector's Edition Marvel's Spider-Man statue by Gentle Giant
Marvel's Spider-Man: The City that Never Sleeps--Consists of three post-launch story chapters featuring new characters and missions. Users will receive DLC by March 2019.
This edition is tough to find in stock, but if it becomes available, here's where you'll find it.
PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Marvel's Spider-Man Limited Edition System
If you want a whole Spider-Man-themed PS4 Pro setup, this is the package you'll want to get--if you can find it in stock. It comes with a physical copy of the game, plus a limited edition PS4 and DualShock 4 controller.
After a slight delay, Fortnite's 5.40 update has finally arrived on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. Along with introducing another new item to Battle Royale, the Grappler, the patch marks the start of the High Stakes event, which features a new limited-time mode and its own set of challenges to complete. Aside from the standard newly added Week 9 challenges, here's what the rewards are that you can earn from taking part in High Stakes.
The High Stakes challenges are tied to the new LTM, Getaway. Unlike a typical game of Battle Royale, this heist-themed mode divides players into teams of four, with the objective being to find one of the four safes scattered around the island, extracting the (appropriately llama-shaped) jewel housed within, and making it safely to the getaway van.
There are three High Stakes challenges in all, which will reward you with XP and new High Stakes cosmetics. Each is fairly straightforward and can be reasonably completed by taking part in enough Getaway matches. You can see the full list of High Stakes challenges, and the rewards they confer, below.
Play matches of The Getaway (10) -- 5,000 XP
Deal damage to Jewel-carrying opponents (500) -- Suited Up spray
Pick up a Jewel in different matches of The Getaway (5) -- Cash Flow skydiving trail cosmetic
If you manage to complete all three of the challenges before the High Stakes event ends next week, you'll unlock one final reward: an exclusive Crowbar skin for your pickaxe. Additionally, developer Epic offering a new Wildcard skin in the Fortnite store throughout the event, which comes with four interchangeable masks and a Cuff Case back bling.
Epic is also selling a new Ace Pack. It runs for $5 and comes with two similarly heist-themed cosmetics: the Ace Outfit and the Swag Bag back bling, which looks like a duffle bag stuffed with cash. You'll also receive 600 V-Bucks--Fortnite's in-game currency--for purchasing the Ace Pack, making it a particularly good value.
As previously mentioned, Fortnite's 5.40 patch also added a new traversal tool to the game's arsenal, the Grappler. This gun can be fired at walls and used to launch yourself around the map. Meanwhile, Week 9's set of challenges are now live and include a Shifty Shafts treasure map and a search for different stone heads.
Due to the delayed rollout of Patch 5.40, Fortnite's latest set of weekly challenges will arrive a little later than usual. The new missions are scheduled to go live across all platforms on Friday, September 7, but Fortnite Tracker has already uncovered the full list, giving you an early look at the various tasks that are in store. [Update: The challenges have now officially launched and they are slightly different from the leak. The list below has been updated with the confirmed set of challenges. You can find a guide on how to follow the treasure map in Shifty Shafts and how to visit different Stone Heads, which are two of the more time-consuming challenges from the week.]
We're now in Week 9 of Season 5, making this the penultimate set of challenges you'll have to complete before the season ends. Once again, there are seven challenges in all, and they're divided up into two categories: those that are available to everyone, and those reserved for players who've purchased the Season 5 Battle Pass.
Many of this week's challenges appear to be fairly straightforward. In the Free category, you'll have to use one ATK--the new golf cart-like vehicle introduced at the start of Season 5--and dish out damage to other players using explosive weapons. Battle Pass owners, meanwhile, will have to search chests in Pleasant Park and have a dance off with other player, among other tasks. You can find the full list of Week 9 challenges below.
While most of the tasks are fairly self-explanatory and shouldn't pose much problem, there is yet another treasure hunt that will require a bit more leg work to complete. This time, you'll have to follow a treasure map found in Shifty Shafts. We'll have a full guide to help you complete this challenge shortly after the missions go live on Friday.
Separate from the Week 9 challenges, Epic has kicked off a High Stakes event in Fortnite. For a limited time, players will be able to participate in a new heist-themed mode called Getaway, in which teams of four must work together to locate a safe hidden around the island, take the Jewel it contains, and safely escape with it. There is also a corresponding set of High Stakes challenges that unlock special cosmetics.
Fortnite Week 9, Season 5 Challenges
Free
Deal damage with Explosive Weapons to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Get Trick Points in a Shopping Car or ATK (150,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Shifty Shafts -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
(Stage 1) Search Chests in Pleasant Park (1) -- 5 Battle Stars
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 9, 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)
With its release approaching next year, the first image from Captain Marvel has arrived, and it's a notable one. 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, which has subsequently shared additional photos and details.
The main 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."
Another new update for Fortnite has arrived. Alongside it, Epic Games has shared the v5.40 patch notes, detailing all the changes, tweaks, and new additions it has made for the Battle Royale and Save the World modes on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, iOS, and Android.
As previously confirmed, the headliner for this update is the High Stakes event, which lets players compete in a heist scenario. As part of this limited-time mode, a new traversal tool has also been introduced called the Grappler. This weapon lets players launch themselves around the map, which is useful in both jumping into combat or escaping quickly. There are also new High Stakes challenges.
High Stakes introduces a new LTM called The Getaway, in which Victory Royale is achieved by obtaining one of four Jewels that spawn on the map and safely escaping in a Getaway Van. Carrying a Jewel will grant you health and shields over time, but your movement will be slowed by 10%.
There have been a variety of balance changes implemented, while a number of weapons and items have had their rarity changed (though that doesn't impact how effective they are). The previously announced storm changes are also now in place, dealing damage to some structures near the end of matches. Additionally, the revolver has been moved to the Vault, meaning you'll no longer find it in-game (at least for the time being).
In Save the World, meanwhile, there's a fresh set of Horde challenges to work on. "With increased health and the ability to bat players away with strong knockbacks, these Husks are no joke. Gather your team and take them on now," Epic says. A new Harvester Ninja has also been added to this mode.
Take a look at the full Fortnite: Battle Royale update 5.40 patch notes below, courtesy of Epic. If you want to see the Save the World details, you can see them via Epic Games.
Jewels can be found in special supply drop safes, located along the edge of the first storm circle. The safes take a long time to open, so make sure the area is clear before attempting to claim a Jewel!
Four Jewels will be in play on the map AT ALL TIMES. If a player escapes with a Jewel or one is lost in the storm, a new supply drop will bring a replacement.
When a Jewel is picked up, it will be visible on the map to everyone for 30 seconds.
Carrying a Jewel will give players health & shields over time, but also slow them down by 10%.
Getaway Vans
Four TOTAL Getaway Vans will be in the map, three that arrive early in the match and one more that shows up near the end.
Getaway Vans float in mid-air, Jewel carriers must build up and then interact with them in order to complete a Getaway.
The goal is to find or steal a Jewel and take it to one of the vans in order to secure a Victory Royale.
Once they arrive, safe drops and Getaway Vans will be visible on the map at all times.
12 red "Pursuit" Supply Drops land at the very beginning of the match. These carry a variety of longer-range weapons and other items, and are the only way to obtain the new Grappler in this mode.
Resource harvesting amounts increased by 50%.
Only Rare weapons or higher will be found in this mode.
Rifts, Rift-To-Go and Launchpads have been removed to reduce mobility for Getaway Van engagements.
Profile Stats (K/D & Wins) are tracked in this mode, but Umbrellas are not awarded for wins.
Weapons And Items
Grappler added.
Fire at a nearby object to pull yourself towards it.
Can be found in Vending Machines, floor loot, Treasure Chests, Supply Drops, and Supply Llamas.
Chain multiple shots together to travel great distances.
Has 15 charges. Discarded when charges are depleted.
Epic rarity.
Vaulted Revolvers
Rarity color adjustments
Some items have been removed or modified to better reflect their effectiveness. This only affects their colors and other characteristics are unchanged.
Removed Common Suppressed Submachine Gun
Removed Rare Rocket Launcher
Availability of Epic and Legendary Rocket Launchers increased slightly to compensate.
Increased Epic Rocket Launchers drop rate by 18.57%
Increased Legendary rocket launcher drop rate by 2.05%
Removed Legendary Bolt-action Sniper Rifle
Removed Rare Pistol
Remote Explosives increased from Rare to Epic.
Port-a-Fort decreased from Epic to Rare.
Semi-Auto Sniper rifle decreased from Epic and Legendary to Uncommon and Rare.
Increased the frequency that the Semi-Auto sniper rifles drop to align more with their rarity class.
Increased Uncommon Semi-Auto sniper drop rate by 9.29%
Increased Rare Semi-Auto sniper drop rate by 9.29%
Dual pistols decreased in rarity from Epic and Legendary to Rare and Epic.
Suppressed pistol decreased in rarity from Epic and Legendary to Rare and Epic.
Burst Assault Rifle accuracy adjustments.
When holding down the trigger, the first 2 bursts are more accurate.
Spread down sights benefit increased from 35% to 40%.
Crouch spread benefit reduced from 25% to 20%.
Jumping/Falling spread penalty reduced from 25% to 10%.
Sprinting spread penalty reduced from 50% to 30%.
Increased drop stack count for Boogie Bomb from 1 to 2.
Increased maximum stack size for Stink Bomb from 5 to 6.
Increased maximum stack size for Shield Potions from 2 to 3.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue that prevented audio and effects from playing on other players who are consuming a shield potion.
Gameplay
In the moving storm phases, when the storm reaches its destination, it will cause a surge of energy that destroys player-built structures located on the storm wall.
Motion controls now function uniformly across input types on Nintendo Switch and mobile. Options have been added to the settings to allow you to switch your motion turn axis.
Motion deadzone has been removed.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue causing supply drop landing effects to play twice in some circumstances.
Fixed inconsistencies with auto-pickup when landing on pickups, and when pickups are first thrown from containers.
Performance
Improved loading performance on Nintendo Switch to reduce issues with buildings loading late (i.e. low-res buildings during skydiving).
Fixed a large performance regression related to effects. This was causing poor framerate in the 5.30 release (especially on Nintendo Switch).
Audio
Boosted volume of the Remote Explosives placement sound.
Improve the quality of the sound played when dropping from the Bus on Mobile/Nintendo Switch platforms.
Improve spatialization of the chest open sound for other players nearby.
Bug Fixes
Reduced the spam of item pickup "bounce" sounds when pickups are sliding down hills.
Fixed several UI sound issues.
UI
Emote picker is now available in the lobby, no longer limited to just playing the first emote selected in your locker.
Fullscreen map now supports touch on Nintendo Switch.
Bug Fixes
Item shop now shows the item description when inspecting.
Road Trip week 8 and 9 display the correct completion value now.
Fixed issue where challenge bundles did not display the correct number of stars from the challenge tab.
Fixed issue where style preview would sometimes not be centered in the view correctly.
Banner rewards from the Battle Pass no longer show an empty description box.
Fixed an issue wherein rerolling a daily quest in Battle Royale would not select the new quest.
Style gift boxes will now show the 3D preview of the character with the style applied.
Fixed an issue where navigating in the locker would cause some drop in performance.
Fixed an issue where changing away from the Challenges Tab would cause some information to get stuck on the screen.
Fix an issue where continuously clicking on the "Select Game Mode" page would prevent it from closing.
Fixed an issue where using touch to open/close the map would cause d-pad controls to become unresponsive.
Fixed an issue with the loading screen showing incorrect information for non-leader party members.
Art And Animation
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue that could cause player models to not appear while in game.
Fixed an issue with spray quality temporarily appearing pixelated for some sprays.
Fixed the Downshift Glider rear light trails from clipping with geometry.
Replay System
Bug Fixes
Fixed duplicate elimination effects on the recording player.
Mobile
Added VOIP to Android.
Expanded device support to the Essential-PH, Motorola, HTC, Sony Xperia devices.
Major memory optimization on Android devices with Adreno GPUs. This addresses the performance degradation seen due to memory pressure.
Implemented a new Audio Mixer, which addresses issues with sound quality and consistency.
Items on the ground now have tooltips.
Custom HUD Layout Tool now has a more consistent apply/cancel flow.
The player healthbar and squad healthbars are now moveable in the Custom HUD Layout tool.
Dragging-and-dropping an item from the quickbar now drops the whole stack. To split a stack, drag-and-drop with the inventory window open.
Dragging-and-dropping an item from the quickbar no longer stops consumable use.
UI prompts now appear on vehicles for entering and switching seats.
Bug Fixes
Corrected some issues with screen resolution in certain locales on Android.
The screen will no longer timeout without user input on iOS.
Adjusted steering sensitivity on vehicles.
Players are now able to thank the bus driver.
Gyro controls are now usable regardless of orientation on iOS.
Resolved an issue with turbo-building sometimes being stuck "on" when using the quickbar to turbo-build.
Fixed the challenges button to use large buttons on mobile.
Fixed an issue where toggling between pickaxe/weapons wouldn't properly change weapons.
Exhaust problems with the Street Racer Bike Gliders for mobile have been repaired. The Bikes should run clean now.
No longer able to interact with UI behind the challenges screen.
Players who are experiencing issues with abruptly going to the Home Screen when pressing jump on certain Samsung Galaxy devices can do the following to fix the issue.
Go to Settings > Display > Navigation > Hard Press Home Button > Turn the feature off
While Mark Wahlberg may love the idea of a "Popular Film" category at the Oscars, it won't come during the upcoming ceremony as previously announced. According to CBS News, The Academy confirmed that the "Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film" category has been axed from this year's Oscars ceremony due to concerns about implementing it so late into the year.
As written in a statement regarding why the category has been cut, The Academy said, "While remaining committed to celebrating a wide spectrum of movies ... the Academy recognized that implementing any new award nine months into the year creates challenges for films that have already been released."
John Bailey, who's been elected for his fourth term as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said that the Board of Governors recently met to discuss the change at length and approve the dismissal of the category.
The "Popular Film" category, which was announced last month, isn't the only change headed to the Oscars. In addition to the introduction--and subsequently dismissal--of the award, a shorter awards season and a shorter telecast were also tossed around in the idea bag. Bailey also said that the Academy promises a three-hour Oscars ceremony next year and an earlier air date in 2020.
The changes are reportedly being made in the wake of declining viewership. The 2018 Awards ceremony saw the viewership lowest in history, with only 26.5 million people tuning in. That's almost a 20 percent decline from the 32.9 million who tuned in to 2017's show. We'll see if any of these changes will positively affect the Academy's viewership.
This year's Oscars ceremony will be held on February 24, 2019.
With the DCEU's Wonder Woman and the MCU's upcoming Captain Marvel, female-led superhero movies are becoming more common. And Marvel Studios' president, Kevin Feige, wants to further contribute to this burgeoning trend, revealing that the studio has more female-led Marvel movies in the works.
Following its Captain Marvel cover story, Entertainment Weekly published an interview with Feige where it discusses how the studio plans to approach female-led Marvel movies. In the interview, he revealed that the studio has more Marvel movies that are led by women to announce.
"With [Ant-Man andTheWasp] and now with Captain Marvel and many movies to be announced in the near future, I'm anxious for the time where it's not a novelty that there is a female-led superhero movie, but it is a norm," Feige said in the Entertainment Weekly interview. "And it is less a story of, 'Oh, look, a female hero,' and it's more a story of, 'Oh, what's this about? Who's this character? I'm excited to see that.' And I think we can get there."
While Captain Marvel may be the only confirmed female-led Marvel movie right now, it's not the only one in the works. In January 2018, it was revealed that Marvel's standalone Black Widow movie, led by Scarlett Johannson, sought out Jac Schaeffer (TiMER, The Hustle) to write the script. And in July 2018, the movie found its director in Cate Shortland (Somersault, Lore).
Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson (Room) in the title role, playing Carol Danvers and Captain Marvel. It also stars Djimon Hounsou (Never Back Down), Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians), Clark Gregg (Iron Man), and Jude Law (The Aviator), who plays Walter Lawson and Mar-Vell, Danvers' mentor and commander of Starforce. Additionally, Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), who plays Nick Fury, has been revealed to have two eyes, and Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), who plays Talos, is confirmed to be the leader of the Skrulls.
As of July 2018, Marvel's Captain Marvel has concluded filming. Actress Brie Larson tweeted a photo on July 8 of a clapperboard showing July 6 as the final day of filming.
Captain Marvel is due in theatres on March 8, 2019.
In addition to Amazon's new Lord of the Rings TV show, an all-new "AAA" video game based on J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy franchise is on the way. The untitled project is in the works at Athlon Games, which is the video game publishing label operated by the Hong Kong based chicken meat supplier Leyou's new video game publishing label Athlon Games.
It's not immediately clear which studio is developing the game, as Athlon said it is working with an unspecified partner for the title.
In terms of the story, it's set in Middle-earth "a long time" before the events of The Lord of the Rings. The game will cover "lands, people, and creatures never before seen" in the Tolkien universe, and all of those possibilities are exciting to think about.
Athlon Games president Dave Miller, who formerly worked at Warner Bros., suggested in a statement that the new title is coming to PC and console, while it could have a games-as-a-service model. He said the game is being made to remain appealing "for years."
There is a good reason to believe the new Lord of the Rings game will be a free-to-play title. Leyou says that while the free-to-play business model is popular, prevalent, and generally accepted in Asia, there remains "vast untapped potential" for the model in the rest of the world.
Athlon partnered with Middle-earth Enterprises for the new game, though terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We are extremely pleased to work with Athlon Games to create a new, immersive game experience, exploring epic regions in Middle-earth during the years leading to the events of The Lord of the Rings," Middle-earth Enterprises licensing boss Fredrica Drotos said. "Athlon's game will allow millions of Middle-earth fans throughout the world a unique opportunity for fellowship and epic exploration."
Leyou Technologies owns Digital Extremes (Warframe) and Splash Damage (Gears of War 4 multiplayer), while it previously invested millions of dollars into Halo and Call of Duty co-developer Certain Affinity. As mentioned, video games are just one part of Leyou's business. The company also operates a slaughtering and processing facility in China that is capable of processing 18 million chickens every year.
Having already created the Xbox Onesie and a pop-up gaming hotel, the Xbox Australia team is back with another wacky Xbox product. Xbox Australia has announced a "greaseproof" Xbox One controller that features a "special coating resistant to grease and oil."
Xbox Australia commissioned the controller to celebrate PUBG on Xbox One reaching its 1.0 state this week, coming out of Xbox Preview and into a full release. What's the connection? Winning a PUBG match gets you a chicken dinner; chicken (can be) greasy, so there you go.
The controller uses PUBG's trademark colours, and is hand-sprayed with a urethane coating that Xbox claims is "impervious to minor scratches, water, and of course, roast chicken grease." As Game Informer's David Milner points out, the urethane coating makes the controller look greasy.
Each controller is individually numbered, and only 200 are being made globally. You can visit the Xbox ANZ Facebook page to find out how you can win one.
A demo for FIFA 19 will be available soon, EA Sports has announced. The demo will arrive on Thursday, September 13, the company announced today. There is no word yet on what teams, stadiums, and modes will be available in the demo, though those details should be announced soon given that the demo is just days away.
The demo will presumably be available on all FIFA 19 platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC. FIFA 19 adds a number of new features and updates this year, so hopefully the demo lets players try out some of these.
In other FIFA 19 news, EA has announced the first 20 of the top 100 rated players, so that's the players rated 100-81. Some of football's biggest names are represented there, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic (No. 98) and Diego Costa (No. 81). You can see the full 100-81 list here.
FIFA 19 launches worldwide on September 28 for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch, as well as last-generation consoles. EA/Origin Access subscribers will get to play sooner.
Netflix announced this week that Superman actor Henry Cavill will play Geralt of Rivia in the upcoming TV show based on the books (not the games). Now, showrunner Lauren Hissrich has revealed that she either met with or reviewed "hundreds" of other actors for the role before deciding on Cavill. So what was it about him that sold Hissrich on casting him?
As a fan of the Witcher franchise, Cavill was able to see "beyond the script pages" and into who Geralt is as a character," Hissrich explained.
"I met Henry in April. Over the next four months, I met/reviewed hundreds of other potential leads, many of whom were amazing," Hissrich said on Twitter. "But what I never forgot was Henry's deeply insightful understanding of Geralt's strength and brutality, and more importantly, his wit and vulnerability.
"Because as a fan of the franchise, Henry saw beyond the script pages. He saw the human connection that Geralt perpetually needs, even if he denies it, kicking and screaming at every turn. What I saw was Geralt's heart, in Henry."
It's not known what other actors tried out for or expressed interest in playing Geralt. Cavill playing Geralt is the only piece of casting news announced so far.
In other news, Netflix is now aiming to premiere the show in 2019, it seems. Previously, the show was expected out in 2020.
Red Dead Redemption 2 marks Rockstar's first new release since 2013's Grand Theft Auto V. The latter has proven to be an immense critical and commercial success for the studio, thanks to its perennially updated GTA Online mode and engrossing campaign, which follows three different characters that players switch between. But while having three protagonists worked well in GTA V, the feature won't return in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Hollywood Reporter recently spoke with Josh Bass and Aaron Garbut, the art directors at Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar North, respectively. Among other things, the developers confirmed that, in contrast to GTA V's trio of protagonists, Arthur Morgan will be the only playable character in Red Dead Redemption 2.
"Sticking with a single character felt more appropriate for the structure and narrative of a western," Bass explained. "Arthur lives with and fights alongside the other members of the Van der Linde gang, and they are a group of fully realized characters with relationships to each other and to Arthur, but this is Arthur's story and we are placing players firmly in Arthur's boots as he and the gang deal with a rapidly changing world. We think people will really love the feeling of being in the gang. It isn't like anything we've done before."
Despite the number in its title, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption. The game is set 12 years before the previous title and follows Morgan, one of the members of the aforementioned Van der Linde gang, as the outlaws flee across America. The gang plays a pivotal role in the game; you'll be able to interact and build relationships with other members in various ways, from conversing with them to taking them out with you on hunts and robberies.
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