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.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of controlling Spider-Man in the new PS4 game is the steady flow of new skills, upgrades, and gadgets to incorporate into your superhero repertoire. Peter Parker is a capable combatant from the start but he can move faster, hit harder, and protect himself from harm more easily if you take the time to dress him for success. Understanding when and how to use your gadgets is a great first step in the right direction.
Let's breakdown each of Spider-Man's gadgets, and look at some examples of when you should put them into action.
Web Shooters
The Web Shooter is the most important tool in your kit, and one that you will use most-often throughout the game--unlike other gadgets, an empty Web Shooter only needs a few seconds to recharge. At its most basic, a single web shot is an effective means of momentarily staggering an enemy. A few consecutive shots can also be used to ensnare a target and make them available as a weight to swing around and knock over other enemies, or, if an enemy is close to a wall, a few shots will attach them to it. You'll have fun if you tinker with Spider-Man's more advanced gadgets, but if you're alert enough, you could simply get by with the Web Shooters alone--they're that effective.
Impact Web
The next step up f is the Impact Web gadget. Think of this as a weapon that fires a condensed blast from your standard shooters, one powerful enough to instantly knock back and web up a bad guy. You can only hold a couple of shots until you upgrade the gadget, but even with those added rounds it's not something you can spam on a regular basis.
When fully upgraded, the Impact Web can deploy a blast that causes the initial target to spread Spidey's web to any other enemy they come into contact with. Consider facing a crowd of enemies and treating them like bowling pins just waiting to be knocked down. Do this, and follow-up with a ground-pound attack (unlocked in the skill tree) to add insult to injury. You can also grab hold of the impacted enemies and use them as a projectile to harm or momentarily disable any other nearby enemies.
Spider Drone
The Spider Drone is a handy little sidekick that can float nearby Spider-Man and stun enemies with a beam of electricity. It is a great tool to activate if you find yourself surrounded by enemies, either to open a window of time for an escape, or, to give you a fighting chance of taking on the entire group.
Electric Web
From a tactical standpoint, the Electric Web gadget is one of the most useful and simple-to-understand of the bunch, perhaps only second to the standard Web Shooters. Like the Spider Drone, the Electric Web can stun enemies, but you get to manually pick your target.
The best part? Any enemies standing nearby your initial target will become stunned as well. It's not the only gadget for the job, but if you see a crowd of enemies running at you or simply standing by while you move about unnoticed, the Electric Web is a handy way of gaining the upper hand before entering the fray. After a few upgrades, you'll be able to stock extra electric ammo and enjoy a shocking arc that jumps farther away from your initial target.
Web Bomb
Just like the Electric Web, your Web Bomb gadget is great for crown control (it explodes webs that trap enemies within a small area) though it has a couple of distinct advantages to keep in mind. Unlike the Electric Web, you don't need to fire a direct hit. Simply aim at the environment and the Web Bomb will detonate after a few seconds and entrap anyone that comes close.
More importantly, there are many skills that allow you to manipulate webbed enemies to your advantage, compared to enemies that are simply stunned. A well-placed Web Bomb gives you plenty of vulnerable bad guys to grab with your webbing and swing around to give yourself some breathing room.
Upgrades for the Web Bomb will grant you more ammo, and increase the size of the web explosion.
Trip Mine
If you know an enemy is patrolling a specific route and want to catch them at just the right location, Spider-Man's Trip Mine is the perfect solution. Essentially, when an enemy comes close enough, the mine will explode and ensnare them.
The logical place to put a mine is on the ground or a wall, but consider that they will also stick to enemies and your opportunities get a bit more interesting. An activated mine on an enemy will essentially grab the nearest person and slam them into the original target. It's how you unlock the 'Hug It Out' trophy, and it's worth a laugh the first few times you do it.
Concussive Blast
The Concussive Blast is a useful gadget that emits a powerful sonic wave, causing nearby enemies to tumble backwards. It's useful in a lot of scenarios, but none more so than when fighting on a rooftop. A flick of your wrist is all it takes to send enemies flying over the edge, instantly knocking them out of combat.
Suspension Matrix
One of the best parts of playing as Spider-Man is controlling his antics in mid-air, and that's precisely why the Suspension Matrix is not just a useful gadget, but a fun one to boot. An enemy off the ground is also a vulnerable enemy, and with the quick press of a button you can not only zip up to your next target, but also set yourself up for a new set of combos, such as a series of melee attacks and a final web-grab-and-toss motion that sends them careening into their buddies.
Come October 5, you'll be able to set out on a Greek odyssey of your own as Kasandra or Alexios, but to make sure that odyssey of yours is running at peak performance, you'll want to make sure you've got a setup that can handle your epic, Spartan journey. Especially since Assassin's Creed Odyssey on PC isn't just a port of the console games.
For those with PCs that aren't quite up to date with 4K just yet, you won't have to fear. Assassin's Creed Odyssey can be played in as low as 720p, but it's recommended you're playing on a setup that can handle 1080p.
Because it's not a port of the console games, PC versions of Assassin's Creed Odyssey will have two special settings that you won't find on the console versions. Each set of recommendations in this list says the game will run at 30 FPS--but that's not entirely set in stone. In the PC versions of the game, you'll have access to a set of tools to play with graphics settings, and a toggle option to uncap the framerate.
Minimum Requirements
OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
Video: AMD Vega 64, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0)
Memory: 16GB RAM
Resolution: 4K
Targeted framerate: 30 FPS
Video Preset: High
Storage: 46GB available hard drive space
DirectX: DirectX June 2010 Redistributable
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card with latest drivers
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is out on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on October 5. For more coverage on this latest iteration of the Assasin's Creed universe, head on over to our Assassin's Creed Odyssey hub.
As one of gaming's most beloved beat-em-ups, the Streets of Rage series was a hallmark of the Sega Genesis' vast library. Popularizing the brawler sub-genre on home consoles in the '90s, the original trilogy centered around a team of street fighters taking matters into their own hands to fight against gangs and corrupt politicians. Even after 24 years of dormancy, the Streets of Rage games have remained highly respected by fans, who've been anticipating the franchise's return. And now with Streets of Rage 4, the next entry in the series shows that it hasn't lost its touch after its long hiatus.
This isn't the first time developers have tried reviving the Streets of Rage franchise. Sega attempted a revival on the Dreamcast, and Ruffian Games--the developer behind Crackdown 2--also tried its hand at a reboot on Xbox 360 and PS3. But now, the next game in the beat-em-up series will be a true continuation of the Sega Genesis games. Coming from developers LizardCube and Guard Crush Games--who've worked on the Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap remake and Streets of Fury EX, respectively--Streets of Rage makes its big return with its predecessor's familiar side-scrolling beat-em-up gameplay, some smooth synth beats, and a brand new visual style for its debut on modern consoles.
We had some hands-on time with the game at PAX West 2018 and came away impressed with how it's shaping up so far. Right from the beginning of the demo, the game reflects its predecessors' history and legacy. Not only does it pay due respects, it also introduces some new ideas--and a style all its own--that feels more like a natural progression for the series than you'd likely expect. Though the plot of SOR4 is still under wraps, it's clear that another crime wave has swept the city sometime after the events of Streets of Rage 3, forcing veteran brawlers Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding back into action. The developers weren't ready to share any details about other returning characters, but the upcoming game does pull from the familiar tropes, enemies, and style that made the previous games stand out during its day.
The core gameplay remains just as it was in the original games, with the developers citing the second and third titles as their touchstones. The team also stated that they were admirers of the unofficial fan game, Streets of Rage Remake, which offered some inspiration for the new entry. Many of the characters' more iconic moves, such as Axel's Grand Upper make a return. One persistent feeling throughout my time with Streets of Rage 4 was that it all felt very familiar. With that said, some of game's more contemporary changes were clearly apparent. One great feature that fans will dig in SOR4 is a modified super move system. Much like in SOR2, using a special move would deplete some of your health, making for a risk/reward system. In the new game, however, that depleted life can be recovered by immediately following up with regular attacks--similar to Bloodborne's health regen system.
One of the most striking things about Streets of Rage 4 is its new visual style, which is apparent in the game's debut trailer. While the original games featured detailed 2D sprite work, SOR4 uses hand-drawn art for its characters and backgrounds--similar to the style employed in LizardCube's Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. Though some diehards may have reservations about the vastly different look, the new aesthetic still feels consistent with the spirit of past games. Moreover, it offers a much more dynamic look compared to its predecessor's vivid, yet still static cityscape. While brawling against waves of street thugs, we came across several stages in vastly different areas of the city, each showing of a surprising amount of detail and flavor.
The build we got to play at PAX West was early, featuring some placeholder assets and reused music from the original games. However, the developers were quick to state that the final game will have its own unique score and effects to help make it stand out from the original game. While they were tight-lipped about whether the series' original composer, Yuzo Koshiro, was returning to create new synth-rock tracks for the game, they stated that they were in talks with him and the Sega about nailing the game's particular style.
Coming in 2019 to yet unannounced platforms,SOR4 already seems in great shape. Even from the short demo, action felt incredibly The series' impact on the beat-em-up genre, and its endearing style and presentation--which made it a hallmark of early-90s 2D gaming--have earned it a long-held respect among fans, who have waited patiently for a new game to fill in the void that it left behind. While SOR4 definitely has some big shoes to fill, the developers seem to be on the right track.
Originally released in 2005, Capcom and Grasshopper Manufacture's Killer7 was widely regarded as the most subversive and bizarre game of its day. Blending on-rail shooter gameplay, adventure-style puzzles and traversal, and an incredibly strange and surreal storyline involving a group of assassins with seemingly multiple-personalities--the game pulled no punches with its incredibly over the top narrative and gory action. Created by Goichi Suda, otherwise known as Suda51, Killer7 has remained one of his most notable titles, and has amassed a cult following since its release on Gamecube and PS2.
While Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda51 have moved on to other games, which includes the No More Heroes series and Let It Die, Killer7's fanbase has kept interest in the game alive--which prompted the developers to remaster the game for modern platforms. Before its fall release on PC, we sat down with Suda51 to talk about the making of Killer7 and played the first mission of the remaster. During our talk, he spoke candidly about what he learned in the years since he created the game, and some of things he hopes could happen with it in the future. The following interview has been edited for readability and brevity, with Suda's responses interpreted through a translator.
What's it like returning to Killer7 after so many years?
SUDA51: It's a really mysterious feeling. A while ago, we redid The Silver Case and in the same way we redid this game in particular, and a lot of those memories and experiences that I had when I was making Killer7 were revived in my mind--and I kind of re-experienced all of that with this game. I remember that this level we're showing here, one of the early stages of the games, had to be redesigned about ten times. The way it worked back then was that they had to kind of do one level at a time--instead of designing much of the game all at once--so we just had to keep plowing through this and remake it until we felt good about it.
How was it working with Capcom on this game? It's a very unusual and surreal game, so I imagine they had some thoughts about what you had created at the time.
Yeah, it was actually a really good relationship because our producer, Shinji Mikami [creator of Resident Evil] said yes to everything. He didn't really say "no" or shoot down anything. One of the good things about working with Mikami-san, for example, like on this level here, was that he taught me more about level design--how fast the character should move, gameplay and all other things--so it was a really good experience. We were given a lot of freedom, but at the same time when we needed him to step in and give us some advice and guidance, he did.
This game was also a part of the experimental set of titles known as the Capcom Five, which included P.N. 03, Viewtiful Joe, the cancelled Dead Phoenix, and of course Resident Evil 4. What was it like working alongside those games while in development on Killer7?
Yeah, just speaking as a player, seeing those other games from the other dev teams at the time was like a 'whoa'-type experience. I'm just extremely gratified that Capcom allowed me to make a game within that community. I remember those times a lot, and it was a really big honor that I felt I had to pay back. I really put my all into into making this game good.
What actually motivated you to bring the original game to new platforms for the remaster?
Well, one thing that I want to point out is that the release on the GameCube version was the original version that they developed. One thing that is apparent before this remaster was that it hasn't been easy for players to experience the game, unless they had copies on GameCube or PS2--because how many people really have those things hooked up at this point? While more people have probably played the game on the PS2, the version that we fully stand behind is the GameCube version. With the remaster, we pulled from the original source on the GameCube, which is the version I want fans to play. I appreciate that the GameCube version was the original version, because it didn't seem like we had a lot of unique games like Killer7 for the GameCube back then. And beyond that, it's finally on something that's kind of more persistent, [the PC marketplace].
So the style of this game is very unique. Not only in terms of visuals, but also in its tone and focus on western media, particularly the surrealist films of David Lynch, by way of an action-thriller from Shane Black. Was that something that was always clear in regards to your vision--in how Killer7 is western media through the lens of a Japanese developer?
Yeah, in regards to Lynch and other action films, absolutely. I'm a huge Lynch fan, and his influence popped up there in some regards, but by the same token, it was really something where back then you really couldn't really make games as freely as you would have wanted to. And so I felt that this was a really big opportunity. And so, as you know, the game has five chapters to it. And it kind of feels like each chapter could practically be a different game--I tried to cram so much into it.
With Killer7, there's this lineup of radically different characters to play as. Is there a particular person in the roster that's your favorite?
Definitely Coyote Smith, His style, his personality, and all his unique characteristics. Unfortunately in the actual game itself, I didn't have a chance to tell all of his story and get everything I wanted to out there, but even still, I obviously know what I created and what is there for him. I just think he's really cool.
It did seem like there were some character that didn't get their full stories told. Were there any characters in particular you wished you had more time with to flesh out more?
Yeah. Well, basically Dan, Harmon, and Garcian's stories are pretty much told within the game. But with that said, everybody else, especially like Coyote and Kaede, I wished I could have told more. Particularly why Kaede has the blood on her dress. There are reasons for that. I didn't have a chance to put that in the game.
So each act of the game brings its own narrative and style, and while they can be seen as stand alone stories, they're all still connected together. Is there a particular one that sticks out for you as your favorite?
Everyone's favorite seems to the Super Sentai parody [in Mission 4, Alter Ego], but the Cloudman act is my favorite. As we were making the game, we always had an idea of where things were gonna go, but we also had to make sure things were still very interesting along the way. We thought about how we planned to keep things varied across all the acts, and how it would all come together in the end. And so that's why you have things like for example in Cloudman, when you have the last boss character, who's the ring leader, you get to understand him more as a character and see things from his particular perspective. Doing that allowed us to let the players basically see what I wanted do with Killer7, to have these characters, and their presence, sort of seep into the players themselves as they were playing it--and leave an impression on them after the game's finish.
That was kind of the goal for making everything different as well as making the balance of the game good to keep people interested in playing more. We tried to keep it fun for a while, but not all the time.
Yeah, the Curtis Blackburn mission was when the game took an even darker turn. While the game was consistent in its violence and mature themes, it was still mostly dorky and tongue-in-cheek. This chapter however seemed like a major shift towards bleak territory--which at the time of its release in 2005 seemed very unusual for games.
Yeah, it was always about trying to strike that balance and keeping things interesting. The chapter before that is like really weird and funny, kinda silly even. Yet in the same way, again, that has to do with messing with the player and how they're feeling--to really shake things up. We all put a lot of energy into making sure that every experience that the player has is different and beyond what came before.
When you look at Killer7 and how it fits into your history of games, it really sticks out as one of the darker stories, especially when compared to the not so serious No More Heroes. Just as an aside, do you think a character like Travis Touchdown would be able to exist--or even survive--in Killer7?
I think fighting these guys might be a little much for Travis. Plus I think the group of assassins wouldn't get along well with him. They might think he's a little annoying. He's a really nostalgic kind of guy, and his personality wouldn't mesh well with these guys.
It seems like you're being nostalgic for this game now.
Yeah, actually seeing this level being played again, I remembered all the work that went into getting this right. Overall, we probably cut half the puzzles from the game. This level is the Fukushima Situation. Within that, half of the map area was cut because otherwise it was too long. We cut about two hours of content from that, map wise. I would have loved to have kept it in. Maybe we could've unlocked the whole thing after, because the whole thing is actually in the game already. All the puzzles. The whole map. It's already in there. It's just that they cut it from a programming perspective and hit it with a flag.
So if someone were to go into the game's files they would be able to unearth all that cut content?
Probably yeah, actually.
Well, looking back on this game, what would you say was one of the biggest successes you found with the game?
Well, what makes me feel good about this game is that it all actually makes sense and that we were able to finish it to completion. It's a really weird game, but because the amount of care we put into every single location you visit and the thought that went into all the characters--how it looks, how it moves, and all of those things down to the minute detail of it--it still looks pretty good, you know? The fact that we were able to finish it, while still putting all that care into each and every scene, is something that I believe is still really good about the game. There's really no other game like this, or at least there wasn't at the time.
While working on this, the staff I was with really didn't really know what they were making. They didn't really get it for a while. There were actually multiple times during the project where I had to ask myself if what we were making was fun, are people gonna like this, or even if this game would even make it at all. And again there came a point when it all kinda clicked for everybody and it was like, yes, we get it. This is fun. You know? But eventually, there came a point where the staff kinda... got it. They all got on the same vector, and then things really picked up. I was very pleased to see it all come together.
Even after all these years, and after you moved on to other games, Killer7 remains a well-liked title. Would you ever consider a revisit to the Killer7 universe in any way?
Well with this game, I put all of my energy into it and I was kind of burnt out a little afterward. Honestly, I feel it's a really complete work as it is, so trying to revisit this and make a world like this again would be really daunting. I'm pretty happy with where things left off with Killer7. I unfortunately don't have the same amount of energy that I had back then to make a sequel or something, I'm too old for that now. Having said that, Capcom owns the rights to this, so if the company should allow it, what I would really like to do is to restore much of the cut stuff in here. I would like to make a more definitive version of the game that restores all the stuff that was cut. That's something I believe I can do.
What's the one thing you want to say to like maybe long time fans of the game?
Speaking to just the old fans, right now, thanks to the indie games movement, I feel this game, as you kind of mentioned, has a lot to offer for people. There's so many indie games that are out there right now doing cutting edge things, and I feel this is the perfect environment for young gamers to come into the medium. For gamers who have never had a chance to play this game before, and for those that I really want to reach with this. To give them an opportunity to play this game. And see what it's all about, and hopefully fall in love with it.
Would you believe that one year before Alien Vs. Predator premiered on the big screen, these two iconic sci-fi horror monsters had their first meeting? What's more, would you believe Batman was the catalyst?
It was the summer of 2003 at San Diego Comic-Con, and it wasn't a film studio or TV network making all the noise, it was a fan film. Batman: Dead End is an eight-minute short film that came at a time when there simply weren't Batman films in theaters. Batman & Robin hit theaters in 1997, while Batman Begins wouldn't come along until 2005.
With that in mind, commercial director Sandy Collora decided to make his calling card, a short movie that would show studios he had what it took to helm feature films. The end result is the completely insane: Batman: Dead End, which somehow manages to pack four legendary figures into its short running time.
On its surface, Dead End is a dream come true for many fans. A series of Batman vs. Predator comics had been released in the '90s, but those stories never made it to the big screen. Not only did Collora throw that into his script, but he also peppered in the Xenomorphs from Alien and the Joker--why not?
What's most interesting about Dead End is what could have been. According to Collora in a documentary about the making of the film--which, for some reason, is 100 minutes long, compared to Dead End's 8-minute running time--Sylvester Stallone originally agreed to play Batman at one point, which led to mark Hamill signing on to play Joker. When Stallone dropped out, Hammill soon followed. There's no real telling if this is true, but what a wild ride that would have been.
As far as a narrative structure goes, there's not much to see in Dead End. Batman is chasing the Joker, and Joker--played by Growing Pains alum Andrew Koenig--rants about how he and Batman are the same person at their cores. Then everything goes to hell when Joker gets snatched, and it all turns into an intergalactic battle to the death. It's here that the short embraces how silly and insane its concept is, for better or worse.
In reality, would Batman stand a chance in hand-to-hand combat with a Predator? Absolutely not, but there's something thrilling about watching him try, even if it's an unsanctioned fan film. And while the film may not have been the calling card Collara thought it would be, as he still has yet to be picked to direct a studio feature, it's still worth watching.
Now, with The Predator barreling into theaters, the vicious alien killers are back. Sadly, Batman and the Xenomorphs won't be there to greet him. After all, there's that pesky problem of Batman being a Warner Bros. property, compared to Alien and Predator being part of the 20th Century Fox library--which will be joining the Disney family soon. Still, a new Predator film--and one that looks as vicious and gory as the new one does--is the exact kind of fuel the imaginations of the next generations of fan film creators need.
Until then, we have shorts like Batman: Dead End to show us what a fan can do if they're willing to spend their time and money bringing their own visions to life, regardless of how ridiculous they are. Sit back and enjoy.
We're giving away 500 Beta codes for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Blackout Battle Royale mode. Scroll down to enter below.
This is not an instant win. Five-hundred (500) winners will be selected at random and receive an email with the code. No purchase necessary. Codes are for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Blackout Battle Royale mode Beta only and do not give access to the full game when it launches officially.
Starting Monday, September 10, players can get their first hands-on experience with Blackout in the Blackout Private Beta, beginning first on PlayStation 4. Xbox One and PC players will have access to the Beta starting Friday, September 14. Those who participated in the Multiplayer Beta previously will automatically have access to the Blackout Beta.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
The series which has become the most played in Call of Duty history, as well as a cultural phenomenon around the globe returns October 12th with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, a gritty, grounded, all-out combat experience. Black Ops 4 raises the bar for Multiplayer mode that increases tactical gameplay and player choice, along with the biggest Zombies offering ever with three full experiences at launch, and Blackout, where the Black Ops universe comes to life in a massive battle royale experience featuring iconic characters and locations from all four Black Ops games in a one-of-a-kind offering that is uniquely Black Ops. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 transforms the established universe played by hundreds of millions of fans with the largest gameplay experience ever created in the series.
The follow-up to Rockstar Games' classic western game Red Dead Redemption is fast approaching. Set 12 years before the events of the original game, Red Dead Redemption 2 will explore an expansive region of the American wilderness, with Dutch Van der Linde's gang on the run from lawmen during the last years of the wild west. Experiencing Rockstar's take on the open-world western from a new perspective, you'll uncover the history of the Van Der Linde gang, which has a young John Marston in its thralls.
Red Dead Redemption 2 was surprisingly a no show at this year's E3, despite the game releasing in only a few months. Still, the recent trailers, screenshots, and info have given us plenty to talk about. Here's everything we know so far about Rockstar Games' upcoming open-world western.
How Can I Play RDR2?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is set for release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. There are also plans for a collector's edition of the game called the Special Edition. Priced at $80, the package includes a copy of the game along with special missions, weapons and a physical map of the game world for players to own. There are also two additional packs for Red Dead Redemption 2 for premium prices, The Ultimate Edition and The Collector's Box--both priced at $100. While The Ultimate Edition has all items from the special edition--including additional DLC items to acquire--The Collector's Box does not include any digital items. Instead, it offers special playing cards, artwork, a bandit's bandana, a physical map of the game world, and a collector's coin in the set.
Though the original Red Dead Redemption never found its way to the PC, there's been some rumors that its sequel might. A mention of Red Dead Redemption 2's appearance on PC found its way online, but it has since been scrubbed.
Where Is RDR2 Set, And Is It A Prequel?
Set 12 years before the main events of the original game, the prequel focuses on the outlaw life of the Van der Linde gang, led by Red Dead Redemption's main antagonists. After a robbery in Blackwater (one of the original game's major towns) goes bad--the gang finds themselves on the run. Dutch, his right-hand man Arthur Morgan, and several members of the gang have to contend with a life on-the-run while confrontations with rival gangs and the law make their situation grow more desperate.
Rockstar also released a description of the plot:
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
The First Reveal
Debuting on October 20, 2016, the first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 was a bit of a mood piece that showcased many locales in the game, while also portraying the somber tone of the main narrative. In this trailer, we saw several towns and locales, many of which are teeming with life and activity--such as ranchers rustling up some cattle, huntsmen bringing back their haul, and a group of citizens hanging out in the general store.
Who Are We Playing As?
Though the central character of Red Dead Redemption, John Marston, plays some role in the story--the main protagonist of the prequel is Arthur Morgan. As Dutch's right-hand man and enforcer for the gang, he'll handle much of the daily duties of keeping the gang in-check--which includes a young and less-experienced John Marston. When it comes to keeping the gang and its community afloat, Morgan is quite handy with picking up various jobs to ensure everyone is well fed and in good spirits. But as the story progresses, he'll begin to question his own resolve for Dutch's way of life, and whether he still has a place in the gang.
The Second Trailer
On September 28, 2017, the second trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted. In the new footage, we got to see more of Arthur Morgan and how ruthless he can be while on the job. During some of the story cutscenes, Morgan will use coercion and physical threats to collect money and information, all for the "benefit" of the community. For more info on this particular trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
Who's In Dutch's Gang?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, we'll see Dutch's gang and its key players in their prime. While the original game had John hunt down and kill the remaining members of the gang, we'll see many of the familiar faces in relatively happier times. From the most recent trailer, we see Dutch Van der Linde, Arthur Morgan, Bill Williamson, Javier Esquela, Sadie Adler, Charles Smith, Micah Bell, Hosea Matthews, and of course John Marston in the roster. We'll also interact with other characters who would have a key role in the gang and in the lives of both Arthur Morgan and John Marston.
The Third Trailer
In the new footage released on May 2, we saw a deeper look into the game's narrative and how the gang functions. Along with the familiar activities like hunting, heists, and side-quests with the region's citizens, rob trains and banks, and take in shows at theaters. For the most part, the trailer focuses on the many connections you'll have with the members of the gang, as well as how your choices will affect them. For more info on the third trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
What's New In Red Dead Redemption 2?
While the sequel is largely in the same vein as its predecessor, focusing on exploration, hunting, shoot-outs, heists, and other side-activities where you'll interact with a number of unique characters--Red Dead Redemption 2 features a far more expansive world to dive into. We got our first good look at this world and how we'll be playing through in Read Dead Redemption 2's first gameplay trailer.
The honor system from the original game makes a return, but now with far more detailed tracking. Along with the average citizen, members of your community will react to how well or how poorly you treat them. As the lead enforcer, Morgan will have to handle a ton of responsibilities, such as resource gathering, procuring funds, and making sure everyone in the community is happy.
First Gameplay Trailer
On August 9, Rockstar unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2's first gameplay trailer. The new footage revealed that the core mechanics from the original game were still intact, but almost everything had received a facelift. Wildlife is smarter and lives within its own ecosystem. Arthur Morgan can interact with the people around him in ways John Marston never could. For more info on the first gameplay trailer, check out our detailed gameplay mechanics breakdown.
How Will Online Multiplayer Work?
Currently, Rockstar hasn't shared any info on how the online play will function. The original Red Dead Redemption featured online free-for-all and team deathmatch style gameplay in the open world, along with several co-op themed missions. While it's safe to assume that these sorts of missions will return, another long-lingering rumor is the appearance of a battle royale mode. In the coming months before its release, we should expect to hear more about what Red Dead Redemption II will have when it comes to online.
Other Info
The History Of Red Dead - A look back on the history of the Red Dead series. From the early days a Gunsmoke spiritual sequel, to Rockstar Games' next successful open word game.
We may be only in the middle of 2018, but there's already an exciting roster of games releasing in 2019. Highly-anticipated games like Anthem, Days Gone, and Kingdom Hearts III make up only a small number of what's ahead. And that's not to mention the all the big games recently revealed at E3, like Resident Evil 2 Remake, Gears 5, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which we can't wait to get our hands on. To help you keep track of all the games coming out next year, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2019 so far.
More dates are sure to be confirmed as the year goes on, so be sure to check back often as we update this article with new additions or potential changes. But if you're looking for this year's release dates, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2018.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime in 2019. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
After the amazing gaming year that was 2017, many wondered how well 2018 would turn out. Fortunately for everyone, it has been great. The first half of the year has yielded a wealth of fantastic games, and there's more on the horizon. Upcoming games for the rest of this 2018 include slew of hotly anticipated new games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and a whole lot more. To help you keep track of all the games coming out and what has already released, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2018 so far.
Game release dates change all the time and new ones arrive every month. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this article with more release dates or any potential changes to any of the dates below. And if you're eager to figure out the release dates from games next year, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2019.
Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime this year. There are also games listed that we expect to launch in 2018. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.
Viz Media has announced the worldwide pre-order for Long Story Short, the first of two novels that add additional context to the story and characters in Nier: Automata. The book is already available in Japan, and its English translation will release on October 9.
Long Story Short is written by Jun Eishima and Yoko Taro--the latter of which is the director of Nier: Automata--and works as both an entry point for those unfamiliar with Automata and as an avenue for those experienced with the game to further explore its lore. The novel includes story details and character thoughts that weren't included in Nier: Automata, some of which change your perception of certain actions taken by the game's protagonists.
In 2019, another Nier: Automata novel, titled Short Story Long, will release. Instead of following the events of the game, Short Story Long is a collection of short stories that take place within the Nier: Automata universe. The original Japanese version of Short Story Long is also already out and includes seven stories, but it has not been confirmed whether the English translation will include the same number. Short Story Long is also written by Jun Eishima and Yoko Taro.
You can pre-order Long Story Short for $15 in the U.S. and $20 in Canada, or nab it at a discount if you buy the digital version.
Nier: Automata was one of our favorite PS4 games in 2017 and we gave it a 9/10. In our Nier: Automata review, we described it as "Taro's most exciting game to date" and praised the combat mechanics and powerful storytelling--all of which remained in the game when it released on Xbox One in 2018.
The PC version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has a new update that adds content and fixes a lot of the game's bugs. Update 21 implements a new mode, weapon, vehicle, weapon attachment, a reward system for fulfilling certain criteria during matches, and multiplayer improvements.
Update 21 adds a new training mode that allows you to practice different mechanics without fear of being killed. Taking place on a small island--only 200x200 km--the training mode contains 14 zones for trying out different skills. You'll be able to practice jumping off ramps in vehicles, maneuvering on twisting roads, controlling vehicle speed, piloting a boat, driving off road, shooting on different gun ranges, landing in a parachute, free-running over rooftops, swinging different melee weapons, trying different grenades, and learning the effects of consumables.
All three maps get the new assault rifle the MK47 Mutant. The rifle takes 7.62 ammo and holds 20 rounds a clip. The rifle can be fired in both single shot and two-round burst modes, and takes almost all types of assault rifle attachments other than stocks.
Sanhok gets a new exclusive vehicle: the three-person Tukashai. It's slow but it handles off-road better than the motorcycles.
Update 21 adds a lot more to the game as well, including an objective system where you're rewarded for completing certain tasks during matches--like reviving teammates a certain number of times or dealing a certain amount of damage with one attack. There's also a new laser sight, which fits into the grip slot on rifles. It offers greater accuracy at the cost of giving away your position. You'll also be able to place markers on your compass, which translates to your teammates' compasses too. This helps you determine the direction of a threat more efficiently when your team is stationed at different points on the map.
All of the changes are outlined in greater detail in the full patch notes on PUBG's Steam page. If you're simply interested in the bug fixes, we've listed them below.
This update is only live on the PC version of PUBG, but the battle royale game is also available for Xbox One. PUBG just officially launched on Xbox One with its 1.0 update, which added the Sanhok map and weather conditions.
PUBG Update 21 Bug Fixes
Fixed the issue where, after connecting the XBOX controller to the PC, the drop-down menu would not appear to select the reason for reporting on the results screen.
Fixed the issue where a character on board a vehicle would sometimes be shown as immobile in a very different location.
Fixed the issue where a character is sometimes shown in a different location
Fixed the issue where a character who is driving in a vehicle is created in an unspecified location.
Fixed the issue where weapons are sometimes shown in locations different from where the character is holding them.
Fixed the issue where the gun of the person you are spectating is sometimes not rendered, causing problems when the gun goes into ADS mode.
Fixed the issue where approaching a corpse while lying down could sometimes cause the camera to zoom in.
Fixed the issue where approaching a window with glass and throwing a throwable could sometimes cause the camera to temporarily zoom in and out.
Fixed the issue where sometimes a character standing at the very edge of the sea would be shown as falling out of the sky.
Fixed the issue where the Bluezone UI timer occasionally decreases by 2 seconds.
Fixed the issue where an underwater character is unable to move to land because the terrain is shown as stuttering.
Fixed the issue where colliding with an object while driving in a UAZ deals comparatively more damage than other vehicles.
Fixed the issue where the firing mode of a gun that has been dropped and picked up again is reset to default settings.
Fixed the issue where the AR compensator on the SLR was not reducing the horizontal recoil.
Fixed the issue where a character cannot peek while over a gas can.
Fixed the issue where frame drop occured when the weather was rainy and the character was swimming in the water when the perspective changed from under to above water.
Fixed the issue where the suppressed AKM and Beryl M762 sounded the same.
Fixed the issue where characters could pass through a wooden door while riding the scooter.
Fixed the issue where players sometimes couldn't loot items when the item was dropped on stairs or a slope.
Fixed the issue where the vaulting action was not working properly with certain building windows in Sanhok.
Fixed the issue where the HP gauge was displayed red in certain conditions.
Fixed the issue where an afterimage sometimes remains on other players' screen when repeatedly arming/unarming.
Call of Duty has tweeted out a picture of what the Blackout map looks like. Blackout is the new battle royale mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Blackout is the largest battlefield in Call of Duty history, and is structured like a combination of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' Erangel and Miramar maps. The northern and western regions are covered in forests, hills, bridges, and paved roads while the east and south are rugged desert. A snaking river divides the two regions, with a large lake at one end and an ocean on the other. Nuketown Island is the only landmass in the ocean, connected to the mainland via two bridges.
Where are you dropping first? This is Blackout, featuring the largest map in Call of Duty history. Pre-order #BlackOps4 and get access to the Blackout Beta, playable September 10 on PS4: https://t.co/XFvGMDwF3Mpic.twitter.com/RAxzzDxjPO
Like PUBG, major landmarks and cities are prominently labeled on the map. It's at these locations that you'll probably find the best loot and other players. Collections of homes and small towns pepper the landscape between the major points. A vast majority of the larger landmarks appear on the forest half of the map, while most of the desert is dotted with singular buildings. You'll probably find better gear and more firefights in the north and west, while the east and south provide good places to hold out as other players kill one another.
The Blackout beta launches on PS4 on September 10 before also releasing on Xbox One and PC on September 14. During the beta, Blackout matches will support 80 players but that hasn't been confirmed as the final number to appear in the full game.
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.
Rainbow Six Siege Year 3, Season 3--called Operation Grim Sky--is live 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.
Rebel Galaxy, a popular space trading and combat simulation video game, is getting a prequel called Rebel Galaxy Outlaw. This time around, you'll be leaving the captain's chair of a capital ship and cozying up in a small gunship.
Outlaw puts you in control of Juno Markev, a rebellious pilot who's climbing the criminal ladder. You'll fly your way through a single-player campaign, blasting through enemy threats as you complete missions. According to the game's FAQ page, there's over 21 hours of radio music for you to listen to while you're flying. Between missions, you can gamble or play pool and place bets for new ship parts and upgrades.
A new PSA for Outlaw reveals more details about the game, and finishes up by making fun of Star Citizen's pattern of charging its players exuberant fees. This purposively hurtful but playful tone makes up the core of Outlaw's humor, and can be seen in clips that Rebel Galaxy has tweeted out--like this one where Juno flips off an enemy pilot, spouts a one liner, and shoots them down.
Outlaw won't feature a multiplayer component and launches on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC in early 2019. The PC version of the game will have both HOTAS and mouse/keyboard support, and include features for modding. The game costs $30/€30.
Microsoft has announced Xbox Skill, which lets you control your Xbox One console with voice commands through other devices. With Xbox Skill, you'll be able to order your console to follow your commands via Cortana or an Alexa-enabled device. For now, Xbox Skill is only available for U.S. Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip Ahead, Alpha, and Beta rings.
According to Xbox's website, Xbox Skill lets you power your console on and off, as well as "adjust volume, launch games and apps, start and stop broadcasts on Mixer, capture screenshots, and more." Once Cortana or Alexa is connected to your console, you can say, "Xbox, what can I say?" to find the full list of commands.
If you're an Xbox Insider in the U.S., follow the directions below to try out Xbox Skill with Cortana or Alexa.
For Cortana
Sign into the Xbox you want to control.
On your Windows 10 PC, sign in to your Microsoft account to link the skill.
Try your first command.
For Alexa
Sign into the Xbox you want to control.
Sign in with your Amazon Account on the Echo portal, and click Enable.
Sign in with your Microsoft account to link the skill.
Let Alexa discover your console, then follow the instructions to pair your console with Alexa.
Try your first command.
Xbox Skill is rolling out gradually for all U.S. Xbox Insiders right now. If you're an Insider, you can check to see if there is a digital assistant setting option on your console via the Devices tab under Settings. If it's not there, then you're not eligible yet. Check back as Xbox will continue to add all U.S. Xbox Insiders that fall into the Alpha Skip Ahead, Alpha, and Beta rings.
Via Xbox Skill, you'll be able to control your Xbox One with a Windows 10 PC, Amazon Echo, Harman Kardon Invoke, Sonos One, or Cortana and Alexa apps on iOS and Android devices.
Just like Halloween, The Predator is an iconic franchise beloved by many, but with a spotty track record. The original 1987 film not only gave us two US governors, but had great one liners, memorable characters, and cool and bloody action scenes. Having one of the co-stars of the original film make a sequel seemed like a neat idea, especially since Shane Black has become a prominent director in his own right. Unfortunately, he tries to create a modern take on the franchise while delivering the same feeling of a '90s movie, and the mixture doesn't quite work.
While introducing the world premiere of The Predator at the Toronto International Film Festival, writer/director Black talked about wanting to give the film the same feeling of watching the original, while updating it to 2018 and introducing a Dirty Dozen twist. Unfortunately, the two never mix as well as Black seems to think they could, and the final product is his first film that feels like it might have been made by a group of studio executives listing what they think the audience wants to see.
The most obvious evidence of this is the excessive use of gore and profanity--this movie really earns its R rating. Do you want to see some blood? Well, The Predator is catering to you, based on reports of reshoots that were made to enhance the action scenes. The first time we see the titular alien hunter on Earth, its camouflage is ruined by blood dropping from a bisected human hanging from a tree. It's a promising start, though it only gets crazier from there.
From there the film becomes more complicated and bloody, as Black decides to divide the narrative into four separate storylines that clash together in the second half. Boyd Holbrook fails to be funny or charismatic in the role of Quinn, a sniper who runs into a stranded Predator. After a fight, he leaves with not only his life, but some sweet Predator tech. Then an alien-obsessed biologist named Casey (Olivia Munn) is hired to help the cartoonishly evil government scientist Traeger (Sterling K. Brown, having the time of his life). He quickly sweeps the scene of the spaceship crash under the rug and sends Quinn away with a group of "loonies" they want to keep quiet. When Quinn's son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally activates the Predator tech his father mailed home, he attracts the attention of a genetically enhanced Predator chasing one of its own, who comes to wreak havoc on Anytown, USA. If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is.
While each section of the story has the potential for a cool new revelation about the Predator universe, and the characters are for the most part likable, the different storylines feel too disjointed to really make an impact once they all merge for a mandatory big third act showdown with the Ultra Predator. To try and make the plot seem less complicated, Black and his co-writer Fred Dekker try to quicken the pace by inserting gory action sequences shortly after every dump of exposition. Those craving an R-rated The Predator will get their money's worth, as spines get ripped out and every part of the human body is shredded to pieces at one point or another. However, it is hard not to notice the extensive reshoots, as quite a bit of the digital effects look unfinished, and the blood looks like someone decided to paint the walls red at the last moment.
In his attempt to recapture the feeling of the original film, Black sends a new group of former soldiers fighting against an alien hunter, only this time they are seriously funny. Without a doubt, the best part about The Predator is watching the banter between the side characters, especially Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, and Thomas Jane. The jokes are genuinely funny, and Black's signature witty dialogue is at its best, though it quickly falls into dude-bro territory when it tries to copy the '80s machismo and oiled muscles of the original. Worst is when the film tries to subvert the same machismo theme by plaguing the main group of soldiers with conditions ranging from Tourette's to PTSD. Unfortunately, all of that goes away once every character becomes a trigger-happy maniac in the third act.
Predator movies don't have a great track record when it comes to female characters--both the original and 2010's Predators have exactly one female character each. The Predator has a whopping two. In 2018. While Munn's character promises to be a smart badass that can go toe-to-toe with the male protagonists, she eventually becomes just another person shooting a gun. And Yvonne Strahovski as Quinn's estranged wife is criminally underused and forgotten by the plot.
Nevertheless, those who are in it for the gore, the action, and the "your mom" jokes will have a blast despite the excessive 2-hour-plus runtime. There are cool Easter eggs and meta commentary on the franchise as a whole, but no matter how funny (it is seriously funny) the film is, and no matter how much the ending wants to sell a sequel, The Predator is hindered by unpolished visuals and the feeling that its violence and tone have been needlessly punched up.
The Good
The Bad
Side characters steal the show
Overly complex story structure
Jokes are genuinely funny
CGI Looks unpolished
Cool Easter and meta series commentary
Conclusion is too open-ended, seemingly to leave room for a sequel
Gore and violence that fans will enjoy
Excessive gore feels needlessly punched up and might be too much for some viewers
Bungie has announced the next update for Destiny 2, Hotfix 2.0.2, is going live across all platforms next week. The patch notes for the update will be revealed closer to its launch.
Hotfix 2.0.2 goes live on Tuesday, September 11. The update is rolling out in three waves, giving you time to prepare so you don't lose your progress in the game. At 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM BST, Hotfix 2.0.2 will start going live. If you're playing Destiny 2 at the time, the update won't stop your game. However, an hour later, the update will start removing players to the login screen after they've finished whatever activity they're playing at the time. If you're not in an activity, you'll just be removed straight to the login screen.
You should try to download Hotfix 2.0.2 as soon as you can, because at 2:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM EST / 10:00 PM BST, all remaining players--regardless of what you're doing in Destiny 2--will be removed to the login screen to download the update. Download the update early so you don't have to worry about cutting out in the middle of a mission with your Fireteam. If you're also playing Destiny 2 on September 11, finish your stuff up early instead of leaving your game paused in the middle of an activity because that won't stop you from being kicked to the login screen on the third wave.
Destiny 2 is in the midst of its largest expansion yet, Forsaken. Our Destiny 2: Forsaken review is still in progress, but we're currently giving it an 8/10. We'll update that score once the new Raid drops. If you're just starting Forsaken, we've got a guide of essential tips, as well as a list of all the new Exotic weapons and armor.
Destiny 2's Forsaken DLC expansion arrived this week, bringing with it a wealth of new content and changes. A number of adjustments went into effect with a patch released a week prior to Forsaken, but we're now getting to see exactly what Year 2 is going to be like for Destiny 2.
Whether you've already started Forsaken or are just beginning to dive in this weekend, there are some notable tweaks and tips you should be aware of. In typical Destiny fashion, things aren't always spelled-out in-game, and you can easily shoot yourself in the foot and waste time if you aren't completely familiar with all of the game's systems.
With that in mind, we've rounded up some key tips you'll want to be aware of, along with some other advice about how to approach the game and some notable issues the game is currently suffering from. No, it's not just you--the clan bounties are frustrating right now. Also be sure to check out our Gambit guide for some advice on how to excel in the cool new PvP/PvE hybrid mode, and our Forsaken review-in-progress for our thoughts on the game so far.
Dismantle Old, Unwanted Gear, Items, And Mods
When first diving in to Forsaken, there are a number of tasks you can take care of right away. Thanks to the introduction of new, more desirable gear and the introduction of an expanded Collection, you can feel free to dismantle your old gear and net yourself some Legendary Shards. The Collection allows you to peruse all weapons, armor, sparrows, shaders, and so on in the game. This lets you both see how to obtain things you don't have and pay to retrieve items you've previously gotten your hands on. The exception is Year 2 gear with randomized rolls; you'll need to earn those and hang on to them if you want to use them. But the bright side is you can now purchase an unlimited supply of shaders and dismantle things like ships and then get them back later.
As for mods, the system has been totally overhauled, and all of your existing mods have been deprecated. That means they're no longer usable and can be safely dismantled. While you might have some desire to hold on to old gear, the mods are something you have no reason to keep.
Grab Your Bounties Every Day
Another thing to do right away--and every day--is grabbing the appropriate bounties. Zavala and Shaxx at the Tower each offer five daily bounties for Strikes and Crucible, respectively, but you'll also want to hit up Hawthorne for clan bounties (some of which require you to do things in a fireteam with a clanmate), Tess for a weekly Eververse bounty (you'll also be able to periodically get additional bounties from her when you obtain an Eververse Bounty Note), and the Drifter for Gambit bounties. (The Drifter is found in the same area as Ikora, hiding in an alleyway to the right of the ramen shop--just crouch under the gate to get to him.) Each location's vendor, including the Tangled Shore's Spider, also has additional bounties specific to that area. Grab them as soon as you go somewhere to ensure you don't waste any effort.
Of course, bounties cost a small amount of glimmer to obtain. If you don't plan to play Gambit on a particular day, for instance, there's no sense in grabbing those bounties.
Check Your Challenges In The Director Regularly
Keeping an eye on the Director--that is, your map that lets you view the various locations and activities available to you--is critical for tracking desirable rewards. Raising your Power level to 500 is relatively easy in Forsaken; taking part in story missions, public events, and Crucible/Gambit can earn you Rare (blue) gear that can get you to that point. Getting past 500 is where the grind truly begins. One reliable way of increasing your Power level is by obtaining so-called Powerful gear, which will come with a Power level higher than your current overall number.
Powerful gear is rewarded for completing a number of different challenges. Unlike in the past, where these challenges could be seen by pulling up the "blade" on the left side of the Director, these are now primarily tied to specific locations and activity playlists. Jump into the Vanguard section of the Director, for instance, and you can hover over the Vanguard Strikes playlist to see what you have to do to earn a piece of Powerful gear. Be sure to check out everything in the Director that promises you a reward to ensure you're earning all of your Powerful gear rewards before the weekly reset, which happens each Tuesday. To make it easy, you'll see a yellow icon next to any area/playlist that has a challenge available.
Spend Glimmer At Spider
You'll inevitably hit the glimmer cap of 100,000 at some point; grinding out patrols and public events, in particular, will get you there fairly quickly. Rather than let your further earnings go to waste, be sure to spend that money. The first Tier upgrade on any piece of gear only costs glimmer, so that's one way to go about it. But with the removal of the old mod system, you no longer have Banshee-44 and his random mods to throw glimmer at.
The vendor you'll likely want to visit whenever your wallet is full is Spider, the new, Jabba the Hutt-esque NPC you encounter on the Tangled Shore early in Forsaken's campaign. Alongside the many bounties he offers, he also allows you to purchase a number of items, including planetary materials. While these are now quite easy to come across if you spend time doing patrols and public events, they do serve as the primary source of reputation gains with the respective location vendors and are now used in infusion. If you have no other use for your glimmer, grab a bunch of materials from Spider.
Considering Buying Masterwork Cores Daily
And while you're at Spider, you may want to buy yourself some Masterwork Cores. These are more valuable than ever; in addition to being a necessary aspect of upgrading an item past a certain point, they're also sometimes used for infusion, including doing so with Exotics. Obtaining Masterwork Cores can be done by breaking down a Masterwork item, but that of course requires one to drop for you in the first place.
Your alternative is to buy Masterwork Cores from Spider. Alongside the planetary materials mentioned above, glimmer, and Legendary Shards, he sells Masterwork Cores. They cost Legendary Shards, and each subsequent one you buy increases the cost. However, this price resets each day. Provided you have Shards to spare, it makes sense to buy at least one Masterwork Core per day to ensure you have some handy when you need them.
Understanding The New Infusion System
Bungie has overhauled the process of infusion, where you use the power of one item to increase that of another (destroying the more powerful one in the process). This change went into effect just prior to Forsaken, and the overriding point is that infusion is not something you'll blindly do for every item you get, as in the past. You'll need to be more thoughtful about what gets infused, as the price has increased, now requiring planetary materials and sometimes Masterwork Cores.
Unlike before, you no longer have to use a weapon or piece of armor from the same slot to infuse something. In other words, a pulse rifle can be infused using a hand cannon; it doesn't have to be another pulse rifle. But if you use a duplicate of an item, infusion merely costs glimmer. You'll of course want to be sure which version you want to keep, as the new random rolls system means two of the same weapon or armor can be significantly different (and you may actually want to keep duplicates due to their rolls). But if you're looking for a cheap way to infuse, using a dupe is the way to go.
Don't Miss Your New Subclass Trees
Among Forsaken's additions are new subclass trees. You get your first one through a milestone, New Powers (seen in the blade accessed through the Director), given to you early in the campaign. For this, you have to complete Visions of Light, which are items dropped by enemies with yellow health bars. Collect 100 and it'll unlock a mission on Io; a milestone notification will pop up when you do so, but it can be easy to miss, so be sure to keep a close eye on it. Complete the mission and you earn a Seed of Light, which is used to unlock your choice of a new subclass tree.
Be sure to think through your choice, because getting your other two subclass trees is not quite as easy or quick. Based on what players have reported, you'll earn additional Seeds of Light by completing the Blind Well activity, which is unlocked after finishing Forsaken's campaign. Manage to successfully finish the Blind Well, and a Seed will potentially drop.
Stop Deleting Shaders One By One
Among the many quality-of-life changes Destiny 2 has received recently is the ability to bulk delete shaders. Rather than getting rid of them one by one, you can now visit Rahool (the cryptarch who decrypts your engrams) to delete them five at a time. It truly is magical to see a bunch of awful-looking shaders go away in the blink of an eye. And, as noted above, don't forget you can now purchase the shaders you do like from the Collection.
Maybe Don't Get Excited About Xur
Ahead of Forsaken's release, Bungie made some changes to Xur, including where he shows up. You won't find him on the map, and he doesn't just go to whatever place has the current Flashpoint. For his first post-Forsaken appearance, his lineup of items is rather disappointing--two things are the same as the prior week, and none of them are Forsaken gear. He also doesn't have anything of note other than the standard lineup of one piece of Exotic armor for each class and one Exotic weapon; Three of Coins and the Fated engram are gone (the latter could return, but Three of Coins have been deprecated).
Whether things get better in future weeks remains to be seen; he could always show up for an exciting visit like when he offered Gjallarhorn or the current broken weapon du jour. But based on this first week, you may want to keep your expectations in check.
Known Issues To Be Aware Of
While the launch of Forsaken has been relatively smooth, some players on Xbox One and PS4 have had trouble purchasing a standalone version of the DLC, for instance. Those fortunate enough to be playing have also been experiencing issues, which Bungie keeps track of on its website.
On the less serious (but nonetheless annoying) side, the new clan bounties offered by Hawthorne have not been rotating as they should; instead, the same set has been available every day. Given these bounties are the new way to complete your weekly clan challenge (netting you a piece of Powerful gear), that's proven to be a hassle because of how many of them have to be done in Crucible.
Other issues of note include the Ace of Spades quest line. The step requiring Gambit kills requires you to kill an invader five times using a hand cannon. Additionally, Bungie is looking into an issue where you don't get your Oracle Offerings if your consumables inventory is full. To prevent that, Bungie says to ensure you have space in your consumables inventory.
It's officially September, and that means the next wave of additions to the Xbox Game Pass library is now available. There were 10 titles added to the catalog for September 2018, including some big first-party games such as Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Quantum Break. These add to the more than 100 games (across Xbox One and Xbox 360) that are already available in the library.
The Master Chief Collection, which originally launched in 2014, is the biggest Halo package ever released. It includes remastered versions of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, in addition to Halo 3 and Halo 4. All of the multiplayer maps for each game are also included. If you're playing on Xbox One X, the game looks better and loads faster.
The other headlining game for September is Quantum Break, the 2016 time-bending game from Alan Wake studio Remedy Entertainment. In a big twist for games, the title mixes gameplay and live-action TV, featuring actors like Shawn Ashmore, Aidan Gillen, Dominic Monaghan, and Lance Reddick. Additionally, quality racing game Onrush, which released earlier this year, is included in this month's offerings.
In addition to the dozens of back-catalog games available in the program, all of Microsoft's first-party games launch into Game Pass, meaning subscribers can get games like Forza Horizon 4, Halo: Infinite, Gears 5, and others at no extra cost.
Are you running out of things to watch on Amazon Prime? Well, September is officially 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 this weekend and beyond. 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)
Streaming platform Hulu has announced everything that's coming to and leaving the service in September, which has officially begun. Starting with what's arriving, there are a lot of high-profile movies coming to Hulu, including There Will Be Blood, Any Given Sunday, Jerry Maguire, Unbreakable, City of God, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, all of which debuted on September 1, meaning you can stream them this weekend.
New episodes of the Hulu original show I Love You, America, premiere on September 6, while the Season 22 premiere of South Park comes out on September 27. The full season of American Horror Story: Cult hits on September 18, while premiere episodes for a number of other series returning (or debuting) this fall arrive toward the end of September. Those include This Is Us, Lethal Weapon, and The Gifted.
As for what's leaving, the Christian Bale thriller American Psycho, the 1989 feel-good baseball movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Smith's Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and the Star Wars spoof Spaceballs all left on September 1.
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 check out this weekend--including Marvel hit Black Panther, which has arrived on the service along with a number of other things.
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.
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)
The new challenges for Season 5, Week 9 of Fortnite are now available. You can see the complete list of them below, and we also have 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 challenge in particular 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 are the locations of 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
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, though the offerings are fairly disappointing, particularly if you're a Titan. In a change we first saw last week, you won't find Xur on the map. Here's what Exotics 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. We also have a Destiny 2 guide with some useful tips you should be aware of.
Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro's subsidiary and publisher of Magic: The Gathering, have revealed information about their upcoming trading card game Transformers and its first expansion the Metroplex Deck.
The new trading card game, which will be available for purchase on September 28, takes characters from the world of Transformers and allows players to have them battle each other using additional cards. Additionally, these characters "transform" during battle by flipping them over. At San Diego Comic-Con, Hasbro had exclusive booster packs featuring two transforming character cards and two action cards. It seems like a pretty easy to grasp game that has complexity to its deck building and strategy.
While the game has not been released yet, the first expansion has been revealed. Metroplex is the biggest Transformer card yet, a robot who transformed into an entire city. The card is bigger than other character cards, coming in at eight inches tall.
This new set will contain the titan card Metroplex, his component character cards, Scamper, Six-Gun, and Slammer, and a 40-card deck of battle cards--which includes Rally the City, Height Advantage, and Protected by Metroplex, not available in previous sets. This first expansion will be available for purchase on November 21.
Those who have already binged all 10 episodes of Season 2 of Iron Fist got a special surprise after the credits wrapped up in the season finale. A 30-second clip featuring Daredevil played--for those who didn't skip past the credits--which is undoubtedly a teaser for the upcoming third season of the Netflix series.
In the teaser, Matt Murdock--wearing the same mask he dawned in Season 1--is in a confessional, talking to a priest. "I once believed that justice could be found in a court of law, even in the light of day, but I was fooling myself," said Murdock. "Darkness only responds to darkness. And the truth is, I'd rather die as the devil then live as Matt Murdock."
Murdock hasn't had the easiest go of things in recent years. He's battled and defeated The Hand through the two seasons Daredevil and one of the Defenders, he's been beaten to a bloody pulp on multiple occasions, and he's been emotionally conflicted with being reunited--and then losing--the love of his life, Elektra. It seems this has taken its toll on the hero of Hell's Kitchen, but does this mean that his life as Murdock is no more?
Netflix has been extremely tight-lipped about the upcoming season. An air date has not been announced, but we do know Season 3 will drop this year. Back in January, a fan did see the new season in production and spotted Vincent D'Onofrio reprising his role as Kingpin. The picture posted online has since been taken down. And that's all we know right now; however, there is a Daredevil panel at October's New York Comic-Con, so surely we will learn more then.
Daredevil Season 3 should arrive sometime before the end of 2018.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment