Black Friday 2018 is nearly upon us! The day itself may still be a few days away, but that hasn't stopped many retailers setting a bunch of discounts live already. One such retailer is Amazon UK, whose early Black Friday deals include discounts on Nintendo Switch consoles, PS4 accessories, and, rather randomly, the Far Cry series.
If you're a Far Cry fan, Amazon is the place to be right now--so long as you're a PC player. The original game is down to £3.44, with Far Cry 3 at £5.78, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon down to £5, Far Cry 4 at £10.40, and the Far Cry 5 season pass at £19.50.
Other early deals mostly center around accessories and peripherals, including a Nintendo Switch starter kit for £16 (Prime members only), a PS4 Pro vertical stand for £12, or a PlayStation Move charging station for £10. Read on below for a wider selection of the retailer's deals, or take a look at the full list of live discounts here before the promotion proper begins November 16. You can also check out Game's list of early Black Friday deals.
Editor's note: This is an early take on Battlefield V for PC; a full review is in the works but we will require many more hours to fully engage and evaluate everything the game has to offer. The overall opinion is subject to change through the review process.
The Battlefield series has always been about capturing the scale of war, and Battlefield V delivers as expected. Large maps made of both open fields and narrow lanes pit players in chaotic fights to capture objectives and deplete the enemy respawn count. Different classes empower soldiers with specific capabilities that provide distinct advantages in the right situations. And of course, tanks and aircraft not only change gameplay dynamics, but can swing the tide of battle in deft hands. The initial impression is that Battlefield V revels in familiarity--this entry doesn't stray away from the franchise formula, but it's a fine execution thus far.
It's been a while since the franchise set foot in World War II, but this time, it does so with lesser-known conflicts at the forefront. It's oddly refreshing to discover aspects of history that go overlooked. While we've had a steady diet of the snow-covered Narvik map prior to release, the game's collection of landscapes are varied set pieces. The lush vegetation of Western Europe and the harsh deserts of North Africa present beauty in the wake of utter destruction--all these battles have been inspired by the history books and realized in a refined Frostbite engine, which has never looked better. However, the maps themselves have their limitations.
Battlefield V is as devastating as it is beautiful.
Conquest has always been Battlefield's staple. Two huge teams fight to control capture points across a sprawling map, which helps hasten the drain of the enemy ticket count. It's a time-tested mode, but it also highlights the shortcomings of a few maps. I can admire the spectacle of Fjell 652 and the tight firefights that take place around the capture points, but navigating the map's narrow paths hasn't been much fun. Narvik's capture points encourage a variety of encounters with regards to distance, elevation, and space, but rather than flowing together, the maps feel like a collection of disparate parts for the sake of enabling these types of engagements. Metropolitan maps have certainly worked in the series' past, but Rotterdam hasn't been a great showcase of Battlefield V's strengths as matches can easily devolve into tedious shootouts on city streets.
If you're caught out of place, you'll be punished--in other words, you'll be shot in the back and flanked from unsuspecting locations frequently. While it can grow frustrating, overcoming seemingly hopeless scenarios is part of the process.
Grand Operations takes you into war-like scenarios that set teams up for a series of three consecutive matches, each in a different game mode and map (or variation of a map) from the same theater. This mode can be a big time commitment, but it has been the best part of Battlefield V so far, as Grand Operations keeps up the momentum and shakes up gameplay just enough to retain players through the course of the whole set of matches. The light contextualization of what both sides are trying to accomplish that goes into each phase helps (ever so slightly) paint a more enticing picture of multiplayer, rather than having you unceremoniously jump into the fray.
Success in Battlefield V very much depends on being at the right place at the right time. If you're caught out of place, you'll be punished--in other words, you'll be shot in the back and flanked from unsuspecting locations frequently. While it can grow frustrating, overcoming seemingly hopeless scenarios is part of the process. Adapting to situations that develop on the field and being a helpful teammate are further encouraged by the four returning classes: Assault, Medic, Support, and Recon. So far, it seems like a small tweak helps to bring out teamwork--squadmates can revive each other regardless of class, without negating the importance of Medics since they can revive anyone and dole out additional health packs.
Player progression is dispersed in several ways. For one, you have career progression, which is your simple overall rank. Then there's class progression, which paves the way for unlocking equipment to further customize your loadout. And lastly, both weapons and vehicles contain their own progression paths. There appears to be a lot of systems at work, but rewards seem fairly lean outside of skins and individual weapon perks.
Microtransactions are currently absent from the game, so we can't comment on the business model yet. However, you earn in-game currency called Company Coins, which appear to be mainly for acquiring cosmetics like soldier uniforms and weapon camouflage. A few things like weapon perks cost Company Coins, but thankfully they're cheap and require you to reach a certain level beforehand.
The game's not a multiplayer-only endeavor with the return of War Stories, the single-player campaign offering that debuted in Battlefield 1. It serves as a tool to acquaint yourself with the basics of the game while providing grounded perspectives from contrasting theaters of war. Battlefield V itself starts not on a main menu, but in a playable teaser of each vignette from War Stories. Part of me wants to fully accept the sincerity that's trying to be communicated through the narration and cutscenes, but I can't help but feel it veering off into melodrama to a fault. I've only touched on the English campaign, but I'm hoping it makes good on the humanizing tone it appears to go for.
Sloshing through the mud in a tank in Twisted Steel is a necessary evil.
Battlefield V can be rough around the edges. Player models can clip through the world's geometry, sometimes sending bodies into a ragdoll frenzy. You may see teammates get revived only for their character model to frantically zip 20 feet in another direction. As of now, servers have occasional instability in terms of performance and packet loss (which causes choppy motion in-game). Thankfully, I haven't experienced hard crashes or drops from servers.
The initial impression is that Battlefield V revels in familiarity--this entry doesn't stray away from the franchise formula, but it's a fine execution thus far.
As of now, it feels as if Battlefield V is a variation on a well-established theme. It maintains the series tradition of grand spectacle with incredible sound design, impactful weaponry, and large-scale multiplayer chaos. There's a lot more to dig into, like the fortification system, squad reinforcements perks, and how destruction may change map dynamics, and spending more time with the game will paint a better picture. At the end of the day, it's still Battlefield, and Battlefield V is shaping up to be a good one at that.
We're now less than two weeks out from Black Friday 2018. Xbox One deals are on the menu, as evidenced by many of the early ads that retailers have already released. Black Friday itself takes place on November 23, but we already know a lot of what to expect--as well as the fact that, in may cases, you'll be able to take advantage of these deals even before Black Friday itself. Whether it's Xbox One consoles, games, or accessories, you're in luck.
While there are still more ads to come, early ads from Target, Best Buy, and Walmart have give us a good idea of what to expect. If it's a console you're after, both Xbox One X and Xbox One S will be discounted significantly. Kohl's will offer an Xbox One X 1TB bundled with PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and $120 Kohl's Cash for $400, while Best Buy has a special-edition version of the system bundled with Battlefield 5 and a second controller for $430.
In terms of Xbox One S, Kohl's has anXbox One S 1TB Minecraft Creators Bundle and $60 Kohl's Cash for $200. (Enter promo code CHEERFUL at checkout--or print out the coupon in the Black Friday ad--and you'll save an extra 15% on Kohl's deals.) Other stores will have the system for around $200. Additionally, extra Xbox One controllers will be available for $40 at Kohl's,Target, and the Microsoft Store, among other places. The Microsoft Store will also offer a month of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold for $1 each.
In terms of games, stores will have some excellent discounts on a number of big-name titles. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be $40 at Walmart, while the toys-to-life game Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack is $35 at Best Buy (down from $75). Other terrific deals include Assassin's Creed Odyssey for $30 at Best Buy and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds for $15 at Target and Best Buy.
There's too much to round up in the text here, so hit the full lists below for all things Xbox that will be on sale--you'll even find cheap backwards compatible games on sale. We'll continue to update this as more deals are revealed, so stay tuned, and follow all of our coverage in our full list of Black Friday deals.
Editor's Note: Light spoilers will follow in the text below. If you wish to play Undertale or Deltarune yourself before any impressions, please do. Story specifics and detailed theories are not discussed in this article.
I came to terms with the possibility that Undertale would solely exist as its own contained experience--the time spent in that world may have been enough even for those who are strongly invested in it. Granted, many of the deeper story threads led to ambiguous ends, but even that ambiguity could live on its own. However, that world has been reopened with Deltarune; a surprise release, part of an episodic retro-style RPG that uses much of the foundation from Undertale. Chapter 1 is available for free, and while it only touches on its best new mechanics and leaves us with more questions than answers, Deltarune shows promise for living up to monumental expectations.
Deltarune presents itself as a variation on many of the same fundamentals and themes from Undertale, as if it exists as a parallel. After an eerie introduction that seems like a throwaway nightmare state, you'll recognize familiar faces. Toriel wakes you up and takes you to school, and you see Undyne as a police officer, Alphys as your teacher, and Temmie as a classmate, among others. All monsters living normal lives on the surface. You'll probably also see a stark resemblance in Kris, the game's protagonist, as well. Events proceed rather smoothly until the plot thickens with the introduction of a new character, Susie, who appears to be the class bully. As you reluctantly follow Susie to get Alphys' blackboard chalk, a mysterious descent into an underworld soon occurs within the school's supply closet.
Birds are singing, flowers are blooming.
Not long afterward, Deltarune introduces you to how it takes Undertale's fundamentals a step further. While navigating the environment, rooms themselves occasionally become hostile, forcing you to avoid obstacles in the same vein as the defense-phase bullet-hell in combat. Player perspective has also changed in combat from facing enemies head-on (like Earthbound) to a side-view of the battlefield (like NES/SNES Final Fantasy). Random encounters have been removed in favor of making all your potential enemies visible within the environment, which better manages the game's flow.
Like Undertale, there's an earnestness to the game's society of monsters that appear to lead peaceful lives. More often than not, you'll be smiling ear-to-ear from the witty writing, snappy jokes, and absurdist humor by good-natured characters.
No one has to get hurt, similar to Undertale. Through ACT, you can talk your way out of battles and SPARE enemies with the right sequence of dialogue options. There's still the FIGHT option where input timing dictates the damage dealt, but MAGIC opens up new options for attacking and healing; the system of TP is a sensible way to incorporate its own take on mana. And of course, enemy turns have you moving your heart (or SOUL) to dodge their unpredictable attacks. It remains an innovative system that leaves room for each battle to break convention and let the game's personality flourish, especially now that you have party members. Depending on the situation, you'll have opportunities for clever team actions; commanding Ralsei to sing puts enemies to sleep and the ability to pacify them without harm. There's nothing quite like the K.Round boss fight that has you setting the trajectory for Susie to launch Ralsei into the enemy's crown to knock it off its head. Or carefully rearranging Bloxer's body to cheer it up and send it on its merry way before it can hurt your team.
The shift in perspective affords the opportunity to see Kris and their allies shine, too. Wonderfully animated pixel art accompanies each action--the best examples being when Ralsei pulls up his scarf to cover himself for a DEFEND command, or how he gives adorable little claps when fights end. Despite the games pseudo-8-bit/16-bit style, character expressions and body language provide vivid displays of personality. The ability to communicate so much with so little is one of Undertale's greatest accomplishments, and Deltarune achieves this as well.
Who knew super-sized checker pieces with legs would make for adorable, yet terrifying enemies.
Core mechanics are in service of building a unique brand of quirky charm. But arguably, the most important piece of the puzzle is the soundtrack. Toby Fox samples his own music from Undertale in both subtle and overt ways to great effect, almost like callbacks to remind you that these two worlds are somehow bound together. As soon as "Field Of Hopes And Dreams" starts, you feel a percussive momentum complemented by a bold, catchy rhythm and piano lead. And memories of Snowdin Town begin to sink in when the melody transitions, as if to empower you with a sense of familiarity to explore uncharted territory. This extends to "Scarlet Forest," another standout track that sounds like it's performed by a full orchestra, with a staccato rhythm and marching drums that support a layered string section and whimsical woodwinds. It's an evocative score that seamlessly blends of the old and new using wonderful instrumentation.
As soon as "Field Of Hopes And Dreams" starts, you feel a percussive momentum complemented by a bold, catchy rhythm and piano lead. And memories of Snowdin Town begin to sink in when the melody transitions, as if to empower you with a sense of familiarity to explore uncharted territory.
Like Undertale, there's an earnestness to the game's society of monsters that appear to lead peaceful lives. More often than not, you'll be smiling ear-to-ear from the witty writing, snappy jokes, and absurdist humor from good-natured characters. Even knuckleheads like Lancer and Susie come around. But another of Deltarune's unique strengths is how it leverages its charm to create deeply unsettling atmospheres and implications. This paves the way for the possible impact of darker undertones, further driven by meta-narrative elements. You can't shake the feeling that something's amiss when you start to string together the ways these games might be connected. Beneath the uplifting joy and comfort that you'll see on Deltarune's surface, you get the sense that there's a bigger, more sinister picture, given what we know about Undertale and the events that unfold in Chapter 1. That could also just be the theorycrafting speaking.
Lancer, I've played Super Mario RPG a million times.
In many ways, Deltarune does feel like a prototype--Toby Fox has said as much, and also commented on the challenge of building the game with limited resources. Some sequences are a bit barebones, such as the checkered hallway that's a linear path with a simple timing puzzle, and the Card Castle that's a series monochromatic rooms (though it does feature some top-tier gags). Most of all, the best parts of the short journey are over before they can fully flesh themselves out. However, the weaving of music, dialogue, visual presentation, along with the foundation set by Undertale, there's reason to believe that Deltarune will make good on returning to the lore and putting new spins on familiar themes.
I'm beyond ecstatic that Deltarune even exists. While I wish there were more opportunities to engage in its best features, I constantly remind myself that this is the first chapter.
Its connections to Undertale are often on the nose, but I suspect that this has a purpose. I get the impression that the moments of fan-service, clear callbacks, and apparent parallels are deliberate, as if they'll lead to less obvious revelations. I'm also curious as to how the future of Deltarune handles the fact we kind of expect the game to mess with us and subvert our expectations; thankfully, it's off to a great start.
I'm beyond ecstatic that Deltarune even exists. While I wish there were more opportunities to engage in its best features, I constantly remind myself that this is the first chapter. There's no telling where the subsequent chapters will lead, but it's incredibly exciting to know that this isn't the end.
Electronics and television giant Samsung, has quite a few Black Friday deals on televisions for the upcoming retail holiday, taking place the day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 23. It's a time where the people of the United States invade retail stores like the Chitauri entering New York City. Shoppers are looking for the best deals on everything from video games to electronics to this year's hottest items, in hopes of getting their Christmas presents for cheap.
For many people, this is the perfect time to buy a new television, as most retailers have some pretty deep discounts on all their TVs during this time. Whether you're looking for a huge new 4K smart TV or something smaller and cheaper to give away as a gift, stores like Best Buy, Target, Kohl's, Meijer, and more have them available for the upcoming Black Friday.
There are a few 65" televisions available this Black Friday, three of which can be found at Target. Two of these are from Samsung, both of which are 4K and smart TVs. One is $650 and the curved one is $800. Additionally, there is an LG 4K smart TV for $750. All of these are doorbuster deals, so it's first come, first served when Target opens on on Thursday, November 22 at 5PM. The store will close at 1AM on Friday, November 23, then re-open at 7AM that morning. However, you may want to check with your local stores, as times may vary.
If you are in the market for something small and cheap, there are a few HDTVs for under $200. At Meijer, there is a Element 55" Smart Roku 4K UHD TV for $200; however, it's part of the store's doorbuster deals, so supplies will be limited, but the deals will be good Thursday, November 22 at 6 AM-Friday, November 23. Again, check with your local stores to see if opening times vary.
Check out all the TV deals from this year's Black Friday circulars, so far. If you're on the lookout for more huge deals, check out our round-up of all the Black Friday specials.
The first trailer for Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is here. The live-action movie based on the hugely popular game series is released next May and stars Ryan Reynolds as the world-famous yellow Pokemon.
The trailer reveals that the movie is set in Ryme City, where Pokemon exist alongside humans. A famous private detective has gone missing, leading his son Tim to start investigating what has happened to him. But Tim used to be an aspiring Pokemon trainer, and with his ability to hear what Pikachu can say to him, the pair team up to solve the mystery. And of course, the trailer is also packed with other Pokemon, including Psyduck, Bulbasaur, Charizard, and Greninja. Check it out above.
The cast also includes Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Kathryn Newton (Blockers), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla, Inception), and Bill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). Detective Pikachu is directed by Rob Letterman, who previously helmed Goosebumps, Captain Underpants, and Shark Tale. The movie hits theaters on May 10, 2019.
Detective Pikachu is based on the video game of the same name. A shorter, downloadable version of the game was released in Japan in 2016, with the full version released worldwide in March 2018. In her review for GameSpot, Kallie Plagge said that it is a "simple game," with "not much variety to the way you solve cases." Nevertheless, "it's full of heart, and its silly characters and intentionally campy tone are what make it fun."
If you've pre-ordered Fallout 76, you can start downloading it to be ready for release next week. Bethesda gave word that the install is ready to go, along with instructions on what to do with that beta file you may still have laying around. [Update: Fallout 76 pre-loading is now live on PS4 and PC in addition to Xbox One.]
According to a series of tweets, the pre-load is available on Xbox One and will follow for PlayStation 4 and PC soon. If you have the console versions of the beta installed, you can delete them and your progress will still carry over to the full game. If you have the beta on PC, you'll receive a small update that will prepare your game file for launch.
The beta came in several waves, and Bethesda has already outlined some fixes and responses to pieces of feedback it received. The company plans to make this a live game, and kicked off the beta with an open letter cautioning that it will be filled with bugs--radioactive and otherwise. The team plans to work on improving it long-term, and keeping the servers running "forever."
Though this is Fallout's first foray into an online, connected world, it can be played very similarly to one of the series' single-player adventures. Of course, there are drawbacks to that kind of isolated landscape for those who do want to make it a social experience. One big remaining question that won't be answered until launch is how its cosmetic DLC will work, given that we've seen some items for sale but have no idea yet how the in-game currency translates to real dollars.
Fallout 76 is coming November 14. Check out our pre-order guide for more details.
A movie like Ralph Breaks the Internet is bound to be in production for a number of years. When The Emoji Movie hit theaters in 2017, Ralph 2 was well underway at Disney Animation Studios. That turned out to be really bad timing.
The Emoji Movie was universally panned by critics and audiences alike. When the first trailers for Wreck-It Ralph 2 arrived, the comparisons between the two movies were all too clear. The similarities are inevitable: When Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) travel to the internet, they reach a world populated by familiar websites, internet in-jokes, and memes. When The Emoji Movie did it, this felt like a crass commercial cash-in devised to sell tie-ins with various apps. At Disney, the filmmakers behind Ralph Breaks the Internet are working hard to avoid that and other pitfalls.
For one thing, Disney didn't actually partner with real world companies, websites, or apps for Ralph Breaks the Internet. In fact, they didn't even approach those companies to ask permission to use their names and logos.
"I don't know how we're getting away with the stuff that we're doing," Ralph 2 co-director Rich Moore joked to GameSpot during a recent interview.
According to producer Clark Spencer, it has to do with the differences between copyright and trademark. He said since they're only using company names and logos--not, say, mascots or associated characters--there was no need to reach out for permission. And besides, he explained, most of the places where Ralph and Vanellope spend significant story time are made up, like BuzzTube, an amalgam of Buzzfeed and YouTube that combines elements of both sites.
"Honestly, eBay is really the only big part [that's a real company]," said co-director Phil Johnston. Ralph and Vanellope travel to eBay in search of a part Vanellope needs to repair her arcade game, Sugar Rush. "The reason we decided to use the actual eBay as the backdrop is because it felt like exactly what we needed for the story," Johnston continued. "Like, where else would you go to find that part? We could make up 'eBuy' or 'OhBoy' or whatever, but why? In that case, that's so clearly where we need to be going."
That's far from the only way the movies differ. "It would be great to get that out of the way, and just say [Ralph 2] is in no way, shape, or form anything like [The Emoji Movie]," Moore said. He, Johnston, and Spencer all insisted that The Emoji Movie's reception had no effect whatsoever on Ralph 2's story, world, or overall direction.
That doesn't mean creating the internet as a living, breathing, recognizable place was easy, as the movie's story team elaborated. "The internet is very difficult to portray," story artist Natalie Nourigat told us. "A lot of people have done it, and we tried to do our due diligence and our research and see what has worked in the past in other movies."
Her fellow story artist, Jason Hand, said they were "hyper aware" of the comparisons that would inevitably be made. "I think there's funny stuff in the Emoji movie," he conceded.
Head of Story Josie Trinidad added that the way the movie portrayed the internet visually "was pretty cool." She said for Ralph 2, they tried their best to stay true to the characters, which she believes sets Ralph Breaks the Internet apart. "It's not a movie about the internet, it's a movie about Ralph and Vanellope," she said. "Two friends from a small town--a small arcade--who go to the big city--the internet--and how their friendship is changed by that journey."
As we described in a separate piece, Ralph 2's filmmakers went to painstaking lengths to make the internet a believable place with its own logic, relatable characters, and visual design language. They even represented the dark web and the internet's less friendly side, where Ralph is sure to get into trouble.
The internet today seems like a pretty dark place, even more so than a couple of years ago when production on Ralph Breaks the Internet began. But it's clear that Disney has done its best to make it a compelling setting for Ralph and Vanellope's new adventure.
Ralphs Breaks the Internet hits theaters November 21. Don't forget to check out our condensed list of everything we learned about the movie on our trip to Disney Animation.
The next patch for Overwatch will require a full game reinstall on all platforms, Blizzard has announced. Citing substantial changes to the game client, the studio said it needs a total restart. PC players who have the public test server version installed will have a smaller install, however.
"The number of back-end changes we're putting in is substantial enough that we can't just patch over the current content efficiently," the company said on its official forums. "As a result, when the next patch comes out, the client will fully reinstall itself to handle these changes. We know that this isn't ideal for people on metered connections, so hopefully this announcement helps you prepare for this coming update."
As for what back-end changes are so big as to require such a rework, Blizzard clarified to Kotaku that it includes memory optimization, a reduction in harddrive space on PS4, bug fixes across various maps, and support for future content. It calls the patch as a whole a "remaster." If you've got the Public Test Realm version on PC already installed, it's said to be significantly smaller.
While this does make the install size larger than usual, Overwatch isn't a particularly large game. It generally comes in at just over 10 GB, and this may be smaller thanks to the changes it's implementing. Blizzard hasn't confirmed what other updates this patch may bring, but we presume it will add the newly announced character Ashe to the game. She's already available on the PTR, which means she'll probably be appearing in the game proper soon.
The Mass Effect franchise is currently in a state of suspended animation following the lackluster showing by the series' fourth game, Mass Effect Andromeda. But there's still a big Mass Effect following out there, and developer BioWare knows it--that's why it acknowledges November 7 each year as "N7 Day" with some messaging to fans to remind them of their experiences trying to save the Milky Way Galaxy from the Reaper threat.
And it seems like BioWare boss Casey Hudson just used the studio's N7 Day Twitter post to hint at the future of Mass Effect.
BioWare posted a short video on Twitter mostly made up of people from both the studio and the fan community talking about why they like Mass Effect. It also includes an announcement that the studio turned out a free update for Andromeda on Xbox One X that improves the game's graphics.
What might be the most interesting part is the ending, though, where Hudson makes a statement laden with innuendo: "It means coming into the studio every day, dreaming about what the next great Mass Effect game will be."
Then he stares right into the camera for a long moment as he sips from a Mass Effect mug with the famous Commander Shepard line, "I Should Go," stenciled on the side. What does it mean???
Maybe nothing. After all, it's not like BioWare or its owner, Electronic Arts, ever said Mass Effect was officially canceled--but single-player DLC for Mass Effect Andromeda never materialized, despite some clear setups for some in the story, after that game received a rough reception from both fans and critics. BioWare has been putting its efforts into Anthem, its open-world sci-fi multiplayer game, which is set to release in February.
It sure does seem like Hudson's lingering look at the camera is a meaningful wink to fans, letting them know that the Mass Effect series hasn't been killed off in a boardroom somewhere. And in a blog post in August, Hudson noted that BioWare knows fans want more Mass Effect (and more of its fantasy franchise, Dragon Age), and said the studio has people working on "secret projects," even though he wouldn't enumerate what they might be. So that meaningful look seems like a playful reminder to fans on N7 Day that BioWare hasn't forgotten about them.
There's one the big question of what Mass Effect might look like, post-Andromeda. Would BioWare maintain the course set by the fourth game, which spins off from the original trilogy and takes place in a whole new galaxy, or would that game's rough reception lead to a whole new course?
If Hudson is telling fans to keep the faith for the future of Mass Effect, though, it'll likely be a long time before we hear anything more about it, thanks in part to Anthem. In the meantime, fans might just have to watch BioWare communications for secret messages.
Black Friday is quickly approaching on Friday, November 23, the day after Thanksgiving in the US. Walmart has released its circular for the retail holiday, and it contains hundreds of physical copies of moves and television shows--along with TVs--for exceptionally low prices.
Many of these deals, including games, will be available online on Wednesday, November 21 starting at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT, while the in-store shopping kicks off on Thursday, November 22 at 6 PM, locally. Walmart will not be closing during the early morning hours. However, make sure to check with your local Walmart as hours may vary.
There will be hundreds of movies on sale during the event. In the circular, Walmart only listed a small portion of what will be available in store. It states over 110 movies will be priced at $2, 180 at $4, 70 at $6, 30 at $8, 50 at $9, and 90 at $10. The selection will be very wide for the Black Friday event, but there is a limited stock, so you'll want to get to your local Walmart early to pick these up.
From the $2 items listed on site, there isn't anything exceptionally notable, aside from the original Jumanji on DVD. There were, however, a couple decent selections on Blu-ray in the $4 category: Spider-Man: Homecoming and Home Alone. Walmart is also discounting a few movies in 4K to under $10 like Wonder Woman, Deadpool 2, and Rampage. You can also pick up this year's Mission Impossible: Fallout for only $8, but keep in mind, this is a digital code for Vudu and not a physical copy.
Below is the full list of the DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K movies listed in the Walmart Black Friday ad. This is not the complete list, but if more get added, this list will be updated.
DVDs:
Movies:
Hotel Transylvania 2 -- $2
The Peanuts Movie -- $2
Rio 2 -- $2
Jumanji -- $2
Smurfs -- $2
Captain Underpants -- $2
Fifty Shades Freed -- $2
Jurassic Park -- $2
The Secret Life of Pets -- $2
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip -- $2
Jurassic World -- $2
San Andreas -- $2
It (1990) -- $2
The Wizard of Oz -- $2
Goosebumps -- $2
Ice Age: Collision Course -- $2
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle -- $4
Justice League -- $4
Wonder Woman -- $4
Ferdinand -- $4
Hotel Transylvania 3 -- $4
Despicable Me 3 -- $4
How the Grinch Stole Christmas -- $4
Spongebob Christmas $4
The Greatest Showman -- $4
The Fate of the Furious -- $4
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom -- $4
Deadpool 2 -- $6
Miracle on 34th Street -- $6
Annihilation -- $6
Sherlock Gnomes -- $6
Ice Age Movie Collection -- $6
Solo: A Star Wars Story -- $8
Avengers: Infinity War -- $8
TV:
The Flash: Season 4 -- $10
Game of Thrones: Season 5 -- $10
Rick and Morty: Season 3 -- $10
The Big Bang Theory: Season 11 -- $10
The Walking Dead Season 8 -- $10
Blu-Ray:
Movies:
Mission Impossible: Fall Out -- $8 (Digital only through Vudu)
The end of the year is almost here, which means we're nearly in the holiday season--and that means that it's nearly time for Black Friday 2018. Last year didn't bring with it much in the way of Nintendo Switch deals, but now it's approaching its two-year anniversary, and that's led to more offers on both its games and the console.
This year, Black Friday takes place on November 23. Many stores have already released their ads, and in some cases, their offers will be available hours or even days in advance. In terms of the Nintendo Switch console, we're seeing an identical deal popping up in a lot of places since we first saw it in Target's preview ad. Target, Walmart, and Best Buy will sell the system for $300, as per usual (or $299 in Walmart's case), but the system will be a special bundle that comes with a free copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Unfortunately, if you were hoping for a sub-$300 Switch, we have yet to see anyone drop the system's price. If the aforementioned bundle doesn't appeal to you, Kohl's has a more expensive option that also comes with $90 in Kohl's Cash.
A large number of Switch games are on sale, although the sheer scale of these deals is not the same as on PS4 or Xbox One, as you'd expect. Still, there are some good offers: last year's surprisingly excellent XCOM-like, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, drops to $20 at Best Buy; Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate drops to $35 at Target, Walmart, and Best Buy; Arms goes to $35 at Walmart; and Bayonetta 2 (which includes the previous game) will be $40 at Best Buy.
Below, you'll find all of the Black Friday deals on Switch consoles, games, and accessories that we've spotted so far. More deals should be announced in the day ahead, and we'll keep this page updated. For even more, check out our full Black Friday deals coverage.
Fortnite developer Epic Games has been introducing new weapons and items to the hit title with nearly every update, and it looks like that trend will continue with this week's patch. The in-game News feed has given us our first glimpse at a new weapon on the way to Battle Royale mode: the Mounted Turret.
Judging by its description in the feed, the Mounted Turret seems like it'll be fairly different from the other kinds of weapons you can pick up in the game. "Place the Mounted Turret and hop in to apply some suppressive fire," the description reads. However, it also warns the weapon can overheat, so you'll want to use it strategically if you're lucky enough to come across one. You can take a look at it below.
Epic hasn't officially confirmed when the Mounted Turret will appear in the game; however, weapons that are teased in the News feed typically arrive as part of the next weekly update, which is expected to roll out for all platforms on November 13 barring any unforeseen delays.
The latest weapon to come to Fortnite was the Heavy Assault Rifle, which launched alongside last week's 6.22 update. The gun comes in Rare, Epic, and Legendary forms and can be found in chests, vending machines, supply drops, and as floor loot. You can see it in action in the video above.
In addition to that, Epic recently partnered with the NFL to add a line of football jersey skins to Battle Royale; these are available for purchase from Fortnite's in-game store. The developer has also begun selling a Summit Striker starter pack that comes with a new skin, back bling, and 600 V-Bucks for $5.
Spyro, the purple fire-breathing dragon from the '90s, is coming back around again: a souped-up version of original trilogy is heading to modern consoles. This trio of platformers was made by Insomniac Games and originally hit the original PlayStation between 1998-2000. Spyro Reignited Trilogy is set to launch on November 13 for PS4 and Xbox One.
It contains remasters of Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. The graphics have gotten a complete overhaul, so it should look more like you remember it rather than how it actually looked (not as good!).
If you're all-in on Spyro and want to lock down your copy right now, you'll probably want to know what your options are. We have you covered below, with information about the pre-order bonuses you can get, as well as what comes in each edition, where you can buy it, and how much it costs. Let's get to it, shall we?
Pre-Order Bonus
No universal bonuses will be available for buying Spyro Reignited Trilogy early, but two retailers have exclusive bonuses of their own. Pre-order the game at GameStop, and you'll receive a free Spyro keychain while supplies last. If you place your pre-order on the PlayStation Store, you'll get a free Spyro avatar and PS4 theme.
Standard Edition
Unlike so many games these days, there's only one edition of Spyro Reignited Trilogy to buy. That makes picking an edition an easy choice. Although you can get pre-order bonuses from GameStop and PlayStation Store, Newegg has the game for $5 less than the competition. Just something to consider.
As you've probably realized by now, it's almost time for Black Friday. In 2018, Black Friday takes place on November 23, which is next Friday, although certain retailers will offer deals even sooner than that. As such, it's time to start planning any shopping you might want to do, as this will be a great time to pick up a PS4 console, accessories, or games. Whether you're looking to pick up a gift for someone else or yourself, you likely won't find lower prices at any other time of year, based on the ads we've seen so far from places like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Sony itself has announced its Black Friday promotions, and you'll find a lot of what retailers have to offer line up with these deals. When it comes to PS4 consoles, the best option announced so far is from Target, Best Buy, and Walmart, all of which get you a PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB and Spider-Man as a pack-in game for $200 (or $199 in Walmart's case). That's a great deal, seeing as the console normally costs around $300 and Spider-Man costs $60. Given it's part of Sony's official lineup of deals, you can expect to find this pretty much everywhere.
In terms of accessories, another doorbuster Target will offer is a PlayStation VR bundle that comes with a camera, Move controllers, Creed: Rise to Glory, and Superhot VR, all for $250; that deal is mirrored at Best Buy. If you want a cheaper route, several stores will have a $200 PSVR bundle. Also, both Target, Best Buy, and Kohl's will have DualShock 4 controllers available for $40, while Walmart beats them at $39. Again $200 for PSVR and $40 for controllers are among Sony's official Black Friday deals, so expect to see those from a lot of stores.
On the games side of the equation, there's plenty to save money on. The recent release Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will drop to $40 at Walmart. Another recent one, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, will be available for $30. Both Detroit: Become Human and God of War will be available for $25 each, as will Far Cry 5. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is at its cheapest (so far) at Best Buy, where it'll be $30.
We've gathered all of the PlayStation 4 deals announced so far into one place so you can get the best deal on whatever it is you're looking for. We'll keep this article updated as more retailers announce their Black Friday plans, so check back later; for now, the big ads we've gotten are from Target, Best Buy, and Walmart. Depending on exactly what you're looking for, you'll be going to a different store.
You can find all of the PS4 Black Friday deals below, but you'll have to wait for November 23 to get the discounts.
Black Friday is nearly here. November 23 is just days away, and that means many retailers have already kicked off their major season of discounts and deals. Game's Black Friday UK sale starts in earnest on November 15, but the chain has a number of deals live on its website already.
On the green side of the gaming fence, you can get a 1 TB Xbox One S with Forza Horizon 4, two months of Now TV, and either The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind or Prey for £250. If you're not a Forza fan, you can get the same bundle but with Playground's racer subbed out for a Fortnite full game download, 2,000 V-bucks, and the Eon cosmetic set for the same price.
The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundle contains the device itself with Sports Party for £290; pay £10 more and the sports title gets swapped for Lego DC Super Villains. The Switch is a newer console, so it's perhaps unsurprising deals are a little hard to come by compared to PS4 and Xbox One. The cheapest way to get a new Switch from Game is still to simply buy the console itself--this comes in at £280.
Check out a wider selection of Game's Black Friday UK deals below, or visit the retailer's website for the full list.
The apocalypse is almost here, because Fallout 76 is coming to PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 14. The earliest game in the series' timeline, Fallout 76 puts you in the shoes of a person residing in Vault 76. Base-building returns from Fallout 4, and players can hunt down items that will allow them to fire nuclear missiles at areas of the map. The game is said to be four times bigger than its predecessor--and here's a shocker--it's online.
Every other person you see in the game is controlled by a real person--NPCs need not apply. For a complete roundup of the facts, check out Everything We Know About Fallout 76. Whether you're a diehard fan of the series or you want to see what all the hype is about, you might be ready to lock in your Fallout 76 pre-order. If so, we have all the information you need below.
Pre-order bonus
The pre-launch beta for Fallout 76 is going on now. The only way to get access is by pre-ordering, so if you're eager to play it ahead of launch, you'll definitely want to take a look at the links below. The beta runs at select times through November 4.
Standard Edition
Suggested retail price: $60
The standard edition of Fallout 76 comes with just the base game but is already available to pre-order.
One step above the standard edition is the Deluxe edition, also known as the Tricentennial edition. You get the base game along with a variety of in-game bonus items. That includes the following goodies:
Tricentennial Power Armor Customization for the T-51, T-45, T-60, and X-01 Power Armors
Tricentennial Weapon Customization for the 10MM Pistol, Hatchet, and Laser Rifle
Spectacularly Handsome Vault Boy Mascot Head
Patriotic Uncle Sam Outfit
Celebratory Vault Boy Saluting Emote
First-Class Tricentennial Workshop Posters
Tricentennial Commemorative Photo Frame
Provided you're interested in those bonuses, you can pre-order this version from select retailers through the links below.
Those willing to spend more can get a much grander package. In addition to a copy of Fallout 76 itself, the Power Edition gets you a ton of extras, the centerpiece of which is a T-51 Power Armor helmet. This is actually wearable and is equipped with a voice modulator speaker and a working headlamp. This comes with a West Tek canvas carrying bag.
Also included is a map showing Fallout 76's world. This measures 21 inches by 21 inches and glows in the dark. Additionally, there are 24 figurines based on in-game models (covering likes like creatures and vault dwellers), a steelbook, and bonus in-game items (outlined with the Deluxe edition).
If you can feel your apocalyptic anticipation growing, it might be because Fallout 76 is gearing up for launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 14. If you're a PS4 owner, you can grab a handful of free Fallout 76 items right now, whether you've pre-ordered the game or not. The items are only free between now and November 14, so time's running out.
You can pick up your freebies right here. These include three Fallout 76 avatars, as well as a theme for your PS4. One avatar is a Nuka Cola cap, while the other two feature the smiling Vault Boy. He's winking and giving a thumbs-up in one, and holding a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher in the other.
The theme decks out your PS4's dashboard with Fallout 76 imagery. The background shows a close-up of a power armor helmet resting in the dirt of a dusty, post-apocalyptic world. In the background are a man and a woman wearing vault suits and holding weapons. The PS4 system icons are also changed to a fittingly dingy yellow style.
While you're on the page to claim your freebies, you can also enter to win a copy of Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition--though you'll have to do it between now and November 13. This special edition comes with the game, a steelcase, canvas duffel bag, wearable power armor helmet, glow-in-the-dark world map, and a collection of 24 Fallout figurines, plus additional digital items.
We're now less than two weeks away from Black Friday 2018. With 2019 somehow just weeks away, the biggest shopping day of the year (at least in the United States) is almost upon us, although .
Even with a couple weeks to go before Black Friday--it takes place on November 23--we've already begun to get a look at the deals that will be available. Most notably, we got Target's ad early, giving us a look at what will be on sale across games, tech, and entertainment, and that's been followed by two other huge ones, Walmart and Best Buy. Sam's Club is also have a pre-Black Friday sale that has some nice deals for game fans, as is Best Buy. Everything from 4K TVs to the PS4, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch are on sale, not to mention games and movies ranging from Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Star Wars to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Deadpool 2.
As always, tracking what's on sale and where can be an overwhelming task, as can determining what the best deals are. We'll be doing our best to help you stay on top of this so you can make the most of Black Friday (and Cyber Monday immediately after that) without having to drown in a sea of circulars and hastily scrawled post-it notes. Below, you'll find our complete coverage of the event; be sure to check back as more ads are revealed in the lead up to the big day.
If you're looking for all things related to PS4, we've collected every deal announced so far for the platform--including consoles, accessories, and games--in one story. Among the highlights is a $200 PS4 bundle that comes with Marvel's Spider-Man at Target.
Those specifically hunting for a PlayStation 4 are in luck, as the console will be on sale in addition to many of its games. We'll be keeping an eye on all the ads as they come out to find out exactly where you should head for a PS4.
For a look at all things Xbox One, we've put together a roundup of every announced deal related to the system. That includes deals on consoles, games, and accessories. One of the best offers we've seen so far is a $400 Xbox One X bundle with a whopping $120 in Kohl's Cash from (you guessed it) Kohl's.
Whether you're hunting for an Xbox One S or an Xbox One X, you'll have some options this year. We're keeping track of the best offers on the consoles to help make it easy for you to pick one up.
Nintendo Switch has had a big second year on the market, and whether you're looking for discounted games or some kind of sale involving system itself, you'll have at least a limited number of options to choose from. That includes a free copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when buying the console at Target.
Fortunately for those looking to pick up a Nintendo Switch this year, there will be Black Friday deals at a number of retailers. However, many of them appear to be identical and favor a free pack-in game rather than actual discounts on the standard price.
TVs are always one of the hot-ticket items on Black Friday, and 2018 is no exception. We've rounded up all of the discounts so far and will continue to do so as they roll in.
Walmart has a huge ad full of games on sale, along with consoles and accessories. One of its best deals see Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 drop to just $40 despite its relatively recent release.
You'll find not just games on sale at Walmart, but a ton of movies and TV shows, too. Whether you're looking for DVDs or Blu-rays, you're in luck, while 4K fans can find some good films in the sub-$10 range, which is atypical.
If you're more interested in how you obtain and consume your entertainment and games, you might be in the market for a TV, streaming device, or soundbar. If that's the case, Walmart is among the places you'll find a number of cheap options.
Best Buy has some sort of sale on each of the main consoles--PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch--but its lineup of deals on individual games is frankly staggering. We've compiled the massive list of everything on sale in one place.
Alongside all of its games, Best Buy was a hide array of movies and TV shows on sale, spanning DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4Ks. In particular, there are some sweet sales for Marvel and Star Wars fans.
As is to be expected from Best Buy, a huge portion of it is dedicated to all things technology, including TVs. We've rounded up everything you can expect to see this year at the retailer.
Target was the first big store out of the gate to release its Black Friday ad early, and it included a ton of stuff of interest to game fans. You'll find a PS4 with Spider-Man for $200, among other things.
If you're interested in what Target will have to offer on the gaming front without wading through a long list, we've rounded up some recommendations on the best deals it has this year. This covers consoles (with deals on Switch, PS4, and Xbox One) and games for those systems.
Alongside its game offerings, Target's early Black Friday ad gave us a look at its many movies and TV shows that will be on sale, and it includes some great sub-$10 4K movies.
Black Friday is always a great opportunity to pick up a new TV for relatively cheap, and 4K TVs are among the variety of tech items you'll find discounted at Target.
Microsoft's retail outfit always has Black Friday deals that include Xbox One consoles, and this year is no exception. While it hasn't yet revealed offers on individual games, we know Microsoft Store is among your options for getting a $400 Xbox One X.
Kohl's doesn't sell many games, but it oftentimes has some excellent deals come Black Friday. 2018 is no exception, as it might be the best place to buy an Xbox One X.
Kohl's might primarily be a clothes retailer, but it does sell a limited number of electronics, like TVs. These are discounted in addition to netting you some Kohl's Cash.
Black Ops 4 represented a significant shift for the Call of Duty series, dumping a traditional single-player campaign and introducing a battle royale mode, Blackout. It's another game that, despite having only just been released, will be on sale come Black Friday.
Playground Games' terrific open-world driving game, Forza Horizon 4, is among the many games you'll find on sale this Black Friday. While you can play it through Xbox Game Pass, those looking to buy their own copy have numerous options.
God of War has been one of the year's standout games so far. It will be discounted this Black Friday, and thanks to the fact that it came out earlier in the year, the savings are even greater than with some of its fellow triple-A games that launched more recently.
We should have a firm idea of everything that will be on sale well in advance of Black Friday, but while we wait for all of the ads to come in, we've previewed what to expect from this year's big day. That may help you determine if you should buy something now or wait for a possible deal later this month.
Anybody can walk into a story on Black Friday or browse to a retailer's website, but there are tips and tricks to best approaching it. We've put together a guide to help you make the most of all the big sales.
It is less than a week before WWE's big fall event, Survivor Series. The PPV has the rosters of Raw and Smackdown fight each other to determine which is the dominant brand, and the vast majority of the matches will revolve around this theme.
We'll see champions fighting champions with Brock Lesnar taking on AJ Styles and Ronda Rousey battling Becky Lynch. As of this writing, there will be no titles on the line as Survivor Series is all about brand supremacy. Is Raw or Smackdown the better show? Well, Smackdown is, no matter who wins.
This event is coming to the WWE Network and PPV on Sunday, November 18. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California will host Survivor Series, which starts at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT, and while a pre-show hasn't been announced yet, we're assuming a two-hour long Kickoff Show will open up the PPV.
The card is slowly coming together, and with the card come rumors from industry insiders, fan theories, and dream concepts that will never come to fruition. We scoured the internet for all the most plausible rumors that have people talking and found that there's nothing too shocking planned for Survivor Series yet.
Below are the latest rumors for Survivor Series. We'll keep you updated if anything changes or these get confirmed prior to the PPV.
Possible Tag Team Match
Newly crowned Raw Tag Team Champions, AOP, will more than likely take on Smackdown's Tag Team Champions, The Bar. The match hasn't been announced yet, but considering all the other champions are booked in Survivor Series matches, this seems like a no brainer. However, it may be relegated to the Kickoff Show.
UPDATE: The match was added.
Full Men's Survivor Series Teams
According to PW Insider, the Raw vs. Smackdown Men's match will contain Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and Dolph Ziggler on Raw's team and Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio, The Miz, and Randy Orton on Smackdown's team. Shane McMahon and Baron Corbin will work in opposite corners as managers for the event.
Shane Heel Turn
Shane McMahon will be using his Crown Jewel World Cup win as part of a heel turn, using the "Best in the World" monicker. This is all part of a long-time plan on Smackdown, according to Wrestling Observer.
Luke Harper Injured
The Bludgeon Brother is seen wearing a cast in a photo from comedian Brad Williams. That may explain why he hasn't been on TV recently.
Why Strowman Isn't The Champ
Most WWE fans were baffled at Brock Lesnar beating Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel. However, it may be because the Monster Among Men has a bunch of heat backstage. According to Wrestling Inc, Strowman doesn't show up to work on time and has a bit of a reputation for leaving these same shows early. Additionally, he's working with some knee injuries as well, which is why he looks a little awkward running around.
Why Bliss Won't Be Wrestling At The PPV
You've probably noticed Alexa Bliss will not be competing at Survivor Series, as she's now just the captain of the Raw women's team. The reason why is because she may have had multiple concussions in a short period of time, with her last match being back on October 19, via Wrestling News. She's not 100% out, but her actually fighting at the show is extremely unlikely.
Cross-Brand Attack!
Much like last year's Survivor Series, there is a good change we could see members of Smackdown or Raw appear on the opposite shows this week, to help build some story for the Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series matches.
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, November 18 for live coverage and a review of the event.
Sony has outlined its PlayStation 4 deals coming to retail stores and the digital marketplace this month. The discounts will be good from November 18-26 in the USA, or November 22-30 in Canada. Those include discounts on system bundles, accessories like controllers and PlayStation VR, and a subscription to PlayStation Plus.
You can pick up a Spider-Man PS4 bundle for $200 US / $260 CAN, which nets you a 1TB standard PS4 system with a copy of the game from Insomniac. You can also pick up extra controllers for $40 US / $50 CAN, including some of the color variants like Blue Camouflage and Magma Red. The PlayStation VR has also been marked down to $200 / $250 CAN.
The announcement also teased a deal on a PlayStation Plus 12-month subscription, along with discounts on various games through the digital PlayStation Store from November 16-27. While it didn't mention specific prices, it did tease a discounted price on Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 coming to Plus subscribers starting today.
Black Friday is a good time to pick up some deals on games across a lot of platforms and retailers, and some sales have already started. You can check out all of those and a lot more in our growing collection of Black Friday roundups.
Microsoft has a ton of new content coming to its biggest Xbox One and PC games of 2018, and that includes State of Decay 2. During its X018 event in Mexico City, the company gave fans their first look at Undead Labs' next update for the zombie survival game: Zed Hunter.
Zed Hunter arrives as a free update for State of Decay 2 on November 16. It introduces a handful of new weapons to the game, among them the crossbow. Design director Richard Foge described the new weapon as a stealthier way to take out enemies; you're able to quietly fire bolts at zombies from a distance without drawing attention to yourself. These bolts will also stick to the environment, and you'll be able to recover them if they don't break.
In addition to the crossbow, the Zed Hunter update introduces three new "quiet" melee weapons, as well as six new consumables, some of which are based on zombie plague experiments. These will give you abilities in exchange for blood plague accumulation, such as the power to see in the dark. You can watch the reveal trailer for Zed Hunter above.
That isn't all the new content on the horizon for State of Decay 2. Foge teased that another free update is coming in early 2019. This one will let players experience new challenges and new ways of surviving with their communities. He also teased that players will be able to return to Trumbull Valley in 2019, although he wasn't able to share any more details beyond that.
Microsoft shared a ton of announcements during its X018 event. The company revealed a new mode coming to Rare's shared pirate adventure Sea of Thieves called The Arena. We also got our first look at Void Bastards, a stylish shooter from developers behind System Shock and BioShock. You can see all of the biggest news from the event in our X018 roundup.
Joining retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, Microsoft has pulled the trigger early and announced many of the deals that will be available through the Microsoft Store on Black Friday 2018. While the official date for the shopping holiday is November 23, Black Friday prices begin online at 12 AM ET November 22 / 9 PM PT November 21.
What kind of deals will we see? For starters, you'll be able to save money on Xbox One consoles. The Xbox One S Minecraft Creators Bundle will be $100 off, bringing it down to $200. If you have a 4K TV or plan to get one soon, you might be better off picking up an Xbox One X for $400 (also $100 off). Xbox One X and S bundles will be $70 off; these include pack-in games like Battlefield V, Fallout 76, NBA 2K19, and more.
If you're in the market for services and you're not already a member, you can get a one-month membership to Xbox Game Pass for $1; that deal is actually live now and will continue through Black Friday. Xbox Game Pass lets you download and play a selection of over 100 games, including all games recently published by Microsoft, like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 4. Starting November 15, new members can get a month's worth of Xbox Live Gold for $1 as well.
Treyarch has been releasing updates and patches for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 every couple of days since the game released last month, and another one is now available for the title on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This update primarily resolves some lingering stability issues in Zombies mode, although the developer has also made a few tweaks to Blackout and multiplayer modes as well.
On the Zombies side, Treyarch has addressed a handful of crashes that would occur across all maps, as well as some specific to IX, Voyage of Despair, and Blood of the Dead. In particular, the studio fixed an issue that could cause the game to crash when you're near the Mystery Box, as well as one that could occur when a zombie attacks you through a barricade. You can see the full list of fixes in the patch below and on Reddit.
In addition to the Zombies improvements, Treyarch has made a few weapon and equipment adjustments in the battle royale-like Blackout mode. Specifically, the developer has "slightly increased" damage from the Paladin HB50 "to reduce headshots required to take out an enemy equipped with Level 3 Armor and 200 Health from a Trauma Kit." Additionally, the studio has given players the ability to change stances after being hit by a concussion grenade.
Beyond all the tweaks and bug fixes, Treyarch has kicked off a new weekend event for Black Ops 4. From November 9-12, players will earn Black Market tier progression two times as fast in Blackout and multiplayer modes. Additionally, Zombies players will be able to earn twice the normal amount of Nebulium Plasma. The event is set to end on Monday at 10 AM PT / 1 PM PT.
There's still a lot more in store for Black Ops 4. Next week, Treyarch is introducing the fan-favorite Nuketown map to the game on November 13. Thanks to its timed exclusivity agreement with Sony, the map will be available first on PS4 before arriving on Xbox One and PC the following week. The developer also teases that "some major game updates" will also be coming next week. You can read more on Reddit.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 November 9 Update Patch Notes
General
All players get 2X Tier Boost in MP and Blackout, plus 2X Nebulium Plasma in Zombies through 10AM PT on Monday, Nov. 12.
Zombies
Stability
Resolved an issue that could cause the game to crash when the player is near the Mystery Box.
Resolved an issue that could cause the game to crash when a player dies or leaves the game when using the Staff of Ra Special Weapon in the Chaos Story.
Resolved an issue that could cause the game to crash when Zombies attack the player through barricades.
Voyage of Despair
Resolved an issue that could cause the game to crash when a player leaves the game while using the Svalinn Guard.
IX
Resolved an issue that could cause the game to crash when a player leaves the game during the Main Quest.
Resolved an issue where, if a player left a game while another player was contributing to their challenge, the remaining player would crash when attempting to complete the challenge.
Blood of the Dead
Resolved two issues that could cause the game to crash when a player fails, bleeds out, or leaves the game during portal events in the Main Quest.
Multiplayer
Hardcore
SMGs now have a one-hit kill potential at close range in Hardcore.
Reduced Armor protection so that all weapons will now kill in 2 hits maximum in Hardcore.
Hardcore Team Deathmatch and Hardcore Kill Confirmed now allow 2 of the same Specialist per team.
Misc.
Resolved an issue where players would not be kicked for inactivity in round-based game modes if the round ended before the kick timer.
Blackout
Weapons
Paladin HB50
Slightly increased damage to reduce headshots required to take out an enemy equipped with Level 3 Armor and 200 Health from a Trauma Kit.
Enemies were escaping these fights with 4 Health, so we're bumping the damage just enough to cover that gap.
Equipment
Concussion Grenade
Players can now change stances after being hit with a Concussion Grenade. While players will still be slowed and overall disoriented, they'll now have new opportunities to get back to the fight.
With the removal of the 9-Bang from Blackout, we've added a scaled-back white flash screen effect to the Concussion Grenade, and will monitor the performance of these balance changes closely.
Character Missions
Changed the descriptions of Character Mission Items to clarify the unlock requirements per playlist (Solo, Duos, or Quads).
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and every WWE fan knows that Survivor Series is the next PPV the sports entertainment company will hold. The next event has the superstars from Raw and Smackdown competing against each other, which is one of the two times during the year you get to see this--with the other being Money in the Bank. All of the champions from both shows will fight each other, and both Raw and Smackdown will have three different traditional Survivor Series elimination matches as well.
The PPV comes to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, November 18 with the main card starting at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT and a Kickoff Show most likely starting two hours prior. The schedule for the day of the event is not up, but major WWE events like Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and Wrestlemania tend to have a longer pre-show. You can watch both the Kickoff and main card for yourself on traditional PPV through your TV provider or on the WWE Network.
It's going to be a big evening to determine which show is the dominant brand. As of this writing, there are seven matches on the card with more than a week before the event airs. Of course, we'll see Raw's Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, take on Smackdown's WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Lesnar recently won the vacated title after a battle with Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel. This is the exact same match fans got at Survivor Series in 2017. Additionally, another former UFC fighter will also be defending her title. Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey takes on Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch.
Below, you'll find the match card for Survivor Series, but keep in mind that many of these matches are not finalized. The traditional 5-on-5 elimination matches are coming together, and below the main match card, we've listed out the competitors booked for each match, so far.
Survivor Series Match Card:
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles
Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey vs. SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
Women's Survivor Series Match*
Men's Survivor Series Match*
Tag Team Survivor Series Match*
Raw Tag Team Champions AOP vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Mustafa Ali (Cruiserweight Championship)
*=Not finalized
Women's Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
No one confirmed yet
Smackdown:
Sonya Deville
Carmella
Asuka
Naomi
Tag Team Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
No one confirmed yet
Smackdown:
The Usos
The New Day (Unknown which two of the three members will be involved.
Men's Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
Drew McIntyre
Dolph Ziggler
Braun Strowman
Smackdown:
Shane McMahon
Daniel Bryan
The Miz
Samoa Joe
Rey Mysterio
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, November 18 for live coverage and a review of Survivor Series.
Battlefield V is still about a week away from its release, but some players are able to jump into the World War II shooter a little early. Those with a subscription to either EA Access on Xbox One or Origin Access on PC can download and play Battlefield V right now.
Subscribers to either of EA's services will be able to experience up to 10 hours of the game ahead of its launch, and any progress you make during the trial period will carry over when Battlefield V officially releases. Meanwhile, members of the premium Origin Access Premiere service will get access to the full game. A standard EA Access or Origin Access subscription runs for $5 per month or $30 per year, while an Origin Access Prime subscription is available for either $15/month or $100/year.
With Battlefield V now available to many players, DICE senior producer Lars Gustavsson shared a message with fans on the game's official Twitter account. In the message, Gustavsson thanks the community for their continued support and for their hand in shaping the series into what it is today. You can read the full message below.
With the first players already deployed and playing #Battlefield , Mr. Battlefield himself has a very special message for the Best Community In The World. Here's to you, the players! pic.twitter.com/y99MjnfpIT
Battlefield V was originally intended to launch on October 19, but it was delayed by a month in order to give DICE more time to further improve the gameplay. DICE general manager Oskar Gabrielson shared a message with fans on the game's original intended release date and revealed that everyone who purchases Battlefield V during its first week of availability will receive two bonus items for free.
Like many titles nowadays, Battlefield V will be available in standard and Deluxe editions. The latter retails for $80 and grants you a handful of bonuses, including early access to the full game beginning November 14. You can read more in our Battlefield V pre-order guide.
It may be nearing the end of the year, but that's not slowing down WWE. The sports entertainment company will have its final major PPV of the year when Survivor Series comes to the WWE Network and PPV on Sunday, November 18. The show sees both Raw and Smackdown superstars facing each other in a variety of matches, most notably the traditional Survivor Series elimination match, where teams of five eliminate each other until one team is left standing.
This year's event will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The PPV begins at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT with a Kickoff Show more than likely starting two hours prior. As of this writing, the schedule on the WWE Network is not available, but Survivor Series has had a longer Kickoff than most of the other PPVs the past couple of years.
If you're looking to watch the event for yourself, you could check with your local sports bars to see if any of them are hosting the show, or you can watch it at home. There are two ways to watch Survivor Series from the comfort of your own home. You could order the PPV through your local cable or satellite provider, which averages around $50.
However, you can actually watch Survivor Series for free by signing up for the WWE Network. The streaming service is offering one month for free if you sign up now with no obligation. After the free period is up, you'll be billed $10 a month and be able to watch all of WWE's events through the service, including PPVs. However, there is no contract, so you can cancel at any time.
The WWE Network is available a variety of ways. You can use your gaming consoles, streaming devices, your computer, or certain smart TVs to access the service. Check out the full list of ways to watch the WWE Network below, but keep in mind you will have to download a WWE app to your device to access the service.
Consoles:
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox 360
Xbox One
Compatible Devices:
Mobile Devices
Amazon Kindle Fire
Android Devices
Apple iPhones & iPads
Computers ‐ PC & Mac
Windows 10 Devices
Smart TVs:
LG Smart TV
Panasonic Life+Screen Smart TV
Samsung Smart TV
Sony Internet-Connected TV
Streaming Devices:
Amazon Fire TV
Apple TV
Google Chromecast
Roku
Samsung Blu-ray Player
Sony Blu-ray Player
TiVo
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, November 18 for live coverage of Survivor Series and a review of the show.
Fortnite's 6.22 update is now live, and it brought a new weapon as well as two limited-time modes to Epic's hit game. While the Fortnitemares event may now be over in Battle Royale, the Halloween spirit carries on in one of this week's LTMs, a brand-new mode dubbed Team Terror.
Much like other team-based LTMs, Team Terror pits two teams of players (in this case, 32 vs. 32) against each other in a battle to be the last side standing. What sets it apart from previous modes, however, is the presence of Cube Monsters, the zombie-like creatures that first appeared during the aforementioned Fortnitemares event. These will spawn around the island as the match rolls on, adding a PvE element to the LTM.
Destroying Cube Monsters will cause them to drop weapons or ammo, giving you an incentive to take down any you come across. Resource and loot drop rates have also been adjusted for the new LTM. The likelihood of floor loot spawning has been increased by 15%, and farming resources have been increased by 75%. You can find more details on Team Terror in Epic's patch notes.
In addition to Team Terror, Epic brought back a previous LTM for a couple of days: Blitz. This is a much faster-paced version of a standard battle royale game; the match begins with the storm already closing in on the island, and the time between storm circles is much shorter than normal, so each match will last about 15 minutes at most. Loot is also much more plentiful in Blitz mode, further speeding the action up. Blitz has since been replaced by another returning LTM, Disco Domination.
Beyond the new LTMs, the 6.22 update introduced a new gun to the game: the Heavy Assault Rifle. It's available in Rare, Epic, and Legendary variants and can be found as floor loot or in chests, vending machines, and supply drops. Epic has also reverted the Pumpkin Launcher back to the standard Rocket Launcher and reduced the spawn rate of the new balloons.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched for 3DS back in November, marking the mainline series' swan song on Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. As it did for the original Sun and Moon versions, The Pokemon Company is continuing to support the pair in the months following their release with free items and Pokemon. The company has a lot of giveaways lined up for 2018, which it has dubbed the Year of Legendary Pokemon, though those certainly won't be the only freebies players can expect to find this year.
We've rounded up all of the free distributions currently running for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon below, many of which are also open to Sun and Moon players. We'll be updating this list as more giveaways are announced, so check back often to see what free items and Pokemon you can get. In the meantime, you can learn more about the latest Pokemon games in our rundown of everything new in Pokemon Ultra Sun And Ultra Moon. We also break down the differences between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, if you're still unsure of which version to pick up.
Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Free Gifts
Lugia/Ho-Oh - Ends Nov. 25
The Johto Legendaries Lugia and Ho-Oh are the final giveaways as part of the Year of Legendary Pokemon. Once again, players in the US will need to travel to a GameStop store to pick up a free download code for the Pokemon, and the one you receive depends on which version you're playing: those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Lugia, while Moon or Ultra Moon players will receive Ho-Oh.
Ash's Pikachu - Ends Nov. 30
From November 9-30, players can get five different version's of Ash's Pikachu for free in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Each Pikachu sports one of the different hats that Ash Ketchum has worn throughout the Pokemon anime and comes with a slightly different moveset that reflects the attacks it knew at that point in the series. All five are up for grabs via Mystery Gift; you can find the codes you need to input for each one here.
Magearna
Unlike most other gift Pokemon, the Mythical Steel/Fairy-type, Magearna, is not available through the Mystery Gift feature, but via a QR code, which is compatible with Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, you can use the QR Scanner to scan the code below. Once you've done that, visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City and pick your Magearna up from the deliveryman waiting there.
Past Gifts
Dialga/Palkia -- DONE
Kicking off the Year of Legendary Pokemon are the Space and Time Pokemon, Palkia and Dialga. The two are being distributed in the US at GameStop from February 2-28, while UK residents can pick them up from participating Game stores. The Legendary you receive will depend on which version you have: players with either Sun or Ultra Sun receive Palkia, while those playing either Moon or Ultra Moon get Dialga. You'll need to redeem your download code by May 23 to claim the Legendaries.
Regigigas/Heatran -- DONE
The Year of Legendary Pokemon continues with another pair of Legendaries originally from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas and Heatran. As before, the Pokemon you receive will depend on which seventh generation title you're playing: Sun and Ultra Sun players will get Regigigas, while those with a copy of Moon or Ultra Moon will receive Heatran.
Unlike the Dialga and Palkia distribution, The Pokemon Company is giving away the download code for Regigigas and Heatran in the March Pokemon Trainer Club newsletter, so you'll need to create a free Trainer Club Account here and opt-in to the newsletter before March 1 in order to get the code.
Entei/Raikou -- DONE
The Johto Legendary dogs Entei and Raikou are April's free gift for Pokemon players. The Pokemon are being distributed in the US via a free download code from participating Target stores, and as before, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing: those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Entei, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will receive Raikou. In Europe, the Legendaries are being distributed as a free online Mystery Gift until April 25.
Xerneas/Yveltal -- DONE
Pokemon X and Y's cover monsters, Xerneas and Yveltal, are the free Legendary Pokemon available in May. From May 4-27, US players can snag a download code for the monsters at no charge from GameStop stores, while those in the UK can grab one from Game. As usual, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you're playing: Sun and Ultra Sun players will get Yveltal, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will end up with Xerneas.
Shiny Zygarde -- DONE
The Kalos Legendary Zygarde is June's free Pokemon. Regardless of which game you own, you'll get the Order Pokemon, although its moveset will differ depending upon which version you're playing. What makes this particular Zygarde special is that it's a Shiny. Players in the US can pick up a free download code for the Legendary at GameStop from June 1-24, while those in Europe and Australia can get it via Mystery Gift over the Nintendo Network.
Tornadus/Thundurus -- DONE
Tornadus and Thundurus from Pokemon Black and White are July's free Legendary Pokemon, and as usual, the one you receive will depend on which version you're playing. Those with a copy of Sun or Ultra Sun will get Thundurus, while players who have Moon or Ultra Moon will receive Tornadus. To get the Legendaries, US residents will need to pick up a free download code at Target stores from July 13-28, while players in Europe can download the Pokemon over the Nintendo Network via Mystery Gift.
Groudon/Kyogre -- DONE
The cover monsters of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Groudon and Kyogre, are the two free Legendaries available in August. In the US, the Pokemon are being distributed via a free download code, which can be picked up at a participating GameStop store from August 3-26. As with previous giveaways, the Legendary you receive depends on which version you own; those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Kyogre, while players who have Moon or Ultra Moon will get Groudon.
Celebi -- DONE
Players who purchase either Pokemon Gold or Silver from the 3DS Eshop by September 21, 2018 will receive a bonus download code for the Mythical Pokemon Celebi. The code can be redeemed in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. We've outlined the steps you need to take to find and redeem the code here.
Latios/Latias -- DONE
September's freebies are the twin Eon Pokemon, Latios and Latias. Once again, the Legendaries are being distributed in the US at a specific retailer--this time Best Buy--from September 2-29, and the Pokemon you get depends on which version you own: Sun and Ultra Sun players will receive the more defensive Latias, while Moon and Ultra Moon players will get the more attack-oriented Latios. Players in Europe and Australia can download the Legendaries from the Nintendo Network until September 23.
Shiny Poipole -- DONE
To celebrate the release of Pokemon TCG's new Dragon Majesty expansion, The Pokemon Company is giving away a Shiny Poipole for a limited time. US players will be able to pick up a download code at GameStop stores from September 17 - October 7, while those in the UK can grab one at Smyths until October 15. Unlike a typical Poipole, this one is white and gold, and it already comes with Dragon Pulse, the move it needs to know in order to evolve into Naganadel.
Reshiram/Zekrom -- DONE
Pokemon Black and White's cover monsters, Reshiram and Zekrom, are the free Legendaries up for grabs during the month of October. Players who live in the US will need to pick up a download code from them at the electronics section of participating Target stores from October 19-28, while those in Europe and Australia can download them over the Nintendo Network from October 5-21. If you have a copy of Sun or Ultra Sun, you'll receive Zekrom, while those with Moon or Ultra Moon will get Reshiram.
Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina -- DONE
Players who have a Pokemon Bank account can receive the final forms of all three Alola starters--Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina--as a free bonus for using the cloud storage service. What sets these three Pokemon apart from the ones you can obtain in-game is that they each come with their Hidden Abilities, which aren't typically available through normal play. You'll receive a notification about the gifts the next time you access Pokemon Bank, and they can be picked up in your game of choice from the deliveryman waiting in any Pokemon Center.
Zeraora -- DONE
Players will have their first chance to get Zeraora, the new Mythical Pokemon debuting in Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us, from October 19 - November 9. The Thunderclap Pokemon is being distributed via a download code at various retailers; those in the US can pick up a code at GameStop, while UK residents will be able to get one at Game stores. The Pokemon is level 50 and comes equipped with an Air Balloon, which allows it to avoid Ground-type attacks during battle until the balloon is popped.
Fortnite dances have become a mainstay of sporting events since the title exploded in popularity, so it seems only fitting to see a real-world sport invade the battle royale game. Developer Epic Games has announced it is partnering with the NFL to offer a new set of football skins in Fortnite based on real-world jerseys, and they're set to arrive very soon, following the latest update. [Update: The Four Down NFL skins are now available in Fortnite's in-game store.]
Starting Friday, November 9, you'll be able to buy NFL outfits from Fortnite's in-game store. Epic hasn't announced pricing details for the new skins, but you can choose between uniforms of all 32 teams in the NFL. Epic says you'll also be able to customize your jersey with any number from 0-99. The skins will be available in the store beginning at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET.
The NFL outfits aren't the only new items on the way to the game this week. Fortnite's in-game News feed is teasing that a new weapon--the Heavy Assault Rifle--is "coming soon" to the title. Epic hasn't announced when the new gun will be added, but it will presumably arrive as part of this week's Fortnite patch.
A lot of other things have been transpiring in Fortnite recently, most notably the major world-changing one-time event that took place in the game on November 4. At the end of the Halloween-themed Fortnitemares event, the mysterious purple cube that has been a fixture of the game since it first appeared toward the end of Season 5 exploded, sending players to a strange realm of light.
Once players were transported back to the island, they noticed that the vortex that was in the middle of Loot Lake has now been replaced by a strange Stonehenge-like monument. Epic has also rolled out a set of Li'l Kev challenges--named after the community's nickname for the purple cube--that will give you the chance to unlock the new Li'l Kev back bling.
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