Fortnite has long since surpassed its inspiration, PUBG, going on to become the rare sensation that transcends the level of popularity that even the most popular games typically see. But it's faced some serious new competition to start out 2019 with the release of Apex Legends, an excellent take on the battle royale genre from Titanfall developer Respawn Entertainment. Epic Games wants you to know Fortnite is just fine, though.
With much being made about the player figures Apex has amassed since its release--more than 25 million players and a peak concurrent count of 2 million in its first week--there has been speculation that this success will surely cut into that of Fortnite. Seemingly in response to this, Epic has released some updated figures of its own, revealing Fortnite had its best day ever in terms of peak concurrent players (meaning the number of players online simultaneously) earlier this month.
During the DJ Marshmello concert on February 2, Fortnite had 10.7 million players, the game's biggest day ever. It followed that up more recently with 7.6 million players on February 16, which Epic says was the game's best non-event day ever.
This would all suggest that Fortnite is not struggling due to Apex. Certainly, numerous other game companies have--in the interest of alleviating investors' fears--stated that Fortnite is growing the market, rather than simply stealing players from other games. They'd likely claim the same is true of Apex, which will continue to grow with its first-ever Battle Pass in March and the recently added Havoc gun.
That said, there is a caveat to keep in mind. Epic recently announced that you can earn the upcoming Season 8 Battle Pass for free by completing new Overtime challenges right now. Some saw this move as an attempt to stop bleeding players drawn to Apex by giving them the opportunity to avoid having to drop about $10 (or spending previously earned V-Bucks) to gain access to exclusive challenges and rewards during Season 8. That record day on February 16 was the first Saturday during which the Overtime challenges were available, and it seems fair to assume the Battle Pass freebie played a major role in that big day.
Whatever the rationale behind giving away the Battle Pass for free, it seems clear that it's having the intended effect. And however big Apex may grow, don't expect Fortnite to go anywhere in the near future.
While the story of the Crane family on Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House--GameSpot's favorite show of 2018--may be over, the show will go on. Netflix has announced a second season of what they're calling an "anthology series," as well as the scary story it's going to tackle next.
The Haunting of Bly Manor is what Season 2 will be known as, taking inspiration from The Turn of the Screw, a horror novella by Henry James. The work from 1898 tells the story of a governess watching over two orphans in a massive and creepy old mansion. In what should come as a surprise to nobody who saw the first season of the show, this house is also believed to be haunted. However, just as Hill House examined whether members of the Crane family suffered from mental illness or were being tormented by supernatural entities, the woman in The Turn of the Screw also wonders if she's simply going insane.
The next season of Haunting will be part of a new overall deal with series creators Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy. The duo, who are also putting the finishing touches on Dr. Sleep--a sequel to The Shining due in theaters in November--will continue making shows for Netflix beyond more installments of Haunting.
"Netflix has been an important part of our story, and we're proud to have worked with them on The Haunting of Hill House, not to mention Gerald's Game, Hush, and Before I Wake." they said in a statement. "They've enabled and supported a great deal of our work and we look forward to much more."
A new Haunting is coming. Can you guess where it takes place? Listen closely... pic.twitter.com/vqzrd3z4NZ
Now for the bad news. A teaser for The Haunting of Bly Manor revealed a 2020 arrival, meaning you are going to have a while to wait before getting to devour that series. And, sadly, you shouldn't get your hopes up about seeing your favorite Hill House characters return. That said, there's no telling if any members of the cast will return in new roles. Spookier things have happened.
PC players can now claim another free title from the Epic Games Store. From now until March 7, the retro-style point-and-click adventure Thimbleweed Park is up for grabs. Like other freebies from the storefront, the title will be yours to keep and play forever once you claim it.
To grab your copy of Thimbleweed Park, simply create an Epic account on the company's store page, sign in, and then download the game. Epic regularly offers free titles through the storefront, so it's worth keeping your account and checking back regularly to pick up the freebies.
Thimbleweed Park originally released in 2017. Designed by famed Maniac Mansion creators Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, the game is a satire of the television series Twin Peaks, The X-Files, and True Detective. It also features retro-styled pixel visuals and five playable characters that players can switch between during the course of the adventure.
"Thimbleweed Park is a time capsule that reminds us what we love about the point-and-click genre while still retaining many of its unremedied issues," critic Matt Espineli wrote in GameSpot's review. "Its amusing open world is packed with infectious personalities and clever puzzles that magnify the joy of its experiences. And its efforts to shift beyond the template of its predecessors and contemporaries make it surprisingly affecting, especially if you're a longtime devotee of point-and-click adventures."
Epic offers a new free game through its store every two weeks. The next one players will be able to pick up is Slime Rancher, which will be available from March 7-21.
Pokemon Go players have a chance to catch a couple of rare Pokemon this weekend. In addition to the Clamperl Limited Research event scheduled to take place on Saturday, Niantic has also announced a special Raid Weekend, which will give trainers another opportunity to capture the Gen 3 Legendary Latias.
From February 22-25, the Eon Pokemon will make an encore appearance in Raid Battles around the world. Moreover, Niantic says you'll have a chance of coming across a Shiny Latias--if you're lucky--during this special Raid Weekend event.
Latias first appeared in Pokemon Go last May alongside its twin, Latios. Niantic says the blue Eon Pokemon will also return for a special Raid Weekend "at a later date," although it hasn't yet specified when. You can read more details about this weekend's event on the official Pokemon Go website.
The aforementioned Limited Research event takes place on February 23. Much like a Community Day, it will only run for three hours, during which time players will be able to receive special Field Research tasks from PokeStops. These will culminate in an encounter with the never-before-available Pokemon Clamperl, which can evolve into either Huntail or Gorebyss.
On top of that, Niantic is holding a special Meltan event in Go. Until March 4, players will have a chance of encountering a Shiny Meltan when opening the Mystery Box. The Gen 4 Legendary Palkia can also still be found in Raid Battles until February 28.
Anthem has been available in early access since February 15, but now BioWare is preparing for the official wide release. The company announced just when the game will unlock for those who have preloaded it, and it will be a rolling start. The official account tweeted that the game will go live on February 22 by midnight in each local time zone. The phrasing leaves open the possibility that some time zones may be able to play earlier.
The progressive rollout may help stave off some launch day troubles that tend to hit online games when players log on en masse. Even the Anthem VIP demo suffered server outages for a short time. But Anthem has already been running relatively smoothly among those with early access.
Origin Access subscribers on PC and EA Access subscribers on Xbox One have both had access to a ten-hour trial, with progress that will carry over into the main game. Origin Access Premier members have unlimited play instead of the trial period. PlayStation 4 owners have no Access program, though that may change soon.
BioWare also just rolled out an extensive day-one patch, fixing up several issues and making improvements before the game becomes widely available. Those include changes to crashing or infinite loading bugs, clearer UI, and other changes.
"Anthem has good ideas, but it struggles significantly with the execution," Kallie Plagge wrote in GameSpot's Anthem review. "It's a co-op game that works best with no one talking; it buries genuinely interesting character moments and puts its most incomprehensible story bits at the forefront; its combat is exciting until you get to the boss fights and find your wings have been clipped. Even the simple, exhilarating act of flying is frequently interrupted by the limitations of your javelin, and you never quite shake that feeling of disappointment--of knowing, throughout the good parts of Anthem, that you'll inevitably come crashing back down."
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have gone through many different forms since their debut in the Mirage Studios comic book series in 1984. And each time there's a new round of TMNT products, the turtles evolve a little bit. Now, in 2019, Playmates has a new toy line based on the newest TMNT TV series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
At Toy Fair in New York, Playmates unveiled the latest set of TMNT figures. It was a pretty hefty reveal, as you can see below. In this upcoming Spring/Fall 2019 line, the 3.25"-5" figures will cost $9 each and they all come with their own accessories to fight some crime.
From left to right: Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, Splinter, and April. However, no TMNT set would be complete without secondary characters and villains for the turtles to beat up. Here is what Playmates has planned for 2019.
From left to right: Foot Lieutenant, Origami Ninja, Meat Sweats, Bull Hop, Baron Draxum, and Albearto. These villains are specific to the 2018 animated series, so fans of the classic TMNT cartoon from the '80s may not recognize them. However, you cannot deny the fact that Meat Sweats is the greatest name for a secondary villain in TMNT history--sorry Rat King.
There were plenty of reveals at Toy Fair last weekend, from Funko to video game action figures to lightsabers you can hit your friends with. Check out the stories below for GameSpot's coverage of the event.
Following a partial leak of the upcoming Anthem update, BioWare has released a more extensive list of patch notes and released the update. This "day one patch" will be waiting for players who buy the game on its wide release day, but it's coming several days into the early access period.
BioWare released the official notes on Reddit. While the original list was lengthy, the new one is even more extensive. It lists more than a dozen new changes, along with minor updates and revisions of some of the tweaks that were already on the list. As before, the high-level fixes focus on load times, crash and loading bugs, and challenge tracking. Other improvements include changes to Strongholds, crafting, the UI, and much more.
Anthem went live on Friday, February 15, for players with EA Access on Xbox One or Origin Access on PC. Both offer a 10-hour trial, and Origin Access Premier granted unlimited access. Those players have been experiencing the game without these improvements for almost a week. The full game will go live at midnight on Friday, February 22, in your local time zone.
"Anthem has good ideas, but it struggles significantly with the execution," critic Kallie Plagge said in GameSpot's Anthem review. "It's a co-op game that works best with no one talking; it buries genuinely interesting character moments and puts its most incomprehensible story bits at the forefront; its combat is exciting until you get to the boss fights and find your wings have been clipped. Even the simple, exhilarating act of flying is frequently interrupted by the limitations of your javelin, and you never quite shake that feeling of disappointment--of knowing, throughout the good parts of Anthem, that you'll inevitably come crashing back down."
A number of issues have been fixed that were causing players to disconnect or crash
Weapons and gear now have numbers present for modifiers
General Fixes and Improvements
Loot Reveal and Expedition Summary now correctly play during the end of expedition screen.
The gather party mechanic has been made more lenient in a number of situations
At the end of expedition screen players will no longer get stuck on "Recording Victories" or "Skipping All".
Game no longer hangs in Javelin menu when unlocking the second, third or fourth javelin
During the mission "What Freelancers Do" dying after killing Junkmaw & freeing Arcanists leaves you unable to progress, this has been fixed
Challenges now unlock for players at the correct levels
Fixed some camera issues during cutscenes
Legendary Contracts can now be accepted from the Social Hub contract board
Some enemies have had their shield values decreased
Loot now properly drops for players who are downed
The texture quality on the NPC Prospero has been improved
Final boss of strongholds now drop loot instead of only being shown on the end of expedition screen
Fixed the time outs on echoes and relics to prevent griefing and to handle disconnections properly
Players can no longer fall through the floor during the 3rd trial in the Fortress of Dawn
Completing the tutorial expedition will now show the correct Ranger appearance
After disconnecting, rejoining an expedition will now place you back into a squad if you were in one previously
Corrected an issue where players could not interact with each other in the launch bay in certain circumstances
Corrected an issue during the Mission "Bad Deal" where outlaws won't spawn, blocking progress
The start of expedition screen has been improved
Addressed a variety of situations where killing enemies does not properly progress world events
Opening a chest now increments Tomb of the Legionnaire progress for all squad members present
Scar snipers can no longer shoot through Storm Shield
Corrected an issue where players would get stuck on the end of expedition screen in some situations
Players will no longer get disconnected if joining the "Finding Old Friends" mission while the cinematic is playing
Addressed a number of situations where players can get stuck on the environment in the launch bay
Increased the damage of the electric status effect
Corrected an issue where the Shield of Dawn could be crafted with less materials then intended in some situations
The Platinum Mission feat now grants completion as intended
Status effects can more reliably be applied to Titans
Fixed loading animations on Marksmen Rifles
Players can now access the Vault from the Forge
Swimming into jellyfish underwater no longer leaves a visual effect stuck on players.
Idle animations will no longer sync up over time in the Launch Bay
Haluk is no longer dual-wielding canes in the epilogue scene
Corrected an issue where players could not interact with each other in the launch bay in certain circumstances
Fixed an issue that could cause players in the launch bay to have identical emotes and be unable to use them
Interceptor melee ability animations will no longer stretch out in certain situations
Corrected an issue where the default Ranger appearance doesn't preview in the forge in some situations
All animations now play as intended in the Forge
Players can now enter the Tomb of Gwanes while in a party
The default Javelin wear state has been changed from "Dirty" to "Old"
Sentinel Loyalty 2 text no longer incorrectly states that it will lead to a larger vault
Picking up ammo from the ground now properly gives you 30% of that ammo back into both the current magazine and the maximum spare ammo
Fixed a bug where some global (Javelin Icon) inscription bonuses were not being properly applied to the Javelin and other gear/weapons.
Fixed some issues that could cause the Armor Pip count on the UI to break and not display properly
Strongholds
Fixed an issue that would cause a Stronghold server crash after defeating the last boss
Temple of Scar - Players can no longer get stuck in the mined tunnel in the explosives room
Temple of Scar - Players can no longer be blocked from entering the explosives room due to fog wall
Fixed Tyrant Mine so people that join the stronghold in-progress do not end up locked away from their team
Adjusted lighting in Tyrant Mine underwater section to make it easier to navigate to the exit
The Swarm Tyrant will no longer get stuck in the side cave entrances in some situations
Corrected an issue where players would spawn into different areas of the Tyrant Mine in certain situations
Implemented more safeguards to stop players from going AFK in Strongholds
Challenges
Only Masterwork items can now be used to progress Masterwork challenges as intended
Corrected an issue where some Challenges track progress simultaneously instead of incrementally, as intended. (ex: Blast Missile I and then Blast Missile II instead of both incrementing at the same time
Gear and Weapons
After having 1st pilot unlock suit after tutorials, creating a new pilot and going to forge no longer causes load screen hang
Ice damage bonuses are now correctly applied on ice gear
Suit-wide bonuses from inscription are now functioning properly
Players can no longer salvage equipped items
Javelin specific gear and/or weapons are no longer able to be used on javelins they aren't intended for
Corrected an issue where in some circumstances Masterwork Components do not have any inscriptions
The Endless Siege Masterwork Autocannon no longer displays a damage increase of 0% in its tooltip
Suit-wide specific weapon ammo bonuses coming from infusions are now correctly applied
A Network Error Message no longer appears when opening an item chest in the second tutorial
Colossus shoulder gear will now share the appearance of the rest of the javelin as intended
Deadeye has increased spare ammo 10 -> 20
Cloudburst has had increased damage 16.3 -> 21
Torrent has had increased damage 22.2 -> 28.6
Lightning Strike's pre-visualization will now accurately depict that the explosion snaps to the ground.
(Ranger) Inferno Grenade base damage 130 -> 175
(Interceptor) Cryo Glaive base damage 20 -> 50
(Storm) Living Flame base damage 50 -> 60
(Storm) Glacial Beam base damage 150 -> 120
(Storm) Arc Burst secondary damage 100 -> 150
(Ranger) Pulse Blast base damage 225 -> 300, and now deals extra damage to Shields (previously did extra damage to Armored).
(Ranger) Blast Missile now properly scales up in damage as the item level increases
(Interceptor) Melee attacks now have some minor resistance penetration
Large Area of Effect abilities will better register multi-kill activities for challenges and medals
Spark Dash functionality has been significantly improved when the target enemy is at a different height (above/below) the Interceptor.
Several gear pieces that had missing primer or detonator icons have been fixed.
Interceptor
Tempest Strike - Detonator Icon
Spark Dash - Detonator Icon
Venom Spray - Primer Icon
Detonating Strike - Primer Icon
Colossus
Lightning Coil - Detonator Icon
Shock Coil - Primer Icon
Flamethrower - Primer Icon
Several improvements have been made to ensure gear use on PC prioritizes turning the Javelin towards the reticle when used rather than casting in front of the Javelin's current direction.
Javelins
The Colossus javelin is now able to activate its shield more quickly after using an ability or firing a weapon
The Storm javelin now reacts to getting hit when its shields are up
Fixed an exploit that allowed the Storm's ultimate attack to be used more times than intended
The Colossus exo can now shield and revive at the same time
Interceptor Combo Aura has been increased in power and now has a damage over time component
Ranger melee now has a cooldown when striking in the air
The Target Beacon ability now correctly seeks targets
Spark Dash and Venom Spray now target based on player cursor instead of character facing. This should also improve the travel path of Spark Dash.
The Colossus will no longer be knocked out of the sky in some situations when the attack was blocked by their shield
Combos + Status Effects
Combo indicator icons above creatures now are correctly removed when detonated.
When a Storm detonates an electric status effect the chained electric effect now correctly deals damage.
Combo damage now penetrates resistances
Crafting
Non-Masterwork materials purchased from the crafting store now show as their proper rarity instead of incorrectly showing as Masterwork
A number of javelin components that had different icons for their recipes and the actual items are now the same
The Battle Cry gear recipe now has the correct description
Fixed Spark Beam gear having the wrong description when being crafted
Crafting recipes are now sorted alphabetically
The items in the crafting store are now sorted by type to be clearer
Controls
Additional Mouse and Keyboard control improvements have been made
UI
Some conversations were not popping up the reputation points post conversation completion, this has been fixed
The squad screen now displays the correct information for each player
Fixed a number of issues where subtitles will no longer get stuck on the screen after dialogue has finished as often
Settings should no longer reset upon exiting and restarting the game on Xbox One
Motion blur can now correctly be turned off
The Electric Status Effect now shows scaled damage properly
An option has been added to hide the Squad Member HUD
The edge of the compass will now pulse to indicate enemy locations
A notification has been added in Fort Tarsis if a player's vault is at the cap of 250 items
On the "Repair the Strider" step of "A Cry for Help" the search radar has been adjusted to correctly lead the player to all 4 tools
Primer and Detonator icons have been added to all Interceptor gear
Corrected a user interface issue where a player's ultimate would show as available when it isn't
Toggling the HDR option now properly prompts the Apply Changes button
Player banners should now display correctly
Camera shake slider has been added to settings menu
Players may now track 10 challenges instead of 5
An option to adjust screen boundaries on consoles has been added
Changing a player banner through the banner menu now properly saves the selection
Health, cooldowns, and key bindings now light up on supported keyboards
Players will now receive more clear messaging when a squad is disbanded or are kicked from a squad
Squad leaders will no longer always show as ready
The icon for players in a downed state will no longer appear in cutscenes
Cypher Annotations will now appear for more than one player if they are looking at it simultaneously
Removed mentions of respawning on the player UI when they die in a restricted respawn area
The Player Banner now updates immediately when updated from the squad screen
Fixed a number of situations where a combo will trigger but no combo floating text appears
Pressing esc to pass a notification screen no longer opens up the in-game menu
Quick chat messages will no longer appear from an ignored player
Removed a message from the mailbox which incorrectly stated that messages will be removed after 3 days
A number of inscription icons have been updated to properly reflect whether they are Javelin specific or not
Corrected an issue where players could not change loadout names on PC
Players no longer need to exit and re-enter the forge for loadout names to update
The on-screen VOIP indicator which shows a player speaking will no longer be active if that player is muted
The January sales are over, new games are coming out, and everything's expensive again. But wait! A big new sale has appeared on the PlayStation Store in Europe, discounting plenty of great PS4 games.
Elsewhere, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is available for 35% off at £39, while Grand Theft Auto V's Premium Online Edition is down to £13. The sale also has an extensive list of games available for under a tenner--take a look at the full list of games on sale over at the PlayStation Blog.
February's free PS Plus games are also available now. This is the last month you'll be able to pick up PS3 and PS Vita games for no extra cost, but those platforms are at least going out with a bang: Divekick and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots are the final PS3 PS Plus games, along with Gunhouse and Rogue Aces for PS Vita. Divekick also has cross-buy with Vita, and both of the Vita titles have cross-buy with PS4. Finally, February's PS Plus games for PS4 are For Honor and the 2016 reboot of Hitman.
Media Molecule's Dreams for PS4 has been in the works for a number of years, but until now the closest we had to a release date was merely a vague "2019." Now, the developer has confirmed Dreams will launch in early access this spring.
"Early access won't have everything that the full version of Dreams will, but you'll get 100% of the same Dreams tools that we have used every day at Media Molecule to make our content," wrote the company's director, Siobhan Reddy, on the PlayStation Blog. "As well as fun, deep interactive tutorials catering for all skill sets and levels, and Media Molecule crafted arcade games ready to play and remix. If you joined us during the beta period, you'll also have your beta creations to return to. Along the way, we'll be adding more features, tutorials, arcade levels, and assets during the early access period as we build towards the full slate of launch content."
Reddy goes on to confirm Dreams' early access version is a limited release, meaning Sony will take the game off sale once a certain number of copies have been shifted. This, Reddy says, is to ensure Media Molecule can adequately listen and respond to player feedback.
The early access edition will launch on the PlayStation Store this spring for US $30 / €30, with UK and AU pricing yet to be announced. A precise release date for the early access version has also not been confirmed, while we are no closer to knowing the release window for the game's final version.
Tetris 99 was a surprise reveal during Nintendo's recent Switch Direct presentation. It's Tetris's take on the battle royale genre, as 99 people battle it out to be the last brick-layer standing.
As it's an online multiplayer game, you'll need a Switch Online membership to play, however the game itself is free-to-play. As with last year's Tetris Effect, it's an interesting new twist on a series that's been around for nearly as long as gaming itself. However the question remains: is it any good?
Our critic, Peter Brown, certainly thinks so, as he awarded the game an 8/10 in our Tetris 99 review. For more reviewers' opinions, read on below; alternatively, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic for the full picture on Tetris 99's critical reception.
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Tetris 99 may not be a proper battle royale game, but it taps into the same emotional well, where a large number of players vying for supremacy creates an ever-present intensity that's difficult to shake. Add that layer to a game that's plenty capable of instilling tension on its own, and you've got a riveting experience that even at its worst is still a game very much worth playing. There's obvious room for improvement, but that's the last thing on your mind when the pieces start falling and the players start dropping." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 8.5/10
"Tetris 99 is a maniacally intense battle royale that forces you to make strategic decisions beyond just where to drop your next piece. This is Tetris on steroids, where a good run can quickly turn into a disaster and a bad run can turn into a surprising comeback. There's a lot of luck involved, which can lead to some unfair-feeling knockouts, but it's quick and easy to jump back in. This nerve-wracking and utterly delightful take on one of the greatest games of all time feels perfect on Switch, and on its own it justifies the $20 annual cost of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription." -- Steven Petite [Full review]
Nintendo Life -- 9/10
"The complete oddball of the family, Tetris 99 offers a truly unique way to play the tried-and-tested classic, even if the overall package feels a little lightweight. Playing live against 98 others is chaotic, and the action feels fast, precise, and wonderfully addictive. It's seriously difficult, too--we'd fancy our chances in Fortnite over this any day--and we're impressed with the fact that it's forced us to play the game with a completely different approach to our usual slow-and-steady ways. Signing up for Nintendo Switch Online just to play this game might be a bit of a stretch, but if you're already a member, what are you waiting for? It's free, and it might just become your next favourite time sink." -- Ryan Craddock [Full review]
Pocket Gamer -- 4/5
"Tetris 99 is chaotic, ridiculous, and a little barebones, but it's also a damn good game of Tetris." -- Ric Cowley [Full review]
Combining character abilities with those of your squad is one of the key ways to get ahead in Apex Legends. Each of the fighters in Respawn Entertainment's battle royale shooter is geared toward a specific role on a squad, and utilizing how they complement one another can make you an effective unit. Knowing your role on a team and in a match, and picking the right character to go with your play style, is all part of the being successful in Apex Legends.
Players who like to take the fight to the enemy might want to check out Bloodhound. The Technological Tracker character's abilities are all about hunting down and locating the enemy, and used by a smart team, the information Bloodhound provides can change the outcome of just about any fight--especially when paired with teammates who can take away the enemy's ability to see.
Bloodhound is the only tracker character currently in the Apex roster, which gives them the unique role on a team of helping to find enemies to fight. As such, Bloodhound's a good choice if you're an aggressive player who likes to mix it up. Their abilities are all about getting you closer to enemy teams so you can take them down, and they team very well with characters like Bangalore and Caustic who can put their own capabilities to use for setting up ambushes or blinding enemy teammates.
Playing as Bloodhound is a communication-heavy role--since you're the one with all the information about where enemies have gone and where they might be, it's on you to share it with your teammates to ensure you'll prevail in the inevitable fights. Bringing all the information you can gather to bear against another team can help your squad maintain an advantage, take enemies by surprise, and win more fights. It's tempting to use Bloodhound like a lone wolf who can see through walls and stalk prey, but you'll always be stronger with the rest of your pack.
Bloodhound's Abilities
Passive Ability: Tracker
As Bloodhound, you're going to want to pay a lot of attention to your surroundings. Your passive ability shows tracks from other players, allowing you to figure out where they've been and, potentially, where they're going. You'll also get a sense of how old the tracks are, which can let you know if you're already close to another team before they spot you.
Tactical Ability: Eye of the Allfather
Bloodhound's tactical ability is kind of like a sonar ping, giving you a brief look into an area and through walls to pick up on any enemies, traps, and clues in the area. It's a great way to check out your immediate surroundings as you enter somewhere new, but be warned that anyone can see the orange energy wave of your ping when you fire it--including opposing players.
Ultimate Ability: Beast of the Hunt
It takes a second to execute, but Bloodhound's ultimate is worth the wait. It more or less turns you into a killing machine, changing the look of the world so that it's black and white while highlighting enemies in red--even through walls. It also enhances your speed, making it possible to quickly close in on enemies and attack them in dangerous situations.
Tips For Playing As Bloodhound
Bloodhound is all about information. Playing as a tracker allows you to see who's been where and when, giving you a bunch of knowledge about other teams' movements. The clues you can see, which indicate where an enemy has gone and what they've interacted with, include color-coded timers so you can tell how long ago someone passed through: if the clue is red, someone is probably nearby. You can also pick up clues at range with scopes, so pay attention to your environment and soak up all the information you can get. Be sure to share what you learn with your team, as they're relying on you to lead them on the hunt.
Eye of the Allfather is great for getting a sense of what you're walking into as you enter a new area, and it's worth using it basically all the time if you're not 100-percent sure you're alone in an area. It can let you see enemies through walls and give you better clues as to where players have passed--and positional knowledge is often the difference in a fight. Other teams might see your Eye of the Allfather wave and pick up on your presence, but the knowledge gained about enemy locations is usually worth the sacrifice.
If you're about to get into a fight and you can use it, pop Bloodhound's Beast of the Hunt ultimate. It gives you a significant edge in battle, making you quicker and highlighting enemies to make aiming easier. The highlights will also give you a sense of range on an enemy, indicated by the color red enemies appear in. Bloodhound is also great paired with Bangalore or Caustic, since you'll be able to see through smoke and gas to shoot at enemies that others can't target, and who should struggle to target you.
You can also use Beast of the Hunt for its speed boost to escape the ring and to close the distance between you and an enemy squad. Keep in mind that you're faster and therefore tougher to hit, and use that to your advantage. Try flanking enemies and getting in close when you can, while also drawing fire away from teammates who can't get out of the line of fire as quickly.
Bloodhound's abilities have a relatively short range in general, making them a good mid- to close-range fighter. Your Eye of the Allfather and Beast of the Hunt abilities are a lot less useful from far away or while sniping, so keep that in mind as you choose your weapons and cross open ground.
Former EA executive vice president of worldwide studios Patrick Soderlund has announced his indie studio, titled Embark, is beginning development on its first game. In a blog post, Soderlund detailed the type of game Embark is working on.
"Lots about this first game of ours will change and evolve as we progress," Soderlund wrote. "With that caveat out of the way, I can tell you that it's a cooperative free-to-play action game set in a distant future, about overcoming seemingly impossible odds by working together." Embark is using Epic's Unreal Engine to develop the game.
Soderlund left EA in August 2018, but not before playing a key role in the company's development of the Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront franchises, including Battlefield V and Battlefront II. "From his early vision for Frostbite, which has now become a cornerstone for our technology strategy, to being a champion for Players First experiences, Patrick has always ensured we put creative at the center of everything we do," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said when announcing Soderlund's departure.
After Soderlund's departure, there was an internal shakeup within EA, and the company announced a renewed focus for how players consumed its games. "We're deepening our focus on user experience, and welcoming Jason Wozencroft to our studios to lead a strong, unified UX approach for our games and services," Wilson said. "And with new games and content playing a vital role in our networked future, the EA Originals and EA Partners teams led by Rob Letts will join our Strategic Growth group."
Bethesda has released another update for Fallout 76. This week's patch--version 1.0.6.0 across platforms--is now live on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it makes another assortment of gameplay tweaks and bug fixes to the online RPG.
The new patch weighs in at approximately 4.5 GB on consoles and 3.5 GB on PC. Among other things, Bethesda has once again increased players' maximum stash size, this time to 800 pounds (up from 600). The developer has also made it easier to contest ownership of another player's Workshop; you can now do so from anywhere within its build area.
Additionally, Bethesda has made a few adjustments to the game's Wanted system; now you must completely destroy objects either in another player's CAMP or Workshop to earn a Wanted status. The developer says this change "should reduce cases of accidental crime."
Beyond that, Bethesda has increased the time between Scorchbeast Sonic Screams, giving players a slightly longer reprieve between attacks. Bethesda says it has been looking over "lots" of feedback regarding the monsters and plans to make further balance adjustments to them.
Rounding out the update is another long list of bug fixes. You can read the full patch notes, courtesy of Bethesda's website, below.
Bethesda still has many more updates planned for Fallout 76. Among other things, the studio is working on a more competitive Survival PvP mode that removes the restrictions currently around the game's PvP encounters. Bethesda hasn't said exactly when this mode will go live, but the studio plans to release it in beta sometime in March.
Server Maintenance: As we work on world servers that have been running for a long time and hitting some lag issues, we'll be performing maintenance on those servers more frequently. You may receive an in-game message alerting you to this maintenance when it occurs, and you may be asked to join another world. This should improve the play experience for everyone during your adventures in Appalachia.
BALANCE AND DESIGN
Power Armor: The amount of springs required to craft and repair level 25, 35, and 45 Excavator Power Armor Legs has been significantly reduced.
Weapons: Flare Guns have been removed from the legendary weapon list, as they can't benefit from legendary mods.
C.A.M.P., CRAFTING, AND WORKSHOPS
Stash Limit: The storage limit for the stash has been increased from 600 to 800 pounds.
Dev Note: We've been reading your feedback that the current stash limit of 600 lbs could use an additional increase, and after some investigation found that we could offer some more storage space in the Stash.
C.A.M.P. Placement: If a player's current C.A.M.P. location is occupied upon joining a world, a message will now display which gives them option to stay in the current world or attempt to join a new one.
If the player chooses to find another world, they will be removed from the current world and matchmaking will attempt to place them in a new one.
This process can be repeated if the player's C.A.M.P. location happens to also be occupied in the new world.
Workshops: Players no longer need to interact with claimed Workshops directly to contest ownership, and Workshops can now be contested and captured from anywhere within the build area.
Dev Note: The ability to contest a claimed Workshop is intended and encouraged behavior as part of Workshop design. This change should prevent situations where a Workshop owner could prevent others from attempting to contest it without becoming Wanted by destroying something or picking a lock to reach the Workshop.
ENEMIES
Scorchbeasts: Increased the timer between successive Sonic Scream volleys to 10 seconds for Scorchbeasts and the Scorchbeast Queen in order to reduce the frequency of these attacks.
Dev Note: This change should help players have some more time to react between Sonic Scream volleys. We've also been reading lots of feedback about Scorchbeasts in general that the community has been sharing, and we're looking into further improvements and balance changes we can bring to them in the future.
PVP
Wanted: Damaging a C.A.M.P. or workshop object created by another player no longer causes the attacker to become Wanted. The object must now be completely destroyed by the attacker in order to flag them as Wanted.
Dev Note: We've received feedback from players who felt that it was too easy to become Wanted accidentally by damaging others' C.A.M.P. and Workshop objects. We agree and made this change to help limit cases where a stray bullet could result in a bounty on your head.
SOUND
Sound Effects: Pulling the pin on a grenade to prime it before throwing now play audible sound effects for nearby players.
Map: Sound effects now play when placing or moving custom Map markers.
USER INTERFACE
Player Icons: Hovering over a player's name on the Map will now display their current player icon.
Player Icons: Hovering over an owned Workshop on the Map will now display the current owner's player icon.
Turrets: Viewing a Turret placed by another player in their C.A.M.P. or at a Workshop will now display the owner's name and player icon in the Turret's nameplate.
Voice Chat: The color of Voice Chat speaker icons on player nameplates now update based on that player's current status: Neutral players display a pale-yellow icon, Allies display gold, and Hostile and Wanted display red.
BUG FIXES
PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY
Loading: Addressed an issue that could cause controls to lock up if the player opened the Pip-Boy immediately after encountering a loading screen.
Loading: Fixed an issue that could cause the player to encounter an infinite loading screen if they quit to the main menu immediately after joining a world.
Loading: Fixed an issue on PC that could result in an infinite loading screen if multiple players on a team joined a world simultaneously.
Loading: Fixed an issue that could cause a player to encounter an infinite loading screen due to an inventory discrepancy.
Performance: Addressed an issue that could cause hitching while scrapping items.
Performance: Attempting to craft many items at very high speed will now result in a delay of up to 1 second between subsequent crafting attempts after the first few. This was done to help improve server performance and should not affect normal crafting.
Performance: Addressed an issue that could impact server performance when scrapping a large number of items in rapid succession.
Performance: Addressed an issue that could cause reduced framerates when many players were firing weapons simultaneously in the same area.
Stability: Addressed a crash that could occur when interacting with a Power Armor Station while wearing Power Armor.
ART AND GRAPHICS
Apparel: Hair no longer clips through the Nuka-Girl Rocketsuit helmet.
Apparel: Underarmor no longer remains visible while wearing the Silver Shroud costume.
Emotes: Fixed an issue causing reduced framerates during the Snowball Fight! Emote's animation.
Enemies: Fixed an issue that could cause a second head to appear on a specific Scorched variant after decapitating it via headshot.
Graphics: Switching outfits or weapons while the Chameleon mutation or legendary effect is active no longer causes those items to appear visible to other players.
Nuke Code Pieces: Letters and Numbers displayed by Nuke Code Pieces will no longer appear misaligned on pickup.
Perks: The throwing arc displayed by the Fire in the Hole perk now remains visible if the player moves while holding a fragmentation grenade.
Photomode: Returning to first-person view after exiting Photomode with a ranged weapon equipped no longer causes the character model's hands to appear offset or dark graphic effects to appear onscreen.
C.A.M.P., CRAFTING, AND WORKSHOPS
Blueprints: Blueprints containing a mirror ball can now be placed correctly and no longer cause an "Object is floating." error message to display.
Blueprints: Attempting to place a blueprint containing objects that have been placed on shelves no longer causes an "Object needs support" error message to display.
Blueprints: Blueprint names now support a maximum of 25 characters.
Budget: Tamed creatures no longer permanently consume C.A.M.P. budget after they are killed.
C.A.M.P.: Fixed an issue that could cause a C.A.M.P. dialog to display to a new character before they had placed their C.A.M.P. for the first time.
Crafting: Fixed an issue that could prevent items from being crafted or repaired despite having the required materials if those materials were split between the inventory and stash.
Crafting: Players who have exceeded the absolute weight limit of 1,500 lbs plus their current maximum carry weight are now correctly notified that they are unable to craft items while over the limit.
Exploit: Addressed an exploit that could allow items to be duplicated when moving C.A.M.P. locations.
Exploit: Addressed an exploit that could allow items to be duplicated if a blueprint failed to save properly.
Recipes and Plans: Fixed an issue that could prevent a player from crafting a Recipe or Plan they had previously learned.
Scrapping: Bleached Dogwood is now protected from autoscrapping when crafting. However, it can still be scrapped manually.
Workbenches: Attempting to place a Power Armor Station on a foundation in a structure that has multiple levels no longer causes the station to be placed on the second floor.
ENEMIES
Scorchbeast Queen: The Scorchbeast Queen can now correctly drop Plans from the full range of Ultracite Power Armor Mod Plans in her loot list, and players now correctly receive a random roll from her loot list.
Mothman: Fixed an issue in which Mothman would not leave the area when approached or respond to attacks.
ITEMS
Apparel: The Clean Clown Outfit now correctly counts toward completion of the "Kill Wendigos" side mission at Freddie's House of Scares.
Apparel: The Nuka-Girl Rocketsuit can no longer be equipped or unequipped while wearing Power Armor
Apparel: The Nuka-Girl Rocketsuit outfit has been separated into two pieces - the body piece and the upper helmet.
Dev Note: For the moment, the upper helmet, when not worn with the body piece, looks to be floating partly from the player character. This is temporary until we can rework the helmet itself. This was a necessary change to prevent poor interactions with Power Armor and underarmor. Players who already own the Rocketsuit, will automatically have access to craft the helmet.
Armor: The Punishing legendary effect no longer reflects "slap" damage dealt by another player. This should prevent cases where a player wearing Punishing armor could become Wanted unintentionally due to reflected damage that killed their attacker.
Armor: Fixed an issue causing damage reflected by the Punishing legendary effect to be reduced based on the defending player's resistances.
Cap Containers: Now award the correct number of Caps and no longer generate only 1 Cap as loot.
Exploits: Removed an apparel Recipe that was not intended to be available in-game, as well as items created using that Recipe.
Headlamps: Removed an erroneously added Atomic Shop flag from all non-Mothman Power Armor Head Lamps. Also added a separate red Mothman headlamp that works once Mothman Power Armor is equipped.
Holotapes: Choosing to stop a Holotape now correctly stops that Holotape from continuing to play.
Mods: Aiming down the sights after applying the Recon Sensors mod to a Power Armor helmet now correctly marks enemies on the compass.
Power Armor: Resistances are no longer incorrectly reduced when entering Power Armor while wearing Underarmor.
Power Armor: Now correctly prioritizes using the Fusion Core in the player's inventory that has the least remaining charge, rather than selecting them at random.
Power Armor: Fixed an issue that could allow Power Armor pieces with Atomic Shop paints applied to be transferred into containers.
Weapons: The M79 Grenade Launcher and the Auto Grenade Launcher are now classified as heavy weapons, and correctly benefit from all heavy weapons perks except Heavy Gunner, as they benefit from Demolitions Expert instead.
PERKS
Last Laugh: Explosive Bait is no longer dropped on death while the Last Laugh perk is equipped.
Martial Artist: Now only applies its attack speed bonus to melee weapons and no longer incorrectly increases the Gatling Gun's rate of fire.
Ricochet: The Ricochet perk fanfare no longer displays repeatedly when its effects are triggered multiple times in quick succession.
Team Effects: A team invite must be accepted, and a team formed, before team-based perks, such as Squad Maneuvers, will apply their team effects.
PVP
Respawn: Being killed by a friend, selecting "Respawn", and then using the Social Menu to respawn at a that friend's location no longer causes those players to remain hostile toward each other.
QUESTS, EVENTS, AND CHALLENGES
Quest Containers: Non-quest items can no longer be transferred into the Feed the People and Path to Enlightenment event quest containers.
One of Us: The Congressional Access Card is no longer lost if the player is disconnected or the server crashes.
SURVIVAL
Addictions: Fixed an issue which prevented Addictions currently affecting the character from displaying in the Pip-Boy's Status menu.
Diseases: Rad Worms now only increases radiation damage taken by 50%, and no longer incorrectly increases Mutation and other effects.
Mutations: Fixed an inconsistent interaction between the Class Freak, Barbarian, and Evasive perks that could cause them to stop functioning while affected by the Herd Mentality mutation.
Mutations: The Healing Factor mutation no longer causes players to become invincible while in the downed state.
USER INTERFACE
C.A.M.P.: A player's name will now correctly appear onscreen when viewing their C.A.M.P., even if that player is not nearby.
Controls: Plugging in a controller after launching Fallout 76 on PC using a keyboard and mouse no longer causes the button indicators for interactable objects, like containers or workbenches, to disappear until the client is relaunched.
Controls: Pressing the Quick Swap key (Default: Left D-pad) after the current weapon breaks now correctly swaps to an alternate weapon.
Crosshairs: Fixed an issue causing crosshairs to expand and contract incorrectly for players running the game using 21:9 aspect ratios.
Game Camera: Changing the face preset in the Change Appearance menu outside of Vault 76 no longer causes the camera to show an unintended angle in third-person view.
Holotapes: Attempting to play a blank terminal holotape no longer causes the Pip-Boy to display a blank screen.
Localization: "Perk Card Pack" text that displays when opening a new Perk Card Pack is now correctly localized in non-English versions of the game client.
Map: Fixed an issue that could prevent player icons from displaying on the Map when choosing a respawn location.
Map: Overencumbered players who die inside a Nuke Zone can now correctly respawn at the nearest Map marker.
Notifications: "Ammo Removed" messages no longer appear onscreen when harvesting flora or other materials shortly after firing a weapon.
Notifications: The "You have joined a team." notification now correctly displays console controls, rather than PC hotkeys, in its subtitle text while playing on consoles.
Notifications: Fixed an issue where players could sometimes receive a "Max weight limit reached." message when attempting to trade with other players.
Photomode Frames: Photomode frames that were purchased from the Atomic Shop now correctly display the Atom symbol in the photomode menu.
Shop: Fixed an issue on PC that could cause controls to lock up when purchasing Atoms.
Shop: Purchasing multiple items from the Atomic Shop in quick succession no longer prevents those items from appearing in crafting menus until the client is relaunched.
Shop: Preview images have been added for the Kill, Laugh, Love Neon Sign.
Teams: Attempting to join a teammate in a world from the main menu using the social menu no longer causes a message to display stating that they will be removed from the team.
Teams: Fixed an issue that could prevent team members from loading into a world with the team leader after the leader selected "Play".
Teams: Fixed an issue in which the "Play with Team" option on the Main Menu became non-functional when attempting to rejoin teammates in a world following a crash or disconnect.
Transfer Menu: The transfer bar now correctly stops at 1 when scrolling to reduce the transfer quantity.
Voice Chat: The voice chat speaker icon now correctly appears in player nameplates, in team chat, and in the area chat list when a player is speaking.
Celebrating 20 years in 2019, the Age of Wonders series has always been nestled comfortably within the high-fantasy genre. However, with the upcoming release of Planetfall, the 4X (expand, explore, exploit, exterminate) strategy-sim will be moving away from the familiar swords and sorcery angle, to take the conflict star-side--dealing with the politics and ensuing drama that comes from building a galactic empire from the ground up.
We recently got a chance to check out the upcoming strategy game, seeing its expanded scope and the greater focus on the little details in the new setting for the series. Though it's now firmly in the realm of science-fiction, Planetfall still hangs onto some of those familiar tropes and themes from the previous games.
In Planetfall, you'll take control of one of six factions following a 200 year long dark age after the collapse of deep-space communication. The many civilizations that have evolved during that time have once again come in contact, and they'll now have to cooperate or enter fierce conflict with one another to find a foothold in the new age. With factions having its own unique campaign, you'll be able to create your own custom commander from the character creator and build up your empire through either careful diplomacy or with an iron fist.
Here's a quick breakdown of all the game's factions:
The Amazons: A bio-engineered faction using skills and traits focused on wildlife and the environment.
The Assembly: A cyborg faction that assimilates organic life to bring them into their fold.
The Dvar: Former humans that evolved into subterranean dwellers. They possess advanced engineering technology that have helped them survive the harsh climates.
The Kir'Ko: An insect race that communicates through a hive-mind. They seek to rebuild their empire and expand further.
The Vanguards: Tech-focused human faction who have awoken from hyper-sleep to find the galactic civilization in a vastly different state. They use mechs and other high-tech weaponry to survive in the field.
The Syndicate: A shifty feudal empire that specializes in politics and rough trade to secure its goals.
Planetfall's approach to science-fiction takes a decidedly retro and somewhat over-the-top approach--which certainly adds a level of fun that you wouldn't expect to see from a rather involved 4X strategy-sim. Channeling the same tone found from '80s sci-fi like the classic Battlestar Galactica or even more modern films like Starship Troopers, there's a really amusing vibe throughout, even when you're nose-deep in the finer details of building up your empire.
For those into 4X games, you'll find a lot of the familiar micromanaging, political discourse, and empire-building gameplay that you'd expect from the sub-genre. However, for those fairly new to 4X, there's a bit of a learning curve as you'll have to manage many systems at play. Even for those who know what they're getting themselves into, it can be easy to feel a bit lost in the weeds when checking out all the necessary data for your commander and units. However, each faction's main campaign also serves as a tutorial, which preps you for what's to come in the other game modes. When you feel you've got a handle on what's to come, you enter the Scenario mode, where you're totally free to build up a new civilization and amass an army on the planet of your choosing.
Though you can take a more diplomatic approach to engagements, there will be times where you'll need to defend yourself against enemy forces. In similar fashion to another combat-strategy game like XCOM, movement and actions are performed over the course of turns--allowing you to plan out your attack carefully. Units and resources that helped you in the early hours can be upgraded to face off against new threats, which include planetary wildlife and rival factions. There are alot of factors to consider when in combat, such as terrain, enemy attack range, or the type of foes you're facing, but the combat in Planetfall offers a lot of options for you to take on the enemy as you can.
At first look, Planetfall is certainly a big change for the series. However, it still presents that very familiar and detail-oriented 4X gameplay that the franchise is known for. With a planned launch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on August 6, the next game in the Age of Wonders series will mark a new beginning for the 4X strategy-sim.
Ubisoft has announced it's teaming up with Atlas Entertainment to develop a TV series that adapts its upcoming pirate adventure game, Skull & Bones. In a rather surprising vote of confidence, Ubisoft is starting production on the show before Skull & Bones even releases.
"Ubisoft is known for creating innovative video games that combine immense worlds with rich narratives," Ubisoft director of development for television Danielle Kreinik told The Hollywood Reporter. Kreinik is scheduled to be executive producer on the new series alongside Ubisoft film and television head Jason Altman.
The Skull & Bones TV series is described as a female-driven drama that takes place in the same setting and time period as the game: the Indian Ocean at the end of the golden age of piracy. Amanda Segal, who's previously been an executive producer for Person of Interest and The Mist, is scheduled to write the series' pilot episode.
Skull & Bones builds on what made Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag great, with its surprisingly deep ship-to-ship combat. One of Skull & Bones' modes, called The Hunting Grounds, is a PvPvE shared-open world competition "where every player encounter matters." In this mode, you sail the Indian Ocean and loot merchant ships, set up trade routes, or attack other vessels. You can team up with others to take on more formidable threats, or betray the players you encounter and steal away their treasure.
Skull & Bones is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2019.
Freelancers and perspective Freelancers rejoice, Dark Horse has just given you an opportunity to expand your understanding of the high stakes, mech-infested world of Anthem even further with a brand new, three issue prequel comic. Creative team Alexander Freed, Mac Walters, and Eduardo Francisco have jumped into the years leading up to the player's journey in the game with two characters--Kismet, a young orphan who was originally created for the comic, and Jani, his adopted sister who will feature in the game as an adult.
In an interview with GameSpot, Freed described the comic's story as something fans both new and familiar to Anthem's in-game lore can appreciate. "[For new fans], it's an intimate, character-driven adventure in an alien world, taking a look at what it means to grow up and find purpose on a dangerous frontier. Flying power armor and over-the-top monsters and imaginative technology live alongside sibling rivalries and small-town dreams. For someone already passionate about the game, the comic is a way of diving deeper into the setting, exploring what daily life is like in the world of Anthem, and providing more background on certain characters and events. A comic can't match the visceral intensity of a video game, but it can offer depth in places the game can't."
Take a look at the first seven pages from issue number one here in this exclusive preview.
On the design side, artist Eduardo Francisco spoke about the challenge of matching BioWare and EA's specific design aesthetics for a new medium. "BioWare's artists beautifully crafted the backgrounds, armor, and every single detail, and every element has a purpose or function in the game," he said. "In a way, it was intimidating to try to match that quality in sequential pages. I had to find a way to simplify the elements in the scene to optimize the production, so I just focused on storytelling. Kismet is original to the comics, so his design was up to me. The other main character in the comics, Jani, will appear in the game, as an adult. Jani appears as a young girl in issue #1, so I just needed to reverse engineer her appearance based on how she looks as an adult in the game."
And speaking of Jani and Kismet, Freed continued by teasing the importance of their relationship in Anthem's ongoing story. " Without giving too much away, Jani and Kismet are both troubled youths who balance out one another's extremes. Alone, each spirals into self-destructive behavior--Jani, born in Fort Tarsis, is desperate for a thrill to make her forget her difficult home life, and Kismet is brilliant but traumatized and fearful from a childhood encounter with the horrifying Scars. Over time, each finds a role among Anthem's strange factions. But balance is rarely stable, and the pendulum swings back and forth. Jani and Kismet are in for a rough road."
It's that rough road and tenuous balance that will propel the final two issues of the prequel forward, Freed said, while continuing to expand on the depth and the mythology of the game's rich world.
Anthem #1 is on sale now. Make sure to check out GameSpot's review in progress of Anthem, which Kallie Plagge said, "I'm currently treating Anthem's disparate missions as an excuse to try a new weapon or special attack, which, combined with flight, gives me incentive to keep going. I'm hoping that I get more out of the story as I go on, but so far it's too generic to get its hooks in me. I'll keep playing on PC--I've luckily only been kicked due to server issues twice--so look out for the full review in the next few days."
Whacha gonna do when Thor trades in Mjolnir for a handlebar mustache and 24-inch pythons, and then runs wild all over you? Although the immortal Hulk Hogan has had some controversial moments in the past decade, he is still synonymous with wrestling. And now, he'll be played by Chris Hemsworth in an upcoming film.
The film will be directed by Todd Philips and written by Scott Silver, who are currently working on the DC Comics movie, Joker. According to THR, Michael Sugar and Bradley Cooper will produce the movie under their banner Joint Effort. Additionally, the two will be joined by the former president of WCW--one of the largest wrestling promotions of the '80s and '90s--Eric Bischoff.
While Hogan's career is undeniably gigantic, covering decades upon decades from New Japan Pro Wrestling to AWA to WWF to WCW to TNA, this movie will primarily focus around his origin story and the rise of Hulkamania and his work in WWF. So we probably won't get the formation of the NWO or anything involving Hogan's work in WCW. This movie is all going to be about Hogan telling fans to say their prayers and eat their vitamins.
Aside from dominating weekly WWF television during this time period, Hogan had his own cartoon series, action figures, numerous movie roles--including playing himself in Gremlins 2--and many other merchandising opportunities. Even if you never watched WWF programming, you knew who Hulk Hogan was. He was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson years before The Rock even stepped foot into the ring.
At this time, there is no set release date for the movie. Hopefully, Cooper and Bischoff do the right thing and hire Bo Dallas to play I.R.S., even if it's just for a montage.
Rockstar is rolling out a big update for Red Dead Redemption 2 next week. The developer is introducing a variety of new modes, clothing, weapons, and other features to the game's online component, Red Dead Online, as well as a new set of timed-exclusive content for those playing on PS4.
First, PS4 players will have early access to Open Target Races before they go live on Xbox One. These are variants of the new Target Races coming in the update, and they have players competing in an open space to shoot the most targets while riding on horseback.
Additionally, PS4 players will get early access to a handful of items. Chief among these is the Jawbone Knife, which Rockstar describes as "a unique melee weapon with a handle artfully carved from the remains of a slain animal's jaw." PS4 players will also be the first to get "a range of new clothing options," as well as three new emotes.
The Red Dead Online update will roll out for both PS4 and Xbox One on February 26. Rockstar hasn't specified when Open Target Races and the Jawbone Knife and other items will arrive on Xbox One, but previous timed PS4 content remained exclusive to Sony's console for 30 days, so that will presumably be the case with this batch.
In addition to the timed PS4 content, next week's update will add a new Free Roam event called Fool's Gold, which has players vying to wear a ridiculous-looking gold-plated suite of armor. There will also be new competitive fishing challenges, three new Showdown modes--Up in Smoke, Spoils of War, and Plunder--and a handful of weapons. You can read more details on Rockstar's website.
All of Apex Legends' various characters play a little differently. Combining their abilities is what sets Respawn Entertainment's game apart from other battle royale shooters, adding an element of team-based strategic thinking common in games like Overwatch or Rainbow Six: Siege that can help you win matches. It all comes down to picking the right character and knowing exactly what all limitations and capabilities are.
If you're looking for a hardcore offensive approach to Apex Legends, Bangalore is a good choice. The Professional Soldier has abilities great for messing with an enemy squad, distracting them, confusing them, and taking away their capacity to fight. Smoke grenades and airstrikes can stun and confuse opponents, and Bangalore's increased speed makes her great for getting into fights, flanking enemies, and escaping bad situations.
Bangalore's abilities are mostly geared toward offense, so you want to play her pretty aggressively. It's definitely possible to drop her smoke grenades and added speed to help you escape, but they're more effective when used to help you take down squads. That doesn't mean you should act like an unstoppable killing machine as Bangalore--you're just as vulnerable as the professional soldier as with any other character--but her offensive capabilities can be formidable in battle situations, and if you play her too defensively, you'll miss out on those benefits.
Getting good with Bangalore is about learning how to get into the right position at the right time. Effectively combining smoke grenades to obscure your approach with the speed boost you get under fire can get you right up on top of an enemy squad before they can deal with you, and the same is true for escaping battle situations or getting around cover to flank enemies. Stay mobile and work on attacking enemies when they don't expect and you'll rack up the kills with Bangalore.
Bangalore's Abilities
Passive Ability: Double Time
Getting shot at can actually be a good for Bangalore: Her passive ability makes her sprint faster when taking fire. That means you can quickly get away from being shot in a lot of cases, but Bangalore's Double Time ability is even better for closing range against an enemy squad before they can effectively deal with you, forcing them into a closer fight than they might want.
Tactical Ability: Smoke Launcher
Bangalore can shoot a set of three smoke grenades with her Tactical ability, blanketing an area and greatly reducing visibility. Smoke arcs like any thrown grenade, then creates a big smoke screen that spreads out into quite a large area to make a thick wall.
Ultimate Ability: Rolling Thunder
For an ultimate ability, Bangalore can call in an airstrike called Rolling Thunder. It drops a series of missiles from the air that slam into the ground before exploding shortly afterward. Unlike Gibraltar's mortar strike ultimate, which concentrates on a circular area, Bangalore's rolls out in a straight line over a given area. The missiles that land do damage as well as stun anyone who's caught in them, which makes it possible to keep fighting in the midst of a strike and finish off enemies who are caught in it.
Tips For Playing As Bangalore
Bangalore is a good choice if you're new to Apex, because her abilities are highly offensive. Unlike playing someone like Gibraltar, Lifeline, or Recon, you don't really have to worry about using your abilities to save teammates. Bangalore does have some defensive options, which are great to have in a pinch, but if you want to learn the ropes of Apex Legends, Bangalore is a good character to use to do it.
Go nuts with the Smoke Launcher. Shoot it at enemies to mess with their ability to shoot at you, pop it near your squad so they can move around without being seen, or use it to block off visibility when crossing open ground. You can seriously hamper an enemy's ability to fight if you can take away their ability to see, and the cooldown on the Smoke Launcher means you can fire them pretty quickly even in a combat situation. Dump smoke into a fight to make it hard for enemy squads to combine fire on your teammates at range, and to even up the odds at close quarters.
The Smoke Launcher can help you in defensive situations, too. Use smoke to help you get out from under fire and to revive downed teammates. As with other characters' abilities, dropping smoke where you don't plan to be can distract enemy squads.
Bangalore's smoke combines very well with Bloodhound's abilities. He can see through the screen with his ultimate ability, and working together you can effectively blind an enemy squad while tearing into them while they're defenseless. You can also see through the scope with any high-tier digital scope, if you can find one. Check supply drops!
The Double Time ability is great for crossing open ground quicker than other characters. If you can avoid getting killed, you can use Bangalore's speed to draw fire from an enemy squad while the rest of your team gets into position for flanking. Stay in communication to create smart tactical situations. You can also use Double Time and smoke to catch up to enemies quickly, or to get out of a bad situation and heal up. The speedier sprint is also handy for running through your own Rolling Thunder strike, allowing you to get to opponents while they're worried about staying alive.
Rolling Thunder is great for any battle situation, but be aware that it can stun your teammates (and you) as well as enemies. It's still best used in battle situations where it can mess with the enemy, allowing you to down them or finish them off quickly. Just be careful about when and where you throw it, and make sure your teammates are ready to deal with it.
Combining Rolling Thunder with smoke creates serious chaos. Chuck a few grenades at enemies who are blinded and stunned and you can create even more.
It's important to note that Rolling Thunder is an offensive ability that's meant to supplement your fighting, but not replace it. Warheads dropped in the strike don't explode right away and can potentially be avoided--but it will always send enemies scrambling. Use it to flush people out of cover and out of position and sow confusion, or sprint through it to catch people running for safety when they're not ready for a fight.
Rockstar has announced an update to Red Dead Online, the online multiplayer mode in Red Dead Redemption 2. The update is scheduled for next week on February 26, with some of the content--such as clothing and a new melee weapon--exclusive via PS4 early access. This content will come to Xbox One in time, though. For now, Red Dead Online still remains in beta.
The update introduces a new in-game event called Fool's Gold in Free Roam. The event spawns a suit of golden armor, which can be worn. Doing so and killing players nets you points towards winning Fool's Gold. If you're not wearing the armor, you must track down and kill the person who is in order to claim it for yourself.
New competitive fishing challenges will be added in the new update as well, as will three new Showdown modes: Up in Smoke, Spoils of War, and Plunder. A new race variation, called Target Races, is also included. In terms of weapons, the update adds the Evans Repeater rifle and the Rare Shotgun, both of which will be available via the Wheeler & Rawson Catalogue and local Gunsmiths. A variety of new clothes and emotes are also being added, allowing you customize your Red Dead Online character in new ways.
In our Red Dead Redemption 2 review, Kallie Plagge gave the game a 9/10, writing, "While Red Dead Redemption was mostly focused on John Marston's story, Red Dead 2 is about the entire Van der Linde gang--as a community, as an idea, and as the death rattle of the Wild West. It is about Arthur, too, but as the lens through which you view the gang, his very personal, very messy story supports a larger tale. Some frustrating systems and a predictable mission structure end up serving that story well, though it does take patience to get through them and understand why. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it's also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it's a world that is hard to leave when it's done." Her impressions of the Red Dead Online beta, however, were not as positive.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available for Xbox One and PS4.
The rumored foldable phone from Samsung, the Galaxy Fold, is finally a reality. Samsung formally unveiled the device during its Unpacked event on Wednesday, showcasing what it can do and announcing both a release date and price--the latter of which is eyebrow-raising, to say the least.
The Galaxy Fold releases on April 26 and starts in price at $1,980. That is not a typo. With Apple having pushed premium mobile phone pricing well above the $1,000 mark with its iPhone X line, Samsung is taking things much further with its new innovation.
As detailed by CNET, the Galaxy Fold features a 7.3-inch display when it's unfolded into its tablet format; while folded, its screen is a 4.6-inch display. It features two different batteries--one for each side, to provide power while enabling the folding functionality--and is equipped with a whopping six cameras. It also has 12 GB of RAM and is available in four colors: Cosmo Black, Space Silver, Martian Green, and Astro Blue.
Image credit: CNET
To facilitate the folding, Samsung is using a new type of screen technology called Infinity Flex Display, which it says will prevent the screen from being damaged by repeatedly folding and unfolding it. Apps can be used in both form factors and will transition from one to the other. Taking advantage of the tablet-sized display, when the Fold is unfolded, you can use up to three apps at once.
Alongside the Galaxy Fold, Samsung also announced the next of its more mainstream mobile devices during Unpacked, the Galaxy S10, as well as the S10E and Galaxy S10 5G. The latter will arrive first on Verizon before expanding to other carriers later in the year.
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