As Gotham prepares to reveal its final three episodes, one legendary Batman villain is finally making his debut. Shane West appeared earlier in Season 5 as Eduardo Durance, an old friend of Jim Gordon's (Ben McKenzie) that supposedly died while trying to kill Gordon--but this is Gotham, after all, and he will be resurrected as Bane.
Yes, that Bane. The one who traditionally wore a lucha libre wrestling mask in the comics. Don't expect to see that version of the character, though. On the show, West's take on Bane looks at least partially inspired by Tom Hardy's version in The Dark Knight Rises, while also adding some flourishes that fit right in with the weird world of Gotham.
As with all things on the show, though, this Bane is something of a remix of the character. "He straddles that line with us where he still is boots on the ground. You still understand where his abilities actually come from," executive producer John Stephens told GameSpot at the TCA press tour. "The man is a master strategist. And also [this is] where his strength comes from. We were also able to reinvent him in a way that gives him a different spin than you see in the comics."
A big piece of that reinvention is giving the character a personal connection to Gordon, which is not something that's been featured in the comics. However, it is a piece of the puzzle that McKenzie was excited to play with.
"It's fun to be able to take an iconic character like that and explore him a little more fully and also put him in a new context and start him off as a friend and partner of Jim, former colleague of his and yet quickly show their differences and allow their relationship to take its natural course," the actor said. "It was nice to work with Shane, I've known him forever but I've never worked with him."
Still, while everyone is seemingly thrilled with how Bane comes off on the series, the character's introduction almost never happened. In fact, producers were denied when asking to use him in the past. "There are certain characters you ask for a lot. Sometimes you don't get every character," Stephens said. "And [Bane] was a character we were not allowed earlier on in the run of the show. And then [when] we got far enough away from The Dark Knight Rises, they're like, 'Okay. We think now you can actually use that character.' When we finally got to the fifth season, which was when I remember [DC Entertainment's vice president of creative affairs] Dan Evans made the call to us."
Now fans just have to wait to see what kind of story Gotham plans to unroll with him in its final three episodes. Gotham airs Thursdays on Fox.
There are a lot of speed bumps on the road to Wrestlemania, and as we've seen with the most recent episode of Raw and the WWE Fastlane PPV, the sports entertainment juggernaut has been working overtime to build on the stories for its biggest event of the year.
The March 12 episode of Smackdown offered new insight to the biggest stories, and we're here to break down the most important ones from the evening. Sadly, when it comes to the Smackdown Women's Championship, the focus has been heavily on Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, leaving champion Asuka to just exist. However, there are some pretty solid things to pay attention to in the weeks to come. Here's what you need to know.
Shane Turned On Miz… Because
Smackdown opened up with Shane McMahon explaining why he's a heel now. He's mad people keep asking him how to get ahead in life, and he was born great (awesome). Shane has decided to turn a new leaf and do things his way because beating up the Miz and smooshing Miz's dad's face felt great. Now, Shane wants to take on Miz at Wrestlemania. The problem with all of this is that Shane doesn't feel like a credible threat as a WWE superstar. He worked better as a cowardly heel when he had people by his side, like the Mean Street Posse. As of right now, it feels like Miz would have no problem defeating him.
Randy Orton's Segment
Randy Orton came out to discourage AJ Styles, and during his promo, he said many things about his career with the WWE while AJ Styles was off doing other things, as Smackdown is the House that Randy Orton built. I'm being a total mark, but let's clarify what was happening during the years Orton mentioned.
He said in 2002, Styles was wrestling in a high school gymnasium. There is a likelihood that this is true. That year is when AJ Styles debuted with Ring of Honor, and prior to that, Styles had competed in the indie circuit, had a dark match on Raw, and a brief stint in WCW.
In 2004, Orton claims Styles was shaking hands with his opponents in the bingo halls. Styles was actually in both TNA and ROH during this time. Styles had some phenomenal--no pun intended--matches against CM Punk, Samoa Joe, and Daniel Bryan at these ROH shows. And of course, with ROH, you shake your opponent's hand to show respect. That's actually a nice tip of the hat Orton did there.
Orton claims in 2005, Styles was getting a tan with Dixie Carter in Florida. I cannot find records of AJ Styles's tanning schedule, so I'm going to take Orton's word for it.
In 2006-2015, Orton was a champion--on and off--and he made no mention of where Styles was. Styles was with TNA most of this time. He went back to ROH for a couple of years, and during this ROH stint, he was in New Japan for two years, as the leader of Bullet Club--that ridiculously popular Japanese stable started by Finn Balor and Bad Luck Fale--later adding Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and others.
Anyway, Styles came out and the two had a pissing contest about each other's careers. This all ends with Styles pointing at the Wrestlemania sign. Look, I was trying to keep opinion out of this--which I've ruined twice already--but Styles and Orton are much better than this story.
Kofi Gets Screwed Again
Earlier in the evening, during an 8-man tag team match Kofi Kingston came out with the New Day and attacked everyone. At the end of Smackdown, Vince McMahon came out to discuss what's going on with Kingston. He explained he was giving Kingston a teachable moment, and the New Day came out to interrupt him. After some back and forth, Vince explained that if he was going to be a championship contender, it would have been years ago.
It's now turned into a weird agism story mixed with the classic "you're a B+ player" story we saw with Daniel Bryan. Literally, Vince mentions Bryan calling Kingston a "B+ player." The heel's storyline as the same a Bryan's, but luckily, Kingston brings something extra to this on the face side of things.
Vince announced that if Kingston can win a gauntlet match against Cesaro, Sheamus, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, and Rowan on next week's episode of Smackdown, he'll go to Wrestlemania.
March's free NES games for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are now available. This time around, the lineup is almost entirely different depending on your region. The West receives Kid Icarus and StarTropics, while Japan gets Kid Icarus along with two unlocalized Famicom titles: Yie Ar Kung-Fu and Fire Emblem.
On top of this month's new games, Nintendo has added special save states for two previously released titles, Kirby's Adventure and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The former allows you to play through the more difficult Extra Game from the outset, while the latter starts you off with Link's Attack, Magic, and Life stats already maxed out.
Nintendo has been gradually expanding Switch's NES catalog with more games every month. In February, the company added Super Mario Bros. 2 and Kirby's Adventure, while January brought Zelda II and Blaster Master. More games are on the way next month, although Nintendo hasn't revealed what those will be just yet.
The NES catalog is one of the perks Switch owners receive for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service. It offers unlimited access to more than 30 NES games for as long as you have an active membership, with added online multiplayer support for every title.
Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions run for US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6 for one month, US $8 / £7 / AU $12 for three months, and US $20 / £18 / AU $30 for one year. Other perks for subscribing include the ability to play Switch games online with others, save data backup via the cloud, and exclusive offers such as Tetris 99, which is free to download for NSO members.
Phoenix Labs has announced the console release for Dauntless has been delayed. The developer also released further details for what's included in the Hunt Pass Season 3--which went live today--for the PC version of this free-to-play action RPG.
Currently only available on PC via Steam, Dauntless was originally being ported to Xbox One and PS4 for release in April 2019, with a versions for Switch and mobile later in the year. The Xbox One and PS4 versions have now been delayed to Summer 2019, with Phoenix Labs stating it is using the "additional time to polish gameplay, stress-test for scale, and complete additional features." The PC version of Dauntless is also scheduled to migrate from Steam over to the Epic Games Store, a move which has also been delayed to coincide with the release of the game on Xbox One and PS4.
Currently in open beta on PC, Dauntless will officially launch when it releases on Epic Games Store, Xbox One, and PS4. All of your progress from the beta will carry over, regardless of which system you choose. As Phoenix Labs plans on having all Dauntless players' saved date be tied to an Epic account, the game will support cross-platform play and progression across all systems. Cross-platform support will extend to the Switch and mobile versions of the game as well when they eventually launch.
The third season of Dauntless Hunt Pass, titled Overgrowth, is now live. Listening to the community, Phoenix Labs has decreased the number of Title rewards you can unlock while increasing the number of Transmog rewards. You'll earn 500 platinum for completing all levels of the pass, with an additional Elite track costing 1,000 platinum. The new season also brings several aesthetic changes to Dauntless. The snow has completely melted and spring has begun, with moss and vines covering buildings and giant green leaves hanging from the trees and other tall vegetation. Season 3 adds a new weather effect too--rain--as well as new items to find and plenty of collectibles to unlock. Overgrowth will continue until April 16. Complete details about the new season can be found on Dauntless' website.
Similar to Monster Hunter, Dauntless takes place in a fantasy setting where you hunt down massive creatures in order to collect loot and craft new weapons and gear. Hunts can be lengthy affairs, taking anywhere from a few minutes to nearly half an hour. Like Monster Hunter World, Dauntless can be tackled completely solo or in a team of up to four people.
Activision has announced a two week-long St. Patrick's Day-themed celebration for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. The event is already live for PS4 and will continue until March 26. Activision hasn't yet announced dates for Xbox One or PC, other than to say--in a blog post--that information would be coming soon.
The new event, called Shamrock & Awe--which returns from Call of Duty: WWII--adds new content to Blackout, Zombies, and Multiplayer mode in Black Ops 4, as well as St. Patrick's Day-themed goodies in the Black Market. Also, simply logging into Black Ops 4 during the event will unlock the "Precious" gesture and a new animated calling card for free.
In Blackout, the battle royale has undergone a few green-colored updates. All smoke--whether from grenades or supply drops--is now colored green, as are the eyes of the zombies scattered throughout the map. The foliage on the map has entered spring, with flowers blooming and brown leaves becoming green again. Hidden caches of bronze pots have been hidden throughout Blackout's map as well. And if you're looking for something to hunt other than enemy players and zombies, following the noisy jingle of dancing Leprechauns will allow you to track the little imps down. Finding and destroying them before your enemies do will reward you with "a wide variety of goodies."
Shamrock & Awe makes less severe changes in Zombies and Multiplayer. For the former, you can now find and use the Homunculus transformation, and certain zombies now have a "distinctly different hue around their sunken eyeballs." Defeating these zombies offers a mysterious reward. In Multiplayer, Fracture has returned with a new name, Stockpile, and enemies now drop shamrocks--as opposed to dog tags--that need to be collected in order to win.
If you're looking for even more St. Patrick's Day goodies, you can head to the Black Market and buy the Shamrock Bundle. The limited-time bundle includes ten item crates, the "Glorious Day" gesture, St. Patrick's Day-themed warpaint, and the "Luck of the Irish" jump pack--which gives you a new wingsuit to use.
Black Ops 4 is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. As stated before, Shamrock & Awe is currently only live on PS4, but the celebration is coming to other systems eventually.
Niantic is holding a new type of event in Pokemon Go today. The inaugural Legendary Lunch Hour kicks off at 12 PM local time and runs for one hour, during which time there will be an increased number of Raid Battles occurring in the game.
Niantic calls the Legendary Lunch Hour event an "experiment" to give more players a chance to participate in the game during work or school hours. The developer is inviting feedback from fans to further fine tune the event and make it one that players "can enjoy every week."
The Legendary Lunch Hour isn't the only event happening in Pokemon Go this week. Beginning March 15, the Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza will return for a special Raid Weekend, giving players their first chance to capture it in nearly a year. The Raid Weekend kicks off at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET and runs until the same time on Monday, March 18.
The following week, Niantic will hold this month's Pokemon Go Community Day. The event takes place on Saturday, March 23, and features increased spawns of Treecko, one of the three starter Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire. Players will also be able to hatch Eggs at a quarter of their usual distance during the event.
Earlier this month, a new Legendary--Dialga--made its debut in Pokemon Go. The Temporal Pokemon will appear in Raid Battles until March 28. Niantic also recently introduced the long-awaited Smeargle to the game alongside Pokemon Go's new AR photo mode.
Dead Cells has been receiving a steady stream of updates, adding features like custom runs and overhauling major systems based on player feedback. Developer Motion Twin has now announced its first big free expansion, Rise of the Giants, will arrive on PC on March 28. Console release dates haven't been announced.
The major addition is an entirely new area to explore. To access the new area, you'll have to have bested the tough-as-nails action game at least once. That will grant you access to the Cavern, a new area with new traps and enemies, lava pools, and a new boss.
The DLC adds a lot more besides the new area, though. It will include a new skinning system with 50 outfits, giving you more loot to collect from blueprints dropped by enemies and bosses. It also adds three new skills, including a flying pet and a scroll that reveals a current map. It also brings 10 more weapons, like the Giant Killer, Boi Axe, and Thunder Shield. The Prisoner's Quarters will include a new Specialist Shop where you can buy Hunter's Grenades, along with skins and a new map. Finally, it will add a hidden level, with a completely new ending for those who can defeat the hidden boss.
Though the update hasn't hit yet, Motion Twin has already released the patch notes so you can read and prepare yourself. Dead Cells was named one of our best games of 2018.
Much like BioWare's Anthem, Ubisoft's new loot-focused shooter, The Division 2, will release at different times depending on which version of the game you pre-order. Although its release date is officially set for March 15, you can actually play several days earlier, and if you go through Uplay, you can get access to the game at different times too. Provided you meet the requirements, you may have had access for several days now, as the game is live around the world for many. Read on for the full breakdown of unlock times.
If you pre-order the standard version of The Division 2, the game will be available worldwide for Xbox One and PS4 on Friday, March 15 at 12 AM local time--therefore Australia and New Zealand get access first and North and South America are last. With Uplay on PC, The Division 2 will be playable on Thursday, March 14 at 10 PM PT, which is March 15 at 1 AM ET. The Uplay playable time is 11 PM in the UK on March 14 and 12 AM in Australia on March 15. So only in certain regions does Uplay give you early access. A breakdown of the times is listed below.
The Division 2 Standard Edition Start Times
Xbox One and PS4
March 15 at 12 AM local time
Uplay/PC
March 14 at 10 PM PT
March 15 at 1 AM ET
March 14 at 11 PM UK
March 14 at 12 AM AU
If you pre-order the Gold or Ultimate Edition of The Division 2, you can already begin playing. Worldwide, these two editions launched Tuesday, March 12 at 12 AM local time when you pre-order the Xbox One or PS4 versions, which once again gives certain countries earlier access than others. Through Uplay, The Division 2 Gold and Ultimate Editions are playable March 11 at 10 PM PT, March 12 at 1 AM ET, March 11 at 11 PM in the UK, and March 12 at 12 AM in Australia. A breakdown of the times is listed below.
The Division 2 Gold And Ultimate Edition Start Times
Xbox One and PS4
March 12 at 12 AM local time
Uplay/PC
March 11 at 10 PM PT
March 12 at 1 AM ET
March 11 at 11 PM UK
March 12 at 12 AM AU
Despite the game releasing in certain countries much earlier than others, the servers for The Division 2 didn't go live until March 12 at 12 AM local time. So even though the game launches in certain countries on March 11--like the Gold and Ultimate Editions in the UK--you weren't able to play it until midnight that night. If you want a specific time for your region, you can find all the listed times on The Division 2's website.
The Division 2 is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Originally planned for Steam, the PC version of the game will now be launching through the Epic Games Store.
While we don't yet have a full review, you can read our Division 2 early review impressions based on an early portion of what's shaping up to be a very large game. In it, Edmond Tran writes, "'Encouraging' is generally how I feel about The Division 2 at this point in time. It's got a fantastic sense of place and progression, and the combat scenarios and skills continue to be interesting. There's a lot of love, especially among the minor improvements--the small design decisions that make the act of finding and equipping loot so snappy and convenient, or the smart integration of per-mission multiplayer matchmaking that even lets you call upon other players in the middle of a mission. I haven't personally hit any server issues or major bugs, just some humorous oddities, like a floating iPad entertaining two excited children."
Hollow Knight released in 2017 and debuted on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2018; however, the exceptional Metroidvania-style game has never been available in a physical format--until now. Both a standard edition and a collector's edition of Hollow Knight are now available for pre-order, with the collector's edition exclusive to Fangamer.
According to Fangamer, pre-orders for Hollow Knight's physical edition will start shipping on May 31, which means you can expect to receive your copy in early June.
Team Cherry, the developers of Hollow Knight, initially partnered with Skybound Games to bring a physical release to the market last year, but the studio announced last November that the deal had fallen through, possibly due to limited resources. So for fans of the game, news that a physical edition is finally happening is a welcome surprise.
In his Hollow Knight review, GameSpot's Alessandro Barbosa gave the platformer a 9/10 and praised its lengthy, compelling narrative, smart combat design, gorgeous visuals, and fantastic soundtrack. "Its expansive enemy roster and routinely surprising areas and platforming challenges ensure that your journey through this fallen bug kingdom is one you're unlikely to forget," he wrote. "Hollow Knight offers a surprisingly large and harrowing adventure, and it's a treat that every bit of it is just as divine as that last."
With a newly announced sequel for Hollow Knight on the way, there's no better time to pick up the game and journey into the world of Hallownest. Here's how you can pre-order Hollow Knight's physical edition:
Pre-Order Hollow Knight: Physical Standard Edition
As of right now, the only two places to buy Hollow Knight's standard edition are Best Buy and Fangamer. We'll update this post if more retailers begin offering pre-orders. Hollow Knight's physical standard edition comes with a manual, a fold-out map of Hallownest, and all DLC: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster.
The collector's edition is only available for purchase from Fangamer, and it's packed with plenty of bonus materials. Along with everything included in the standard edition, you'll receive a metal brooch with a display stand, wall hook, and dual-pronged fastener; a 14-page Quirrel comic book; a gold foil collector's box; and a gold foil art print set. If you pre-order, a papercraft set is also included (not pictured here). And finally, if you opt for the Switch version, you'll also receive a Hollow Knight-themed cleaning cloth.
The creator of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has announced that he is stepping away from day-to-day operations of the popular battle royale game, and will instead be focused on "special projects" in a new office under the PUBG Corp. banner. Lead designer Brendan Greene made the announcement in a letter on Twitter.
"While I'll remain as a consulting creative director on PUBG, development will be led by Taeseok Jang and the fantastic team I have had the honor of working with over the past three years," he said. "They have some great things planned for this year, and I can't wait to share more with you soon!
"Going forward, I'll be based in Amsterdam, rather than Seoul, and focused on building out an entirely new division to focus on research & game development."
Greene said the new position would focus on "exploring, experimenting, and creating new technologies, tools, pipelines, and gameplay." Those experiments could feed back into PUBG, or develop into an entirely new game or middleware. At this point it isn't clear what will come of this work, or even if it will be public as a consumer product at all.
PUBG is widely regarded as the first hit battle royale game, which inspired imitators like Fortnite and Apex Legends. The field is wide open now, even including new modes in well-established shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. PUBG has remained in development with an active userbase, though. The studio just announced a free-to-play Lite PC version, and its maps will be remastered.
Devil May Cry 5 has enjoyed a strong start on the UK physical sales chart, topping the all-format list in its debut week. For the week ending March 9, sales monitor Chart-Track says Capcom's hack-and-slash game displaces the previous No.1, Anthem, becoming the first in the series to top the chart since DmC in 2013.
Below Devil May Cry 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 finishes at No.2, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe claiming the final podium position at No.3. The week's only other new entry is Square Enix's stealth game Left Alive, which sneaks in at No.39.
We enjoyed Devil May Cry 5 here at GameSpot, with critic Matt Espineli awarding the game a 9/10. "DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors," he wrote in our Devil May Cry 5 review. "It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series' focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you're refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions."
You can read the full top 10 sales chart for this week below, courtesy of UKIE and GfK Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.
Although reviews for the Spyro Reignited Trilogy were mostly positive, praising the remaster's faithful recreation of the originals' charm, the PS4 and Xbox One collection also attracted some criticism upon launch. Some people were angered by the game's lack of subtitles, which many gamers--for example, the hard of hearing--rely on to be able to enjoy games to their fullest.
Now, developer Toys for Bob has finally added complete subtitles to the three remastered games in a new update. The patch notes state the subtitles include "character headers to identify active speakers, succinct line splits for readability, [and] colored text for improved character association in most languages."
Publisher Activision had previously avoided directly addressing the Reignited Trilogy's lack of subtitles. At the time, it simply stated, "While there's no industry standard for subtitles, the studio and Activision care about the fans' experience especially with respect to accessibility for people with different abilities, and will evaluate going forward."
Video game accessibility options have become a more openly-discussed topic in recent years, though some titles do not meet basic standards of accessibility. Colorblindness options are only just becoming commonplace, for example, while full closed captions--such as those offered by Far Cry: New Dawn--are still rare.
In a strange and surprising round of news, Sega has announced that it has stopped physical shipments and digital sales of the Yakuza spinoff Judgment in Japan following the arrest of actor Pierre Taki.
The actor was arrested for reportedly using cocaine, which apparently violates Japan's drug control laws. An official news release from Sega, translated by Gematsu, states, "Sega has received the arrest reports and are currently confirming the facts, but for the time being, we will voluntarily refrain from shipments and digital sales of [Judgment], as well as from things like posting on the product's homepage. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause for customers, as well as the parties involved."
Judgment, which is called Judge Eyes in Japan, launched in Japan back in December. The game is scheduled to arrive in America and Europe this June on PS4, but there is no word yet if that's still the plan given the controversy surrounding Taki.
Taki plays Kyohei Hamura in Judgment. He's voiced by Fred Tatasciore (Soldier 76 in Overwatch and Xur in Destiny) in the English version of the game.
Taki is an actor and musician known for being a member of the band Denki Groove and the voice of snowman Olaf in the Japanese dubbing of Disney's Frozen.
According to Japan Times, the punishment for possessing or using cocaine in Japan is a prison sentence of up to seven years.
In Judgment you play as Takayuki Yagami, a detective who is looking into grisly crimes. Like the Yakuza series, it is set in Kamurocho, the fictional city modeled after Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Google is set to make a big-time gaming announcement next week during the Game Developers Conference, and now the company has released a teaser video.
Google plans to reveal its "vision for the future of gaming" during the March 19 event, and this teaser video may contain some initial clues. As you can see, it appears to reference a number of different game genres, including sports, racing, action, fantasy, and others. The suggestion could be that Google's new gaming platform would be a place for all of them.
Whatever the case, we'll learn more soon. The event is scheduled for 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET on March 19. The event will be streamed live, and GameSpot will bring you all the news from the show as it happens.
One part of Google's reveal might be related to Project Stream, the company's ambitious game-streaming platform. Last year, Google partnered with Ubisoft to make Assassin's Creed Odyssey playable in a browser. There are also rumors about Google's "Project Yeti," which could be the company's take on a home console.
Halo developer 343 Industries made some big Halo announcements today, and excited fans responded by sending pizza to the studio. Now, the developer has pleaded with fans to please stop sending pizza. Community manager Brian Jarrard wrote on Twitter that he and the studio are appreciative, but it's just too much pizza.
"The Halo community is awesome. We're excited, too! Please don't send any more pizzas to 343 Industries," Jarrard said. "The building receptionist isn't here, so it's getting logistically challenging and we really don't want to see food go to waste."
The Halo community is awesome. We're excited, too! Please, don't send anymore pizzas to 343 Industries. The building receptionist isn't here so it's getting logistically challenging and we really don't want to see food to go waste.
Why the pizza? Before all the big Halo reveals today, Jarrard tweeted the pizza emoji for some reason, and now people are running with it and flooding 343's offices with pizza.
Here is a visual rundown of some of the pizzas that 343 received today:
MOAR. Unknown sender, but thank you. Seriously folks, we love the gesture but raise a slice and let's celebrate together! (plz don't send tons of pizzas 😝) pic.twitter.com/SsMtJI0nyo
Annnnd another one. Thank you anonymous pizza donator. I think pineapple and jalapeño is a troll but it's some on the teams favorite?! Please we don't need more pizza. We good. pic.twitter.com/KVQKGCzl5F
Some of Microsoft's announcements today included Halo: The Master Chief Collection for PC and Halo: Reach being added to the collection. Those are two things that fans have been requesting for a long time, so it's understandable that there would be significant excitement over the announcements.
Microsoft held its latest Inside Xbox video broadcast on Tuesday, and it was packed with news. In the space of just an hour, Microsoft made a series of big-time announcements, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to PC and adding Halo: Reach, the next big Xbox Game Pass game, a new Xbox One controller design/color, and more.
We've rounded up all the big news in once place here to give you a quick look at all the big news announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. While the broadcast had a lot of big news, it didn't confirm the rumoured disc-free Xbox One or the rumoured launch of Xbox Game Pass for PC. Looks like we'll have to wait to learn more about those topics.
With that out of the way, here is a rundown of all the big news from Microsoft's Inside Xbox stream:
Halo: The Master Chief Collection For PC
Confirming earlier rumours and reports, Microsoft officially confirmed that Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC. The release structure is anything but traditional. Microsoft is releasing each title within the package individually for download and purchase, beginning with Halo: Reach. Subsequent games will be released in chronological order. Microsoft hasn't confirmed pricing yet, but the entire package on Xbox One sells for $30. Notably, it won't only be released on the Microsoft Store, as you'd expect; Microsoft will also see it through Steam. For more, check out these stories:
Halo: Reach Coming To Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Responding to fans' requests, Microsoft announced that Bungie's 2010 game Halo: Reach, will join The Master Chief Collection at some point down the road. It'll be available on Xbox One and the newly announced PC edition. This includes the campaign and multiplayer elements, including Forge and Theatre, along with the fan-favourite Firefight mode. On Xbox One, the multiplayer (including Forge and Theatre) is free for owners of the MCC, while Microsoft will charge for the campaign and Firefight mode--pricing has yet to be divulged. Xbox Game Pass members, however, will get the entire package at no extra cost. It's less clear how it'll all work on PC, but campaign, multiplayer, and Firefight are coming. Take a look at the stories linked below to find out everything we know so far.
The Phantom White Special Edition controller was announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. The $70 USD controller goes on sale in April worldwide. Its described as blending "luxury and sci-fi," whatever that means. You can see it close up in the story linked below.
One of the biggest games on Earth, Minecraft, is coming to the Xbox Game Pass library on April 4. That's big news in its own right, as it expands the already-massive sandbox game's reach further still. It also becomes just the latest family-friendly title in the catalog.
Cloud gaming is set to be a big deal in the future, and one of the other big reveals during the Inside Xbox stream was a new look at Microsoft's ambitious game-streaming technology, Project xCloud. The game lets you stream titles directly to a device connected to the internet, which allows you to play high-end games on a low-spec device because the heavy lifting is happening in the cloud. Forza Horizon 4 was shown running on an Android-based phone connected wirelessly via Bluetooth to an Xbox One controller. Microsoft also confirmed that public trials for xCloud--or whatever official name Microsoft decides to give the platform--will begin later this year.
Video game industry veteran Jade Raymond, who produced the original Assassin's Creed before joining EA where she worked on Star Wars, has landed a new job at Google.
Raymond announced on Twitter today that she's working at Google as a vice president. That's all she had to say on the matter, so it's unclear exactly what she's doing at Google.
Google operates a gaming business with its Project Stream technology that is set to be formally unveiled next during the Game Developers Conference. Raymond would be at least Google's second high-profile gaming hire, following former PlayStation and Xbox boss Phil Harrison who joined Google as a VP in January 2018.
I'm excited to finally be able to share that I have joined Google as VP!
In her most recent position at EA, Raymond served as senior vice president group general manager of Motive Studios. In that role, Raymond was responsible for leading a new business unit and studio team centered on making new IP and action games. She was also responsible for leading the strategy around EA's new Star Wars games. She left EA in October 2018.
As for Google's GDC event, the company plans to unveil its "vision for the future of gaming"--and it could be related to streaming. In 2018, Google partnered with Ubisoft to test its Project Stream technology that made Assassin's Creed Odyssey playable straight through a Google Chrome browser.
In other news, recent rumors have circulated regarding Google's so-called "Project Yeti," which is said to be its own take on the home console. It would focus on streaming, and may even have its own exclusive games, but the price and details are unknown.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC, and Microsoft is getting help from a pair of external studios to bring the collection to Steam and the Microsoft Store. In a blog post, developer 343 Industries said bringing Halo: MCC to PC is a "monumental undertaking," and to get help, it's hired Ruffian Games and Splash Damage.
Another factor at play here is that the "bulk" of 343 developers are now working on Halo Infinite, so the team is turning to outside studios to spread the development load.
"Bringing all these classic games together and integrating the huge matrix of features and experiences PC gamers and Halo fans deserve and expect is a monumental undertaking," 343 said. "It's no secret that the bulk of the team of 343 Industries is hard at work realizing the future of the franchise with Halo Infinite so the same amazing Publishing Team who diligently brought all the recent improvements and updates to MCC over the last year has invited a few friends to help us achieve victory. The experienced and passionate folks at Splash Damage and Ruffian are partnering with us to help make this dream a reality."
Splash Damage CEO Richard Jolly said in a statement that it is a "tremendous honor" to work on Halo. He noted that Splash Damage has been making multiplayer games for nearly two decades; some of its recent projects include the multiplayer elements of Batman: Arkham Origins and Microsoft's own Gears of War 4.
As for Ruffian Games, the studio made Crackdown 3's Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode, so it, too, already had an established relationship with Microsoft. "We love Halo and are mindblown to help bring this franchise back to PC," reads a statement from Ruffian Games. "343 has assembled an amazing team who're working hard to build the Halo PC experience fans deserve. It's a privilege to be along for the ride."
The final Bungie-developer Halo game, the acclaimed Halo: Reach, is finally coming to Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One, as well as the upcoming PC version of the collection. However, the way in which it will be released is a bit different than the last time a game, Halo 3: ODST, was added to the collection.
On Xbox One, the game's multiplayer content--include Forge and Theatre--will be free for everyone who owns the game. The game's campaign and Firefight mode, however, are getting bundled together in a "premium digital add-on" that you'll have to buy. Pricing was not disclosed, however.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers have the easiest path to getting all of Halo: Reach's components. Members will receive "the entirety of Halo: Reach," according to Microsoft. The rest of the Master Chief Collection is already available to Game Pass members.
It's not clear if Reach's campaign, multiplayer, and Firefight will be bundled together in one package or each sold as individual elements. Microsoft has said it will share many more details about Halo: MCC's release on PC in the time ahead, so all should become clear eventually. We do know that the company will sell each game in the MCC individually on PC; it's unclear if it will also be available in a single bundle, as is the case on Xbox One. Notably, the PC release will come on both the Microsoft Store and Steam.
For more on recent Halo news, check out the stories linked below:
During the latest Inside Xbox livestream, Microsoft's Project xCloud tech was shown off in action. Project xCloud allows games to be streamed directly to devices via hardware in remote data centers, letting you play games through a sufficiently high-speed internet connection. Specifically, Forza Horizon 4 was shown running on an Android-based phone connected wirelessly to an Xbox One controller.
Xbox's head of gaming cloud Kareem Choudhry said that public trials for Project xCloud will begin this year, though a specific timing window was not given. Not much else was said in terms of details, but Microsoft dug into the tech a bit last year with a video discussing how the tech works. At E3 2018, head of Xbox Phil Spencer made mention of game streaming during the company's keynote presentation, and stressed that the tech will deliver "console-quality gaming on any device."
Cloud-based gaming is a fairly new and complex technology, and it's a good thing we have you covered; be sure to check out our detailed explainer on everything you need to know about cloud gaming.
Play the games you want, on the devices you want, whenever you want. Project xCloud has big plans, and they're kicking off this year. #InsideXboxpic.twitter.com/kyoXSjDc4W
Recently, I reviewed the cloud-based streaming service called Shadow and its set-top box Shadow Ghost. The service gives you access to a powerful gaming PC and streams the video feed of that PC to any device that can run the Shadow application. While it had some issues, Shadow worked especially well for non-competitive gaming experiences.
Inside Xbox had a few other big stories. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is set to launch on PC through a gradual rollout starting later this year with each game in the package sold separately. Halo: Reach will be the first of the series' lineup to hit the PC. Reach will also come to the Xbox One version of the collection with multiplayer available for existing owners; the campaign and Firefight mode will be separate paid DLC. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to access all of the additional content when the update comes.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is currently available to play for those who purchased the Gold and Ultimate editions of the game. Because of the online nature of the game, GameSpot's access privileges to The Division 2 are the same as those who have those editions, so we're playing and experiencing concurrently to those players. All players will receive access to the game by Friday, March 15.
Below you'll find some day-one impressions from me, who'll be writing the final review. I plan to have a scored review-in-progress once I've completed the campaign and a final review once I've seen a substantial amount of what The Division 2 has to offer with its endgame content, including specializations, invaded missions, PvP, and the Dark Zones. We appreciate your patience as we dig deep into this huge game.
I've only been to Washington DC once in my life, and it was a short visit. I spent the better part of the day wandering the National Mall before calling it a night and moving on the next day. I've now spent about the same amount of time in Massive Entertainment's version of Washington DC, spending most of the first full day of The Division 2's life getting my bearings on the world and steadily plugging away at the game's campaign and side activities. But in both cases, my feelings about the place is the same: I really want to spend more time there.
The Division 2 goes like this: Months after the events of the first Division, chaos and disorder still plague what is left of the US, especially in the nation's capital. Important personnel and agencies have withdrawn as the city is upturned by armed groups with malicious intent, while remaining civilians band together and struggle to survive and establish self-sufficiency. As a secret sleeper agent of the Strategic Homeland Division, you've been tasked with aiding Washington's civilian militia to regain a hold on law, order, and society.
It's all a bit overwhelming at first, even for someone who played a lot of The Division. Several smaller things have been added to the sequel, which translates to a barrage of mission and tutorial popups for the first few hours. It's also tough to initially get your head around the convoluted UI. But once you get a handle on the flow of progression, it doesn't take long to get completely sucked in.
What strikes me most about The Division 2 is how much its world feels like a thoroughly cohesive, living place. Settlements, the hubs where you craft, shop, and track your progression, are believably buzzing with activity. After establishing your own base of operations at the White House, the first settlement you unlock is a multi-leveled community built around the rooftop of Washington's National Theatre and its surrounding buildings. At first, it's a little frustrating trying to make your way around it and track down the services you need--there's a lot of seemingly unimportant spaces you have to traverse. But those spaces go a long way in pushing this settlement into seeming like something that could feasibly work in real life, player convenience be damned. There are dedicated areas for the logistics of the settlement, NPCs seemingly doing a variety of chores, and generally a messy, makeshift nature to it all that feels genuinely thrown together and at risk of falling into disarray at the slightest breeze. It's charming.
After completing roughly a third of the story missions, the plot of the game so far seems to be a relatively straightforward goal of increasing the militia's capacity to fight back against aggressors by rescuing key personnel and property. You'll do this by going into various Washington landmarks and gunning down a lot of people in main and side missions, helping individuals out in open-world activities, and gathering resources, all of which contribute to various settlement "projects" aimed at upgrading civilian operations.
Mechanically, this means you can craft better gear and get access to more kinds of vendors, but narratively, it means you get to see civilian settlements like the theatre gradually grow and become more livable, vibrant places. This could be in the form of more lights at night so it's not so gloomy. The empty spaces might turn into gardens and rec areas where you can see people growing and serving food for others. The kids running around might get a dedicated place to play board and video games (they really love For Honor, apparently), all because you went out into the world, scavenged a bunch of materials, and brought them back for this specific purpose. The majority of these small improvements are ultimately superficial and non-functional, but the focus on them is a big factor in your own personal sense of growth, progress, and motivation.
Out in the open world, enemy gangs can be found wandering the streets, getting into scrapes, looting places, and generally trying to survive in their own right. Friendly NPC patrols also roam the streets and have real objectives of their own, which you can follow and assist them in. They're optional vectors to help you engage in the world, but their ability to act of their own accord helps make the world intriguing.
The Division 2 also seamlessly integrates mission areas in the open-world map, regularly requiring you to traverse the streets to get to them. The game typically dumps a ton of missions on you at one time, encouraging you to spend more time in the world and return to settlements only when you've achieved a significant amount. Safe havens, the city streets, and the game's activities are contiguous, which emphasizes the feeling of a sprawling world and a prolonged passage of time, and makes returning to settlements all the more pleasant. The Washington DC of The Division 2 feels like a very material one so far, one that I'm eager to explore.
Of course, The Division 2 isn't just about building communities, it's a game about shooting a lot of people with a lot of different guns. The game's combat continues to revolve around RPG-style traits and damage numbers when calculating the result of a bullet hitting an enemy, but it's notable that the time to take down a human enemy doesn't feel as far-fetched as it did in the original Division. It can still take a couple of headshots to take down an unarmored opponent, but unless I'm using a weapon whose power level is unsuitable to the mission, enemies don't feel like they can withstand an unreasonable amount of damage so far.
Instead, The Division 2 creates more difficult challenges with more elaborately armored opponents. There are certain enemy types who are visibly more protected than most, and these archetypes can definitely soak up a lot of damage. But there are new combat options implemented to help you deal with them, which demand that you be strategic: Focusing fire on a particular segment of an enemy's armor will eventually break it, opening up a weak spot for higher levels of damage. That means even if you're up against a heavily protected elite enemy, you can crack open their helmet with some diligence, and they can then go down with a few well-placed headshots.
Even after roughly ten hours, I'm still enjoying going up against the variety of enemy archetypes, which, combined with The Division's focus on relentless gunfire and cover-based shooting, makes the game's conflicts tense. There are a good mix of opponents to really keep you focused on what's happening--each faction has soldiers dedicated to rushing your position, keeping you suppressed with sniper fire and flushing you out of cover, among other things. Soldiers will frequently attempt to flank you while your attention is diverted, and you can do the same to them.
Combat skills also add a fantastic vector of strategy to things--there are eight major skills in total, each with a few interesting variants in function and behavior. You'll eventually be able to unlock everything, so experimentation and being flexible enough to balance your loadouts between skills and the types of guns you're carrying is encouraged. As to the guns themselves, I've already come across an impressive variety of different weapons with distinct feels in the way they handle. I typically have a favored style of character build, but I'm encouraged to try out new weapons and skills as I come across them, and I think about how they might be used in tandem with everything else.
"Encouraging" is generally how I feel about The Division 2 at this point in time. It's got a fantastic sense of place and progression, and the combat scenarios and skills continue to be interesting. There's a lot of love, especially among the minor improvements--the small design decisions that make the act of finding and equipping loot so snappy and convenient, or the smart integration of per-mission multiplayer matchmaking that even lets you call upon other players in the middle of a mission. I haven't personally hit any server issues or major bugs, just some humorous oddities, like a floating iPad entertaining two excited children.
But it's only been a day, and I've only played for about ten hours. I've finished 27% of the primary missions and my character is level 12 out of a possible 30. A lot of my observations here might not be particularly groundbreaking if you spent a large amount of time with the original The Division or The Division 2 beta, but there's still a lot of the campaign left to see, and an allegedly enormous endgame. It's important that I take the time to get to that point and see everything for myself, and I'm eager to see whether The Division 2 will still have the chops to keep me hooked when I hit the level cap and stop having a story to chase. Back to sightseeing, for now.
Microsoft is going even bigger now with the news this week that it's launching Halo on Steam. The Master Chief Collection, a huge package that includes Halo 1-4, along with ODST and Halo: Reach, will be available on Steam beginning later this year.
Microsoft has never released a Halo FPS game on Steam, so this is a big deal (Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is on Steam). Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 were released on PC through Microsoft's own store, while Halo 5: Forge also made its way to PC, but not through Steam. The core of Halo 5 remains unavailable on PC, and Microsoft has yet to announce plans to change that as of yet.
Speaking generally about Steam back in 2016, Spencer said it's a "massive force" in the gaming industry--and a positive one.
"I look at Valve as an important [independent software vendor] for us on Windows. They are a critical part of gaming's success on Windows," he said. "I don't think Valve's hurt by not having our first-party games in their store right now. They're doing incredible well. We will ship games on Steam again."
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is releasing on Steam in a unique way. Microsoft will release each game individually, beginning with Halo: Reach and continuing in chronological order from there. The games will be available for individual purchase as they become available, though specific pricing details have not been announced. We also don't know if a bundle will be available similar to what is available to Xbox One players, who can't purchase the games individually.
The game is also launching on PC through the Microsoft Store.
It looks like Borderlands developer Gearbox might announce its next game very soon. The studio posted a teaser image on Twitter on Wednesday that many are taking to be a sign that Borderlands 3 will be announced during a panel at PAX East later this month.
The teaser image shows a highway sign for Boston, Mass. and date March 28, while the background looks visually similar to the style of the Borderlands series. The top right of the highway sign shows the bottom half of the number three. PAX East takes place in Boston, and the "3" might be a signal that this is all in reference to Borderlands 3.
March 28 is the same day that Gearbox is holding a panel at PAX East's biggest hall. Among other things, the panel promises "never-before-seen reveals, exclusives, and surprises." Fore those who cannot attend, the event will be streamed live.
Gearbox's next title is expected to be published by 2K, whose parent company Take-Two has been talking about a "highly anticipated" sequel for a long time now, despite it never being officially announced. Speculation has suggested that the game may be Borderlands 3, or whatever the next title in the series ends up being called. Regardless, a new Borderlands is known to be in development, as Gearbox's Randy Pitchford has even stated publicly that 90% of the studio is "working on the thing I think most of you guys want us to be working on."
Fortnite's 8.10 patch is now available across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Headlining this week's update is the new Baller vehicle, but the patch also makes numerous other changes to the game, including to a handful of outfits.
With the 8.10 update, developer Epic has given a makeover to a few of the game's older skins. "We've seen you being vocal about wanting to see the face behind the masks of some of our helmeted outfits, so we've done a pass on previous outfits," the developer explained in its latest blog post.
Specifically, six skins have been updated with this week's patch: Scarlet Defender, Elite Agent, Renegade Raider, Waypoint, Overtaker, and Whiteout. Epic says that it'll be "working on more outfit styles and other broad stroke improvements" to Fortnite's art in the future.
That isn't the extent of the cosmetic changes update 8.10 has made; Epic has also implemented custom animations for numerous consumable items, including the Chug Jug and Slurp Juice. The developer says it will work on making visual improvements to the game's lighting, the day/night cycle, wraps, and more.
Along with the aforementioned Baller, update 8.10 also made some big cross-play changes. Following the patch, PS4 and Xbox One players will now be grouped in the same matchmaking pool by default, while Switch and mobile players will be grouped together. You can read more about this and other changes in the full 8.10 patch notes.
Microsoft has revealed a new Xbox One controller color, and it's definitely unique. The Phantom White Special Edition is described as "the optimal blend of luxury and sci-fi, embodying a new slant on technical beauty," and the description goes on from there.
"This controller reflects a sense of mystery with rich, neutral colors that fade away to reveal the technology inside," reads another line from one of the best product descriptions I have read in a long time. Here's what all of those words mean:
The Phantom White Special Edition Xbox One controller
The new pad launches at retailers around the world starting on April 2, priced at $70 USD. This is the second in Microsoft's Phantom Series following the Phantom Black controller.
As of right now, the Phantom White Special Edition controller is only available to pre-order from the Microsoft Store, but we'll update this post as more retailers become available.
Pre-order the Xbox Phantom White Special Edition controller
There's something especially satisfying about pulling off a combo that gets you into the SSS ranking in Devil May Cry 5. Featuring a trio of badass devil hunters--returning favorites Dante and Nero, as well as newcomer V--you'll realize that they each bring a dazzling set of skills that show off a remarkable sense of style and energy in a fight. But there's a lot more to slaying demons than simply firing your gun or swinging your oversized, engine-powered sword. As an action game that possesses the depth of complex fighting games, you'll need to learn and understand the subtle mechanics and nuances of its main cast in order to leave an impression on Devil May Cry 5's enemies.
In this guide, we're giving you the rundown on one of Devil May Cry 5's main protagonists--particularly the brash and hot-headed Nero. Whether it's getting a handle of the timing for his Exceed mechanic, or deciding which Devil Breakers you should use, Nero has plenty of options when it comes to taking down demons. If you're willing to take the time and learn how each character functions, you'll be able to get the elusive SSS ranking in no time.
So with that, here's our breakdown on Nero in DMC5. Be sure to watch the gameplay video above at the 03:30 mark to see what SSS rank combat looks like for Nero. If you want to know more about Dante and newcomer V, head on over to our guides for those characters, as well as our walkthrough on how to find all the Secret Missions. For more info on Devil May Cry 5, read our full review.
Overview
As one of the more accessible characters, the charismatic and scrappy Nero features a move set that carries over a number of returning mechanics from DMC4, which includes his familiar long-range grapple moves. With a skill set that emphasizes timing and charging up attacks, Nero's playstyle is all about creating opportunities and executing primed up attacks with his Red Queen sword, Blue Rose revolver, and Devil Breakers. Devil Breakers are Nero's newest weapon, allowing him to bring in a customizable set of special arms into battle. This new mechanic can alter his normal attacks and introduce some exciting moves that can slow down time or give him additional projectile attacks.
Nero is the most agile and acrobatic character in the game, and he possesses excellent evasive skills and prowess at fighting enemies in the air. With his Table Hopper ability, Nero can execute a series of jukes and careful dodges right when an enemy is about to attack, allowing him to move into their blind spot in incredibly slick fashion. Nero also has several attacks that allow him to stay in the air, including his Roulette and Calibur skills. If there's a good way to describe Nero, he's essentially the brawler of the trio, focusing on fast, heavy hits while being able to slip out with a dodge when he needs to.
The Devil Breakers
The Devil Breakers are truly a game-changer for Nero when paired with his basic move set. These special arms allow you to pull off some very powerful, if a bit bizarre, actions for Nero, greatly expanding his repertoire of skills. For instance, the default breaker is the Overture, a close-range arm that conjures up a massive lighting fist that can also be turned into a remote bomb. Also, Gerbera's aerial burst attack--which doubles as a dodge--can be extremely effective when you want to keep yourself and the enemies in the air. Unfortunately, the breakers are very fragile and getting hit while using them will cause it to shatter. So you'll need to carefully pick which moment is best to use them.
One of the main mechanical restrictions for the Devil Breakers, however, is that you can't freely switch off between the arms in your magazine. In order to shift over to your next arm, you'll have to break it yourself (creating a small explosion in the process) or use up the arm's charged attack. With this in mind, you'll want to customize your loadout to complement your particular playstyle and approach. Though Gerbera and Overture are always reliable to have, other worthwhile breakers to use are the Punch Line and the Tomboy. Punch Line is an extremely fast rocket arm that can target a single enemy and hit them multiple times, while the Tomboy overcharges Nero's sword and gun, greatly altering its attack pattern and strength.
Combat Tips
When playing as Nero, the best way to build up to the SSS ranking is to keep moving, evade enemy attacks, and rush in with fast hits on a constant basis. One of Nero's most technical combat skills to master is his Exceed mechanic. With his engine-powered sword, you'll be able to tap the left trigger to charge up his attacks for extra damage. Though you can hold and tap the trigger multiple times to build up energy, the more efficient way to get a charge is by tapping the Exceed button as you simultaneously swing your sword. If you can nail the timing, you'll be able to amplify its attack strength instantly. Mastering the timing can be extremely useful during a fight, as you can chain together multiple charged attacks together during a single combo. Unlocking the MAX-Act skill will allow you to fully charge the Red Queen to its limit with a well-timed tap of the Exceed button.
Nero is also effective at bunching up enemies with his attacks. The Streak combat skill--a rush attack that drives Nero forward with his sword--is a move to push enemies together, but the Exceed-variant of the move will turn it into multiple hits. With a set of enemies bunched up together, you can use one of his Devil Breakers to damage the stunned group. In this instance, Punch Line's normal attack is a solid move, but the Gerbera's special--either the ground attack or the aerial variant--are great choices to use when the enemies are bunched up or when you're fighting in tight spaces.
Nero is extremely proficient in rush-down tactics, but for some extra finesse, he can also use some of his unique taunts--which just so happen to have some advantages in combat. Taunting is normally a good way to build up style ranking, but some of Nero's taunt actions can even charge energy for his sword and gun. In addition to this, Nero is the only character in the game that has an aerial taunt--which is a surprisingly effective way to dodge attacks and get some extra airtime. By taking advantage of Nero's multi-functional arms, his aerial tactics, and his great speed and rush-down potential, you'll be able to work your way up to SSS rank in no time at all.
There's something especially satisfying about pulling off a combo that gets you into the SSS ranking in Devil May Cry 5. Featuring a trio of badass devil hunters--returning favorites Dante and Nero, as well as newcomer V--you'll realize that they each bring a dazzling set of skills that show off a remarkable sense of style and energy in a fight. But there's a lot more to slaying demons than simply firing your gun or swinging your oversized, engine-powered sword. As an action game that possesses the depth of complex fighting games, you'll need to learn and understand the subtle mechanics and nuances of its main cast in order to leave an impression on Devil May Cry 5's enemies.
In this guide, we're giving you the rundown on Devil May Cry 5's key players. Whether it's using Dante's massive arsenal of weapons, deciding on which of Nero's Devil Breakers to bring into a mission, or how best to utilize V's demonic familiars--DMC5 presents you with a lot of options, and you'll often need to decide how best to take advantage of the tools the game presents you.
Though you can get a lot of mileage out of the game's training mode, known as The Void, you'll eventually have to dive head-first into combat and put those skills to the test in an actual mission. If you're willing to take the time and learn how each character functions, you'll be able to get the elusive SSS ranking in no time. Below you can find links to our guides on each of the main players in DMC5 and how to best use their skills in battle. Though, be sure to watch the gameplay video above to see what SSS rank combat looks like for each character.
As one of the more accessible characters, the charismatic and scrappy Nero features a moveset that carries over a number of returning mechanics from DMC4, which includes his familiar long-range grapple moves. With a skill-set that emphasizes timing and charging up attacks, Nero's playstyle is all about creating opportunities and executing primed up attacks with his Red Queen sword, Blue Rose revolver, and Devil Breakers. Devil Breakers are Nero's newest weapon, allowing him to bring in a customizable set of special arms into battle. This new mechanic can alter his normal attacks and introduce some exciting moves that can slow down time or give him additional projectile attacks.
V is essentially DMC5's glass cannon. Though frail and weak in appearance, this demon hunter possesses impressive powers and relies on his demonic familiars--the shape-shifting panther Shadow, demonic bird Griffon, and giant golem Nightmare--to do damage for him. With V's demons, you can perform all manner of complex combos and juggles, but you're generally standing away from combat waiting to inflict a final blow.
As the last character to unlock during the main story, the legendary devil hunter Dante may feel like you're biting off more than you can chew. While mechanically he's similar to his version in DMC4, the pacing in DMC5 and the number of tools he has at his disposal is a big shift from the previous game, which can make getting a handle of his combat style feel a bit daunting. Simply put, Dante is the most advanced character in the game. In addition to an expansive arsenal of melee weapons and firearms that each have their own functions and mechanics, the legendary devil hunter also has four unique combat styles that introduce new moves and enhance his combat loadout.
Confirming rumors, Microsoft officially announced Halo: The Master Chief Collection will be coming to PC later this year. Microsoft says the PC edition was "built specifically for the PC audience," but it remains to be seen what kind of PC-specific features are being implemented.
Microsoft did confirm that Halo: MCC for PC will contain campaign and multiplayer support, so it sounds very similar to the Xbox One edition. However, whether or not there is cross-play support is unknown. Also unclear is if people who already bought the Xbox One edition will get the PC edition at no cost like Xbox Play Anywhere titles.
In a statement, 343 said it was "critical" to ensure that Halo: MCC for PC is a "first class" experience that doesn't suffer from the same kind of issues that the Xbox One edition did.
"The team is passionately committed to ensuring that all of the features, bells, and whistles expected in a modern PC title are included with MCC," 343 said.
To that end, Microsoft is adopting a unique release schedule for Halo: MCC on PC. Each title within the game will be released one by one. According to 343, this will allow the studio to ensure that "each one is right, while giving players a chance to jump in right away, rather than having to wait for the entire suite of games to be completed."
"Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST (Campaign), and Halo 4 will each be available for individual purchase within MCC as they become available," reads a line from Microsoft's news release.
The wording there suggests that each title will be sold separately within the overall MCC package. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed as much to GameSpot. "Each title will be available separately download and purchase. We'll have more to share in the future," a Microsoft representative told us.
For Halo: Reach specifically, players will get campaign, multiplayer, and Firefight, though it's not immediately clear if these are combined into one purchase or each sold separately.
Microsoft said it will share many more details about Halo: MCC in the time ahead, so keep checking back for more. 343 is working on the PC edition alongside outside studios Splash Damage and Ruffian.
Halo: MCC for PC will be available through the Microsoft Store and Steam, though pricing for each title was not announced. Whatever the case, 343 said each game within Halo: MCC for PC will "evolve and grow over time with community input."
The collection originally launched on Xbox One back in November 2014, and the initial launch did not go so well with the game suffering from serious server issues. Those problems have been fixed, and the game is in much better shape today, and Microsoft continues to update the title on a regular basis as it also works on the brand-new Halo game, Halo Infinite.
Halo: MCC on Xbox One includes Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary, as well as Halo 3 and Halo 4. Halo 3: ODST was later added to the package as a measure of thanks to the community for sticking with the game amid its issues.
Halo: MCC coming to PC is a big deal. While Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 were released on PC, subsequent titles never were. Microsoft previously acknowledged that fans want to see more Halo games for PC, and this move--along with Halo Infinite being confirmed for PC--seems to be a strong signal that Halo once again has a home outside of Xbox.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection continues to grow. Microsoft announced today during its Inside Xbox broadcast that Halo: Reach will be added to the package in the near future.
Originally released in 2010, Halo: Reach is the final Halo game developed by Bungie after it handed off the franchise to Microsoft and its new developer, 343 Industries. A prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo: Reach tells a stirring story that ends on a dark note. The game puts you into the space marine boots of Spartan Six, not Master Chief.
Halo: Reach's multiplayer content, as well as Forge and Theatre, will be added to Halo: MCC on Xbox One at no extra cost. However, the game's campaign and fan-favourite Firefight multiplayer mode are coming together in a paid package. If you're an Xbox Game Pass member, however, you'll get "the entirety of Halo: Reach" without paying extra.
Microsoft also announced that Halo: MCC is coming to PC, with each title in the collection launching one by one. Unlike on Xbox One, Reach will be offered as one package on PC and will be the first MCC game available as part of its rollout on the platform.
After Halo: Reach is added, Halo: The Master Chief Collection will include all but one of the mainline Halo FPS games. Only the Xbox One game Halo 5: Guardians is not in the package. That game, like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, is included with Xbox Game Pass.
Nothing beats the exhilaration of performing an SSS rank combo in Devil May Cry 5. But if you want to experience these emotional highs, your technique needs to be on point. As an action game, DMC5 is filled to the brim with complex mechanics that takes practice to master.
As Dante, you utilize his arsenal of weapons and multiple fighting styles to perform all manner of combos. When playing him, you have to strike a balance at being flexible, while also being relentless in your approach. In this guide, we give you the basics of how to play this tenured demon hunter, as well as offer some tips on how to achieve an SSS rank. For visual reference, watch the video above to see what SSS rank Dante combat looks like in action.
As the last character to unlock during the main story, the legendary devil hunter Dante may feel like you're biting off more than you can chew. While mechanically he's similar to his version in DMC4, the pacing in DMC5 and the number of tools he has at his disposal is a big shift from the previous game, which can make getting a handle of his combat style feel a bit daunting. Simply put, Dante is the most advanced character in the game. In addition to an expansive arsenal of melee weapons and firearms that each have their own functions and mechanics, the legendary devil hunter also has four unique combat styles that introduce new moves and enhance his combat loadout.
It's a bit overwhelming coming to grips with Dante since he doesn't like to keep things subtle when he swings his sword or fires off his pistols--everything he does carries considerable force and an exceeding amount of flair behind it. However, what really sets Dante apart from Nero and V is the amount of customization you can apply to his arsenal. Though you can equip him with up to four melee weapons and guns at once--that's eight weapons in total that can be swapped freely during combat--you can whittle it down to something a bit more manageable.
Dante's signature ability is his Devil Trigger, which greatly amplifies his attack power and combo potential. When activated, Dante will slowly regenerate any lost health and dish out significantly increased damage. Some of his key combat skills change slightly too, which can mean all the difference. For instance, using Dante's signature Stinger attack allows him to pierce through the enemy--even damage nearby foes in the process. But even when he's not in Devil Trigger, Dante's attacks tend to focus on dishing out massive amounts of raw attack power in a short time--making him a particularly fun character to play.
The Styles
Dante truly shines with his four combat styles: the swordmaster, gunslinger, trickster, and royal guard. You're able to switch between these four different stances and change his flow and mechanics. The Swordmaster style amplifies all of his melee weapons, adding a special move that's not available in the other styles--such as the Sparda sword's prop shredder and roundtrip moves. The Gunslinger stance boosts the attack power of each firearm, while also giving them some added buffs and traits. Trickster style gives Dante added mobility, allowing him to air-dodge, teleport, and pull off some fast moves that make him extremely mobile on the ground and in the air.
The final style is known as the Royal Guard, and it's by far the most challenging to master. Though it doesn't possess the number of moves and enhancements that the Gunslinger or Swordmaster have, this style allows Dante to parry almost every attack from enemies, and strike back with energy stored up from any successful block. If you're feeling especially brave, it's even possible to clear an entire mission with Dante using only the abilities of the Royal Guard. While you're certainly free to stick with a particular style you like, Dante's true potential shines when he's constantly switching between them. It can be especially satisfying pulling of some successful launchers in Swordmaster style, and then immediately following up by teleporting to airborne foes in Trickster, and then finishing them off in the air with the Gunslinger's rainstorm skill.
Combat Techniques
First off, you're going to need to get comfortable with Dante's weapons and styles. Given the number of weapons he has in his arsenal, you may feel inclined to stick with a mostly standard set-up. While you can pull off some spectacular combos with just the basics, Dante's combat chic is all about variety, and you're much better off in the long run experimenting with different weapons and styles. One of Dante's most effective starting weapons is the Balrog gauntlets. Allowing you to switch off between two different modes focusing on kicks and punches, this weapon has a surprisingly deep set of skills. It even includes a useful dodge mechanic known as the Dempsey Roll, allowing Dante to effortlessly dodge enemy strikes with side-steps, and immediately follow up with a critical strike.
Some of Dante's most effective weapons deal multiple hits within a single strike. The Cavaliere motorcycle, one of the game's most bizarre weapons, especially excels at this. With the standard combo, you can hold the attack button to have Dante press down each strike, letting the bladed wheels grind into the enemy. These are incredibly effective against armored foes, and breaking their defense can score a large boost to your style ranking.
One of the best ways to attain the elusive SSS rank with Dante is to constantly switch up your weapons and tactics, while also staying on the move. The ability to swap between his loadout and styles is Dante's greatest asset, and if you stick with one style or weapon for too long, your ranking will suffer. A strategy to use for attacking with Dante is start off with a basic combo with one weapon, and switch over to another once that particular combo chain ends. With the Devil Trigger active as well, Dante can become a serious force on the battlefield.
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