The DC character Swamp Thing doesn't have the best track record with being adapted. There were two movies, an animated series, and the best of the lot, the live-action series which lasted three seasons. However, none of them truly tapped into the most obvious aspect of the character and the world he lives in: It's all terrifying. The DC Universe streaming service, which has already taken big swings with shows like Titans and Doom Patrol, finally does Swamp Thing justice by creating a show that is truly horrifying.
Within Episode 1 of DCU's new show, Swamp Thing barely makes an appearance, and that's fine. The show centers around a town in Louisiana where something is making people sick and killing them. CDC investigator Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) returns to her hometown to find the cause, where she comes across rogue biologist Alec Holland (Andy Bean), and the two find out that there's a problem in the swamp. While this synopsis sounds more like a copy and paste procedural, what sets Swamp Thing apart is its tone.
With executive producer James Wan on board--the mind behind Insidious and The Conjuring--the latest DC Universe offering is straight-up horror, and it is a perfect fit for the character. From early moments where a young girl becomes sick to when a corpse/plant hybrid goes aggro in a morgue, the first episode does an exceptional job executing a slow build toward the macabre. While it explores body horror, it never crosses the line with moments that are entirely unwatchable, much like Brightburn did, but there is an unsettling feeling that something atrocious could happen at any moment.
The first episode is dark, hopeless, and gritty without falling into the DC cinematic universe trap of feeling like it was done without actual purpose or just to look "cool." The look of the show feels like it could take place in our universe. At no point in time does your suspension of disbelief break because of some of the other-worldly happenings or moments put into slow-motion with popular music blaring behind it. In fact, when you get to see Swamp Thing, it doesn't feel out of place, even though it's one of the more bizarre and dark character designs from DC. And frankly, Swamp Thing looks pretty awesome, which was a big concern for many fans because it's a weird character to try and put into live-action.
Arcane may excel at her job at the CDC, but she has a troubled past, connected to her hometown, which rears its ugly head during the premiere episode. The choices she's made within her life were to help save lives after being put in a situation when she was younger when she couldn't save someone close to her. While this character development feels like the same old story--a character returning home to face her haunted past, a staple of horror--it's not something on the forefront of the audience's mind, as it takes a backseat to killer plants.
However, this aspect of her character leads to one of the most boring scenes during the hour-long pilot episode, where Arcane and Holland spend roughly 10 minutes talking. It is a scene filled with exposition, and a complete lull in the episode before the final scene, which is fantastic. This sort of thing happens regularly in pilots, but sticks out like a sore thumb in Swamp Thing.
While dealing with the past, she has the present confronting her as well, as she learns her small town is under the stranglehold of an evil corporation.How many times have viewers seen this story? What's crazy is that it works for this setting and world exceptionally well. Swamp Thing takes over-used elements and subplots within film and TV and makes them relevant again. Maybe it's the excitement of knowing that the audience will see Swamp Thing soon or wondering what horrors the viewer will see next, but what's old feels new here.
There is one particular scene that really stands out--and not in a good way--which is the opening sequence featuring a group of people in a boat in the Louisiana swamp. They have some black boxes they're putting in the water. A bunch of vines attack them, killing at least one. Yes, it sets the tone, in a sense, and shows you what's to come, but it is completely unnecessary in the grand scheme of things because a later scene where Dr. Arcane investigates a home is the only tonal setup this show needs. As for the boxes, it's something you completely forget about until later on, so this who sequence doesn't really kick things off right.
Like Titans and Doom Patrol, DC Universe has another potential original series hit on its hands. Swamp Thing is something completely different from the aforementioned shows and from anything else DC has put out to date. It's straight-up horror mixed with mystery. Will this show stay on the path? That's the real question, as tonally this is a more complex show that we all first thought. The first episode was surprisingly well put together and exceeded expectations, which is a task considering DC Universe's track record of A+ original series thus far.
Swamp Thing comes to DC Universe on Friday, May 31.
If coping with the closure of Telltale Games last fall isn't hard enough, prepare for more heartbreak. According to digitial distribution site GOG.com, the now-defunct studio's games are being delisted from the storefront.
Tales from the Borderlands was also supposed to be cut, but according to a statement from publisher 2K Games to Eurogamer, "We are working to get Tales from the Borderlands back up on digital storefronts as soon as possible. All prior digital purchases of the game will of course still be honoured and supported."
Tales from the Borderlands and The Walking Dead cannot be purchased on Steam at this time. A handful of other titles--such as the complete Sam & Max series and the final season of The Walking Dead--cannot be bought on Steam either, while games like Batman: The Telltale Series and The Wolf Among Us are still listed as available for purchase. It's unclear if the rest of Telltale's games will be pulled from the platform on Monday.
With the news of GOG pulling Telltale's catalog from the platform, it's possible that the PlayStation and Xbox One stores could face a similar fate in the near future. As of now, though, both the PlayStation Store and the Xbox One store list Telltale games as available for purchase.
In 2018, Nintendo and the Pokemon Company announced and released the first Pokemon games for Switch, Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. They are reimaginings of the classic Pokemon Yellow, designed for newcomers to the franchise and inspired by Pokemon Go's mechanics. While the Let's Go games are mainline Pokemon RPGs and the first on Switch, they're not the same kind of core Pokemon experience fans have been getting on Nintendo's handhelds for two decades. That will come with the system's second set of Pokemon games, Sword and Shield.
Nearly two years after the initial E3 2017 teaser, Nintendo and the Pokemon Company officially revealed Pokemon Sword and Shield. They mark the eighth generation of Pokemon games and are set in an entirely new region with all-new Pokemon, meaning anticipation is high. Because they are set for a late 2019 launch, it's also highly likely we'll see more of them at E3 2019. In the meantime, here's everything we know about Sword and Shield so far and what we can expect at E3 2019.
What We Know So Far
The February 2019 reveal trailer for Sword and Shield contained a number of key details about the Gen 8 Pokemon games. Set in the UK-inspired Galar region, Sword and Shield will include a mix of old and new Pokemon and will see the return of random encounters and wild Pokemon battles after a brief break with Let's Go. Gyms are also back in Gen 8 after a break from the formula in Sun and Moon.
We were also introduced to the three new starter Pokemon: the Grass-type monkey Grookey, the Fire-type rabbit Scorbunny, and the Water-type chameleon Sobble. Based on this Grass-Fire-Water setup, which has been present in every Pokemon game aside from Yellow and Let's Go, we can assume that Sword and Shield aren't totally overhauling the Pokemon formula.
What Is Confirmed For E3?
While Sword and Shield haven't been confirmed outright for E3 2019, we do know that Nintendo's Direct presentation will focus on "Nintendo Switch titles for 2019," which includes Pokemon. Nintendo hasn't shared many details thus far, but we do know that the presentation will be followed by three days of Treehouse streams; those often include developer interviews and in-depth looks at gameplay. Nintendo's presentation takes place June 11 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST (2 AM AET on June 12).
What We Hope To See At E3 2019
The reveal trailer showed quite a bit about Sword and Shield: basic Pokemon battles, trainer customization, the starters, and bits and pieces of the varied Galar region. But there are still a lot of question marks. One of the big mysteries so far is a red and blue circular symbol found throughout the trailer, including on a Gym and even in the games' logo. Sun and Moon also had a symbol in their logo--a crystal, which ended up representing the games' new Z-Crystal battle mechanic. Fans have speculated that the circular symbol in Sword and Shield could also represent a new battle mechanic, so we're hoping to find out what that is at E3.
We're also hoping to see more of the Galar region and its new Pokemon. It looks to be an expansive region, and it even has trains that might be used for fast travel, but we can't know for sure from a trailer alone. Gameplay of the player character walking around a city, for example, could give us a better idea of Galar's scale. We also hope to see more of the region's Pokemon, especially legendaries; a mysterious hill carving in the trailer showed what might be a legendary Pokemon.
Lastly, we're hoping we get answers to some burning questions. Are there any special surprises in store (like travel to another existing region)? Will Sword and Shield be compatible with Pokemon Bank? How will online work? The Direct presentation and any potential follow-up streams could answer the big gameplay questions and provide smaller details fans are looking for. Regardless, with the games' launch fast approaching, it's likely we'll get answers to some of our questions at E3.
The Season of the Drifter is drawing to a close in Destiny 2, and the Season of Opulence is hot on its heels. Everyone's favorite weekend vendor with a weird face, Xur, is back in the solar system, and if you're still working on Invitations of the Nine, now is an excellent chance to wrap them up and push yourself up to the season's Power level cap of 700 before it rises on June 4. Xur is also offering a Year Two Titan Exotic he's never carried before, so you're going to want to seek him out.
Head to the EDZ on Earth to find Xur--he's camping out in Winding Cove. From the spawn point, head north toward the wall of the area and climb up the cliff to where a Fallen dropship has crashed. You'll find Xur standing on the cliff edge.
Your Xur weapon this week is an oldy but a goody: Sweet Business. This minigun-like auto rifle packs an enormous magazine and sprays bullets like a firehose, with increased accuracy when firing from the hip. Holding down the trigger increases its rate of fire and accuracy, and ammo you pick up will automatically be deposited in the magazine while you're firing--so do your best Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 impression and mow down some enemies.
For armor, Titans get One-Eyed Mask, a Year Two Exotic helmet that Xur has never carried before. It marks enemies who damage you, and if you hunt them down and kill them, you get an overshield and increased damage for a short time. Warlocks can also claim a Year Two Exotic in Chromatic Fire, a chest armor piece that creates elemental explosions on enemies when you get kinetic damage precision kills. Hunters can pick up the Raiden Flux chest armor, which increases the duration and damage of your Arc Staff Super when you get quick successive kills.
Here are all the Exotics Xur offers this week and what they'll cost you:
Sweet Business (Exotic auto rifle) -- 29 Legendary Shards
Chromatic Fire (Exotic Warlock chest armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
You can also buy a Fated Engram, if you can afford it. Dropping 97 Legendary Shards on the item will grant you one Year One Exotic you don't already have for that character. Xur also offers the Five of Swords challenge card for free, which allows you to add difficulty modifiers that increase your score in Nightfall runs.
And if you haven't finished all nine of Xur's Invitations of the Nine, you can snag one of those as well. The bounty was new in Season of the Drifter, dispensing Powerful gear rewards, a bit of story about the Nine and the Drifter, and a lore drop.
The live-action Akira movie finally has a release date. The Hollywood adaptation of the classic classic and manga has been in development for many years and will be directed by Thor Ragnarok's Taika Waititi.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner has confirmed that the movie will hit theaters on May 21, 2021. This follows a story last month that the film will be shot entirely in California, and will be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio through his Appian Way production company.
Interestingly, action sequel John Wick Chapter 4 is also currently set for release on May 21, 2021. Back in 2011, John Wick star Keanu Reeves was reportedly offered the lead role in an Akira adaptation, which ultimately never happened.
No casting news about the movie has been announced so far, but Waititi has been involved with the project since 2017. In April last year he spoke about his intentions for it. "What I want to do is an adaptation of the books," he said. "A lot of people are like, 'Don't touch that film!' and I'm like, 'I'm not remaking the film, I want to go back to the book.' There are six gigantic books to go through. It's so rich."
Waititi is the latest in a long line of filmmakers to be linked to the Akira remake. The likes of David Sandberg (Shazam), Daniel Espinosa (the upcoming Morbius), Justin Lin (Star Trek: Beyond), George Miller (Mad Max), and Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows) have all been attached at various stages over the years.
The manga of Akira ran between 1982 and 1990 and is widely credited for popularising Japanese comic books internationally. Equally, the success of the 1989 movie version did much to introduce Western viewers to anime, and is now considered one of the finest sci-fi films ever made.
E3 is almost here, and Microsoft appears likely to begin debuting its plans for the next generation of Xbox. The timing is right, and Sony has already started to outline its PlayStation 5 specs. Microsoft has said it will "go big" at this year's E3. Rumors have been circulating for months about a new Xbox, and E3 would be the place to finally make it official.
Before we look forward, though, let's take a look back. Microsoft has been debuting new hardware for almost 20 years, and it may be instructive to the future of Xbox if we look back at how Microsoft has debuted its previous consoles.
Xbox
Microsoft's first foray into video games debuted in two parts, a sign of a time period when the industry was more fractured and hadn't yet coalesced into a handful of big consumer-facing trade shows. First, the company debuted the console to potential developers at the Game Developers Conference in 2000. Then the company took its console to the general public with a separate presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2001.
At the second presentation in Las Vegas, then-chairman Bill Gates took the stage to show it off. The presentation promised a "revolution" and an October rollout backed by a $500 million marketing campaign. The consumer presentation revolved mostly around showing off its performance, which positioned it as a powerful contemporary of Sony's PlayStation 2. Microsoft also promised easier architecture for developers. It all led to a wrestling game debut, complete with a cameo by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Analysts claimed it could be used as a Trojan horse to push Internet and interactive TV functions, but games publishing VP Ed Fries shrugged off this eventuality.
"We've been fighting a lot of battles all along to make this box all about gaming," Fries said. "Whether it makes sense long term, if Xbox works its way into that networked home Bill was talking about, we'll see about that later."
It launched at $300, or approximately $430 adjusted for inflation.
Xbox 360
Work began on the Xbox 360 in 2003, and Microsoft again targeted developers first with a small event in Bellevue, Washington. The company was quietly making moves to recruit executives like Sega's Peter Moore to improve its workflow and build the architecture, but this time it had a different plan in mind for debuting the machine to the general public. Rather than hold a keynote at an industry trade show, Microsoft went straight to TV. More specifically, MTV.
In a special called "MTV Presents Xbox: The Next Generation Revealed," Microsoft took the wraps off the Xbox 360, per Polygon. The event was hosted by Elijah Woods, and featured guests like The Killers and Lil' Jon. Xbox 360 executive producer J. Allard was interviewed, and Microsoft stressed the console as always-connected and personalized. That set the stage for the success of Xbox Live.
The Xbox 360 launched on November 22, 2005 in two configurations: a Core unit for $300, and a Premium with a 20 GB harddrive for $400--or $390 and $520 adjusted for inflation, respectively.
As a result of its long lifespan, Xbox 360 had the most rebranding and revisions of all Xbox consoles. Most of the revisions were rebranded models with different harddrive sizes and slight changes. The largest change was the Xbox 360 S, also called the 360 Slim, which was an entirely new form factor for the console that debuted in 2010. This revision not only gave the console a new look, but it also included revised hardware to stave off the overheating issues that had lead to the console failure known as the "Red Ring of Death."
Xbox One
As the most recent console debut, the Xbox One is the one most recognizable to modern audiences. The Xbox 360 had gotten an extended lifespan, lasting roughly eight years instead of the usual four. One late addition to the Xbox 360 was a key part of the Xbox One: the Xbox Kinect. The motion-sensing camera was an optional accessory for the 360, but it was a major part of Xbox One's "all-in-one entertainment device" pitch.
Microsoft debuted the console in a special event in Redmond, Washington, stressing it as a multimedia console. The console could serve as a cable pass-through box, and the Kinect would allow voice commands for entertainment and gaming functions.
A second event scheduled for E3 in that year was meant to focus on its video game capabilities. At this event Microsoft announced a plan to bind Xbox One games to a user account, including retail disc copies. The company announced a complicated scheme to allow players to continue trading games or transferring ownership, and the console had an always-on requirement to verify game ownership. In response to a negative reaction, including some mockery from its competition, Microsoft changed its DRM plans before launch. Over the years since launch, the company has also issued firmware updates that de-emphasized its entertainment functionality.
The Xbox One launched on November 22, 2013 in two configurations: a standalone unit for $400, and a bundle with Kinect for $500--or $440 and $550 inflation-adjusted, respectively.
Since then, Xbox One has gotten two significant hardware revisions. The first, the streamlined Xbox One S, was announced during Microsoft's E3 2016 press conference. The second, the more powerful Xbox One X, was announced at E3 2017.
The New Xbox
Now all eyes are on E3 2019 as the most likely place for Microsoft to debut new consoles. Xbox head Phil Spencer seeded an announcement last year at E3 by stating that new consoles are in development. He later reiterated that the company has "a lot to share" at this year's event. Now, with only weeks remaining, we'll see what exactly that means.
By Anonymous on May 24, 2019 09:30 pm We sat down with Piotr and Oleg to talk about GOG Galaxy 2.0, a new version of their PC gaming client that hopes to solve the current issue of too many clients plaguing PC gamers.
Pokemon Go's Extraordinary Raid Week is set to end on May 28, which means there are only a few days left to battle new Raid bosses and earn extra bonuses. Before the event officially wraps up, however, Niantic is holding a special Lapras Raid Day tomorrow, May 25 (May 26 in the Asia-Pacific region), which will give you a chance to battle the beloved Ice Pokemon in Gyms--and maybe even catch a Shiny one.
The Lapras Raid Day runs from 11 AM to 2 PM local time. During that window, Lapras will appear as a Raid boss, and you may even encounter its Shiny form. Moreover, you'll be able to earn up to five Raid Passes--the item you need in order to participate in Raid Battles--from Gyms during the event. You can read more details about the Lapras Raid Day on the official Pokemon Go website.
That isn't the only event on the horizon for Pokemon Go. Beginning next week, Niantic is bringing three Legendary Pokemon back to the game. Cresselia will appear in five-star Raids from May 27 to June 18; Kyogre will follow from June 18 to June 27; and Groudon will return from June 27 to July 10. Not only does this give you another opportunity to add these rare Legendaries to your collection, you'll have a chance to encounter each one's Shiny form during their respective stints as Raid bosses.
Niantic has also announced the first details for Pokemon Go's next Community Day. The monthly event will return on Saturday, June 8, and this time, the featured Pokemon will be Slakoth, the adorable sloth from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. During June's Community Day, Slakoth will appear in the wild much more often than it normally does, and you'll have a chance to catch its Shiny variant. On top of that, Pokemon Eggs will hatch at a quarter of the distance they typically require.
In other Pokemon Go news, Niantic recently rolled out a new wave of Gen 4 Pokemon. Gible, Hippopotas, Cherrim, and more Pokemon originally from Diamond and Pearl are now available in the mobile game. Additionally, Niantic introduced new kinds of Lure Modules, which attract certain types of Pokemon and allow you to evolve Eevee into Glaceon and Leafeon.
"It's all about putting smiles on faces." Those are the words of WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley as he explains his view of professional wrestling's ultimate goal. The former WWE Champion, who is often regarded as the king of hardcoe due to his ultraviolent matches, says this after falling victim to the dreaded "dick flip," a comedic finishing maneuver in which pro wrestler Joey Ryan flips his opponents using nothing more than the power of his penis.
Ryan is the focus of the documentary This Is Wrestling, but truthfully, the hour-long film is about more than just one wrestler on the independent scene. Instead, it's a deep dive into the world of professional wrestling itself. As the movie traces Ryan's career from his days as a rookie to his independent scene stardom, This Is Wrestling--and Ryan himself--spends a lot of time examining the state of the wrestling industry and those that helped form the self-proclaimed "King of Dong Style."
What the documentary says about wrestling is something that might be hard for some fans to digest, particularly those who don't know much about sports entertainment outside of what WWE offers up every week. Among the world of independent wrestling leagues, there is a multitude of wrestling styles and characters. That means there's truly something for everyone, regardless of what you consider to be "good wrestling." It goes back to Foley's quote above, that what wrestlers do is about putting smiles on faces. While the athleticism of professional wrestling can be downright incredible, the entertainment aspect of sports entertainment always reigns supreme. If you don't entertain the audience, chances are you won't make it very far.
And it's Ryan finding what it is that makes him an entertaining performer that makes This Is Wrestling so compelling. It takes a village to help Joey develop his "Famous Dick Wrestler" character, with everyone from Japanese grappler Danshoku Dieno to indy star Drake Younger to current WWE NXT wrestler Candice LeRae contributing to Ryan finding his confidence and channeling his inner sleaze. And he makes a point of singling out every single person who helped him on the journey to his current character.
The beauty of the character Ryan puts on display is that his sleaziness is rather charming. The goal, every time he walks to a ring, is to make sure the audience has the best time possible, regardless of what he's doing. This is especially evident when the documentary addresses his former tag team with LeRae--dubbed the World's Cutest Tag Team.
Traditionally men and women don't team together or fight each other. Bucking tradition, though, Ryan and LeRae became a beloved and respected team on the indies beginning in 2013, at a time when women weren't getting as much of a spotlight as the men. In some ways, the team was a precursor to WWE's own women's evolution that continues today.
In their matches, LaRae was treated as an equal to any man in the ring and had the skill to back it up. But at the end of the day, like Ryan himself, LeRae's goal is to entertain. "We're like Disneyland," she tells him as they figure out how to work a fan's marriage proposal into their match. "I feel like we're like Disneyland, and we're making dreams come true."
And that sums up the era of wrestling Ryan is thriving in to a tee. In many ways, it's the purest form of fan service. Thankfully, the cameras that followed Ryan for the documentary--which is directed by James Agiesta and executive produced by Katy Dierks--were able to capture this extraordinary time in the industry and Ryan's career.
My only real gripe is the length of the piece, which is just over an hour in running time. I would have loved to watch something twice as long. The sit-down interviews Ryan does throughout the film plainly show that the man behind the character, Joseph Meehan, doesn't have much in common with his wannabe '70s porn star alter ego. A bit more of a look into who Ryan is when he's not wearing his wrestling boots could have given even more insight.
Additionally, while the film deals with some of the realities of the wrestling business--including planning out matches, making yourself bleed, and the drug issues that plagued the industry in years past--there's so much more to explore. Then again, perhaps that material would be better left to a piece that isn't focused on a single person.
This Is Wrestling is made for fans of sports entertainment. Still, the way it handles its subject and the world it examines should be easy enough for those who know little-to-nothing about sports entertainment to get a little insight into how this weird world works.
This Is Wrestling: The Joey Ryan Story does not yet have an official release date.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie's release date has been delayed to February 14, 2020. The film was originally set to be released this November, but following a negative reaction to the design of the titular character, which was showcased in the first trailer (watch it above), the movie has now been put back three months while he is reworked.
The news came via a tweet from director Jeff Fowler. The tweet reveals the new date, and states that the filmmakers are "taking a little more time to make Sonic just right." Check it out below:
The trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog was released in April. There was much criticism online about Sonic's appearance, and within a day Fowler had stated that the character would be redesigned ahead of the film's release. There was some concern that a complete Sonic redesign in short time would lead to rushed VFX work, but at least now the filmmakers have more time to get the design right.
Criticism for Sonic's design in the movie was aimed at pretty much every part of the speedy blue hedgehog. Much of the dislike seems to stem from the movie version's legs, torso, teeth, and eyes. The initial Sonic design in the movie made him appear uncannily human, which some fans have found unnerving.
Sonic is voiced by Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation), with Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. Westworld's James Marsden will feature as a state trooper who catches onto Sonic's super speed.
By Anonymous on May 24, 2019 08:30 pm Battle royale is everywhere. While Fortnite reigns as the most popular today, battle royale wouldn't be where it is without PUBG.
Join GameSpot as we celebrate gaming history and give recognition to the most influential games of the 21st century. These aren't the best games, and they aren't necessarily games that you need to rush out and play today, but there's no question that they left an indelible impact on game developers, players, and in some cases, society at large.
Nowadays, when a new shooter is announced or comes out there's one question that consistently pops up: is it going to have battle royale? It's one that's asked both seriously and in jest ever since the sub-genre's popularity exploded just a few years back. The fascination with large-scale multiplayer, where only one player or team per match is left standing, took off like never before when PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds hit Steam early access in March 2017. And while there were battle royale games that came before it and, of course, many that came afterward, PUBG is undoubtedly the force that thrust battle royale into the mainstream.
PUBG's creator, Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene, had a history of making mods for existing games, namely the military sim series ARMA. His creation of an ARMA 2 mod DayZ: Battle Royale (a mod for a mod, if you will) seeded the first step for the sub-genre. He was then brought on as a consultant with Sony Online Entertainment (now Daybreak Games) for the creation of H1Z1's battle royale mode. In 2016, this battle royale mode split from the survival-based version of the game and became a standalone product known as H1Z1: King of the Kill.
At the time, H1Z1 had built a dedicated player-base because of the unique thrill of having one life per match, the unpredictable variables like randomized loot and safe zones, and the intrinsic reward of besting 100+ other players. However, there was always a sense of refinement that was missing from renditions of battle royale at the time, even H1Z1. Their nature as mods really showed, whether it was because of some janky mechanics, relatively low production values, or bare overall structure.
That's not to say PUBG didn't carry some of that baggage when it came on the scene. But when Greene collaborated with Korean developer Bluehole to bring PUBG to early access on PC in 2017, it was readily apparent that it was breaking the barriers to entry that held battle royale back from a larger audience. The game made a slew of mechanics relatively accessible, allowing newcomers to quickly understand the premise and what needed to be done to survive in a match. Drop from a plane with 99 other players, gear up at key locations on the map, adapt to the map's ever-changing safe zones, and win those nerve-racking firefights with what you can scavenge.
While there were battle royale games that came before it and, of course, many that came afterward, PUBG is undoubtedly the force that thrust battle royale into the mainstream.
PUBG's roster of weapons also had a lot to do with its lasting appeal, thanks to their distinct characteristics of damage, range, and recoil, but the attachments system added an extra layer of tactical depth. Firefights carried an unmatched level of intensity because you truly had to understand how your weapons worked and earn your kills with proper positioning and precise aim. Combine that with tools like smoke grenades and the on-the-fly tactics of using your surroundings for cover, and it's almost as if you had to play mind games with your enemies. Thus, coming out on top would feel like its own reward. Chicken dinners were never this tasty.
PUBG even sustained popularity with only one map through most of its early access period, which is a testament to how varied the map was and the unpredictable nature of safe zones. Previous battle royales were made up of fairly barren battlefields, so with PUBG's map featuring dense city centers, varied terrain, and expansive hotspots for action, it set the bar higher for such an important aspect of the game. Thus, no two matches would play out the same and emergent situations kept PUBG feeling fresh match after match.
It was the right game at the right time, and the first fully-realized version of battle royale in video game form. PUBG leaned heavily into its military sim roots in a way that made its action play more like a tactical shooter, but struck a balance between hardcore and approachable mechanics. And although it wasn't without its share of technical issues, it didn't bear the weight of a mod's jankiness. When critics were able to have a definitive word on the game when it fully launched with a 1.0 release, it was showered with praise.
To echo the sentiments from my own review of PUBG for GameSpot, I wrote, "It's not the first of its kind, and despite glaring flaws, PUBG emerges as the most accessible, mechanically refined battle royale game to date." I capped it off by saying, "Every player has unique stories of their most memorable matches, and even after hundreds of hours, PUBG continues to inspire rousing tales of victory and defeat."
According to Steamcharts.com, PUBG exceeded 1.5 million peak concurrent players in September 2017, breaking the previous record set by Dota 2 in March 2016 with 1.3 million players. PUBG continued its meteoric rise and hit a peak of 3.2 million concurrent players in January 2018, nearly three-times that of Dota 2's highest player count. Needless to say, others took note of PUBG's increasingly wild popularity.
Sure, it hasn't been very long since PUBG busted onto the scene, but battle royale essentially went viral because of it.
A little game called Fortnite is a household name and a cultural phenomenon today due to its adoption of the battle royale game mode. Fortnite was initially a wave-based shooter with construction mechanics akin to a survival game (now called "Save The World"), but the team at Epic Games clearly kept a close eye on PUBG. Game director Donald Mustard stated that Epic loved battle royale games, including PUBG, and a separate team at Epic quite literally spun the battle royale mode for Fortnite in a span of two months. In September 2017, Fortnite: Battle Royale hit early access as free-to-play for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, and soon became its own beast.
How do you even begin to describe Fortnite's position in games? For starters, the highest concurrent player count Epic has recorded during a non-event day was 7.6 million in February 2019. The game has partnered with Marvel for a limited time Avengers-themed event where players could embody Thanos. It has official NFL-themed jerseys as skins, and just recently incorporated the Jordan brand. And 10.7 million people hopped onto Fortnite for Marshmello's live in-game concert. Fortnite's massive success also provided the leverage for Epic Games to open its own digital storefront for PC games. There's a whole lot more to unpack, like its impact on streamers and esports, but this is all to say that battle royale has been an extremely powerful thing for games, and PUBG led the way.
Fortnite was just the beginning for the battle royale games that followed in PUBG's footsteps. The biggest first-person shooter franchise in the history of games, Call of Duty, did its own take on the concept with Blackout mode in Black Ops 4, which launched back in October 2018. Electronic Arts and DICE took notice as well, and brought battle royale to their long-running large-scale FPS series with Battlefield V--although it didn't launch with Firestorm, the mode came as a free update in March 2019. Publisher EA would sort of double-dip when the team at Respawn Entertainment, known for its critically acclaimed Titanfall series, came out with Apex Legends in February 2019.
Apex Legends set itself apart by merging elements of hero shooters, like Overwatch, with the core traditions of a battle royale game. However, smart tweaks to the formula such as the intuitive ping system and the incorporation of respawning teammates kept the genre's premise fresh. Apex Legends simplified the necessary mechanics for a seamless experience as well, like the automation of looting better items and equipping better attachments. In a way, it makes PUBG look ancient, but Apex's great success is nonetheless rooted in the foundation PUBG set.
Sure, it hasn't been very long since PUBG busted onto the scene, but battle royale essentially went viral because of it. While others have bested it from a gameplay perspective and in current relevance, it's still going strong. Even at the time of publication of this article, PUBG is the third-most played game on Steam with a peak of 680,000 concurrent players, just behind Valve's own CSGO and Dota 2. PUBG may not have the same popularity it did only a year and a half ago, but it didn't have to maintain that peak for it to have influenced such a large part of the gaming industry--an influence that we're still witnessing evolve.
So, what's the next big game to do battle royale? Tetris?! Oh, wait...
Gearbox Software, the studio behind the upcoming Borderlands 3, appears to be softening its position in an ongoing legal battle with a former employee. The company had previously threatened to file an official grievance against Wade Callender, its former general counsel, but has since dropped that threat and filed a new petition that removes some of its original claims.
Polygon reports that in its most recent court filing, Gearbox dropped a section that accused Callender of breaching his fiduciary duty by revealing confidential information. That claim was in relation to disclosures made in Callender's own suit against Gearbox.
Gearbox has also reportedly not filed a grievance with the State Bar of Texas, as it threatened when the legal matter came to light. Callender himself confirmed that the grievance has not yet been filed, saying he contacted the state bar directly to inquire about his record.
The ongoing legal dispute has been a volley of suits and counter-suits. Gearbox first filed suit against Callender, claiming he had failed to repay a loan and had improperly used company credit cards. A month later, Callender filed suit against Gearbox, alleging that CEO Randy Pitchford had taken $12 million from the company coffers, and more luridly, that he had left a USB drive with pornography and trade secrets at an event. Gearbox then updated its original petition with an amendment accusing Callender's suit of breaching his fiduciary duty--that claim has now been dropped.
Pitchford has been a focal point of other controversies as well. Another former employee, David Eddings, recently explained why he won't be resuming his role as Claptrap for Borderlands 3. That led to a testy exchange with Pitchford until Eddings ultimately alleged that Pitchford had physically assaulted him at GDC 2017, and subsequently stalked him on social media.
Pokemon Go's ongoing Extraordinary Raid Week event is set to wrap up on May 28, giving players a chance to battle new Raid bosses and earn extra bonuses until then. If that isn't enough to scratch your Raid itch, however, Niantic has announced it is bringing three Legendary Pokemon back to Gyms very soon--and this time, you'll have a chance to encounter their Shiny forms.
Cresselia, Kyogre, and Groudon are all set to reappear as five-star Raids over the next few weeks. The Lunar Pokemon will be the first to return, appearing in Raids from May 27 to June 18. The Sea Basin Pokemon Kyogre will follow from June 18 to June 27, while Groundon is scheduled to appear from June 27 to July 10.
It's rare to see the aforementioned three Legendaries in Pokemon Go, so if you missed previous chances to catch them, this is a good opportunity to add them to your collection. Each one also only has a single type, which should make it easier to prepare a team to counter them. The Psychic-type Cresselia is weak to Bug, Dark, and Ghost Pokemon; the Water-type Kyogre is vulnerable to Grass and Electric Pokemon; and the Ground-type Groudon has a disadvantage against Grass, Water, and Ice Pokemon.
In the meantime, you still have a chance to catch Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie. The Legendary lake trio will appear in Raids until May 27. Even after that date, however, it will still be possible to come across the Pokemon in the wild, although the chance of encountering them is exceptionally rare. Each Legendary is also currently exclusive to a specific region, so there's no word if or when they'll rotate to other parts of the world.
Niantic has also announced the date of Pokemon Go's next Community Day. June's event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8, and the featured Pokemon this time will be Slakoth, the adorable sloth originally from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. On top of increased Slakoth spawns, Pokemon Eggs will hatch at a quarter of the distance they normally require during the event.
It's been two years since our last adventure in the Nazi-killing, bombastic world of Wolfenstein, but the wait is almost over as Wolfenstein: Youngblood is fast approaching. Bethesda are returning to E3 2019 with its very own press conference once again, and Wolfenstein fans have their fingers crossed for a new gameplay demonstration of Youngblood ahead of its June 26 release date.
What We Know So Far
Wolfenstein: Youngblood was first announced at E3 last year. The game is being developed by MachineGames, who has created all of the most recent Wolfenstein games, though this time it is in collaboration with Dishonored developer Arkane Studios. Youngblood leaves B.J. Blazkowicz behind and shifts focus to his two daughters, Jessica and Sophia. Set 19 years in the future during the 1980s, the twin sisters are in Paris trying to locate B.J., and lending a Nazi-killing hand where need be.
For the first time in the rebooted series, you'll be able to play cooperatively. If you don't have a buddy on hand, you sister will be AI-controlled. Unfortunately, there is no split-screen capability planned for Youngblood. The game is adding new RPG elements, updated weaponry, new abilities and gadgets. Youngblood executive producer Jerk Gustafsson told Official PlayStation Magazine that the level design will resemble that of Dishonored. MachineGames also confirmed that the gameplay structure will be more open-ended and branching, with plenty of side missions to get stuck into. Missions can also be taken on in any order. As this is not a full priced game, we're expecting a condensed version of the Wolfenstein formula.
The game is set to cost $29.99 for the standard edition and if you splash out on the $39.99 Deluxe Edition you will also get access to a Buddy Pass where you can invite a friend who doesn't have the game to play with you for free. The game will have cosmetic only microtransactions and will arrive on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch on June 26.
What's Confirmed For E3?
So far, Bethesda have confirmed very little for its 2019 press conference. While there's sure to be a variety of titles showcased, only Doom Eternal has a confirmed appearance at this stage. Bethesda's Todd Howard has also ruled out the possibility of Starfield or Elder Scrolls VI making an appearance, but there's no official word on whether we'll see more Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
What We Hope To See At E3
Given Wolfenstein: Youngblood releases mere weeks after Bethesda's E3 conference, we're hoping to see an extended look at how co-op gameplay will work. So far, it seems clear that high-octane action is making a significant return but we've yet to check it out in all its uncut glory, so that's what we'll be hoping for come E3. Excellent co-operative campaigns aren't always easy to come by, so we're keen to see how the multiplayer elements are integrated with the story and combat mechanics.
Additionally, we'd love to get a closer look at the new weapons, gadgets, and abilities that have been teased for Youngblood. It would also be great to learn whether each twin will have a unique approach to combat. The fast approaching release date makes us pretty confident that at least seem of these questions will be answered come E3.
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