The first post-Game of Thrones project from D.B. Weiss and David Benioff has come to light. The pair are working on an untitled thriller based in part on Lovecraft, according to a report from Deadline.According to the report, "The movie asks a horrifying question: what if H.P. Lovecraft wasn’t making it up? What if the monsters he created are real? Also, the movie will be set in 1920 within the Cthulhu mythos."Benioff and Weiss will direct the movie for Warner Bros., with Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi writing the script. They previously wrote the scripts for Aeon Flux and Ride Along.Benioff and Weiss signed a lucrative deal with Netflix in August to create exclusive TV shows and movies for the streaming network. Their busy schedule at Netflix was part of the reason why the pair dropped out of the new Star Wars trilogy at Disney. Their deal with Warner Bros. was reportedly in the works before they signed with Netflix.Game of Thrones wrapped up its eight-season run earlier this year with a particularly divisive final season. The show was immensely popular until the end, with the series finale setting a viewership record for the fantasy program.It sounds like it's still very early days for the Lovecraft movie from Weiss and Benioff. There is no word yet on a cast or a production start-date. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more.Info from Gamespot.com

The best-selling games and hardware for November 2019 in the United States have been revealed, and there are no surprises. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare continues to dominate while the Nintendo Switch remains the best-selling console of the month and the year.The NPD report for November confirms Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as the best-selling game of the month, a position it has held since launch in October. It is 2019's best-selling title, and also the best-selling game of the trailing 12-month period ending in November.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order launched in November, and it finished the month second behind Modern Warfare. After its first month on sale, Fallen Order rocketed up the charts to become the ninth best-selling game of 2019. Its first-month sales are the second-best in Star Wars history, only behind 2015's Star Wars: Battlefront. Also of note is that Fallen Order represents the best launch-month for any game from Respawn in terms of dollar sales.Pokemon Sword and Shield also debuted in November, and they finished No. 3 and No. 5 on the best-seller charts. The Double Pack, which contains both games, finished at No. 4. If all versions of the game were combined, Sword and Shield would have actually finished No. 2 during November."These titles combine to achieve the highest launch month dollar sales of any Pokemon release in U.S. history, topping the previous launch month high set by Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon," NPD said.Digital sales for Nintendo games are not tracked by NPD, so Sword and Shield might have charted higher if this was the case.Another November release, Hideo Kojima's timed PlayStation 4-exclusive Death Stranding, finished No. 7 during its launch month. The game launches on PC in 2020.Also of note for November was that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate became the best-selling fighting game of all time in the United States. It surpassed Super Smash Bros. Brawl to set the new record.Total spending on video game software in November fell 13 percent to $926 million.Moving to hardware, the Switch repeated as the month's best-selling console, and it continues to be the best-selling system of 2019. The PS4 and Xbox One are entering the end of their lifecycles, so it's no surprise they are slowing down in sales as players look forward to the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett in 2020.Total spending on hardware in November fell 26 percent to $891 million. With hardware, software, and accessories combined, total spending on video games in the US during November reached $2.3 billion, which is down 19 percent.Best-Selling Games Of November 2019 (US)All Platforms Call of Duty: Modern WarfareStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order^Pokemon Sword*Pokemon Sword and Shield Double Pack*Pokemon Shield*Madden NFL 20Death StrandingNBA 2K20Need for Speed: HeatLuigi's Mansion 3*2019 Year-To-Date All PlatformsCall of Duty: Modern WarfareNBA 2K20Madden NFL 20Borderlands 3Mortal Kombat 11Kingdom Hearts IIIThe Division 2Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order^Anthem12 Months Ending November 2019 All PlatformsCall of Duty: Modern WarfareSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate*NBA 2K20Madden NFL 20Red Dead Redemption IIBorderlands 3Mortal Kombat 11Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Kingdom Hearts 3The Division 2November 2019 PS4Call of Duty: Modern WarfareStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderDeath StrandingMadden NFL 20Need for Speed: HeatNBA 2K20FIFA 20The Outer WorldsSpider-ManBorderlands 3November 2019 Xbox OneCall of Duty: Modern WarfareStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderMadden NFL 20NBA 2K20Need for Speed: Heat FIFA 20Borderlands 3Ghost Recon: BreakpointRed Dead Redemption 2The Outer WorldsNovember 2019 Nintendo SwitchPokemon Sword*Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield Double Pack*Pokemon Shield*Luigi's Mansion 3*Mario Kart 8*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*Just Dance 2020Ring Fit Adventure*Super Mario Odyssey**Digital sales not included^Steam sales not included Info from Gamespot.com

Rocket League ditched its paid crate system in favor of Blueprints recently, touting a higher transparency that will show customers exactly what they're getting. Unfortunately, the change has not been received well by the game's community--as it turns out, many prices were massively inflated in the new update, making it much harder to get your hands on loot in the game (which is not free-to-play.)In light of this, developer Psyonix has changed the pricing in the item shop, drastically lowering the cost of the objects you can build from Blueprints. Furthermore, customers who have already spent money on Blueprints have been issued a partial refund equal to the price difference between what they paid and what the items cost now.The new prices are as follows.ItemsRare: 50-100 CreditsVery Rare: 100-200 CreditsImport: 300-500 CreditsExotic: 700-800 CreditsPaint and Special EditionsMost Paint Colors: 50-200 additional CreditsBurnt Sienna: 0 additional CreditsTitanium White: 100-500 additional CreditsSpecial Editions: 200-400 additional CreditsIf you made a purchase between December 4 and December 11, you'll get some Credits back--for instance, if you spent 1200 Credits on an Exotic item that is now down to 700 Credits, you'll get 500 back.Info from Gamespot.com

When last we left the crew of the Rocinante and The Expanse's other characters--a full year and a half ago, in June 2018--humanity was united in wonder at the opening of the "ring gates" and the expansion of the accessible universe to include countless previously unknown, fully habitable planets. That's a giant leap for mankind, but in The Expanse Season 4, the characters we love will take just one small step: They'll explore a single new world on which much of the new season's story will hinge.Humanity may have access to thousands of new worlds in The Expanse Season 4, but Ilus (or New Terra, depending who you ask) is highly contentious new territory due to the bountiful deposits of lithium the planet hosts. In the Season 4 premiere, two separate groups make landfall there and stake their claims: a group of Belter refugees searching for a new home, and representatives of an Earth corporation with a UN charter that they believe gives them dominion. When the crew of the Rocinante arrive in both groups' wake, they're forced to play sheriff and try to keep the peace.The Expanse executive producer Naren Shankar calls Season 4 a "blood-soaked gold rush.""For the first time in the history of the solar system, there are other habitable Earth-like planets on the other side of the ring, and that is a hugely destabilizing element in the world of The Expanse," Shankar said during a recent visit to the show's set in Toronto. "Think of it as the discovery of the 'New World.' Suddenly everybody knew that that was a place that they could go and make their fortune. How do you control that? How do you put a finger in the dike? How do you keep that thing from bursting?"Read more: How Being Saved By Amazon Has Changed The ExpanseThis may sound like a story that could be plucked out of space and dropped into the wild west, and that's because it is. Whereas The Expanse Season 1 borrowed gleefully from the noir detective genre, Season 4 is as much a space western as it is hard science fiction."The show is set in the future, but it's not really about the future," said executive producer Andrew Kosove. "In a way, it's about the past, and human history, and how human desires, hopes, and foibles repeat themselves--humans' desires for a better world, more wealth for themselves and their children, a better life, so on and so forth, has always driven humanity to try new things and to take risks--to visit new frontiers."Kosove, who's the co-founder and co-CEO of The Expanse production company Alcon Entertainment, said Season 4 is stylistically unique compared with the first three seasons. Season 4 is based largely on Cibola Burn, the fourth novel of the Expanse book series by co-authors Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham, who write under the joint pseudonym James S.A. Corey. The authors are heavily involved with the show, practically omnipresent in the writers' room. During GameSpot's set visit, Franck told reporters that the writers' inspiration for book four included historical context like the American gold rush and the European settling of Australia, as well as concepts like manifest destiny and eminent domain."It's pretty evident that we pull a lot from that history of the Western expansion in North America, how damaging that was to the people who already lived there," Franck said. "This idea that it doesn't matter what you have, if I think I have a good enough reason to take it, I can just take it. The railroad going across the West just got a hundred yards on either side of the railroad tracks--that was just theirs. It didn't matter that you had a farm or whatever, if they rolled through, they just owned that now."One of the main new characters in Season 4 is Adolphus Murtry (Burn Gorman), the head of the security team that arrives on Ilus/New Terra with the UN charter claiming the planet. Murtry quickly comes into conflict with the Belter settlers who arrived there first."That's the colonization conflict played over and over and over throughout history," Franck explained.Naturally, this being The Expanse, it's nowhere near as simple as "Murtry=bad guy" and "Belters=good guys." The Expanse loves to play with moral archetypes and expectations, and Season 4 is no exception. Murtry has plenty of justification for the actions he takes on the new frontier, and although the Belters may be right in some ways, they're not always sympathetic.And the planet itself is no paradise. Franck referred repeatedly to the book The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes, which describes the founding of Australia by unwitting British convicts."Everything in Australia wanted to kill [them]," Franck said, from the spiders and snakes to the shellfish they tried to eat. "Dropping people into that alien biology...you're a big bag of moisture with high-energy atoms in it--something's going to try to eat those, because that's delicious, right? Of course that's how it's going to work. We didn't have to make much up; we just borrowed from the real world."The Horrifying and the MundaneThe Rocinante's crew has their work cut out for them on that new frontier, but they aren't the only characters with problems in Season 4. Back on Earth, Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) contends with a threat she's never had to face before: a political rival who forces her to run for office for the first time. This is a storyline that's not present in the books, but that Franck and Abraham have considered exploring, according to the former."The whole election of Chrisjen Avasarala was a thing we had always talked about for the books, but had never done," Franck said. "She is a politician who's never been elected; what is that like, when somebody who has never been elected has to run for office for the first time? We talked about that many times, so we got to do that here, and that was a lot of fun--just watching her put up with the indignities of having to answer to anyone."Aghdashloo said she's frequently amazed by how topical the show is. "I wish it was a daily show, so we could work in the morning, show it to the people in the afternoon, and they would see how timely and relevant this show is to what is going on, especially now," the actress said during the set visit."When I was 11, I saw Alien, and it was like, 'I'm a janitor on a spaceship, oh, and then an alien ate me.' I've been trying to write that story ever since."Meanwhile, disgraced Martian marine Bobbie Draper (Frankie Adams) has her own storyline set on Mars. When her nephew gets involved with some shady dealings, Bobbie finds herself being swiftly dragged into the criminal underworld that's flourishing on Mars (the new worlds now accessible through the ring gates have made the planet's multi-generational terraforming mission irrelevant). This plot, too, is not from the novels--not directly, at least."We had a novella called Gods of Risk that Bobbie Draper appears in, and we used that as the launching point for a Bobbie story this season, which was a lot of fun to write," Franck said."I read Gods of Risk, but it's kind of all about the nephew, and then [Bobbie's] not in book four," Adams said. "So I sort of was like, 'Oh, maybe I'll just do like one episode, who knows?' And then I read [Season 4] and I loved it. I was like, 'Oh, this is exactly what we should do with the space.'"And, of course, it wouldn't be The Expanse without the protomolecule. The driving force behind much of the show so far may have been largely explained in Season 3--it's an ancient alien creation designed to build the ring gates and fight some still-unknown threat--but its presence is still felt during Season 4, especially as Holden and crew explore Ilus/New Terra."We've seen how we view the protomolecule. We've never seen how the protomolecule views us," said Shankar, one of the executive producers we spoke with.On the new planet, the characters quickly discover a set of mysterious structures that appear to be ancient alien ruins somehow connected to the protomolecule. As they explore the ruins, bad things start to happen."One of the things Daniel and I like to do, and winds up being in the show a lot too, is take the awe-inspiring and mix it thoroughly with the mundane--that you're in billion-year-old alien ruins, and that should be amazing, except they're really just kind of dark caves, and your eyes are getting eaten by monsters," Franck said, half-joking (we think). "There's a lot of that kind of thing--we take sort of the awe-inspiring and the horrifying and the mundane and mix them all together."It's because when I was 11, I saw Alien, and it was like, 'I'm a janitor on a spaceship, oh, and then an alien ate me,'" the author continued. "I've been trying to write that story ever since."The Expanse Season 4 is available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 13. Info from Gamespot.com

Fortnite: Battle Royale has added a number of new Star Wars-related skins and items. Available now in the in-game shop is various Rise of Skywalker-themed content, headlined by new skins for Rey, Finn, and a Sith Trooper.You can buy a collection that includes the skins, as well as Empire, Rebel, and Sith Trooper Blaster back bling items, for 3,500 V-Bucks. Alternatively, you can purchase the Rey, Finn, and Sith Trooper outfits individually for 1,500 V-Bucks. Rey's quarterstaff is also available to buy for 800 V-Bucks, while Finn's Riot Control Baton is available for 1,200 V-Bucks. These are both harvesting tools.Also now available in the Fortnite in-game shop is the Star Wars-themed Traitor! emote (300 V-Bucks) and the First Order and Resistance banners, which are free. A new glider, the First Order Tie Fighter, is also available to buy (1,200 V-Bucks).The First Order Tie Fighter glider costs 1,200 V-BucksIn other Fortnite/Star Wars news, a new scene from Rise of Skywalker will debut inside of Fortnite on December 14. Additionally, Fortnite has teased some kind of announcement for The Game Awards, so it might not be long until we learn what's next for the game.It's not just Fortnite celebrating the release of Rise of Skywalker. EA's Star Wars: Battlefront II recently added a Celebration Edition that comes with skins for Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren based on their appearances in Rise of Skywalker. Additionally, BB-8 is now a playable character.It's been a big week for Fortnite, as the game also just recently released a new update that adds split-screen support on PS4 and Xbox One. The Game Awards 2019 News The Game Awards 2019 Promising 10 Reveals Watch The Game Awards Livestream Right Here The Game Awards 2019 Stream Date The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Ex-Arkane Devs' New Game Will Be Revealed At The Game Awards 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

The Sims 4 has added Baby Yoda as an item, and it's now available in 'Buy' mode. But there's a catch: you're not buying a real, gurgling, lovable baby for your Sims to care for and love. Instead, Baby Yoda is available to purchase as a statue, a silent, non-moving reminder of The Mandalorian's breakout star/puppet. The statue, which was noticed by Sims VIP, is available in PC patch 1.59.73.1020 and Mac patch 1.59.73.1220, and should come to consoles soon too.OFFICIALLY DEAD. THEY ADDED BABY YODA TO #TheSims4 😍😍😍😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/RLo1cO90z9 — SimsVIP (@SimsVIP) December 12, 2019The item, called 'The Child Statue,' costs 504 Simoleons, and the description notes that the little guy is popularly referred to as 'Baby Yoda,' despite not being Yoda. It's a "lovable replica," not the child itself.For those asking, find it in buy mode 😍 pic.twitter.com/sgYqWvD7YK — SimsVIP (@SimsVIP) December 12, 2019The Child is not mentioned explicitly in the patch notes, so its inclusion comes as something of a surprise. It might not be the real thing, but there's nothing stopping you from adding these statues to all of your Sims' homes now.Meanwhile, you can preorder your own Baby Yoda now, including a plush model. What's better than a replica Baby Yoda in your Sims home? A real Baby Yoda replica in your real home. Info from Gamespot.com

Shazam 2 is officially happening, with a release date confirmed and star Zachary Levi returning to the titular role. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Shazam 2 is coming on April 1, 2022--so it's still a while away. According to The Wrap, director David F. Sandberg is also likely to return, as is screenwriter Henry Gayden.No details are known of the plot yet, but a mid-credits scene during the original film hints at the possibility that Mr Mind will appear as the villain of the sequel, and that Mark Strong's Dr. Sivana could return. The first Shazam was only a modest box-office success, earning $364,571,656 worldwide against a $100 million budget--well below DC's other recent movies--but it was received well, and earned strong reviews. It's also not the only Shazam-related film on the horizon. Black Adam, which is focused on a character who is usually Shazam's primary nemesis in the comics, is due on December 21, 2021. It will star Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam.Warner Bros. has announced a few other release dates recently. The Flash is finally coming to cinemas on July 1, 2022, two months after Shazam 2. The Matrix 4, meanwhile, lands on May 21, 2021. The next DC film on the horizon is Wonder Woman 1984, which releases on June 5, 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

A new look at Square Enix's remake of Final Fantasy VII at The Game Awards gives a slightly closer look at Cloud Strife, its cipher of a protagonist with a tortured backstory. The latest trailer for the game gives some hints about Cloud's standoffish personality and his relationship with Tifa, although it didn't present much in the way of new footage we haven't already seen. The Game Awards 2019 News The Game Awards 2019 Promising 10 Reveals Watch The Game Awards Livestream Right Here The Game Awards 2019 Stream Date The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Ex-Arkane Devs' New Game Will Be Revealed At The Game Awards 2019 The trailer highlights Cloud's role as a stoic mercenary of few words in the first chapter of Final Fantasy VII, which focuses on the events in Midgar from the original game. The trailer also gave a few quick looks new action-RPG take on Final Fantasy VII's original menu-based combat. Check it out above.New box art that recently appeared online revealed that contrary to previous assumptions, the remake of Final Fantasy VII won't be a PS4 exclusive forever. It'll eventually make its way to Xbox One and PC--although those release dates haven't been revealed yet. The art suggests FF7 will be available only on PS4 until March 2021, so that looks to be when the Square Enix's exclusivity deal with Sony will expire. We already know the game will be playable on PS5, so it seems very possible it could make its way to Xbox One Scarlett as well.We got hands-on with a playable demo of Final Fantasy VII at E3 2019, and it did not disappoint. Check out our FF7 impressions, as well as our preorder guide.Final Fantasy VII Remake is set for release on PS4 in March 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

All eyes are on Microsoft and Sony leading into 2020, with each company preparing their next-gen consoles for release near the end of the year. Today, at The Game Awards, Phil Spencer revealed the look of Project Scarlett, now known as Xbox Series X, which releases Holiday 2020, and it's unlike any console we've seen before.Rather than opt for the familiar flat-lying, low-profile design of most consoles, Microsoft revealed the console standing upright, making it look closer to the design of a PC at first glance. But, with the controller next to it for scale, it's clear that it's not as big as your typical desktop. And based on the various camera angles used during the reveal trailer, it's also clear that it's got a square footprint, effectively making the console look like a pillar.Introducing the new Xbox Series X. Power your dreams. #XboxSeriesX #PowerYourDreams pic.twitter.com/3r0WtUs9xG — Xbox (@Xbox) December 13, 2019The Xbox Series X controller is designed very similarly to that of the Xbox One. However, it's a little smaller and it also has a brand-new Share button that allows you easily capture screenshots and videos while your playing. It behaves much like the Share button on the PS4's DualShock 4 controller.Now, of course, you need awesome new games to play in order to share cool-looking game moments. At launch, Xbox Series X will have Halo Infinite, the sixth mainline game in Microsoft's biggest first-party series. At The Game Awards, Microsoft announced a sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, called Senua Saga: Hellblade II, will be coming to Xbox Series X as well--although there's no word on whether it will be a launch title. Ninja Theory has been exploring the game since before the studio was acquired by Microsoft.For much more on Xbox Series X, including exclusive details from our chat with Xbox boss Phil Spencer, check out our coverage below. Xbox Series X News Xbox Series X: Everything We Just Learned About Microsoft's Next-Gen Console Goodbye, Project Scarlett, Hello Xbox Series X - Exclusive First Look And Interview Inside The New Xbox Controller For The Series X Console Why You Can't Pre-Order Xbox Series X Yet Xbox Series X: Microsoft Reveals Scarlett's Look And Name At The Game Awards Everything We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Info from Gamespot.com

While preparing for my meeting with Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, to check out the design of Project Scarlett, claims of the next-gen console having four times the CPU power relative to Xbox One X floated in my head, orbited by specs like 8K and 120Hz. Could a system with those capabilities fit in an Xbox One X-sized console, or would Microsoft need to break convention and do something unpredictably big? And what would the name be? Spencer was joined by Partner Director of Program Management for Team Xbox, Jason Ronald, and together, they lifted the curtain on the console and laid out their plans a few days prior to the big reveal at The Game Awards.Now I (and you) know: the next-gen Xbox previously known as Project Scarlett is officially called Xbox Series X, and it is, in no uncertain terms, a monolith. "We wanted to design a console where the form was driven by the function," said Spencer. "And the function--as I said--was to really play the highest power, most immersive games possible." Series X is a very different-looking console than what we're used to, and for my tastes, it's a beautiful-looking machine that commands attention. Looks aren't everything, but when they're this bold and refined, they're certainly hard to ignore.The Console DesignSeries X's square footprint is roughly as wide as an Xbox One controller and (again, roughly) three times as tall. There's an illuminated Xbox-logo serving as the power button, a slot for inserting discs, and very little else to speak of on the front. It's simple and elegant overall, and a far cry from the more elaborate Xbox designs of old. Modern Microsoft consoles like the Xbox One S and Xbox One X lean into similarly refined looks, but Series X's stark aesthetics are unparalleled in the console space.To Spencer's point, the Series X design makes sense from an engineering standpoint. In an effort to make the console "disappear" into your entertainment center, Microsoft designed it to be as quiet as possible: with a single, large fan pushing high volumes of air out of the top. Spencer and Ronald confidently told me that the Series X systems in their homes are no louder than Xbox One X, which is to say, not noticeably audible when sitting couch-distance away from your TV. "There's always this tension between design and the kind of acoustics and cooling and function of the console," Spencer explained, "and we were not going to compromise on function. I'm just incredibly impressed with the design that they came back with."The NameThere's bound to be a lot of folks tripping over the similarities between the names Xbox One X and the new Xbox Series X. That, in all likelihood, will ease up over time, but the fact remains it's a surprising move on Microsoft's part. Who knows, "Scarlett" may stick around for a while yet, at least in the minds of players.Certainly, the name Series X also indicates that there might be other series of next-gen Xboxes in the future, and there are plenty of rumors and unconfirmed reports to that effect. Spencer didn't open up to discuss anything in particular on that front, apart from confirming that the potential is there, and the naming convention is, in some way, designed with other potential iterations in mind. "Obviously," Spencer said, "in the name 'Series X', it gives us freedom to do other things with that name so that we can create descriptors when we need to."The New ControllerNot everything has been given a dramatic makeover, however. The new Xbox controller shipping with Series X consoles looks a lot like the old one. The biggest difference, from a distance, is the addition of a share button in the middle, implemented to help you quickly share your gaming moments with friends. I was also told that the transition from the face of the controller to the top and over to the back is more rounded than before, which is likely more of an aesthetic feature than an ergonomic one--we'll have to wait and see.Getting down to the details, Spencer had the following to say about the controller's new features: "There were certain things that we've learned through doing the Elite controller and just listening to fans. One of them is on the d-pad we have a new hybrid d-pad that we've been working on that we think is important, so you'll get a sense of that in the new Xbox wireless controller. We do have a share button. We've heard the feedback. We're not the first ones to do a share button, so we're not going to say that we invented that, but we've heard feedback that sharing is such a part of a gaming experience now for many of our players that I wanted a dedicated hardware button to share, so you'll see that. We'll still have all the rumble triggers and haptic feedback that you've had in the console before."Spencer also noted that while the current Xbox One controller fits the majority of hands, according to Microsoft's research, the new design is ever-so-slightly smaller in subtle ways to increase that coverage from 95% to 98%. And in terms of cross-compatibility, not only will Xbox One controllers work on Series X, but its new controller will also function on Xbox One consoles and on PCs.Ergonomics and inputs aside, under the hood, Microsoft is also working to improve the already excellently low input latency of Xbox controllers, which rely on a proprietary radio, rather than Bluetooth--though some Xbox One controllers have Bluetooth support for added compatibility across non-Xbox devices. Ronald explained that one tool developers have, "dynamic latency input," allows inputs to directly sync up with a game's rendering path. And in Spencer's opinion, reducing the disconnect between button presses and actions on screen is one step down the path to greater immersion. "So when we talk about things like refresh rate," he added, "and we talk about input latency, this is all about the most immersive experience game designers can create, where the visuals are stunning, my ability to get into the experience [is] very timely, it's as great as it's ever been with the I/O speeds and the load times we're going to see, and the input and the ability for just my control and activation of my character or of the game itself becomes a subconscious thing and not something that I think about."Streamlining GameplayThe console, controller, and name reveals were the primary focus of our meeting, but Spencer and Ronald were able to dive into their broad objectives for Series X. They want it to be the most powerful console on the market, but they also hope to ensure that it's a console that meets the wants and needs of developers and customers alike. Based on what we know at the moment, high-end performance is part of the equation, but so too is streamlining the process of getting into a game and enjoying it.It's no secret that both Microsoft and Sony are pursuing next-gen consoles made to offer a near seamless experience, with faster storage and memory, and cloud streaming helping to cut through some of the tedium of downloading, loading, and updating games that we've grown accustomed to. Series X will feature a NVMe SSD and use super-fast GDDR6 memory as RAM. Not only will these components help cut down on the aforementioned gaming pit stops, but they will also help you instantly pick up games from where you left off. Xbox One already does this, but Series X takes it a step farther.As Ronald explained, "Today, we have the capability of instantly resuming the last game that you were playing. Why can't you do that for multiple games? Many players choose to play multiple games at the same time, being able to instantly jump right back where I was, those are things that we can do with the platform level to make the gaming experience better. It's really about ensuring there's less waiting and more time playing because that's ultimately what we all want to do with a with the consoles and with the services that we have."Next-Gen Xbox GamesMuch of what Spencer and Ronald told me about Series X has to be taken at face value, with no way to currently verify the claims and features being discussed. All things considered, if Series X is the most powerful next-gen console at launch, and it is as streamlined and convenient as discussed in our meeting, I'm more or less convinced I want one. The big question: What about the games?We already knew about Halo Infinite prior to this week, and we now know a little bit about Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, from Ninja Theory--now a first-party Microsoft Studio. By now, the trailer they showed me (above) is out in the wild. Perhaps, like me, you also watched it and thought it looked like pre-rendered CG, but everything in Hellblade 2's trailer is said to be done in engine, in real time, and that's really raised the bar for me in terms of expectations for flagship next-gen games. The Halo Infinite reveal trailer from E3 was beautiful too, but the technical flair and artistry showcased in the Hellblade 2 trailer feel like more pronounced statements: Xbox Series X games can look almost unbelievably good when they take full advantage of the hardware. I was told the trailer represents the full power of Series X, and while the video doesn't showcase average gameplay moments, it still exhibits new levels of detail, lighting, and rendering techniques than we've yet to see on consoles before, at least running in real time.There is currently no release date for Hellblade 2, but I felt it worth asking about the current state of its development. All I was told is that the game was on Ninja Theory's roadmap by the time Microsoft approached the studio regarding partnership opportunities.What About The Cloud?During the recent X019 event in London, it was announced that xCloud services for consumers would be included as part of Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions at some point in 2020. There's a lot to love about Game Pass already, chiefly being able to access hundreds of games for a low monthly price, and that value only seems to be increasing when things like xCloud start entering the conversation.Based on the recent Google Stadia launch, it's clear that cloud gaming has a long way to go before it's suitable as a primary mode of gaming. Having used xCloud on and off during its current pre-launch phase, I can attest to the fact that it works very well, but it's still a runner-up compared to the real thing, something that even Spencer will freely admit. "We're not trying to tell people that xCloud is going to replace their console or xCloud is going to replace gaming on a PC," he said. "But we do think that ability for me to take my gaming experience with me, so that when I log in all my friends are there all my games are there, my saved games are there, I get my Achievements, my library is with me, is pretty critical."Spencer and Ronald also made it clear that the xCloud streaming service will continue to be a big part of the Xbox portfolio in the future, and that, on the game development side, enabling cloud support won't require any extra effort. "We literally show up to third-party publishers and we hand them a phone [with] their games running in xCloud," said Spencer. "They didn't have to do any work to make that happen.""We started at the beginning saying there's a world where we might actually put as many of these in the Cloud as we do in people's homes," he added. "And how do you think about your silicon design and your platform design knowing that that's the design point that you're trying to get to. And as I said from a developer standpoint, it means you don't have to port to a new platform. You can build the games that you want to build on Project Scarlett and know that we can enable the deployment of those games to so many screens."Next StepsSeeing Project Scarlett take shape and get its final name are big steps for Microsoft. The console is more than a codename, and by the sound of things it's going to be powerful, quiet, and perhaps most importantly of all, additive, rather than disruptive, for current Xbox players. We still have a lot to learn, including the release date, exact hardware specs, and of course, the price. Likewise, we only know of two games, and only one of them, Halo Infinite, is confirmed to be ready for the Holiday 2020 launch.In just a few months' time, E3 2020 will kick off, and Spencer promises, "It will be a big beat for us, and we expect that to be really important." It sort of goes without saying given that we're headed into the console's launch year, but with the system largely out of the way, all eyes will be on what games people can play, when they will be able to play them, and how much money it will cost to get started.Spencer and Ronald seem to be saying all the right things. There isn't much I can fault with their plans, insomuch as I'm aware of them. It's been days since our meeting, and I can't shake how impressive-looking Senua's Saga is, the bold console design, nor the confidence with which it was unveiled. It's also telling how straightforward the messaging is compared to the Xbox One reveal, which was plagued with cross-media bloat and unnecessary DRM-laden policies. In their place, there's an emphasis on streamlining the gameplay experience we know today, and bolstering it with new technology that not only makes games look better, but easier to play at home or on the go. With the next generation of console hardware around the corner, Microsoft appears primed to redefine how we think about playing games. Xbox Scarlett News Everything We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Info from Gamespot.com

Following up the exciting console reveal of Project Scarlett, now officially known as Xbox Series X, Microsoft unveiled Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, the follow-up to 2018's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. As announced during The Game Awards, the game is once again coming from Ninja Theory, the studio Microsoft acquired back in June 2018.The trailer showcases the graphical capabilities of Xbox Series X, running completely in engine. It featured Senua chanting and a group of what appears to be devotees in front of a human sacrifice. The trailer also occasionally cut to scenes of warriors approaching a curious looking mountain on a stormy beach. Before the trailer ends, it appears it wasn't a mountain after all, but a gigantic being hunched over, prior to rearing up once confronted by the approaching warriors.No further details were shared, including a release date or what the plot is about. However, in our exclusive chat with Phil Spencer, we learned this footage was in-engine and running in real-time. For more coverage on Xbox Series X, check out the stories below. Xbox Series X News Goodbye, Project Scarlett, Hello Xbox Series X - Exclusive First Look And Interview Inside The New Xbox Controller For The Series X Console Why You Can't Pre-Order Xbox Series X Yet Xbox Series X: Microsoft Reveals Scarlett's Look And Name At The Game Awards Everything We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has announced the official name for its next-gen console: Xbox Series X. Previously known as Project Scarlett, Xbox Series X is scheduled to release during the holiday season in 2020. However, despite revealing the console at The Game Awards, Microsoft doesn't want to put it up for pre-order just yet."We think, in the end, what people want from us is ... to put a controller [in their] hand," Xbox partner director of program management Jason Ronald told GameSpot. "People tell me, 'Hey, I want to pre-order right now,' and we definitely love that--like it's great to have those fans--but I also know that these investments aren't trivial for families. I want to be transparent about what our design goals are."To ensure customers know what they're paying for, Microsoft is going to hold off on pre-orders for a little longer. Though we now know a lot more about Xbox Series X--like its name, its PC desktop-looking design, the new share button on its controllers, how it will work with Project xCloud, and a host of other details--we're still in the dark about quite a few things. The big one is, of course, its price tag.More than anything though, Microsoft doesn't want to start selling Xbox Series X yet because customers haven't had a chance to try the console yet. The Game Awards presents a wonderful platform for announcements, but, as Ronald puts it, the show doesn't present "an opportunity for people to play--it's a stage." Xbox Scarlett News Everything We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Info from Gamespot.com

The fifth annual Game Awards is officially underway and, among the many announcements was a reveal for Mortal Kombat 11. The fighting game will receive new DLC later this coming January.The Joker debuts on January 28 for all platforms. The Game Awards 2019 News The Game Awards 2019 Promising 10 Reveals Watch The Game Awards Livestream Right Here The Game Awards 2019 Stream Date The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Ex-Arkane Devs' New Game Will Be Revealed At The Game Awards 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

The Game Awards 2019 was filled with exciting moments, but undoubtedly the biggest was the unveiling of Microsoft's next-generation console. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer appeared on stage to debut the console to the world and officially name the console formerly known as Project Scarlett as "Xbox Series X." It was a major moment for the Xbox and the industry as a whole. But why did Microsoft choose to do this at The Game Awards instead of at E3 2020 or one of its own events, like the recent X019?Speaking to GameSpot in an exclusive interview, Spencer said The Game Awards champions the kind of creativity that Xbox also seeks to highlight. As such, the show's purpose aligns with the vision the company has for Series X.With this in mind, it only made sense to give creators and fans a look at the future of gaming on Xbox in a venue where games and creativity are being celebrated."The Game Awards is a stage, that for us, is where we celebrate the best of our industry's creative capability, and that is fundamentally why we built this console," Spencer explained."It isn't an ego thing for us. It wasn't about what we need. It was really about how can we enable the next most creative, most award-winning, most played, most loved games to get created. And getting to do that [with] this announcement on that stage just felt like the right place to go do that, in the celebration of great games."Looking ahead, Spencer said that E3 would remain a major milestone in the story of Xbox Series X, especially given the success of other recent events."I think back to E3 2019, I love that event. The fan energy, Keanu [Reeves], all of that stuff was awesome. The launch of Gears, the launch of Outer Worlds, the launch of Project xCloud, seeing the continued growth in Game Pass, X019 in London was fantastic a month ago. I just feel like we're in a good spot right now. I feel strong[ly] about where the platform is as we roll into 2020 and the portfolio of games that are coming look so amazing. I'm really, really excited about E3 2020. That'll be a big beat for us and we expect that to be really important."During The Game Awards, viewers got to take a look at Xbox Series X, which looks to be an incredibly powerful, unconventionally designed console. Spencer outlined his vision for the console and also showed off its potential with a demo of a sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.Before the show, GameSpot sat down with Spencer and Xbox partner director of project management Jason Ronald to see the console and talk at length about the hardware. You can read more about it in our Xbox Series X feature and watch us breakdown everything we learned. Xbox Scarlett News Everything We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Info from Gamespot.com

Control is one of our nominees for Game of the Year 2019, and starting today you can jump into a new mode. Remedy Entertainment surprise-launched a free new game mode called Expeditions during the broadcast of this year's The Game Awards.Expeditions has you pick from a series of customizable challenges, with all the powers you've come to expect from the main game. The Game Awards 2019 News The Game Awards 2019 Promising 10 Reveals Watch The Game Awards Livestream Right Here The Game Awards 2019 Stream Date The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Ex-Arkane Devs' New Game Will Be Revealed At The Game Awards 2019 The studio also took the opportunity to mention that the first expansion for Control, called The Foundation, is slated for release in late March 26, 2020."It's not often that a game invades my thoughts the way Control has," Peter Brown wrote in GameSpot's review. "I'm at the point where I want to consume every last thing it has to offer. And if I'm honest, it also makes me want to go back and replay Remedy's past games, too. Sure, it's a faulty metroidvania in some respects, but there are so many exceptional qualities afoot that Control handily deflects any momentary ire. I can't wait to take part in discussions about the game, to see what others have figured out, and to better understand where it all fits into Jesse's story."Info from Gamespot.com