There's a lot to like about Disney+'s first streaming Star Wars show The Mandalorian. It's got all the cool, spaghetti western vibes you could ever ask for, a great soundtrack, an interesting cast of characters, and a budget that keeps the entire thing looking slick. But all of that is just a dim second to the single most important addition The Mandalorian has made to Star Wars canon: Baby Yoda. And it's our lucky day because showrunner Jon Favreau has just shared a look at the original concept art of the world's cutest and best bundle of Muppet-y green joy, proving undoubtedly that Baby Yoda really has been the best since birth--or, at least since the show's pre-production.Original concept art. #TheMandalorian pic.twitter.com/4VWm6WUzFl — Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) November 19, 2019 Star Wars News The Mandalorian Chapter 2: 12 Star Wars Easter Eggs And References You May Have Missed The Mandalorian Schedule: Here's When Episodes 2 And 3 Release On Disney Plus The Mandalorian Episode 2, "The Child" Review The Mandalorian Episode 1: 41 Star Wars Easter Eggs, References, And Other Things You Might Miss Star Wars: Everything We Know About Every Movie And Show Announced So Far Not much is known about Baby Yoda just yet, but that's not too surprising. Only two episodes of The Mandalorian have been released with a third on the way this Friday. We can only hope that the show will continue to give us the goods--sure, bounty hunting may be a complicated profession, but intergalactic babysitting is definitely more complicated, and honestly, we'd be down to watch an entire season of Pedro Pascal being a cool masked gunslinger while toting around a tiny green puppet. That alone is worth Disney+'s monthly subscription fee.The Mandalorian airs on Fridays on Disney+. Info from Gamespot.com

Blair Witch, which released for Xbox One and PC earlier this year, is making its way to PlayStation 4 soon with a handful of improvements. The game will release on December 3 as a digital title (with a physical release planned later), and come with the "Good Boy" pack, which will introduce some new cosmetic options for your trusty in-game dog, Bullet. The pack will also be made available for PC and Xbox One players, and include new skins for the dog, as well as new games for your in-game cellphone, new wallpapers, and new animations for Bullet.This version will also contain "gameplay and technical enhancements," although what that means, exactly, has not been specified. The announcement trailer below doesn't give a lot of insight into how you play the game, instead focusing on the horrors of the woods. It also spotlights Bullet, who is the heart and soul of the game.Blair Witch was first announced during Microsoft's 2019 E3 presentation, so seeing it come to PlayStation 4 after such a short period of exclusivity is a surprise. The game, which is available on Xbox Game Pass, will retail for $29.90 on PS4. We gave Blair Witch a 5/10 in our review, with critic Alessandro Barbosa stating that "Blair Witch can't maintain its initially frightening atmosphere and ends up losing it entirely by its conclusion."Info from Gamespot.com

In the midst of Google Stadia's launch window, another cloud-based game streaming service is dropping its price for Black Friday 2019. The service is called Shadow, and it's been around for a while. Shadow requires you to pay a subscription to access its data centers, which grant you your own virtual Windows 10 PC with high-end specs--you're essentially renting a gaming PC and then streaming it to your device. While a year-long subscription comes out to $25 per month, Shadow's price will drop down to $13 a month (one-year commitment) for Black Friday.Since you're accessing a remote, high-end desktop PC, you'll be able to sign in to your own digital store accounts. Be it Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, or anywhere else, you'll have access to their storefronts and your library. Google Stadia is a closed platform with its own store and titles, so you won't be able to play any of the games you already own. However, Stadia doesn't require a subscription if you're okay with streaming your games in 1080p with stereo sound. An optional Stadia Pro membership is available for $10 a month and gets you 4K streaming, surround sound, free games, and special discounts.Shadow lets you stream a gaming PC to any compatible device with a decent internet connection.Shadow streaming service | $13 per month See at Shadow You'll also have access to the internet speeds of Shadow's data centers to download content and game online, which is rated at about 800 Mbps down with 1ms latency--remember, you're only using your internet connection to view your remote PC. Currently, Shadow's specs are made up of the following:OS: Windows 10 Home EditionCPU: Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 @ 2.5GHzGPU: Nvidia Quadro P5000Memory: 12 GBStorage: 256 GB QEMU DriveWith Shadow, you'll be streaming a video feed of your virtual desktop, and like Stadia, data consumption and internet speed will be part of the equation. Shadow's app is compatible with any Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10 or MacOS computer and certain Android and iOS versions (controlling Shadow between different platforms will vary).The app lets you set your bit rate between 5 Mbps to 70 Mbps at 5 Mbps intervals, giving you some control over image quality and data usage. It's recommended you have at least 15 Mbps down and connect via wired Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi; Shadow consumes between 5 Mbps to 25 Mbps depending on settings and conditions.Like many other cloud-based game streaming services, Shadow has its ups and downs--we reviewed the service and its separate set-top box earlier this year, so be sure to check out our Shadow Ghost and Shadow cloud gaming service review. For more on Black Friday 2019 sales this year, check out some the early and upcoming deals you can take advantage of. Black Friday 2019 Deals & News Black Friday 2019 Start Times, Store Hours: GameStop, Best Buy, Target, And More Black Friday 2019: The Best Xbox One Deals So Far Black Friday 2019: The Best PS4 Deals So Far Best Buy Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals Black Friday 2019: When Does It Start, Deals To Expect, And More Target Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals At Target Info from Gamespot.com

It's been over three years since the last Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond, but plans are finally underway for a fourth film in the Chris Pine-led era of the series. Deadline is reporting that Noah Hawley is in "final talks" to write and direct the film, which would be a co-production between his production company 26 Keys and JJ Abrams's Bad Robot. Hawley is best known as the writer and showrunner of FX's Fargo, which is set to air a fourth season next year. He's also a novelist and the showrunner of X-Men spin-off Legion.A fourth film in the series was confirmed before the previous one was even released, but it has taken a while to come together. The film was originally to be directed by SJ Clarkson, but she dropped out to direct a Game of Thrones spin-off that has since been cancelled.The new movie will bring back Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, and Zoe Saldana--Pine was previously reported to have turned down the contract offered, but it sounds as though he's back on board. Sadly, cast member Anton Yelchin, who played Scotty, tragically passed away before the release of Beyond; Abrams has promised that the character will not be recast.All of this is also separate from Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek movie, which is still planned to go ahead, and which might end up being his final film.Info from Gamespot.com

One of the big new features in Pokemon Sword and Shield is Dynamaxing, which increases a Pokemon's size and powers up its stats for three turns during battles. While any Pokemon can Dynamax, only a few species are capable of Gigantamaxing, which not only supersizes a Pokemon, but changes its appearance as well.Even among the Pokemon species that can Gigantamax, only special individuals are actually capable of taking on these forms. For instance, only certain Butterfree you catch through Max Raid battles can Gigantamax; those you capture normally will only be able to Dynamax. You can also get a couple of Gigantamax Pokemon for free; if you have save data from Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee on your Switch, you can get a Gigantamax Pikachu or Eevee at the Wild Area Station, and everyone who picks up Sword or Shield by January 15 can get a free Gigantamax Meowth.The Pokemon Company revealed a handful of Gigantamax forms ahead of Sword and Shield's launch, but there are many more in the games beyond that. If you want to see all the Pokemon that have Gigantamax forms in Sword and Shield, we've rounded up the full list of Gigantamax-capable monsters below.Pokemon That Have Gigantamax FormsPikachu (free gift for playing Let's Go Pikachu)Eevee (free gift for playing Let's Go Eevee)Meowth (free early purchase gift)CharizardButterfreeMachampGengarKinglerLaprasGarbodorCorviknightOrbeetleDrednawCoalossalFlapple/AppletunSandacondaCentiskorchHattereneGrimmsnarlAlcremieCopperajahDuraludon Pokemon Sword And Shield News & Guides Pokemon Sword & Shield Review Pokemon Sword & Shield Version Differences And Exclusive Pokemon Pokemon Sword & Shield: Every Gen 8 Pokemon Pokemon Won't Drop Its Guard - What Does That Mean In Sword And Shield? How To Get Gigantamax PokemonAs previously mentioned, just because a species of Pokemon has a Gigantamax form doesn't mean that every Pokemon of that species is actually capable of Gigantamaxing. Presently, the only way to obtain a Gigantamax Pokemon in Sword and Shield is to encounter it in Max Raid battles. You can fairly easily tell if a Raid features a Gigantamax Pokemon by its silhouette when you interact with a raid den; if the silhouette looks different than the Pokemon's typical sprite, then you'll be battling its Gigantamax form.If you manage to defeat the Gigantamax Pokemon in battle, then you'll have an opportunity to capture it. Unfortunately, you aren't guaranteed to catch the Pokemon, and if it pops out of the Poke Ball you threw, it'll run away and you'll need to wait for it to appear in another Max Raid. It also appears you can't pass down the ability to Gigantamax through breeding. On the bright side, however, most Pokemon you encounter through raids have at least a couple of perfect IVs, and you now have a means of changing their natures thanks to new Mint items, so it's possible to make them viable for competitive battling.Pokemon Sword & Shield GuidesPokemon Sword & Shield Eevee Guide: How To Get Every Eevee EvolutionPokemon Sword & Shield Stone Evolutions Guide: Which Pokemon Evolve With Which Stones?Pokemon Sword & Shield: How To Unlock MewPokemon Sword & Shield: Essential Tips To Help Get You StartedPokemon Sword & Shield: Where To Catch Cool And Rare PokemonPokemon Sword & Shield: How To Evolve ApplinPokemon Sword & Shield: How To Evolve Sinistea Into PolteageistPokemon Sword & Shield: How To Evolve Galarian Linoone Into ObstagoonPokemon Sword & Shield: How To Evolve Milcery into AlcremiePokemon Won't Drop Its Guard - What Does That Mean?Pokemon Sword & Shield: What Are Watts?Info from Gamespot.com

Most Pokemon games include fossils that you can restore into a living Pokemon, and you usually have to choose between one fossil or another. In Pokemon Sword and Shield, however, fossils work differently. You can still restore them to get a proper Pokemon, and they still count towards your Pokedex--but Sword and Shield's fossils are mix-and-match, and it can get kind of weird.There are four fossils in total and four fossil Pokemon to restore. While you can get all four fossils in your game, based on a few GameSpot staff playthroughs, each version has a set of fossils that are far more common. Sword has Fossilized Bird and Fossilized Dino, while Shield has Fossilized Fish and Fossilized Drake. Only one of us (so far) has gotten the other version's fossil natively in-game, and that was after finishing the story.The Fossil Restoration specialist is found on Route 6 and is easily accessed via Flying Taxi to the Route 6 fast-travel point. If you talk to her, she'll ask you for two fossils, which she'll then put together to create a freaky chimera of a Pokemon. Below are the combinations and which Pokemon you get from them.Fossil Combinations:Fossilized Bird + Fossilized Drake = DracozoltFossilized Bird + Fossilized Dino = ArctozoltFossilized Fish + Fossilized Drake = DracovishFossilized Fish + Fossilized Dino = ArctovishYou're able to get Arctozolt easily in Sword, while Shield players can get Dracovish right off the bat. For Dracozolt and Arctovish, you'll likely need to trade some Pokemon that are holding the necessary fossils in order to complete your collection. You can find additional fossils on the ground in the Dusty Bowl section of the Wild Area, and the Digging Duo near the Wild Area nursery will sometimes dig up fossils--you can spend some Watts with each of them once per day to get a variety of treasures.For more Pokemon help, check out our guides to evolving a variety of tricky Pokemon, including Milcery and Applin. We also have a feature laying out where you can find certain cool, rare, and powerful Pokemon in the games. Pokemon Sword And Shield News & Guides Pokemon Sword & Shield Review Pokemon Sword & Shield Version Differences And Exclusive Pokemon Pokemon Sword & Shield: Every Gen 8 Pokemon Pokemon Won't Drop Its Guard - What Does That Mean In Sword And Shield? Info from Gamespot.com

Halo: The Master Chief Collection will continue its PC rollout after the December release of Halo: Reach, with a beta planned for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in the new year. PCGamesN spoke with 343 Industries community manager Brian Jarrard, who confirmed that PC players will be able to get their first taste of this updated version of Halo, which debuted on Xbox 360 back in 2011, after the holidays. "Once Reach comes out next month, after the holiday, we will start to reset, and we’ll start to flight Halo CE," he told the site. "We’re just going to keep going down the road until we fill out the rest of the collection."The plan, he says, is to update the game to run at 60fps and at 4K, and to "account for all the requirements that PC gamers expect nowadays," like uncapped frame rates and an FOV slider. This has ultimately been a longer process than expected, but 343 is determined to get the game's launch right, especially after the troubled Xbox One launch of The Master Chief Collection. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was the first Halo game released by 343 Industries after Bungie stepped away from the franchise. It's a remaster of the original Xbox launch title, and you can switch to the original visuals at the press of a button. This Halo game has, in fact, been released for PC before--Halo: Combat Evolved came to PC in 2003, and we gave that version a 9/10 in our review. It'll be the second game in the Collection released on PC; each game will arrive separately. The Master Chief Collection also contains Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. All of these games will eventually come to PC. Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Sword & Shield have enjoyed enormous sales in the UK since they released on November 15, which has also led to increased sales of the Nintendo Switch. The games are enjoying one of the best-ever Nintendo launches in the country and it’s also the second-best launch result the Pokemon series has ever seen, and that's just counting physical copies.Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that Pokemon claimed three separate spots on the physical sales chart for the week ending November 16: Pokemon Sword was No. 1, Pokemon Shield was No. 3, and a double-pack containing both games landed at No. 7. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order had the second-best launch of the week. Combined, Sword & Shield had a tremendous launch, outselling Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee by 53%. It was the best launch ever for a Switch game in the UK, and the third-best ever for Nintendo, despite the charts only tracking physical sales. Wii Fit had Nintendo's second-best ever launch, and the top spot belongs to Pokemon Sun & Moon for the 3DS (which released to a wider install base.)Furthermore, the release of these new Pokemon games led to an increase in Switch console sales. Sales went up 30% during release week, following a 75% spike the week prior, with almost 90,000 consoles having been sold in the UK so far in November. The Nintendo Switch is the best-selling system in the UK so far in 2019; this could be the first year since the PlayStation 4 released that Sony does not have the top annual console sales in the country.Pokemon Sword & Shield scored a 9/10 in our review, with critic Kallie Plagge writing that "in collecting, battling, and exploring, Sword and Shield cut out the bloat and focus on what makes these pillars of the Pokemon games so captivating in the first place." If you're one of the many folks playing it, check out the Gigantamax Raid schedule and our stone evolution guide to get ahead.Info from Gamespot.com

Before the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, The Flash will present its two-part mid-season finale. In "The Last Temptation of Barry Allen," per an episode description, "a mysterious, hallucinogenic contagion tests Barry's convictions." Now, after the Season 6, Episode 6--"License to Elongate"--we know who will be doing the testing.Warning: The following contains spoilers for "License to Elongate." If you haven't watched the episode, you should turn away now.At the conclusion of "License to Elongate," Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork (Sendhil Ramamurthy) seemingly kidnaps Ralph (Hartley Sawyer), leaving Team Flash down one member going into the finale. As showrunner Eric Wallace revealed at a Q&A following a screening of the episode, that's going to play directly into what Barry and the rest of the team will face in the two-part finale."The title has been released, 'The Last Temptation of Barry Allen.' Well, I wonder who's tempting him? Yeah. Let's just say it's Bloodwork," Wallace admitted. "And what's great about his character is he has a really good point of view that when you hear it, I think next week, it's insane--but it makes sense. And that's what's tempting to Barry. It's all being set up here in [License to Elongate]."Given that Barry believes he's facing certain death during Crisis on Infinite Earths, it's not exactly surprising that Bloodwork could tempt him. However, "License to Elongate" also saw a change in the way Barry is approaching the upcoming event. All season, he's been preparing the team for life without The Flash, should he perish. However, Ralph and Joe (Jesse L. Martin) went out of their way that Barry, himself, is more important than The Flash could ever be.When asked how that would factor into Barry's mindset leading into the mid-season finale, Wallace laughed, adding, "Boy, you're gonna love next week's episode. That exact question is asked." It's an important one, given that Barry's life will be on the line in Crisis.As Barry faces his last temptation before possible death, though, it's enough to make you wonder what the future of Central City could look like. With Ralph's safety in question, thanks to Bloodwork, and Barry staring down the barrel of his own demise, who will be left as the official protector of this city when all is said and done?The Flash airs Tuesdays on The CW. Info from Gamespot.com

The premise for Sparklite sees a world where constant earthquakes shake up environments and the only true refuge is in the sky. Everytime you drop to the world below it’s both familiar and different; the environments are made up of different tiles, and like a game of Catan, they’re shuffled anew on every trip. It’s your job to learn and navigate this ever-changing land while upgrading your abilities so you can take down Mining Titans bent on further destroying the world. It starts off as an exciting adventure full of challenge and variety, but that's not something that lasts forever.Sparklite is a 2D roguelite whose bright and vivid pixel art environments feature prominently. The main world is shrouded when you first enter it and is divided into squares which take up the whole screen, much like a classic Legend of Zelda game. Moving through and uncovering the layout of the area provides a sense of discovery, especially in the early runs, and each square presents a scenario which will become familiar over time--the layout and enemies for map squares will stay the same, but you won’t know which variant you'll get until you arrive. Each scenario feels like a crafted experience, each featuring its own unique little challenge or puzzle, but they still have random elements that keeps things fresh--hidden elements can be found breaking boulders or digging up treasure. This structure, along with the visual flair and the rousing score full of synths and horns, help to evoke the adventurous feelings of classic JRPGs. The pixel art is exciting and bright, and the enemy and world designs have a stoutness that is reminiscent of a very particular style of top-down console adventure game. But despite being a throwback game, Sparklite's movement and combat feel modern--they're responsive and smooth. There are two different strengths of melee attack, and as the game progresses, different ranged weapons also become available to you. Ranged weapons rely on a form of energy generated by attacking enemies with your melee hits, and this creates a satisfying flow. There’s no standing back and trying to pick off enemies from a distance; instead, the game forces you to focus on the melee moves, which means you’re always in the thick of things. It's an exciting challenge to be constantly on your toes, never able to totally avoid danger, and learning enemy patterns to stay alive.This is made especially engaging because of all the different enemy types. Every time you enter a new environment you’ll discover new creatures who have different attack patterns, defences, and behaviors to learn--some will even let you by peacefully. There’s a real sense of danger when going to an unknown place, which later evolves into a sense of mastery once you’ve gotten a handle on the enemies there.This goes doubly so for Sparklite's intense bosses, as each of the five Mining Titans bring a slew of unique moves to the table. Every time I encountered a new boss I’d die, baffled at how to proceed. One boss in particular presented only one weak spot on its front, but that's also where it would readily produce pincers. It could shoot missiles and laser beams, as well as cause sinkholes with a stabbing scorpion tail. I found myself mastering the pattern for one series of attacks only to quickly get taken down by the other. Overcoming these fights requires you to learn how each enemy attack works in tandem, on top of finding a safe opening to attack. Learning a little bit more after each death is a great sensation, and Sparklite definitely offers a real sense of accomplishment when you finally come out of the other side of what was once a difficult fight with barely any damage. However, there are some occasions where combat just feels unfair. Little things, like enemies being able to hit you when they're not even on the same screen as you, or being perpetually frozen by two enemies shooting staggered ice balls, can be incredibly annoying. I felt this especially hard during the final boss battle, where a bombardment of enemies would all jump on me in a staggered pattern, keeping me in an indefinite loop of knockdowns. There are ways to try to avoid all of these situations, but if you’re unlucky enough to get caught by them, they’re nigh impossible to get out of, especially if you're already low on health.Consumable items also play a large role in combat. You can find and collect an array of bombs, buffs, and healing items every time you drop down to the planet’s surface. They offer new strategies to defeat tough enemies or increase your survivability. However, you don't keep any of them when you die. This creates the risk-reward dynamic seen in most roguelites--is it worth stockpiling items for an upcoming boss, or better to use them now and increase your chances of survival?The downside to items in Sparklite is that most of them take a while to activate, and while you can get permanent buffs that help with this, using them during tough combat encounters is often more of a liability, which makes certain items feel useless. In some boss battles, I found bombs could be quite effective, for example, but in others, finding the downtime to set them off is often just too risky. Even taking the time to heal can be a tough and dangerous choice, so learning when to do so becomes crucial. Weapon items that I wanted to use and make me feel powerful often felt like they got me killed, and with such limited opportunities to use items, I ended up using them very sparingly and with trepidation. Items are also completely random, so it’s easy to find yourself stocked with a bunch of things you may not even need. One item’s sole job is to illuminate dark areas, and there are only so many times you’ll ever want to use it. On the other hand, health is few and far between so repeatedly getting one item over the other can be very frustrating.Randomness can also negatively affect your experience with other systems, like permanent upgrades. Permanent items are kept upon death, which means that death doesn’t usually feel too punishing, and instead feels like an opportunity to go back to the Sky Refuge and rework your loadout. You equip upgrades by slotting them into a grid--some will be larger than others, and you have to prioritise what you think you’ll need. It's a neat little system, and experimenting with it is a rewarding exercise because you can see a tangible difference reflected in your character. However, this is the only way to level up your character, and though the game will let you buy some upgrades (like health buffs) as a guaranteed item, others are up for you to stumble across randomly, which can affect your trajectory of progress. This is a characteristic of the genre, of course, but that doesn't mean it isn't frustrating at times.. It wasn’t until I was facing one of the final bosses that I finally found a second damage upgrade, for example, something I desperately needed and explored the map several times in search of.I also encountered a few frustrating bugs in the Switch version of the game which interrupted my progress; crashing during loading screens made me sacrifice more than one of my more lucrative runs. Even aside from bugs, sometimes loading screens seemed ridiculously long as I got into the later areas--areas which also felt like they weren’t anywhere near as diverse in design as earlier ones. Even the random dungeons, which you can find by breaking objects on all the maps, repeat far too often and by the end I could tell which one I’d dropped into immediately. Skipping these dungeons means fewer items and less currency, which in turn means a lower chance of survival or an inability to afford bigger upgrades. Their necessity means it eventually becomes a chore to do the same thing over and over again for random, often disappointing rewards. This repetition in design seems especially odd when you consider that other puzzle aspects of the game are often introduced once and barely used again. For example, each time you discover a new ranged weapon, you’ll have a comprehensive tutorial on how to use it so you understand what puzzles it’ll work for. Several of these items went almost completely unused after I’d acquired them because I never came across an opportunity for them.Sparklite has a great amount of challenge and diversity--until it doesn’t. When things are going well in the early game, progress always feels real and attainable, so it's enjoyable to go exploring the world for whatever you’ll find next. The game's upgrades are satisfying to implement (so long as you can find them) and there’s a real sense of growth and achievement. But when Sparklite gets you with an unfair death or technical issue that sets you back, and later causes you to do the same thing over and over again, it's hard to endure. In the moments where I didn’t encounter these kinds of setbacks, I felt consumed by the desire to find more upgrades, learn how to defeat that boss, and unlock a new area. Sparklite's loop can be rewarding, but not when it's extended beyond its means. Info from Gamespot.com

Google Stadia is right around the corner, with the streaming games service launching on Tuesday, November 19. Google recently announced the system's launch titles, along with the other games coming in 2019. It was a thin list, with only one console exclusive (Gylt), which had some potential customers concerned. Thankfully for early adopters of the new machine, the launch lineup has been expanded, with many titles that were due at some point in 2019 now arriving on day one, including NBA 2K20.The news was announced by Google vice president Phil Harrison, who thanked the developers and publishers who worked to prepare their games for the system's release. It's unclear what prompted the increase, but it comes in the wake of some complaints about the launch lineup, as well as a significant expansion of the library for Microsoft's xCloud test.Excited to announce that we are INCREASING the Day One launch line-up of titles for @GoogleStadia - we now have TWENTY TWO games launching with the platform on Tuesday. Huge thank you to our game developer and publisher partners for bringing more titles #stadia — Phil Harrison (@MrPhilHarrison) November 18, 2019These are the 12 games initially announced for the Stadia launch, which are still coming on day one:Assassin's Creed OdysseyDestiny 2GyltJust Dance 2020KineMortal Kombat 11Red Dead Redemption 2ThumperTomb RaiderRise of the Tomb RaiderShadow of the Tomb RaiderSamurai ShodownAnd now, here are ten more games that will now release on November 19 alongside the new system:Attack on Titan: Final Battle 2Farming Simulator 2019Final Fantasy XVFootball Manager 2020Grid 2019Metro ExodusNBA 2K20Rage 2Trials RisingWolfenstein: YoungbloodBorderlands 3, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 and Darksiders Genesis are also due before the end of the year. Darksiders Genesis will release on December 5, the same day as the PC version, making it a non-PC exclusive to Stadia for about three months; it launches for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on February 14, 2020.To find out more about what to expect from Google Stadia's impending launch, be sure to check out our unboxing of the new system. We know that it'll launch with several missing features that will be added over time. Google Stadia News Google Stadia Review In Progress - Cloud Strife Everything Missing From Stadia At Launch, And When To Expect Updates Google Stadia Founder's Edition Unboxing: Controller, Chromecast, And More Here's Google Stadia's Launch Lineup And 2019 Games Every Google Stadia Confirmed Game Info from Gamespot.com

Capcom has announced that it's releasing yet another version of Street Fighter V. This latest one, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, will be released on February 14, 2020. This new version of the game will include every single piece of DLC released previously--with the exception of the Fighting Chance, Capcom Pro Tour, and brand collaboration costumes that have released so far--plus some new content. This edition will be available for $29.99, or current owners of Street Fighter V can buy an upgrade kit, available on PS4 and PC for $24.99, at an earlier date.Street Fighter V: Champion Edition will include all 34 stages and over 200 costumes that have been introduced since Street Fighter V launched in 2016, as well as new V-Skills for every single character (which will be made available for owners of any version of the game.) A balance update and new "gameplay improvements" have also been promised.Champion Edition boosts the fighter count up to 40, with the addition of a new fighter: Gill, the antagonist of Street Fighter III. A character trailer has been released to show off his iconic red-and-blue design (to represent fire and ice,) and how his attacks translate to the latest Street Fighter. "Typically plotting behind the scenes, he is now ready to reveal himself to the world, as he sets out to fulfill the prophecy that the Secret Society has coveted since ancient times," the description on the trailer reads. You'll be able to nab him through the upgrade kit from December, and he'll bring the "Sun Chase Moon" stage with him.Anyone who preorders Champion Edition in the US will unlock a new choice of costume color for each fighter. Gill, like previous DLC fighters, can be purchased or earned in-game. New Christmas themed DLC is also heading to the game from today, bringing new costumes for G, Lucia and Poison, and later this month a new stage called Holly Jolly Beatdown will be made available as well--it's Abigail's auto shop, but snowed in.We gave the Arcade Edition of Street Fighter V a 9/10 in our review, with critic Tamoor Hussain writing that "two years after its launch, Street Fighter V is finally fighting fit."Info from Gamespot.com

New Releases breaks down the hottest games launching each week, and this episode is all over the globe. It starts in the east, where Shenmue 3 continues Ryo Hazuki's story in China and Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts drops you into Siberia. Meanwhile, Civilization 6 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One, letting you conquer the rest of the world. There are also some fantasy and sci-fi adventures to be had, thanks to Munchkin: Quacked Quest and Black Future '88.Shenmue 3 -- November 19Available on: PS4, PCShenmue 3 isn't the end of Ryo Hazuki's story, but fans of the Sega Dreamcast classic have been waiting a long time for the next chapter nonetheless. The third game picks up in a small fishing village in China, where Ryo continues to track down his father's killer. Expect the usual dose of mini-games and intriguing characters as you explore the open world.More Coverage:Shenmue 3 Is Nearly Here After An 18 Year Wait--Here's The Launch TrailerShenmue 3 PS4 Collector's Edition Comes With Dreamcast CaseMunchkin: Quacked Quest -- November 19Available on: PC, SwitchQuacked Quest is based on the Munchkin card game, which is not just about fighting monsters and scoring loot--backstabbing your friends is just as important. This procedurally generated dungeon-crawler operates the same way. You can fight your way through castles and caverns in co-op, but there are lots of opportunities to turn on the party and steal all the gold for yourself.Black Future '88 -- November 21Available on: PC, SwitchMunchkin isn't the only procedurally generated adventure dropping this week. Black Future '88 is set in a tower, and the layout changes each time you take another run to the top. Along the way, you'll dodge lasers and fight bosses until you reach the architect on the highest floor. You can make a vertical run in local co-op too.More Coverage:Cyberpunk Meets Roguelikes In Black Future '88Black Future '88 Side Scrolling GameplaySniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts -- November 22Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PCThe latest in the Sniper: Ghost Warrior series drops you in Siberia, where you'll have to take out targets in the concrete cities, snowy mountains, and deep forests. You can carry out your missions in a variety of ways, and the new AR mask opens up even more possibilities. You can use it to scan the environment, identifying weak points and objects of interest.More Coverage:Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts Trailer Shows New MechanicsSniper Ghost Warrior Contracts Sets Its Sights On A November 22 Release DateCivilization 6 -- November 22Available on: PS4, Xbox OneCiv 6 has already made its way to mobile and Nintendo Switch, but now PS4 and Xbox One players are getting a chance to lead their nation to military, technological, and cultural victories. PS4 players even get three Scenario Packs thrown in for free. That's on top of the 18 nations you can choose in the base game.More Coverage:Civilization 6 Review Civilization 6 Is Coming To PS4 And Xbox One This NovemberNovember isn't over yet, and there are still more video games on the way. Next week, we'll talk about the Five Nights at Freddy's series and the narrative indie title Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, both coming to Switch.Info from Gamespot.com

With less than two weeks until Black Friday 2019, Sony has finally announced its official Black Friday PS4 deals for North America. While some of these deals had already been revealed in various retailers' ads, other deals are a pleasant surprise, including an awesome discount on the PS4 Pro. PlayStation's deals will be available from November 24 to December 2 in the US and November 28 to December 6 in Canada.For those looking to grab a powerful console with a great library of games, you can't go wrong with the PS4 Pro at its Black Friday price: $300 USD. No retailer ads have mentioned this offer as of yet, but we still expect you'll see it at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Alternatively, an excellent PS4 Slim bundle will be available for just $200 USD, and it includes three PS4-exclusive classics: God of War, The Last of Us Remastered, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition. While the PS5 is slated to release next holiday season, that's still at least a year away, and for budget-savvy shoppers, these console discounts are a welcome surprise.Some of 2019's PS4-exclusive releases will be on sale for just $20 USD, including Marvel's Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition, which includes all DLC. You'll also be able to grab Days Gone, MediEvil, Concrete Genie, and MLB The Show 19 at that price. Meanwhile, some older PS4 classics will be just $10 USD (down from $20). The PlayStation Hits collection includes God of War, The Last of Us Remastered, Persona 5, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and more. Black Friday 2019 Deals & News Black Friday 2019 Start Times, Store Hours: GameStop, Best Buy, Target, And More Black Friday 2019: The Best Xbox One Deals So Far Black Friday 2019: The Best PS4 Deals So Far Best Buy Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals Black Friday 2019: When Does It Start, Deals To Expect, And More Target Black Friday 2019 Ad: Best Gaming, Tech, And Entertainment Deals At Target If you've been interested in PlayStation VR, Black Friday is also bringing an excellent PSVR bundle with five games, and it's perhaps the best offer we've seen on PSVR. For $200 USD, you'll get not only the PSVR headset and camera but also vouchers to download some of the system's best games: Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Skyrim VR, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Everybody's Golf VR, and PlayStation VR Worlds. Alternatively, there's a two-game bundle that includes Blood & Truth and Everybody's Golf VR for $250 USD, but note that this bundle also includes two PS Move controllers (which can cost $100 on their own).Finally, there are some less-than-stellar offers to be aware of as well, like the PlayStation Gold wireless headset for $70 USD (it's already $71 on Amazon right now) and the 12-month PS Plus membership for $45 (you can get it for $40 at Ebay right now). The PS Plus membership price is a particular bummer as it's been offered for $40 in previous years, but it's still likely places like Amazon, Ebay, and Newegg will offer it for cheaper during Black Friday.Now that PlayStation has announced its official deals, we have a pretty good idea of what the best PS4 deals will be during Black Friday. Be sure to check out our guides to the best overall PS4 deals as well as the best deals on PS4 games and consoles and accessories.Official Black Friday 2019 PS4 DealsPS4 Pro -- $300 USD / $370 CADPS4 Slim bundle -- $200 USD / $250 CAD God of WarThe Last of Us RemasteredHorizon Zero Dawn: Complete EditionSelect PlayStation-exclusive games from 2019 -- $20 USD / $30 CAD Spider-Man: Game of the Year EditionDays GoneMediEvilConcrete GenieMLB The Show 19PlayStation Hits games -- $10 USD / $10 CADPlayStation Plus 12-month membership -- $45 USD / $52.50 CADPlayStation Gold Wireless Headset -- $70 USD / $90 CADDualShock 4 wireless controllers (all colors) -- $40 USD / $50 CADPSVR five-game bundle -- $200 USD / $320 CAD Astro Bot Rescue MissionSkyrim VRResident Evil 7: BiohazardEverybody's Golf VRPlayStation VR WorldsPSVR two-game bundle -- $250 USD / $250 CAD Everybody's Golf VRBlood & Truth Info from Gamespot.com

The promise of a game streaming service like Google Stadia is hard to reject. You can theoretically play high-quality games almost anywhere, over the internet, without much more than a bit of tech and a second thought. Taken in good faith, that's a reality worth wishing for.I'm a firm believer in that future after spending a week with Stadia, but it's also obvious there's a long road ahead for Google to take us there. Stadia's most innovative features won't be ready until at least 2020, and there are layers of small issues plaguing the here-and-now basics. Even then, Google's made us aware of a slew of things that will change on Stadia's Nov. 19 launch. I'm not going to wait to 2020 to review Stadia, but I am going to hold off until I've spent enough time with it under the same conditions as a paying customer.With cloud gaming on the mind, and having finally seen what Stadia (mostly) is, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the other gaming giants next to Google at the raceline: Microsoft and Sony. Sony's PlayStation Now cloud service was recently priced down to $10 a month (w/discounts for longer-term commitments), and that gets you access to hundreds of PlayStation games from multiple console generations, on a few different devices. Microsoft's xCloud game streaming service only exists as a private beta, but our early experiences streaming to Android phones have been smooth. Microsoft also just expanded the available library of games from four to 50, simultaneously revealing that xCloud will become a part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription starting next year.Neither Microsoft nor Sony, however, can match Stadia's framework today, which emphasizes extensive multiplatform support, quality-of-life features that seamlessly connect the experience across devices, and 4K, 60 FPS gameplay with HDR and Dolby 5.1 on your TV. Google is one of the few companies positioned to make cloud gaming an experience on par with dedicated consoles or PCs, and it seems to be going for it.Google also says Stadia is the "one place for all the ways we play," a bold claim to the couch, your desk, and the palms of your hands. The decision to charge per game, in addition to a service fee for the high-end Stadia features, fuels high expectations. Given enough time, Google could theoretically rampage in with a roar and scare the pants off the competition with a revolutionary service. But Google is effectively gesturing hello, asking if we'd like to play with a work in progress.For the past week I've played bits of Red Dead Redemption 2, Destiny 2, Mortal Kombat 11, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Kine, and the new Stadia exclusive, Gylt--a youthful adventure with Alan Wake vibes. These tests took place on a Pixel 3 XL phone, on multiple PCs and laptops, and a 4K TV, primarily using Google's official Stadia controller.And wouldn't you know it, Stadia worked well most of the time. On a good connection, I was looking at console-level graphics on a mobile device, and with the Founder's Edition controller and a custom plastic clip, I also had console-quality controls. When I got tired of squinting at the phone, which is admittedly a bit of an issue for most games, I might transfer over to a PC by opening the Stadia quick menu and redirecting the display drop-down to an open Chrome browser tab. You have to hardwire the Stadia controller to your PC for now, but you can alternatively use an Xbox One or DualShock 4 controller to play wirelessly. If 4K is what you're really after, you can point the Stadia stream towards your Chromecast Ultra (included in the Founder's Edition bundle).But as the old saying goes, just because you can doesn't mean you should, especially if you've got traditional gaming hardware within reach. During roughly a week of tests, Stadia exhibited a lot of small pain points. I expected to not to have to sneer at sub-optimal latency, video compression artifacts, or wrestle with finicky software. Regrettably, I bumped into all of these issues on multiple occasions. I can play games for long periods of time under generally acceptable conditions, but it's all too easy to focus on the little annoyances that make Stadia feel like a less-than alternative to traditional console or PC gaming.The Stadia of today, however, won't even be the Stadia of tomorrow, when Google officially launches its ambitious gaming platform to early adopters, the selection of Stadia games, their cost, the number of players on servers, the publisher-side services of some games, the Google Assistant button, some of Mortal Kombat 11's modes, support for wireless PS4 and Xbox One controllers on mobile, sharing captured content, being able to voice chat, and seamless exiting of games on mobile will, hopefully, be finalized and functional.Not everything about Stadia is in limbo, and I'm happy to say that the final controller is a winner. With a body akin to a Switch Pro controller and a layout similar to a DualShock, the Stadia controller is both familiar and new. Materially, it's good looking and pleasing to hold, and practically, it works like a charm. I only have good things to say about the Stadia controller, and it should only increase in value as Google continues to release new features centered around its built-in microphone and Wi-Fi connection.A word of warning, though: The Google-recommended smartphone clip scratches at the Founder's Edition controller's finely textured finish, leaving permanent scuffs in its wake. The Claw, as it's called, has a very sturdy grip, and the tension of the phone clamp is equally intense. Definitely think twice before investing in a phone clip if you're sensitive to the cosmetic condition of your controller, but don't take the opportunity for granted, because the Claw positions the phone in an ideal way for mobile gaming.Be careful with that controller! The Claw can and will scratch it.We can also weigh in on Stadia's data demands, which, as stated by Google, will consume up to 20 GB of data an hour for 4K gameplay, or 4.5 GB an hour at 720p everywhere else. A balanced option exists where Google will calculate a data rate somewhere in the middle, based on your network environment.To make a long story short, I had to drop $50 extra on my internet bill to unlock my data cap, which I currently hit, or come close to hitting, every month. It's a cost I can afford because it's for work, but when I try to imagine the impact that would have on me as a typical consumer, I dare say it's a dealbreaker.Even with my occupational justification, the additional cost is making me reconsider the value of Stadia's convenience when I'm required to increase my utility bill and also pay out of pocket for most games, many of which are old titles that I've played or decided not to play on other platforms. Destiny 2 and Samurai Shodown is free at launch, and Google promises to add more free games over time to Pro subscribers, but what does that do for me today, as a virtual founding member of Stadia?At the very least, I can attest to a handful of games that will be a part of the launch lineup. Because it's free for all Stadia Pro user, Destiny 2 is bound to be one of the most popular games out of the gate. Under ideal conditions, Destiny 2 plays decently, with responsive controls and good-enough graphics. If, however, you encounter lag, you will struggle during firefights while your reticle darts and stalls. It's also one of the more challenging games to play on a phone screen due to the relative size of distant enemies that you'd otherwise be able to see on a TV, but which appear miniscule when shrunken to fit the smaller screen.Mortal Kombat 11 is another game that becomes unplayable without a connection strong enough to support quick actions and reactions. That almost goes without saying for most video games, but it's especially true with a fighting game like MK. But when everything works as it should, MK doesn't feel too far off from the real deal--though miniscule input latency is always apparent if you're explicitly looking for it.I can play games for long periods of time under generally acceptable conditions, but it's all too easy to focus on the little annoyances that make Stadia feel like a less-than alternative to traditional console or PC gaming.Of the games made available to us, Shadow of The Tomb Raider proved to be the best balanced for Stadia, which is more of a factor of the game's relatively low-key demands.Gylt is the one exclusive game in the package, but it is a far cry from a system seller, leaning into basic stealth design and a childlike definition of horror as its main selling points. As mentioned earlier, it evokes an atmosphere that can best be compared to Alan Wake, with strange supernatural disturbances wreaking havoc on the real world. There are monsters standing between you and the next item or puzzle, and your best bet for staying alive is to sneak undetected, or fight back using a flashlight to defeat monsters. After an hour of playing Gylt, my interest dried up. I can see how it might entertain someone who isn't dedicated to keeping up with the latest games, but it's derivative design is likely too middle-of-the-road to satisfy the gaming enthusiast waiting to see what Stadia's all about.I have experienced less than half of Stadia's launch library at this time. There are more games coming very soon, but most are titles that are readily available on other platforms. So far, Google's tech has impressed me to the point where I would comfortably play most in a browser tab or on a phone without batting an eye, but then I consider that I will have to buy the vast majority of games, and I'm left in awe of the value Microsoft and Sony are offering, even if their overall services lack Stadia's flexibility. For the moment, cloud gaming still feels like a decent alternative to the real thing, and I don't think I'm ready to dedicate a full-price game purchase to a secondary platform.I will continue to prioritize my consoles and PC for the foreseeable future, but I will also continue testing Stadia in the days to come, and come back soon with my final thoughts on Stadia's 2019 debut. Google Stadia News Google Stadia Review In Progress - Cloud Strife Everything Missing From Stadia At Launch, And When To Expect Updates Google Stadia Founder's Edition Unboxing: Controller, Chromecast, And More Here's Google Stadia's Launch Lineup And 2019 Games Every Google Stadia Confirmed Game Info from Gamespot.com