When designing the enemy Stormtroopers you'll fight in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Respawn crafted individual personalities for each one. So even if you're fighting a whole squad, individual troopers will behave and act differently."Under the helmet they have personalities, and so we've kind of given them nicknames and call signs," Fallen Order narrative lead Aaron Contreras said, according to PC Gamer. "So it looks like a horde of faceless grunts. And they are because they're Stormtroopers, but they each have a specific personality and they'll interact with each other in ways that are specific to their personality. [So] when one's left alone, it could be the guy who's terrified or it could [be] a guy who's super gung-ho and he's like, 'Now it's my time to shine and take out a Jedi!'"Individual Stormtroopers will also act differently depending on the make-up of a fight as well. The more observant among the group may inform their peers of their lack of ranged support if they notice you've cut down all of the snipers first. For the most part, Stormtroopers will also stay out of the way of the Purge Troopers if one is in their midst, allowing you to duel with the alpha killer. Of course, defeating said leader will cause the Stormtroopers to react, and those reactions will depend on their prewritten personalities.Though each Stormtrooper has a call sign and personality, their individuality stops there. Fallen Order lead level designer Jeff Magers said that each trooper does not have their own individual name. Though Contreras did add, "Not yet," so there may still be a possibility that some troopers get even more individuality between now and Fallen Order's launch. As seen in The Last of Us Part II, giving enemies individual names and designing them to care about one another can make for some deeply unsettling combat encounters.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is scheduled to launch for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 15. We recently got three hours of hands-on time with Fallen Order at a preview event, coming away excited about the upcoming Star Wars game.Info from Gamespot.com

One of the more exciting aspects of Respawn Entertainment's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is that it wears its respect for From Software's Souls series on its sleeve. With combat and gameplay progression that's similar to the loop found in Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Fallen Order is undoubtedly a change of pace when compared to other games set in the prolific sci-fi series. In keeping with the Souls series' reputation for challenging difficulty and brutal combat, Respawn's new game even allows you to attempt exploring a world that will make you feel immediately out of your depth.I recently got to play about three hours of the game and saw what's in store for Cal Kestis' journey. Shortly after the opening of the game, Cal Kestis will have the choice of heading to one of two planets--Zeffo or Dathomir. At this point in the game, the Jedi Padawan is on the trail of a missing Jedi Master named Eno Cordova, who's searching for lost secrets from the Order's past. On Zeffo, you'll find an Imperial outpost filled with stormtroopers, though beneath the surface lies a labyrinth of ancient ruins housing ancient Jedi artifacts. However, if you were to choose Dathomir, then you'll venture to a planet that's home to dangerous monsters that can defeat you quickly. Fans of the Clone Wars series will recognize this world, which is otherwise known as the Rancor planet. Before selecting Dathomir, Cal's allies Cere and Breez will actively warn you not to go--but in the end, it's your choice. Like in other metroidvania-inspired games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Hollow Knight, it can be easy to wander into areas that will make you feel outmatched--but you're still free to attempt it all the same.During our recent interview with game director Stig Asmussen, he described their approach to letting players explore the game's different set of planets, and how it was up to the player's skills to get through the challenges."We give the player the choice between Zeffo and Dathomir very consciously early in the game," Asmussen said. "Within the cinematic, it's very clear that Dathomir is a dangerous planet, and you've got to be careful if you're going to choose that. The player is given a warning if they go there, but at the same time though, I don't want to discourage people from going there because some people might. It's almost like it's a difficulty level that's built-in without actually having a menu in front of you. We saw several people try it today, and they went there and one of the gentlemen got really far in it, but I would rather have that choice for the player than just saying, "There's just one path and you go down this path until you get strong enough to open up this other one."It's essential to clarify this point on difficulty. When it comes to Dathomir's challenge, it's more tied to how sophisticated the enemy's attack patterns and abilities are on this planet. At this point in the game, players will still be getting used to parrying strikes and using force powers with lightsaber skills. Fallen Order is not an RPG, so character levels or attack power aren't a factor in combat. As you progress further, you'll need to use your skills and upgraded abilities in more clever ways to beat your foes.Even though Zeffo was the safer option at the beginning, I did try my hand at Dathromir during our recent hands-on session. Arriving at the planet will treat you to a quick introductory cutscene showing off the world's blood-red skies and uneven landscape. It's an incredibly unnerving world to explore, and the roaming Rancors that come in various sizes didn't make it any it any easier. After a few attempts exploring the space, I decided to pack it in. Following Zeffo, you'll unlock access to Kashyyk, so Dathomir can be put off till later. Despite the inherent challenge, it is still possible to make some significant progress early in the game. Though to explore every nook and cranny of the space, you'll need to have some of the more high-end abilities that unlock later on in the game. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Won't Have Fast-Travel, But There Is A Reason Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Isn't Groundbreaking, But It's Still Exciting Xbox One X And S Bundles Revealed For Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Pre-Order Bonuses Include $15 Fandango Movie Credit New Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Trailer Focuses On Its Terrifying Villain Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Trailer Breakdown - Darth Vader, New Planets, And More Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Is "Very Similar" To Sekiro, Confirms Respawn Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Full 25-Minute Gameplay Footage Released E3 2019: A Close Look At Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order's Combat Classic Star Wars Games Collection Announced At E3 2019 I saw a lot of what Fallen Order has to offer from my hands-on session, and how Star Wars' first metroidvania game is shaping up. For more on Respawn's new single-player game set in the sci-fi universe, check out GameSpot's latest hands-on impressions of the game.Info from Gamespot.com

While there's plenty of drama unfolding on-screen throughout Season 2 of FX's Mayans MC, it turns out there's also plenty of twists and turns happening behind the scenes. Kurt Sutter--the showrunner and co-creator of the series, as well as creator of Sons of Anarchy--has been let go from FX, following an over 18-year career with the network that started with The Shield in 2006.The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which states "multiple complaints" have been received about Sutter's behavior on the show, leading to him being fired from the network. THR also notes that Sutter, himself, sent a letter about his dismissal to the cast and crew of Mayans, in which he referred to himself as an "abrasive dick.""As you know, I've removed myself quite a bit this season, allowing others to take a bigger role in producing the show. It appears that philosophy has backfired. It's been reported by writers, producers, cast and crew that my absence and subsequent behavior when there, has only created confusion, chaos, hostility and is perceived as abandonment. Or at least that's how Disney has interpreted it. I'm sure it's true," the letter reads, per THR. "This morning I was fired by Dana Walden and John Landgraf for all the complaints levied against me. Not the way I wanted to end my 18 year relationship with FX. At least being fired for being an abrasive dick is on brand."Interestingly, it was already revealed that the showrunner was planning to scale back his duties on Mayans MC, should the show be renewed for a third season. At the Season 2 premiere, Sutter said he'd be handing over the job of showrunner to Elgin James, who co-created the series with Sutter. "It's time for the white man to leave the building," he joked.Interestingly, THR points out that while Sutter has been fired from FX, his overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV--which is owned by Disney--remains intact for now. GameSpot has reached out to FX for comment but has not heard back as of the publishing of this story.Mayans MC airs Tuedays on FX. The next episode of the show includes a mini Sons of Anarchy reunion, with several characters from the series appearing.Info from Gamespot.com

Developer Respawn Entertainment has divulged a bevy of information about the hotly-anticipated Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order following a preview event. Though Jedi Fallen Order's From Software influences are noticeable, the third-person action-adventure game borrows an interesting element from Bloodborne--the way experience points are lost.Since Jedi Fallen Order is a character action game not unlike Bayonetta or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Cal Kestis will earn experience points upon defeating various combatants on his journey. And similar to From Software's Dark Souls series, you will lose the experience points you gather should you fall in battle. However, in a design more like Bloodborne's, your experience points will attach to the enemy that killed you last.GameSpot editor Alessandro Fillari spent three hours with Jedi Fallen Order, where he discovered that the game makes a nod to Bloodborne's Blood Echoes. "If you die, the enemy that struck the killing blow will steal all of Cal's current experience points, along with a portion of the force and health meters.," Fillari said. "To erase the penalties, you'll need to return to the enemy, now glowing gold, and take it out, which will, in turn, recover lost experience points and restore your meters."Echoes operate very similarly. The currency you gain from killing enemies and used for purchasing items and upgrading your Bloodborne character, Echoes are lost if you are defeated in battle. Sometimes, Echoes will attach to the enemy that delivered the fatal blow. Other times, Echoes will just sit out in the open. In either situation, Blood Echoes will be permanently lost if you die while trekking back to where you last perished.Jedi Fallen Order is no different. "But also in familiar Souls fashion, if you die on the way back to that enemy, then you'll permanently lose that batch of experience points," Fillari wrote of his experience. "This can sound harsh, but in practice, I felt it was, again, surprisingly forgiving."Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order lands on PC. PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 15. We've thrown together a handy pre-order guide to help you suss through the various bonuses and editions available. There's plenty more Jedi Fallen Order coverage in the meantime, however, including the lack of fast travel, the option to visit a very dangerous planet, and so much more.Info from Gamespot.com

The original Zombieland came out during a different time--a period of ancient history known as 2009. The sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, is set to hit theaters ten years later to the date--October 18, 2019, the ten-year anniversary of the original's release. It features the same core ensemble as the original: Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and Wichita (Emma Stone).But just because it's been a decade in real time since this foursome was last together chasing Twinkies and bashing undead skulls with banjos doesn't mean ten years have passed in the series' fictional apocalyptic world. Luckily, we got the opportunity to chat recently with Zombieland 2's director, Ruben Fleischer, and writers, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, and we asked them how much time has passed since the original--and what that means for the characters.In the movie itself, it's never explicitly stated how much time has passed since the events of the original. The most reliable marker we have for the passage of time in the series is Abigail Breslin's character Little Rock, who's grown from a young girl (Breslin was 13 years old in 2009) to a young woman who might be anywhere from 16 years old to her early twenties.But there are other markers of the passage of time besides Little Rock's age. "We want to leave it a little vaguer in the movie," Reese told GameSpot. "You get the sense that years have passed. You look at that White House [covered in plant growth], and definitely, years have passed.""And you look at Abby and you realize she's no longer a 12 year old girl, she's a grown, young lady," Wernick added.But although they left it deliberately vague, both writers agree that it hasn't been a full ten years in-universe. "[Five years] feels a little more right than a full 10," Reese said, adding that a full ten years would have felt too long for these characters to be together. After ten years, it becomes even more implausible that Columbus and Wichita haven't had any kids, for example."That felt to us like, that's time that passes that you kind of want to know, well, what happened to this family in those 10 years? What were they doing?" Wernick explained. "Five years, you feel like, OK, yeah." One thing you have to keep in mind is that they started working on this script basically a decade ago, when the original movie was still new."It took a long time to get the script right," director Ruben Fleischer told GameSpot. "And so, I think, originally [Little Rock] might have been 17 [in the sequel]...But yeah, it's never stated, so it's just kind of whatever you want it to be."Fleischer said they used references like Alan Weisman's book The World Without Us and the History Channel series Life After People to determine how the world would look at this point in their apocalypse--roads overgrown, buildings crumbling, that sort of thing.But the other big marker of the passage of time is how the characters themselves have changed."[Little Rock] wanting to leave the nest and have her own experiences was the biggest change in characters," Fleischer said."We also wanted to take certain things that were associated with certain characters and say something about their characters," Reese said. "So, Tallahassee gives Little Rock a gun. Shooting and guns are a big part of that relationship in the previous movie, but that was 10 years ago. Now he's giving her a gun and she's like, 'Yeah, another gun, great.' You realize their relationship's maybe in a rut. It's stalled and she wants to move on. She wants to get out of the nest."One other thing that's changed: Zombieland's humor. Make no mistake, the sequel has plenty of callbacks and references to the original. But the filmmakers were careful not to rehash the same old jokes throughout the entire movie. For example, Double Tap features almost no references to Twinkies--Tallahassee's obsession in the original--besides a brief shot of a car's grill ornament."We didn't want to have Twinkies be a whole thing again because after 10 years, there would be no more Twinkies, first off--they don't last that long," Reese explained. "They actually do go stale reasonably quickly. I only know this because I used to eat them a lot--I still do occasionally.""But then, Columbus is still drinking Mountain Dew Code Red, so we did little homages," he added.Read next: Zombie Movies Will Be Around "Forever," Says Zombieland Double Tap Writer"There are little Easter eggs," Wernick agreed. "But the idea was that, when you rely too heavily on the first movie for a second movie, then you feel like you're treading the same ground."Fleischer shared that there was at least one other Twinkies-related joke in the movie at one point, but he cut it because it wasn't up to snuff."We were all really precious about not wanting to do anything that we felt would tarnish the first film," the director explained. "The bar was very high, and so I think we were all really nervous about doing the second one, because sequels often don't live up to the original."But I think we're all pretty proud of the fact that this one is a worthy sequel to the original."Zombieland: Double Tap hits theaters Friday, October 18. In the meantime, we revisited the original Zombieland recently--check out the 30 Easter eggs, references, and fun facts you might have missed in the original.Info from Gamespot.com

Gacha mechanics and microtransactions in video games are hot-button issues. Developer and publisher Capcom is not too fond of one of these forms of monetization, confirming it "refrains" from including them in its games for the healthy development of the youth.Gacha mechanics are similar to loot boxes in modern video games. They originate from gachapon, vending machine-style capsule toys popular in Japan, and largely appear in mobile titles. In games, they require real-world money to access and rewards are selected at random. In a recent investor report, Capcom president and COO, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, spoke about gacha and his disapproval of their implementation in the company's titles."Since 2005 Capcom has independently continued literacy and career education support activities to raise awareness about how to properly interact with games in an effort to eliminate the social concern regarding the healthy development of youth with regards to games," Tsujimoto said. "As a general rule, in our mobile games we refrain from utilizing gacha elements."That does not mean Capcom doesn't offer microtransactions at all. While Tsujimoto notes the company does its best "to ensure that a broad range of customers are able to play safely and fairly," he does point out that some kinds of monetization still appear in Capcom's games. "And while we do sell small-scale, inexpensive additional content in games for home consoles, any content that is required to play the main game is provided free of charge."Capcom is having a phenomenal 2019 though. Devil May Cry 5 and a handful of Resident Evil games--including Resident Evil 2--saw critical acclaim when they released throughout the year. And games not released in the year, like Monster Hunter: World and Street Fighter V, continue to receive balance tweaks and content updates.Info from Gamespot.com

Nintendo's latest hardware has hit a new milestone, in part thanks to the launch of the new Switch Lite. The company announced that lifetime sales of both Switch models combined have hit 15 million units in North America since launch. The company also boasted that it's been the top-selling console for 10 months in a row, according to the NPD group.So far, 14 first-party Nintendo Switch games have sold more than 1 million units, and four of those hit at least 6 million. Nintendo also says that the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate set sales records for their respective franchises, both becoming the fastest-selling to date.The Nintendo Switch launched its original console-handheld hybrid model in March 2017. In September, Nintendo added the Switch Lite model, which removes the console docking functionality, and it sells for a lower cost at $200.As of July 30, Nintendo announced it had sold approximately 37 million Nintendo Switch units worldwide. As noted by financial analyst Daniel Ahmad on Twitter, the Nintendo Switch hitting 15 million units in North America means its sales in this region alone have topped the Wii U lifetime sales worldwide.Fun Fact:The Nintendo Switch has sold 15 million units in North America.This is now more than the 13.56 million units that the Wii U sold worldwide. pic.twitter.com/KURmSo3vzX — Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) October 17, 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

With the recent release of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, as well as the free-to-play New Light version of the game and cross-save functionality, Destiny is in a good place. Bungie, freshly independent after splitting with publisher Activision, is looking ahead to the future of Destiny--whether that means expanding Destiny 2 further or developing Destiny 3.I caught up with Bungie design director Victoria Dollbaum at PAX Australia to discuss where Destiny is at, and where it's headed. Dollbaum is responsible for overseeing Bungie's staff as they figure out what the team should be building, how their work serves their goals, and what they need to do to make Destiny 2 as good as it can be for its ever-growing audience."I make sure the team is on time and understands what they're building," Dollbaum says. "Because sometimes we'll build things, and we'll say, 'Well, the thing we built was cool, but it's actually not hitting any of the goals that we've set.' So how do we adjust?" Destiny has gone through numerous adjustments since the original game launched, of course, and as new players flood in through New Light, the newly launched free-to-play version of the game, the team has asked themselves what the experience is like for first-time players. "It's very hard to take the perspective of a person who has never touched Destiny before," Dollbaum tells me, but New Light has been designed with them in mind. Now, Dollbaum says, the goal is to keep building, and to try to keep every player on the same page. "Since we're trying to move towards an evolving world, we want you to come into the present, not the past," she elaborates. It was important for the team that new players could immediately play with established Guardians without feeling out of place. "You can just go straight into playing with your friends right away, unlock some destination, be the correct level to already start playing with them in the content that they're in."Destiny has also fostered a community that is, by gaming standards, very pleasant, one that Dollbaum says is "pretty open to new players." Because of adjustments to how 'Power' levelling works, Dollbaum says, "it's actually very hard to tell who the new players are because the game starts everybody off in the same place." Beyond this, it's always been important to Destiny's design to focus on the positives of each player's contribution: you're never shown how much damage individual members of your team did to a boss, for instance, because the team wants to make sure that the game does not, in their words, "incite toxic behaviour".Shadowkeep, meanwhile, is "doing really well" from Bungie's perspective. By coming to Australia for PAX Aus in October, Dollbaum missed the usual excitement in the office over the first Raid being completed and said that she felt a certain anxiety over not being able to play the game that week. "Pretty much everybody (in the office) has their Twitch open and just watching their favourite streamer compete for World First (raid clear)," she says. "Every once in a while, you'll hear a cheer go throughout the studio when some group beats something."It's also, Dollbaum tells me, exciting to see players "start to interact with this first thread of the narrative that will then lead them on to the next season." Narrative is a strong focus for Destiny's future, she tells me, stating furtively that "over time, the story will start to expand… things will happen." While Dollbaum cannot be too specific about these threads, I was curious to ask her about what the future looks like beyond Shadowkeep. The first Destiny made way for Destiny 2 after releasing two major expansions--will 2 have a longer tail? "We have plans for Destiny as far as the stories we want to tell, whether that means it's a release like Shadowkeep or Destiny 3," Dollbaum says. "We don't have specific plans for any of those things. But we know the story that we want to tell, and we know where we need to go. We're just going to continue to deliver you guys content that is like Shadowkeep and the seasons following. What form that takes can change."With this in mind, I ask if Destiny is working towards a specific end point, or whether there's a narrative that started in the original game that they're planning to eventually conclude. "I think there are a couple stories that we're telling with the characters, but the world is not going away," Dollbaum says. "There are always stories continuing. There's no hard end point where we're like, 'We're done with telling the story of Destiny'. We know the threads of the stories we need to tell. And then where they go from that, some of them could end, some of them could keep going."Hanging over all of this is Bungie's split with Activision, and the move towards self-publishing Destiny. "It's just a new space for us," Dollbaum says. "We're learning ways to do things or experimenting with new methods. I think we're trying to be more honest and open with the community, too. It's all part of learning what it means to be independent, and the things that we need to do that we used to rely on other people to do for us." While this might look like a move towards a greater level of freedom, Dollbaum says that "if anything the pressure is just kind of increased because we have high expectations for ourselves, especially now that we're independent". But she's feeling positive about it: "There's a lot of pressure to build an awesome game that everybody's going to like, and I think we see that in Shadowkeep." In the immediate future, Bungie has some core goals for Destiny 2, Dollbaum tells me. "We have a future and we're going to build into it," she says. "It's about adding more of those RPG customizable elements into the game, so things like the artifact and Armor 2.0 system, allowing players to customize their characters to make your builds different than somebody else's. And it's about creating a world that evolves alongside you, so the actions that you are doing are what lead us into the next season, to the next story."Destiny 2: New Light and Shadowkeep are available now on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Read our Destiny 2: Shadowkeep review, where we explain why the game exhibits "improvements that represent a giant leap forward for Destiny 2." Info from Gamespot.com

A new chapter of Fortnite has begun. Following Season 10's cataclysmic "The End" event, which saw the game get seemingly destroyed by a black hole, the battle royale shooter has returned as Fortnite Chapter 2, and it's introduced a new map, new mechanics like fishing and weapon upgrading, and a whole host of other changes.One aspect that remains the same, however, is challenges. Each week, players who've picked up a Chapter 2 Battle Pass will get access to a new set of challenges to complete, which run the gamut from scoring eliminations with certain weapons to finding a particular item around the map. As usual, clearing challenges will help you level up your Battle Pass, unlocking new skins and other cosmetic items in turn--and this time, it's even easier to level up the pass.Chapter 2 may have only just begun, but there are already two sets of challenges to complete, with even more to come each week as the season progresses. You can see the full list of Fortnite Chapter 2 challenges so far below, along with tips and maps showing you how to complete them. We'll continue to update this list as more challenges become available, so be sure to check back often throughout the season for all our latest Fortnite challenge guides.Table of Contents [hide]Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 1 Weekly ChallengesNew World Challenges (Week 1)Discover Named LocationsDiscover LandmarksSearch Hidden F Found In The New World Loading ScreenOpen Water Challenges (Week 2)Hide Inside Hideouts In Different MatchesSearch Hidden O Found In The Open Water Loading ScreenFortnite Chapter 2, Season 1 Weekly ChallengesNew World Challenges (Week 1)Discover Named Locations (10)Eliminations at Lazy Lake or Misty Meadows (3)Discover Landmarks (10)Ride a Motorboat in different matches (3)Deal damage with Assault Rifles to opponents (500)Search chests at Sweaty Sands or Retail Row (7)Eliminations in different matches (5)Catch a weapon using a Fishing Rod (1)Deal damage with SMGs, Shotguns, and Pistols in a single match (3)Carry a knocked player 10mSearch hidden "F" found in the New World loading screenDiscover Named LocationsThe first set of Chapter 2 challenges is fittingly titled New World, and many of the missions task you with exploring the new map. The first asks you to discover 10 named locations. However, the first time you jump into a match, your map will be blank, and the named locations won't appear until you've visited them, which may make this challenge tricky if you don't already know where to go. To help you out, we've marked all the different named locations on the map above in white.Discover LandmarksContinuing the theme of exploration, this New World challenge asks you to discover 10 landmarks on the island. This shouldn't be too hard to accomplish, as there are way more than that scattered around the map. However, you need to visit different landmarks for your progress to count; you can't simply return to the same ones across multiple matches. If you need help locating some, we've marked 10 landmarks in yellow on the map above.Search Hidden F Found In The New World Loading ScreenComplete eight New World challenges and you'll unlock a special loading screen, which contains a clue pointing you to the letter F hidden somewhere around the island. The letter can be found near Lazy Lake, one of the new named locations introduced in Chapter 2. The town is nestled in the southeast portion of the island, and the letter will appear on a hill just to its east--you can see the exact location above. If you need more help finding the letter, be sure to check out our full hidden letter F location guide. Fortnite News Fortnite Open Water Challenges And How To Complete Them (Chapter 2 Guide) Fortnite Hideout Locations: Where To Hide In Hideouts For Open Water Challenge Fortnite "O" Location: Where To Find Letter O In Open Water Loading Screen Fortnite "F" Location: Where To Search Hidden F In New World Loading Screen Fortnite Map: 10 Landmark Locations For Chapter 2 Challenge Open Water Challenges (Week 2) Land at Craggy Cliffs, Salty Springs, and Dirty DocksHide inside hideouts in different matches (3)Search chests at Craggy Cliffs or Misty Meadows (7)Eliminate opponents with a sniper rifle (2)Be crouched within 20m of an opponent for 10 secondsDeal damage with pistols to opponents (500)Search ammo boxes in a single match (7)Get an elimination from 50m or furtherSurvive Storm phases (10)Deal damage within 10 seconds of leaving a hideoutSearch hidden "O" found in the Open Water loading screenHide Inside Hideouts In Different MatchesDespite the set's name, most of the Open Water challenges revolve around hiding, and one in particular asks you to hide inside hideouts in different matches. Hideouts are a new map feature introduced in Chapter 2, and they come in two forms: dumpsters and haystacks. Both are fairly plentiful around the island. Dumpsters can commonly be found near buildings in major named locations such as Retail Row, Craggy Cliff, and Dirty Docks, while haystacks are most prevalent around Frenzy Farm. Conceal yourself in any hideout in three different matches and you'll complete the challenge.Search Hidden O Found In The Open Water Loading ScreenComplete eight Open Water challenges and you'll unlock another special loading screen, this one pointing to a different letter to find. This time, it's the letter O, and it's located in Craggy Cliffs, near the docks in the northernmost portion of the area. Make your way to the area and the letter will appear when you approach. If you need more help finding it, check out our dedicated hidden letter O location guide.Info from Gamespot.com

Dauntless fans, this is your chance to stock up for your next monster hunting adventure. The Timely Arrival packs that are going out to 1,000 readers are exclusive to this giveaway and include:- 1,000 Platinum- “Timely Arrival” Arrival Emote- Hunt Pass (15 levels)- 50 Ace Chips- 3 Common Cells- 2 Rare Cells- Tonics BundleIn order to be a lucky winner you have to read the official rules, accept our terms and conditions and proceed to fill out the form below. If you have problems seeing this form on your mobile device please try this link. Remember to check your email after 9 a.m. PT on Oct. 25 because the winners will receive an email with the code to download the Timely Arrival Pack. The codes are platform agnostic so they are compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One.Head to the comments section and let us know how you are planning to hunt the new Dire Behemoth "Tempestborne Stormclaw." Good luck, everyone!Dauntless players won't be puzzled by this image. Info from Gamespot.com

Respawn has announced a new update for Apex Legends is going live. The update addresses several issues that players have expressed since the launch of Season 3: Meltdown and the transition from Kings Canyon to World's Edge. The full patch notes haven't been revealed yet.The big change in the update is adjustments to the Charge Rifle, Apex Legends' newest weapon. A powerful energy sniper rifle, the Charge Rifle has proven to be a dominant force in Respawn's battle royale. This nerf has been expected, as, last week, Respawn announced it was coming.Heads up, Legends! We'll be pushing out a small server patch here shortly that include fixes and updates for:🔸Quips while in the Drop Ship🔸Initial circle issues🔸The Charge Rifle pic.twitter.com/l54P1CKNpB — Apex Legends (@PlayApex) October 17, 2019"We want to be thoughtful in the way we make changes for it," Respawn community manager Jay Frechette said during the first episode of Apex Devstream. "So with the Charge Rifle, this won't be a [straight-forward] damage nerf. We'll be increasing the amount of ammo that is used per shot, changing the mag size for it, and also bringing in a bit of the falloff damage."Though the Charge Rifle nerf is a necessary change for Apex Legends--that gun is way too powerful--the most welcome change in the new update is for quips. Season 3 added a quip wheel to Apex Legends, allowing you say any of a character's unlocked intro or kill quips whenever you want. If other squads are within earshot, they'll hear the quip too. Trolls soon discovered--I assume to their delight--that you could say quips while in the dropship, and so they would spam the same phrases over and over, turning the dropship into an annoying cacophony of voices. Now that's gone. Finally.The update also addresses "initial circle issues" but without patch notes that's too vague to know what's exactly been altered. Apex Legends News New Apex Legends Update Patches Charge Rifle Apex Legends Halloween Skins And Cosmetics: All Legendary Fight Or Fright Items Apex Legends Vaults Are Now Open; Here's What's Inside And How To Unlock Them Apex Legends Crypto Guide: Tips For Season 3's New Character Info from Gamespot.com

It took a bit of experimentation, but I found my ideal way to play Overwatch on Switch: hunched over the console, undocked and propped up by its kickstand, using a Pro Controller. It's a peculiar setup that feels as awkward as it sounds, but there's a method to my madness.The concessions made to get Blizzard's shooter on Nintendo's modestly powered hardware are immediately evident. There's no denying that--unsurprisingly--it doesn't look or perform as well as its counterparts on other platforms. But while the technical performance on Switch may falter, Overwatch's core design still shines... under the right circumstances.Overwatch on Switch bears the familiar hallmarks of a game ported from decidedly beefier platforms onto the less powerful Switch. When docked, the visual blemishes are noticeable, ranging from reduced details in the environment and character models to low-resolution textures and an abundance of jagged edges. Displayed on large screens, the vibrancy of Overwatch's world and the charm of its characters are diminished.The game also frequently reminds you that compromises have been made. Often it takes a good few seconds for character models to load in, so you'll spend the start of each match looking at orbs floating around the spawn room and darting out into the field of battle. The orbs linger just long enough to be noticeable before the models pop in. In more intense clashes, the effects tied to special abilities and weapons become lost in each other. For those not already intimately familiar with the visual language of Overwatch, and thus capable of picking out what's important in heated moments, that loss of clarity could be frustrating.These big team battles are usually decisive ones, with their outcomes dictating whether your team or the enemy team goes on to victory. Unfortunately, it's also here where the dips in performance are most likely to occur. The game runs at 30 frames per second but, under the strain of a chaotic skirmish, that number is liable to drop. Again, in the midst of a crucial push, this can be distracting enough to let victory slip away.In handheld mode, Overwatch Switch moves a step closer to the experience offered by its counterparts, though it's a small step. Crammed onto the smaller screen, it goes from just-rolled-out-of-bed to buttoned-up, tucked in, and straightened out. Visual details pop more, the iconic cast of heroes and villains regain some of their panache, and what is there becomes more noticeable than what isn't. The performance hitches occur much less frequently and those that did happen were more of a flick of the ear than a push of the shoulder. It's for this reason that I opted for handheld over docked, with my face inches away from the Switch's screen.With the Switch in my hands I faced new problems, however. Although Overwatch may be among the most approachable multiplayer shooters on the market, it's still demanding. Whether it's Support characters such as Mercy or Ana, Tanks like Reinhardt or Zarya, or DPS like Reaper or Soldier, playing well requires quick fingers and thumbs as much as it does quick minds. After a short play session, holding the Switch in my hands became a hindrance. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, the thin profile of the device and its hard edges started to press into my palms enough to become a nuisance. The stiff and clicky face buttons felt harsh on my thumbs, and, similarly, the lack of travel on the shoulder buttons sapped all satisfaction from pulling a virtual trigger. The diminutive analog sticks became constrictive, making the act of moving my fingers and thumbs to where they needed to be feel like playing thumb war with the Switch.I tried using the gyroscope to aim, as well as Joy-Cons for a laser pointer-like control style, but felt they were more of a novelty than a viable way for me to play, owing to the jittery movement and occasional bouts of reticle drift. The former, however, definitely feels like it could be beneficial to someone that sinks in the time to tweaking the settings and finding the sweet spot, then practicing. In conjunction with the more drastic movements from the analog sticks, a gyroscopically-inclined person could fine-tune their aim for precision shots. That person is very much not me, though; I ended up using it primarily to spin around in an office chair in the hopes that my character looked like an out-of-control Beyblade.Pick up a Pro Controller, though, and playing Overwatch Switch feels natural and comfortable. The controller is ergonomically designed and, as a result, far better suited for fingers and thumbs to dance around as you carefully aim gunfire, launch Ultimate abilities, and frantically reposition your character. And that's why I found myself hunched over a Switch placed precariously on a table with a Pro Controller in hand.That's also when Overwatch on Switch felt most like Overwatch that's available everywhere else. To be clear, I would not and could not recommend it if the PS4, Xbox One, or PC versions are available to you, but I also can't deny that I had fun playing. Overwatch remains a thrilling game and, even on the small screen, with bells and whistles binned, I gleefully hooked a Pharah out of the sky as Roadhog, inched forward in my seat as my team fought for that final push of the payload, and held my breath as I desperately tried to take out a Mercy before she could resurrect that annoying Reaper that had been victimizing me the whole game. The fundamental design of Overwatch is so strong that, even in its most compromised form, it still offers a compelling gameplay experience.The question, however, is if you really need to have it on Switch. If this is your first and only way to play Overwatch, I can't begrudge you for doing so. It's one of my favorite games of all time and much of what I love can still rise to the surface when playing on Switch. If you have the ability to play Overwatch on any other platform, however, you should. Those worlds could always use more heroes. Info from Gamespot.com

Capcom has many titles under its umbrella, including well-known and active franchises like Devil May Cry, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and many more. Capcom has now said it wants to revive some of its dormant classics too.In a recent investor report, company president and COO, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, spoke about Capcom's plans for the future. Though he did not detail anything specific, Tsujimoto seems adamant about bringing back the classics."For the time being, while we are placing a priority on maximizing the revenue from current core IP, we are also actively looking to utilize dormant IP," Tsujimoto said. "Further, as the creation of new IP is indispensable in generating medium- to long-term growth, we are working to develop new brands as well."Tsujimoto's intentions seem firmly placed in the utilization of "dormant IP," but it's also worth noting that Tsujimoto notes the company is actively seeking ways to "develop new brands." This could mean Capcom is working on all-new franchises to introduce to its fanbase, but Tsujimoto did not clarify this statement.Tsujimoto also talked about microtransactions and the monetization models for Capcom's titles, confirming that the company frequently "refrains" from implementing gacha mechanics in its mobile games.Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Go's Halloween 2019 celebration is now underway. Not only does the event bring costume-wearing starter Pokemon and Shiny Yamask to the game, a new Legendary has also made its debut: Darkrai. As usual, however, it won't be around for very long.Darkrai will appear in five-star Raid Battles until the end of the Halloween event, on November 1, so you'll have until then to add one to your collection. Before you can catch one, however, you'll need to defeat it in battle. Darkrai is a pure Dark-type, which means it has very few weaknesses. Your best bet when challenging it will be to bring along Fighting, Bug, and Fairy Pokemon such as Machamp, Heracross, Scizor, and Gardevoir.Darkrai isn't the only special Pokemon you can encounter right now. Costume-wearing versions of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are also available in lower-tier Raids, while Pikachu wearing a Mimikyu costume can be found in the wild. As previously mentioned, you also now have a chance to encounter Shiny Yamask, and Ghost and Dark Pokemon like Gastly and Murkrow will spawn more frequently throughout the event. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go Halloween 2019 Event Coming Soon, Adds Costumed Starters, New Shiny Pokemon, And Darkrai Pokemon Go: Darkrai Now Available In Raids For A Limited Time Pokemon Go Bringing Back Regi Trio For A Limited Time Next Month Pokemon Go's November 2019 Community Day Announced, Features Chimchar Niantic has a number of other events lined up for Pokemon Go soon. Once the Halloween festivities end, the Regi trio--Regirock, Regice, and Registeel--will return to Raids until November 4, and this time you'll have a chance to encounter their Shiny forms. Shortly after that, Regigigas will debut in EX Raids, but you'll be able to catch it early through a Special Research story event called "A Colossal Discovery"--but you'll need to buy a virtual ticket to participate in that event.Pokemon Go's November Community Day, meanwhile, is set for November 16--the day after Pokemon Sword and Shield launch for Nintendo Switch. The featured Pokemon this month will be Chimchar, the Fire-type starter from Diamond and Pearl. You'll have your first chance to catch a Shiny Chimchar during the event, and eggs will hatch at a quarter of the distance they normally require.Info from Gamespot.com

The NPD Group has released its report for September 2019, revealing which games and consoles sold the best during the month in the United States. The report also provides an update on the overall health of the gaming industry--and September 2019 was harsh.All categories--hardware, software, accessories, and game cards--experienced declines in sales. In total, spending across all sectors reached $1.278 billion, which is down eight percent year-over-year. On a year-to-date basis, total spending in all categories fell six percent to $8.3 billion. Drop-offs on hardware spending drove the decline, the NPD said.This is expected given that the PS4 and Xbox One are in the end-stages of their lifecycles, with next-generation consoles from both Sony and Microsoft expected in Holiday 2020.Moving to games specifically, NBA 2K20 was September's best-selling title in the US. Its first-month sales were the highest for any sports game in history; the previous record-holder was NBA 2K19. Again, this list covers only the United States, where FIFA--a chart-topper in Europe and other parts of the world--is not as popular.Also notable for the NBA 2K series is that, with September's sales accounted for, the NBA 2K franchise passes Guitar Hero to become the sixth-biggest gaming franchise of all time in the US based on dollar sales.Another big release in September was Borderlands 3, and it finished No. 2 behind NBA 2K20. Its launch-month sales represent a new first-month sales record for the franchise in the US. Globally, Borderlands 3 shipped five million copies in its first five days to become 2K's fastest-selling game ever.Coming in at No. 17 for September was the new Plants vs. Zombies game, Battle for Neighborville. It doesn't officially release until October 18, but players who buy the Founder's Pack can get in now, which explains why a game that hasn't officially released landing on the charts.Total dollar sales on video games in the US during September fell four percent to $732 million. The Xbox One and Nintendo Switch saw growth in games sales during September, but PS4 game sales slid. That drop-off was to be expected, given Sony's blockbuster hit Spider-Man launched in September 2018.Moving to hardware, the Switch was the best-selling console of September--it's been on top now for months. It is also the best-selling console of 2019 overall.Despite the strong Switch sales, total spending on consoles fell 22 percent to $240 million. The Switch was the only console to post sales gains in September and for the entire year so far in 2019.Spending on accessories and game cards, meanwhile, dropped seven percent to $306 million.The industry still has time to turn things around in 2019, as a number of big new releases are coming up, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (October 25) and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order (November 15). There is also the Black Friday shopping bonanza that leads into the holiday shopping season where games should fly off shelves and help improve the fortunes of the industry.September 2019 Best-Selling GamesNBA 2K20Borderlands 3FIFA 20The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening*Madden NFL 20Ghost Recon: BreakpointGears 5^Code VeinNHL 20Mario Kart 8*Minecraft#Grand Theft Auto VSuper Smash Bros. UltimateSpyro Reignited TrilogyRed Dead Redemption IIRainbow Six SiegePlants vs. Zombies: Battle for NeighborvilleSpider-ManCatherineThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild**Digital sales not included^Steam digital sales not included#Digital sales on PS4 and Xbox One not includedInfo from Gamespot.com