Time to head back to the Upside Down, as fans are getting their first info on Stranger Things Season 4. A new teaser trailer has been released for the hit Netflix series, and it doesn't give a release date or any real information, but it's pretty exciting that we know the next season is eventually coming.The teaser starts with the iconic theme music and the show's logo. A large "4" appears behind it, before the image breaks up. The logo then appears in a spooky wood, with vines climbing up it, and some creepy sounds on the soundtrack. Then a bell tolls ominously and the words "we're not in Hawkins anymore" appear. Check it out below:We’re not in Hawkins Anymore pic.twitter.com/HMIWzeF0iF — NX (@NXOnNetflix) September 30, 2019Stranger Things Season 3 was released in July this year, and ended with the gang splitting up, as Will and his family moving away. The teaser suggests that the next season won't all take place in Hawkins, the town that has been the setting for the past three seasons. Although creators Matt and Ross Duffer have previously spoken about their plans for further seasons of the show, this is the first official confirmation that Season 4 is happening.Netflix also announced that the Duffer brothers have signed a multi-year film and series deal with the streaming giant. In a statement, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos said: "We're thrilled to expand our relationship with them to bring their vivid imaginations to other film and series projects our members will love. We can't wait to see what The Duffer Brothers have in store when they step outside the world of The Upside Down."For more, check out GameSpot's review of Stranger Things Season 3, plus our guide to all the Season 3 Easter Eggs. Info from Gamespot.com

After last week's Gematsu report, publisher Bandai Namco has officially announced the new My Hero Academia game. My Hero One's Justice 2 is headed to Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One sometime next year, and we finally got a first-glimpse with a new teaser trailer.The trailer, above, is incredibly short and features no in-game footage, but it does provide insight on what MHA fans can expect when My Hero One's Justice 2 lands in the West in 2020. Izuku "Deku" Midoriya and newcomer Kai "Overhaul" Chisaki, who debuted toward the end of My Hero Academia's third season, are heard bickering back and forth in the way heroes and villains do. It's unclear what story My Hero One's Justice 2 will tell, but it's said to be a follow-up to last year's My Hero One's Justice.There isn't a lot of information available about My Hero One's Justice 2 as of yet. However, we did learn the game will reportedly add new characters, like the aforementioned Overhaul, and "significantly upgrade" various Quirk abilities.My Hero Academia Season 4 is slated to air this October. Funimation announced that the new MHA season will stream on its website and Hulu, while FunimationNow debuts a SimulDub. Further, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, the second MHA film following 2018's My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, is scheduled to release on December 20 in Japan. There's no confirmation on a Western release date yet.Info from Gamespot.com

Twin Peaks is one of our favourite shows here at GameSpot. We've produced videos on Twin Peaks fan theories and how the series influenced Link's Awakening, in addition to the real-life murder that inspired the show. It would be an understatement to say we're excited for the upcoming From Z to A collection, which collects every episode of the TV series, Fire Walk With Me, and The Missing Pieces, in addition to a bunch of bonus content and 4K versions of the pilot episode and season three's Part 8. The collection normally costs $156 USD, but Amazon currently has it discounted to $133. Twin Peaks: From Z to ASee at AmazonFrom Z to A is scheduled for release on December 10, and thanks to Amazon's pre-order policy, you'll pay whatever the cheapest price was before it's sent for delivery. That means if it gets any cheaper between now and then, you'll get an even better deal, but if the price rises after you pre-order, you'll retain the $133 price.The collection also includes a special feature called Behind The Curtain, which is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the third season; two new interviews with Kyle MacLachlan (Dale Cooper), Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Harry Goaz (Andy Brennan), and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Brennan); unedited performances from Season 3's Roadhouse; and more.Lastly, the collection comes in a cube with a handful of cards that depict scenes from Season 3, an acrylic figure of Laura Palmer kissing Agent Cooper, and a numbered certificate. There are only 25,000 copies of this collection, so if you're interested, act sooner rather than later.Info from Gamespot.com

On October 1, Apex Legends Season 3 gets a new Legend, map, battle pass, hop-up attachments, and weapon. During a press preview event, we got hands-on time with all the new content, and also spoke to Respawn CEO Vince Zampella and Apex Legends design director Chad Grenier about what can be expected to be added to the battle royale game in the future.Crypto, a hacker, is one of the more notable additions in Season 3, introducing a brand-new playable character that most likely won't affect the competitive meta too much, but will create new counters for certain Legends. However, the new map, as well as certain buffs and debuffs, will affect how people play.Breaking Down Crypto, A Supportive Recon SpecialistCrypto's abilities are tied to his drone, which he can summon with his tactical ability. While out, the drone can mark enemies, open doors and loot crates, and pick up teammate's respawn beacons. Once summoned, his passive kicks in--allowing both Crypto and his teammates to see targets pinged through the drone. While the drone is out, Crypto is immobile, so his teammates will have to defend him. Though the drone can be summoned and recalled at will, it's subject to a 40-second cooldown timer when destroyed.As a result, Crypto is not ideal for aggressive strategies. Instead, he's best when he's hiding in the corner, using his drone to give his team an eye in the sky that can also aid fallen friends. Without his drone, Crypto has no abilities--even his ultimate requires his drone be out. His ultimate releases an EMP blast that does 50 shield damage to all nearby enemies (and himself if he's caught in the blast) and stuns all characters (including Crypto and his teammates). The EMP also disables traps.Crypto also, finally, presents a second option for playing as a recon character--meaning Bloodhound will no longer continue to be the only Legend occupying the role. "I don't want to promise more recon Legends. Like, I'm a little hesitant to throw it out there because I don't even know how many characters in the potential pipeline will even make it," Zampella said. "But yes, eventually."Crypto's Influence On Apex Legend's Current MetaThough Season 1's Octane didn't have too much of an impact on the ideal squad composition in Apex Legends, Season 2's Wattson did. As the first truly defense-focused character, she is able to lock down zones better than any other Legend, making her an ideal member of virtually any squad. As seen in the first Apex Legends Invitational, putting her with the offensive Wraith and supportive Pathfinder creates a powerful combination. Though Crypto doesn't directly address this squad makeup, his abilities will help disrupt the effectiveness of that trio."We're always looking at data from our live game, which is much broader than just pro gamers," Grenier said. "So it's always a delicate balance of balancing characters and what we're adding for the masses versus a few pro players. The competitive scene is also important to us. So I think it's just a balance that we have to have there."Though we'll need more time testing Crypto's abilities, he seems to provide an excellent counter to the aforementioned trio. His drone can track Wraith and Pathfinder as they try to portal or grapple away, respectively, and his ultimate ability disables both Wattson's tactical and ultimate. Crypto's inability to do much without his drone, however, makes him seem like a poor pick for the fast-paced nature of competitive play. He does, though, pose somewhat of a threat in casual and lower-tiered ranked play, providing an excellent supportive option for someone who isn't good at first-person shooters.Creating New Content And Designing For Next-GenCrypto isn't the only new addition to Apex Legends coming in Season 3. At the start of Season 3, the current map Kings Canyon will be removed and replaced with World's Edge--a brand-new map that was teased with Crypto's first in-game appearance. The new map, which is on a different planet, presents different opportunities for how you want to play. A lava-filled area creates an environmental hazard, while an active train creates a way to both bunker down and move around the map. There are also multi-story buildings and towers where a Pathfinder zipline or Octane jump pad is likely to come in handy. Disruptor ammo and the skullpiercer have been replaced with two new hop-ups, the effects of the gold legendary backpacks and armor have changed, and new emote unlocks allow you to playfully insult your opponents anytime, not just when you kill them. Season 3 sees the most changes Apex Legends has ever had."Every time we launch a new season, we're getting better and better," Zampella said. "We're doing more content but also better quality content. We're starting to get it with the new modes and skins and the Legends are all getting better... It feels really good right now. I think we really feel like we hit our stride and we really know where we're going with Apex. So there's so much in the works right now that is just going to be amazing over the years coming up."Despite the excitement surrounding all the new content, Zampella wants to ensure that the Apex Legends team at Respawn doesn't devolve into crunch. Respawn is testing what players like about the new content for every season, cutting stuff out of the content roadmap if an early iteration of it didn't land with players. "It's a constant evolution process," Zampella said. "We're getting better at making content, so we can make better quality content faster. And we're hiring up, we're expanding, but we don't want to add a hundred people onto the team right away. We want to do it in a way that keeps the culture at Respawn safe. We want to always work and push as hard as we can, but at the same time, we do want a good life-work balance where this team is happy. And the happier they are, the better content they're going to make. So we're constantly trying to walk that line and balance it and I think we've been doing a pretty good job."Respawn isn't content with solely succeeding for the remaining lifespan of the current hardware, acknowledging the approach of next-generation consoles. When asked about creating next-gen ports for Microsoft and Sony's next consoles, Zampella said, "I feel like we'd be foolish not to be everywhere." However, he added that he was not allowed to confirm whether the team has already started on the process of a next-generation Apex Legends.For now, Zampella assures that cross-play is on the current roadmap for Apex Legends. "There's a lot of work to it, though, and cross-play means different things to different people," he added. "Just letting someone on an Xbox One play against someone on a PlayStation 4--that's fairly easy. It's the cross-progression stuff that starts to get messy because then it runs into certain business terms with Sony and Microsoft that you have to weed through. So we would love to see it. I think there's just a lot involved with it before we can get it out there."Looking Beyond To Season 4 And Year 2You can still expect to see plenty of new content come to Apex Legends in the coming months, and Respawn is already hard at work on dozens of new Legends. "Some of the stuff takes a long time," Zampella admitted. "There's a long lead on [character creation]. We're adding people to the character team but you won't see the results of that work for a while.""We have dozens of characters that are in the works at any given time," Grenier added. "But we create and kill characters on a weekly basis. So the characters that sort of have legs--not literally, but you know--they rise to the top and go to the next phase of development. And at some point, we have to make a decision on what the next character is going to be and we usually pull from the characters that are sort of at that next phase of development." Zampella was adamant about not revealing exact release date windows, but Grenier did say there are already certain Legends tentatively planned for the next few seasons, with some characters scheduled for release over a year from now.Granted, these characters could behave very differently once they release. Zampella explained how Respawn always begins with establishing who a character is as a person first--creating their race, gender, culture, personality, and appearance--before making multiple iterations to their gameplay. Almost every Legend in Apex has seen a change in their passive, tactical, and ultimate abilities, but their characters have been long established--typically months before their gameplay is. "There are tweaks maybe along the way, but for the most part that's imagined fairly early on," Zampella said. Grenier added, "Yeah, and sometimes we combine multiple abilities from different characters into one, or maybe there's a tactical that works really well for one character and an ultimate on another. Early in the process we'll maybe mix and match or combine character abilities."The Apex Games: Real Bloodsport Or Convincing Simulation?Before my time with Zampella and Grenier came to an end, I had to ask them about how real the Apex Games are in the Titanfall mythos. Though most of the cinematic trailers for Apex Legends advertise the Games as a very real event where people die and the Legends we play as are simply the recurrent winners of the competitions, the existence of the respawn beacon mechanic suggests it's all a simulation. "We're not even sure yet," Zampella said, laughing. "We have a lot of data and we're still trying to decipher it. I think we're close to figuring it out." Info from Gamespot.com

If you're subscribed to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold, you're probably aware of the free PS4 or Xbox One games available every month, but there's another service giving away free monthly games that many people are already subscribed to, but aren't as aware of. Twitch Prime, which is included with all Amazon Prime memberships, offers up a batch of free PC games on a monthly basis, and October's freebies have been revealed. Today is also the last day to claim September's free Twitch Prime games, so be sure to snag those if you haven't already.The Walking Dead: MichonneThis month's lineup notably includes Telltale's The Walking Dead: Michonne, a three-episode miniseries based on The Walking Dead comic books series. This spinoff focuses on Michonne's journey during the period of time that she leaves Rick Grimes' group and goes off on her own. As usual with Telltale's adventure games, your choices will have consequences over the course of this story. In GameSpot's The Walking Dead: Michonne reviews, Episode 1 earned a 6/10, Episode 2 earned a 9/10, and Episode 3 earned an 8/10. Critic Justin Clark took issue with some buggy moments and the narrative structure but praised the miniseries' overall story and emotional weight."As a complete story, Walking Dead Michonne is, truly, a story about family, in a way few game narratives are," he wrote in his review of the game's finale. "Familial loss and the forced adoption of new members isn’t new for Walking Dead, but in Michonne--barring choosing to be cold during a moment of sorrow--we have someone who finds power in parenthood, instead of living in constant fear of it."Deadlight: Director's CutAlso free for Twitch Prime members in October is Deadlight: Director's Cut, a sidescrolling platformer and survival horror game originally released in 2012. The Director's Cut later released in 2016, enhancing the game with improved controls, animations, and 1080p resolution. The new version also added a couple of new game modes: Nightmare mode, which reveals an alternative game ending, and Survival Arena. GameSpot's original Deadlight review scored the game a 6.5/10, but it's worth noting our review hasn't been updated to reflect the Director's Cut changes.Finally, there are three more games available to claim for free next month: mystery-puzzle game Adam Wolfe, story-driven stealth-action game Serial Cleaner, and the game tie-in to the third season of Netflix's hit sci-fi series, Stranger Things 3: The Game. While we haven't reviewed these games, all three have Very Positive overall ratings on Steam, so they're worth grabbing while you can get them free.Aside from free games, Twitch Prime is always offering free in-game content and loot for various games, so it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on what's available from month-to-month. Currently, you can claim free skins for Apex Legends, an exclusive Operator set for Rainbow Six Siege, a couple of free properties in Grand Theft Auto Online, and more--you can check out all the current offers at Twitch Prime.Twitch Prime's free games will be available the entire month of October. If you're new to Twitch Prime, you'll need to link your Twitch account to your Amazon Prime account before claiming any free games or loot. An Amazon Prime account costs $119 / £79 a year and gets you other benefits like free two-day shipping, access to Prime Video streaming, and more. You can also sign up for a 30-day free trial anytime.October 2019 Free Twitch Prime GamesThe Walking Dead: MichonneDeadlight: Director's CutSerial CleanerStranger Things 3: The GameAdam WolfeInfo from Gamespot.com

There's now less than three months until the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The latest movie in the Star Wars saga is directed by JJ Abrams and it hits theaters on December 20. Some new images have now been released.The images come via Empire. All three center upon villainous Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. In the first, Kylo and Rey (Daisy Ridley) are Force-fighting for possession of a lightsaber, while the second shows Kyko being blasted back by something unseen--Rey perhaps. While he's still standing, dozens of nearby Stormtroopers have been sent flying. The third image gives us a good look at the sinister Knight of Ren. Check the first out below, and the rest over at Empire's site.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker also stars John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Mark Hamill as Luke, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando. It will also include an appearance from Carrie Fisher. Although Fisher died before production began, she will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi. Watch the latest trailer here.The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only highly-anticipated Star Wars release due in the next couple of months. In November, the first ever live-action Star Wars show The Mandalorian will hit the streaming platform Disney+. The first episode of the show will be available on November 12, which is the day the service launches. Watch the first Mandalorian trailer here, and check out everything we know about every upcoming Star Wars movie and TV show.Info from Gamespot.com

Something is afoot in Pokemon Go, and it appears to be related to Team Go Rocket, the villainous group who made their debut in the mobile game--alongside Shadow Pokemon--earlier this summer. The official Pokemon Go Twitter account has shared a series of distorted images that seem to tease the arrival of some new characters.The images, which you can see below, appear to be profiles showcasing three unfamiliar characters who are presumably involved in Team Rocket. Aside from their silhouettes, it's difficult to make anything out in the images, but you can see Team Rocket's iconic R next to each of the characters, suggesting they'll have something to do with the evil group. The tweets read:"Professor Willow has started to recover files from the corrupted folder, and he's uncovered these images. One of the photos is still being restored... Could these files be left over from Team Go Rocket's recent take-over? Who are these people?!"Professor Willow has started to recover files from the corrupted folder, and he’s uncovered these images. One of the photos is still being restored... pic.twitter.com/JErFS24HZu — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 30, 2019Could these files be left over from Team GO Rocket’s recent take-over? pic.twitter.com/6iHQbX7X69 — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 30, 2019Who are these people?! pic.twitter.com/3bjK8EVAaA — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 30, 2019Team Rocket first began appearing in Pokemon Go back in July following numerous teases, but up until now, players have only been able to encounter generic Rocket Grunts at Poke Stops. The mainline Pokemon series has featured higher level members of the team called Rocket Admins, so it's possible the three new teased characters will fill a similar role in Go, although nothing has been confirmed.Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, has also previously been teased for the game. During the Pokemon Go Fest event that took place in Yokohama, Japan earlier this year, the Team Rocket boss would photobomb pictures that players took at the venue. While he hasn't yet appeared in the actual game, these teases suggest that players certainly haven't seen the last of the evil team.In other Pokemon Go news, the Legendary Giratina recently returned to Raid Battles, and this time you'll be able to encounter a Shiny variant. A handful of Gen 5 Pokemon are also still available in the game, while a Gen 3 monster, Trapinch, will be the star of October's Community Day, which takes place next Saturday, October 12. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go Teasing New Team Rocket Characters Pokemon Go Finally Adds Mime Jr. As Part Of A New Event Pokemon Go Giratina Guide - Counters, Shiny Giratina, And How To Catch Tips Pokemon Go October 2019 Community Day Announced, Features Trapinch Pokemon Go: How To Get Unova Stones And Evolve Gen 5 Pokemon Info from Gamespot.com

Destiny 2 has gone into server maintenance mode to prepare for the upcoming release of Shadowkeep. But you can start preparing yourself now, with pre-loading of the update available on PS4 and Xbox One. Bungie has sent notice that it is now pre-loading across all regions. And seemingly because the expansion download is part of the incoming 2.6.01 update, you can pre-load Shadowkeep without pre-ordering.Pre-loading this update now will allow you to start playing the new content the moment it goes live on October 1 at 10 AM PT. Pre-loading of the full game, including the free New Light version, has been available on Steam since last week. Pre-loading has begun rolling out across all regions for PS4 and Xbox One. — Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) September 30, 2019Destiny 2: Shadowkeep And New Light Launch TimeOctober 1 @ 10 AM PTOctober 1 @ 1 PM ETOctober 1 @ 6 PM BSTOctober 2 @ 3 AM AET (October 2)Shadowkeep will introduce several big changes to Destiny 2, including nerfs to some of the current best guns, significant refinement of the loot grind, and the swapping of pinnacle weapons for new "ritual weapons." Its release coincides with that of New Light, the F2P portion of the experience that's open to everyone and includes a substantial amount of existing content, as well as upcoming events and more. Destiny 2 Recent News Destiny 2 Shadowkeep: Release Time, Pre-Loading Begins On PS4, Xbox One, PC Destiny 2 Servers Going Down For Maintenance Until Shadowkeep Releases Destiny 2 Shadowkeep Vault: What To Keep, What To Delete Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Pre-Order Guide: Exotics, Deluxe Edition, And More Meanwhile, Bungie says it is preparing to become more than just the Destiny studio. It has plans to release a new, non-Destiny game sometime in the next several years.Info from Gamespot.com

When it was announced that the upcoming second season of Star Wars Resistance would also be the last, it took many fans by surprise. However, according to the show's producers, that was always the plan--and it's one they're happy about.The reason Resistance is coming to a close after Season 2 is that it will directly link to the next Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, which hits theaters in December. That's due almost entirely to how the Star Wars universe is plotted out, via the Lucasfilm story group."The Lucasfilm story group is always involved in our writers conferences from the very beginning, so when we're listing out the roadmap is what these stories would be and the character development," executive producer Athena Portillo said during a roundtable interview."We always make sure we're within continuity [and] make sure that we're not compromising what [The Rise of Skywalker director] JJ [Abram]'s vision is, what [executive producer Dave] Filoni's vision is, the vision of what games they're talking about, what other live-action series they're talking about. We always make sure that we're on point with that."Working within the movie's timeline--and working their way up to The Rise of Skywalker--allowed producers to not only plot out the arc of the show from beginning to end but give the two seasons distinctly different settings. "We were using the movies as a guideline," executive producer Brandon Auman explained. "We felt that Season 1 is like, you know, it all takes place on a planet then Season 2, it now takes place in space. And now it's going to lead, boom, right into the last movie."And while there will be fans left dying for more Resistance, it's always better to leave audiences wanting than to overstay your welcome, something Auman is familiar with."I used to work on [Nickelodeon's 2012 version of] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And we were planning to wrap it up at Season 4. And then [Nickelodeon was] like, 'No, no, you're getting Season 5.' We're like, 'No!" So we had to do these like Tales of the TMNT," he recalled. "We were [hoping] we don't have to keep going [on Resistance]. Because it's really nice to have the opportunity to say this is the story to tell."That all said, the end of Season 2 doesn't necessarily mean the end of the character you've been introduced to through Resistance. "We love these characters," Auman said. "We want to see them in different media, you know, if it's comic books, novels, video games, another animated series in the future, who knows? I mean, you know, we just love these characters."Star Wars Resistance Season 2 premieres Sunday, October 6, on Disney Channel and Disney XD.Info from Gamespot.com

Developer NetherRealm Studios announced the full DLC roster for Mortal Kombat 11's Kombat Pack last month. As previously reported, The Terminator is scheduled to launch on October 8, with NetherRealm now confirming that a gameplay trailer will go live very soon.The official MK Twitter account shared a short, 20-second video with some targeting system locking onto various MK11 characters like Baraka and Erron Black. The tweet, below, confirmed that The Terminator's gameplay reveal is scheduled to debut tomorrow, October 1, at 6 AM. The teaser video concludes with The Terminator's launch date.Targets found. Sending T-800 Gameplay Trailer to 2019, October 1st, 0600 hours. #MK11 pic.twitter.com/COYUMD8WaR — Mortal Kombat 11 (@MortalKombat) September 30, 2019MK11's Kombat Pack, which retails for $40 USD, features a bevy of characters. Alongside The Terminator, the Kombat Pack includes Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Sindel, Joker, and Spawn. Shang Tsung and Nightwolf are available now, with Sindel launching in November, Joker arriving in January 2020, and Spawn debuting in March 2020. Previously a pre-order bonus, Shao Kahn is also available as a DLC fighter for $6 USD.The new Mortal Kombat movie has gained some momentum as of late. After filling a few pivotal roles, like Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, and others, the full cast list has been revealed. Actors from both The Dark Knight (Chin Han) and Avengers: Endgame (Hiroyuki Sanda) have been cast in the reboot.Last week, the NPD Group shared a prediction for the top 10 best-selling games of the year. While MK11 sits at number five, it's joined by titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Borderlands 3, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and others.Info from Gamespot.com

Naughty Dog has given the enemy AI in The Last of Us Part II a big upgrade, so the foes you'll be going up against are smarter and will try to take you down with some deductive reasoning and tricky tactics."Our AI now has a new state of awareness between complete awareness of your position and totally unaware of where you are," The Last of Us Part II co-director Anthony Newman said in an interview with GameSpot. "We sometimes call that vague knowledge." For example, even if you were to stealthily take down an enemy with a silent weapon--such as a bow or pistol with a silencer attached to it--another enemy can still find the body, look at where the arrow or bullet is lodged in their comrade, and infer in which direction they were attacked. The Last of Us 2 News The Last Of Us Part 2 Is "Meant To Be Unsettling" How The Last Of Us 2 Will Make You Feel Bad About Killing Enemies You'll Kill A Lot Of Dogs In The Last of Us Part 2 The Last Of Us 2 Includes Two Ridiculous NSFW Easter Eggs They'll then begin their search for you in that general direction, using any other bodies you drop to hone in on your position. Of course, you can prove to be smarter by utilizing the enemies' own search patterns against them. "Not only does this make them more intelligent to new situations where these systems can cause more intense moments to transpire for the player, it also gives the player the opportunity to make predictions," Newman said. "We all know human beings, we interact with human beings every day. We can make predictions about what they're going to do next. By having these more refined and nuanced layers of knowledge and perception and coordination, players can make better and better predictions and make more refined strategies about what to do next."Even if you're able to consistently outsmart the new enemy AI, don't expect combat to be a walk in the park. Naughty Dog wants there to be an emotional toll to combat as well. "[The Last of Us Part II] is meant to be unsettling," Newman said. "I think along with, honestly, every aspect of the game--narratively, mechanically, and technologically--the AI was just one facet of the game that we really wanted to take to the next level and ask, 'What can we do that's next-gen?'" In this regard, individual enemies now have their own names, and their friends will mourn and call out to them when they discover their murdered corpses. It's just another aspect of the game that helps to really highlight that, within the context of The Last of Us Part II's story, your actions are questionable even if they seem motivated by what feels like truth and justice.The Last of Us Part II releases for PS4 on February 21. For more on the game, make sure to read our hands-on preview of The Last of Us Part II. Info from Gamespot.com

Nintendo is reviving its hit Brain Age series on Switch. The company has announced it is releasing a new Brain Age game for the hybrid console in Japan this December, and it'll launch alongside a dedicated stylus for the system.Nintendo revealed the new Brain Age game with a trailer, which you can watch below. While the video is entirely in Japanese, it shows off some new exercises in the game, as well as some of the ways it will utilize Switch's unique features. Among other things, you can use the right Joy-Con's IR sensor to do calculations with your fingers. There's also a tabletop exercise that has two players competing to count the number of objects on the screen the fastest.The new Brain Age game hits Switch in Japan on December 27. Alongside the game, Nintendo is releasing an official stylus for the Switch. You can see some pictures of it, as well as images of the new Brain Age exercises, above. Nintendo has not yet announced if it will release Brain Age or the Switch stylus in the West.The original Brain Age was one of Nintendo's first notable attempts to court non-gamers, and it became a huge hit for the DS, selling more than 19 million copies worldwide and inspiring multiple sequels and off-shoots. The most recent entry in the series, Brain Age: Concentration Training, released for the 3DS in 2012.Brain Age isn't Nintendo's only Switch release targeting non-gamers this year. On October 18, the company is releasing Ring Fit Adventure, a successor of sorts to the Wii Fit line. The game comes with a weird peripheral call the Ring-Con which translates exercises into in-game actions. We had a chance to go hands-on with Ring Fit Adventure earlier this month and it certainly left us sore.Info from Gamespot.com

Minecraft Dungeons takes the cute blocky aesthetic of the building game and makes a loot-driven dungeon crawler out of it. The game is set to launch next spring, but in the meantime, you can sign up to take part in a closed beta.The sign-up form states you must be 18 years old and have a free Microsoft account. It doesn't give any specifics about when the closed beta would begin, but with launch coming within the next half-year or so you probably won't have to wait too long.Mojang announced the closed beta at MineCon, as well as debuting a story trailer for the game. Like all great epic quests, this is a story driven by its villain, so that's what this trailer focuses on. An outcast Illager travels the world, rejected by society, until he stumbles upon a square-shaped artifact of great power and then he grows corrupt and mad with power. You know, that old story.This is the first we've seen of Minecraft Dungeons since Microsoft announced it at E3. That brief look showed a glimpse at how equipment and food will work, and teased 4-player online co-op.Info from Gamespot.com

Way back in 2017, before Star Wars: The Last Jedi even hit the big screen, it was reported that Rian Johnson would return to the franchise to develop an entire new trilogy of movies after the release of the then-untitled Episode IX. But, this being the internet, the lack of further news and the backlash from some fans have led to speculation about Johnson's future with the franchise.Though he took to Twitter earlier this year to address the cancellation rumors, no further news has been announced. It didn't help that new TV shows have recently been confirmed for the franchise, including the Obi-Wan show for Disney+, without a peep about Johnson's planned Star Wars trilogy. But as before, no news isn't necessarily bad news.After a special presentation of Knives Out during Fantastic Fest, we spoke to the writer and director about his thrilling and entertaining murder mystery, which features a star-studded cast that includes Chris Evans, Jaime Lee Curtis, and Daniel Craig.When asked if he can confirm anything about his future with Star Wars, Johnson gave an enigmatic yet hopeful answer. "I'm still talking to Lucasfilm about it," the Last Jedi director said.Though that's far from definitive, it could very well be that Lucasfilm is just waiting to see how The Rise of Skywalker is received and decide where they're taking the franchise after that. They already announced a trilogy of movies to be released between 2022 and 2026, including one made by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and no one outside of Disney knows what the company is planning beyond that.That being said, while Johnson couldn't confirm or deny his future involvement with the franchise, he did have something to say about the next release in the franchise--The Mandalorian, which he praised as an example of what he wants for the future of Star Wars."I've seen some behind the scenes and went to visit the set," Johnson said enthusiastically. "It looks incredible, and the stuff they're doing is fantastic.""But other than that, I haven't read any other scripts and don't know anything about future movies," he added.Rian Johnson used The Mandalorian to share what he hopes all future Star Wars projects (including his hypothetical one) offer fans."For me, I'm just a Star Wars fan," Johnson told GameSpot. "What I want is for people to sit down and watch something we've never seen in the Star Wars universe before. Tell me a great story, something that's going to make me feel like I'm 10 years old again watching the original trilogy. I feel like that's what we all want when the lights go down."Check out GameSpot's Knives Out review for more on Johnson's latest.Info from Gamespot.com

The animated series Star Wars Resistance is coming to a close with Season 2--and it will link directly to December's Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. However, the series is leaving a lasting mark on the Star Wars Universe by confirming that two characters from the series are an official couple.Executive producers of the series Athena Portillo, Justin Ridge, and Brandon Auman discussed Orka and Flix during a press day. "I think it's safe to say they're an item, absolutely," Ridge told press as heard on Coffee With Kenobi. "They're absolutely a gay couple and we're proud of that. We love Flix and Orka."The Disney Channel animated series is the first place a gay couple has been featured in the history of the franchise. Many fans of the series caught on to the loving relationship between the two characters during the first season, especially from the video above where the two are headed to visit Flix's mother. Now it's official, the two are in an item.Sexuality in a galaxy far, far away has been a hotbed for speculation since The Force Awakens hit theaters in 2015, and many fans have wanted to see the characters Finn and Poe Dameron hook up.Additionally, Donald Glover, who starred as Lando Calrissian in Solo, has discussed his character being pansexual--a person who is emotionally or romantically attracted to someone regardless of sexual or gender identity. "How can you not be pansexual in space? There's so many things to have sex with," Glover said during a SiriusXM interview.You can check out the latest video for the upcoming Season 2 of Star Wars Resistance below.After being launched into space by Kaz and crew, the Colossus encounters engineering problems, which are made worse by a mysterious stowaway. Watch the #StarWarsResistance S2 premiere this Sunday, 10/6 at 6pm PDT on @DisneyXD, 10pm PDT on @DisneyChannel, and in the DisneyNOW app. pic.twitter.com/xaq0y19A8F — Star Wars (@starwars) September 30, 2019Star Wars Resistance Season 2 premieres Sunday, October 6, on Disney Channel and Disney XD.Info from Gamespot.com