As developer DICE prepares Star Wars Battlefront II for its upcoming Cooperation update, publisher EA has confirmed that the first-person shooter will add the planet Felucia to the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One game on September 25.According to an EA blog post, Felucia is broken up into five distinct posts, each with a set theme. Command Post Village will feature structures that "almost blend into the environment." Command Post Sarlacc is a "narrow structure overlook[ing] the now-deceased Sarlacc." Command Post Farm is a "relatively open [area]" with multiple entrances. Command Post Caves contains a "network of open-air caves" in a fairly secluded location. Finally, Command Post Swamp is "surrounded by fairly open terrain" with an ample amount of cover.Incoming transmission!Felucia is coming to #StarWarsBattlefrontII this month! Read up on this brand-new planet, here:https://t.co/5FCCl2Ybjt pic.twitter.com/BekJbj8lks — EA Star Wars (@EAStarWars) September 18, 2019EA says that while Felucia looks captivating, the environment is pretty hostile. Harmless-looking mushrooms will explode and a few of the planet's flora can leave behind a dangerous gas that will inflict damage on anyone caught in it. Felucia comes packaged in Battlefront II's Cooperation update, which is scheduled to launch on September 25. Full release notes are expected to arrive early next week.In June, franchise design director Dennis Brännvall outlined some new content headed to Battlefront II. This includes the Droidekas and the Galactic Republic TX-130 tank from the Clone Wars. Further, DICE revealed a roadmap for Battlefront II that features new single-player content, a four-player online co-op mode, tweaks and changes to certain game types, and more.Battlefront II is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The game comes included in an EA Access/EA Play subscription on PC/Xbox One.Info from Gamespot.com

The first wave of Gen 5 Pokemon have officially invaded Pokemon Go. Players around the world can now catch a handful of monsters originally from the Unova region in Pokemon Black and White versions, and to coincide with their arrival, Niantic has also introduced a new evolutionary item to the game called the Unova Stone.Similar to the Sinnoh Stone that debuted earlier this year, the Unova Stone is used to evolve certain Pokemon from its respective region, making it a valuable item to have. However, getting your hands on one will require quite a bit of work. If you're unsure of how to obtain one, we break down how to get an Unova Stone and which Pokemon require it to evolve below.How To Get Unova StonesAt present, the only known way to get an Unova Stone in Pokemon Go is by achieving a Research Breakthrough, which is tied to how many Field Research tasks you complete. As a refresher, you can obtain Field Research tasks by spinning the Photo Disc at Poke Stops. The first task you clear each day will reward you with a stamp, and once you've collected seven stamps, you'll achieve a Research Breakthrough and earn a handful of items--including potentially an Unova Stone. However, it's not guaranteed that you'll get the stone, so you may need to achieve a few Breakthroughs before you finally obtain one.Which Pokemon Evolve Using Unova Stones?Only a handful of Gen 5 Pokemon are currently available in Pokemon Go, and among them, four require an Unova Stone--as well as a number of Candies--to evolve. That includes the three elemental monkeys Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour, each of which is currently exclusive to certain regions. You can see the full list of Pokemon that require an Unova Stone to evolve below:Lampent -> ChandelurePansage -> SimisagePansear -> SimisearPanpour -> SimipourMore Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go: How To Get Unova Stones And Evolve Gen 5 Pokemon Pokemon Go Adding Gen 5 Pokemon And New Unova Stone Item Today Pokemon Go Thousand Year Slumber Research: How To Catch Jirachi Guide Eevee Pokemon Go Guide: How To Get Any Eevee Evolution Info from Gamespot.com

The gruesome opening of Blasphemous bluntly sets the stage for the type of game you're in for. After awakening amongst a sea of deceased worshipers, the silent protagonist, known only as The Penitent One, slowly makes his way through a long-abandoned citadel. Blocking his exit, however, is a so-called warden who wields a golden chandelier as a club. After dodging its attacks and striking when its most vulnerable, The Penitent One removes his helmet near the slain beast, fills it with the blood of the defeated foe, and immediately pours it over his head.It's undoubtedly an over-the-top intro, yet its feats pale in comparison to the other horrors that await. Blasphemous is an exceedingly bleak adventure with strong religious undertones throughout. What's driving you as The Penitent One is your goal to find the source of the mysterious Miracle, a supernatural force that has created tangible manifestations of people's guilt throughout the land. The structure for Blasphemous' peculiar narrative and hack-and-slash gameplay pays hearty tribute to the Souls series and metroidvania subgenre. Though this reverence for established formulas can come off as derivative, the concepts are suited perfectly to the macabre atmosphere.Despite its grim nature, however, there is an alluring quality to the dark setting. It can often be oppressive with how unrelenting it all is, yet I still felt intrigued by it all. Some of the most fascinating and exciting moments come from unraveling more locations and minor storylines that fold back onto themselves, reconnecting forgotten areas and characters in unexpected ways. Blasphemous has an array of stoic NPCs with unique motivations and stakes--whether you're trying to ease the suffering of afflicted peasants or assisting a pilgrim struggling to complete his ill-fated pilgrimage, there's an emotional investment in figuring out how this nightmarish reality came to be. This investment is bolstered by the game's stunning visuals, which convey a sense of dread that feels increasingly palpable as new areas are introduced.Blasphemous' impeccably detailed sprite artwork gives a greater presence to the grotesque monsters and locales that you'll come to know well throughout the journey. Nearly every area of the game features a climactic battle, which has you face off against some lavishly designed boss that offers a fun and challenging change of pace from the long hallways filled with monsters and spike-filled pitfalls. Most of these boss battles are a real standout in Blasphemous, which pit you against extravagant and grotesque monsters--like the giant baby who will rip The Penitent One limb from limb if you get too close to it. Many of these clashes are where the heavy religious imagery reaches its peak, making for some particularly gruesome fights that pull upon larger themes of repentance and sacrifice.There's an impressive level of world-building in the game, and several essential items and artifacts throughout also feature unique bits of lore that flesh out the land's history. A few of the characters also have minor quests that can span an entire playthrough, some of which are entirely missable given how loose the game's sense of direction is. From the opening, and all the way to the climax, Blasphemous leans heavily on that familiar loop of exploration, discovery, and the ensuing trials by traversal and combat.It's simple enough to get into the rhythm of trading steel with foes and leaping across perilous jumps, though you'll most certainly suffer from an inevitable death at some point--often in gruesome fashion. There are a generous amount of spawn points, and without the loss of currency upon death, death isn't as taxing as it seems. However, repeated deaths will accrue guilt, weakening your mana bar and currency gain. If you don't shake off the guilt by returning to your death-point or spending the funds to purge at guilt statues, your character will become significantly disadvantaged. This system is lenient enough that you don't feel too discouraged about death, yet it still inspires anxiety in life or death situations, such as a leap of faith across a bottomless pit.Blasphemous' impeccably detailed sprite artwork gives a greater presence to the grotesque monsters and locales that you'll come to know well throughout the journey.While these mechanics surrounding death are undeniably influenced by From Software's Souls games, Blasphemous isn't just a 2D Dark Souls experience. It shares more blood with classic action games like Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden, putting less of a focus on RPG mechanics and more on the in-the-moment action and platforming. The core combat and traversal systems are lean and very reflex-driven, and you'll spend most of your time honing your limited, yet still refined skills. One of the more satisfying moments can come from successfully parrying strikes with your sword, opening up a gory execution attack on your opponent. To give you more of an edge, you can boost your attributes with collectible relics and other upgrades, allowing you to stand against the tougher challenges with greater ease.As you rack up new abilities, access to new areas opens up, revealing pathways from previous locations that can give you a renewed sense of appreciation for the world itself. However, while these new skills and tools present some change, the core gameplay of running, jumping, and slashing from the opening hour to the closing act remains mostly the same. Without any significant advancements to your skillset, later sections of the game come across as incredibly repetitive and, at worst, dull.This feeling is magnified by how tedious exploration can be after getting settled with the lay of the land. While fast-travel points are present, they're few and far between, meaning you have to hoof it through long stretches of treacherous dungeons you've come to know inside and out. During these backtracking sessions, you continue to fight the same enemies with the same abilities. Moreover, you can easily fall prey to a stray projectile from an out-of-sight enemy, sending you careening down onto spike traps. This can be especially frustrating when handling particular tasks that require you to avoid death in order to complete them.The lack of change in the overall flow is noticeable, especially when approaching the mid-to-late portion of the game. As the plot escalates, showing off increasingly spellbinding visuals, your tactics and the general flow see little change. This is disappointing for a game that prides itself on a core loop that's about revealing hidden details around you and overcoming more challenging foes. Still, I can't deny that Blasphemous presents an evocative setting that becomes far grimmer as it progresses.Though it can be frustrating that its core gameplay never evolves past the often one-note rhythm of hacking and jumping across different levels, keeping it from reaching greater heights, I still came away impressed with how much Blasphemous stuck close to its haunting, dark storyline. To that end, playing through this send-up to metroidvania games was a satisfying trial to overcome in its own right. Info from Gamespot.com

There's religious fanaticism, and then there's Inquisitor Aloysius from Greedfall, a man so excessively villainous his whole schtick borders on farcical. A member of Thélème, one of the game's six factions, he appears when you first step into the town square of the city San-Matheus. What draws your eye is the sight of a hulking woodland beast howling in pain while tied to a stake in an enormous burning pyre, as a captured native islander looks on helplessly. When asked why the creature and his people are subjected to such cruelty, the Inquisitor bellows an odious response about cleansing the corrupt souls of his tribe. Then in one swift movement, he yanks the islander's head, stabs the poor soul with a knife, and yells obscenities about heresies into the sky.That uncomfortable scene is emblematic of the plot in Greedfall; its tales of colonialism and political subterfuge are tackled with such little nuance that it verges on parody. The islanders wear face paint, have heavy accents, and venerate the woodland beasts as deities, while the cardinals, bishops, and alchemists refer to them as savages that need enlightenment or salvation. Greedfall relies heavily on these kinds of blunt narrative tropes for its setting, much in the same way it does on a very familiar open-world RPG structure. And while it's very easy to lose yourself in its competent, if comfortable, formula, it means that Greedfall ultimately feels unremarkable at best. You play as the charming diplomat De Sardet from the Congregation of Merchants, who's in charge of brokering peace between two warring factions: the Thélème, a theocratic nation that preach their gospel heavily and want to convert as many natives as possible, even if it's by force, and the Bridge Alliance, home to a nation of alchemists who wield their vast and incomparable knowledge of science for political ends.Both factions want to colonize a mystical island called Teer Fradee, which is brimming with fantastical flora and fauna. They, as well as the clans of indigenous people who are resisting their incursions, seek your help for their own ends. But that's not all; you also have something you want from the island: the cure for the Malicor, a mysterious plague devastating your home. In short, everyone wants a piece of this enchanted isle, and your task is to navigate through this political minefield for the best outcome--whatever you think that is.Greedfall attempts to tweak certain aspects of its otherwise conventional colonialist plot (the islanders aren't depicted as crazed natives or hungry cannibals, and the factions are somewhat multicultural), but beyond a vague sense of awareness about its oppressive legacy, Greedfall's heavy-handed themes never make way for anything more nuanced or interesting. Sure, it highlights the exploitative behaviors of the Thélème and Bridge Alliance factions, but their actions are so moustache-twirling malicious that they become mere caricatures of evildoers. Even your companions and other characters are cookie-cutter emblems of their group: Siora is the native princess who wishes to seek peace for her clan; Petrus is the religious Thélème advisor with tons of political savvy; and Kurt is the loyal, headstrong mercenary whose stoic demeanour can barely disguise his world-weariness. Most damning of all is your character, De Sardet, who, as the big hero, embodies the "white man's burden" allegory that also plagues other colonial-themed narratives; it's all on you to liberate the natives or unite the factions against them.Greedfall's saving grace is that its role-playing systems are adequate, and the game's greatest strength is how well it sticks to what is tried-and-tested. It features mechanical design that's common in the genre--exploring, looting, questing, etc--but it's also savvy enough to incorporate the best versions of these elements--most notably it feels like it draws inspiration from CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3, a title I couldn't stop making mental comparisons to.At the beginning, you're given the choice of playing as one of three character archetypes: the melee-focused warrior, the stealthy gunslinger, or the spell-wielding tactician. But you're also given the flexibility to break out of these standard classes through an array of skill trees. As you progress through the game, you can freely invest hard-earned points, which opens up a variety of methods you can approach combat with and even how you resolve quests--be it bludgeoning your way through conflict with a two-handed axe or wearing a horde of rampaging beasts down with poison traps. And, as has become common in open-world RPGs, Greedfall also comes with a crafting system. Materials are in abundance--enemies, from human foes to wild animals, drop them frequently, while crates and jugs across most cities are bursting with goodies you can loot. One constraint, however, is that you can only craft upgrades to armor and weapons you own, rather than cobble brand-new equipment altogether. This streamlines crafting, and it also encourages you to still seek out better equipment. Meanwhile, combat is more than just a frenzied blur of swords and gunplay too; you can make tactical pauses to examine your enemies closely, change your target, consider your combat options, or silently contemplate how stunning your swashbuckling buccaneer looks in the heat of action.Greedfall suffers from some bugs, primitive systems, and even glaring spelling errors, however. Some dialogue is clearly skewed towards a male De Sardet; in my playthrough as a female De Sardet, several characters still referred to me as "he." The stealth mechanism is also unintentionally hilarious. When on a stealth mission, enemies tend to treat companions as invisible; they will not notice two big, oafish men blundering about in front of them, but will jump out of their skins when they notice De Sardet peeking out from behind a nearby crate. Romancing your companions is also another thing you can do in the game, but the moves you need to make to get into their hearts (and under the sheets) are so perfunctory, it’s almost unmemorable. You engage in a three-part companion quest with the lover of your choice, where you'll find conversations that give you the chance to maximize your romance meter. But the game makes it obvious when you've said something wrong (characters will retort back unhappily, accompanied by a numerical drop in your reputation), so it's an easy process to save scum, and the ultimate reward is a not-very-saucy bedroom cutscene. In spite of the game's blundering narrative issues, it's still easy to get hooked into the rhythm of exploring, crafting, brawling, investigating, and interacting with the host of characters and beasts, while getting lost among the beautiful lush greenery of Teer Fradee. Running into more challenging enemies or engaging in boss fights are a particular treat, since it's an opportunity to pit your hard-earned combat abilities against formidable foes. And tucked within the story, as hackneyed as it is, are occasional glimpses of genuine humanity, such as De Sardet's close relationship with their cousin Constantin, who's also the new governor of Teer Fradee.But ultimately, because Greedfall is so cavalier about its colonialist themes, and because it plays it safe by sticking so closely to the template of open-world RPGs, it doesn't really feel revelatory in any way. Instead, it's content to be just another digital playground--just another world filled with magic, riches, secrets, and monsters for players to shoot and loot at will. I did have fun when I got lost in its familiar RPG loop, but its lack of nuance or innovation prevents it from being truly remarkable. Info from Gamespot.com

We're well aware that in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos, played by Josh Brolin, dusted so many people--half of all living beings, in fact. And yes, it was painful to watch characters like Peter Parker (Tom Holland) temporarily meet the ends of their lives, not realizing what's happening to them. However, it's not until the deleted scenes from Spider-Man: Far From Home that we see the most devastating victims of the blip, as the movie called it.In the scene, which is titled "Betty Blips," we see both Betty Brant (Angourie Rice) and Jason Ionello (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) doing their news broadcast at school when the snap happens. All too quickly they start turning to dust. Well, actually, they start fading away because visual effects on the scene clearly aren't done. Honestly, it makes the moment kind of funny.As they fade out, Betty begs for help and asks what's happening. The scene then quickly cuts to Iron Man's (Robert Downey Jr.) snap from Avengers: Endgame, with the two instantly returning to the show's set, only to find someone else in Betty's spot, anchoring the news. "What just happened?" she screams in the scene. "Oh, excuse me. You're in my chair." Jason is much less composed, vomiting behind them and asking where his chair went.It's a very funny moment, but one that would have been hard to place in the movie. While footage of the reverse snap is scene during Far From Home, in which the school's marching band reappears during a basketball game, it's such a quick moment that dwelling on it even longer would not have worked. Still, it's exciting to see that this particular moment was filmed and is now available.The home release of Spider-Man: Far From Home comes loaded with other special features, including more deleted scenes, a bunch of featurettes, and even a short film about Peter Parker's daily routine--most of which is footage that was included in the theatrical rerelease.Spider-Man: Far From Home won't be out on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD until October 1, but it is now available digitally through various storefronts, like Google Play, Vudu, Movies Anywhere, and iTunes.Spider-Man: Far From Home$20 in 4KSee it at Google PlayThe digital release contains tons of special features from deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel, all of which are detailed below.New Original Short, Peter's To-Do-List: Peter has a few errands to run before he can leave on his class trip.Teachers’ Travel Tips: Mr. Harrington & Mr. Dell present a few tips on how to traverse the European continent.Stepping Up: Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU, the ways Tom Holland transformed the character of Peter Parker, and what the future holds for Spider-Man.Suit Up: The suit doesn't make the hero--but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter's different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film's illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they're also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei's reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!Select Scene Pre-Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the filmGag Reel & OuttakesNever-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended ScenesThe products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site. Info from Gamespot.com

The special features for home releases of movies typically contain cool deleted scenes, short films, and plenty of featurettes. However, the digital release of Spider-Man: Far From Home contains something so enthralling, it was impossible not to watch it all: pre-visual effects action sequences... The Potato Mode of movies.The thought of watching a fight sequence without polished FX seems like a bad idea, but the five pre-vis special features on the digital release of Far From Home are exceptionally entertaining to watch because the graphics look like a PS2 game.The feature offers a side-by-side comparison between the working product and the finished product, which you can see directly above. Just look how MJ awkwardly had her hand on Spider-Man's shoulder. Looks like romance to me, right?Also included are a few other moments we found rather amusing, like when Ned was trapped on the Ferris wheel, waving his hands around in fear. There's also a "hero shot" of Spider-Man and one of Mysterio, and it all looks like a weird mod for Grand Theft Auto III, which probably exists somewhere on the internet.In total, around eight minutes of pre-visual effects sequences are included in the special features for the movie, with the Molten Man sequence making up the bulk of it at just over four minutes. Typically, the public doesn't get to see these, so if you're into how these FX-heavy movies come together, you'll want to watch them all. Even if you're not, you'll probably just want to watch them because of how weird everything looks.Spider-Man: Far From Home$20 in 4KSee it at Google PlayThe digital release contains tons of special features from deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel, all of which are detailed below.New Original Short, Peter's To-Do-List: Peter has a few errands to run before he can leave on his class trip.Teachers’ Travel Tips: Mr. Harrington & Mr. Dell present a few tips on how to traverse the European continent.Stepping Up: Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU, the ways Tom Holland transformed the character of Peter Parker, and what the future holds for Spider-Man.Suit Up: The suit doesn't make the hero - but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter's different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film's illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they're also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei's reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!Select Scene Pre – Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the filmGag Reel & OutakesNever-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended ScenesThe products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.Info from Gamespot.com

A Call of Duty: Modern Warfare stream scheduled for Tuesday, September 17 is slated to unpack what Infinity Ward learned from the first beta weekend, and share new details about cross-play. It will all go down at 10 AM PT, and you can watch it right here.The first beta ran from September 14-16, though pre-orders got a few days of early access as well. Another phase of the beta is set to begin on September 19, for PC and Xbox One pre-orders along with all PS4 users. A final open beta will run September 21-23 across all platforms, available to everyone regardless of pre-order status.We know that the second phase will open up Ground War, a massive 32v32 mode. That test will take place on a new map called Karst River Quarry. It will also start to put cross-play through its paces, which we expect to hear more about on the stream today. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare releases October 25.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Livestream Start Times10 AM PT1 PM ET6 PM BST3 AM EAST (Sept 18) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare News Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Details - Start Dates, Cross-Play, And More Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Pre-Order Guide Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare's Campaign Is As Long As You'd Expect Info from Gamespot.com

The Mario Kart 8 North American Open isn't the only online competition Nintendo is hosting this weekend. The company has also announced the details of Tetris 99's next Maximus Cup event. This month's contest kicks off on Friday, September 20, at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET, and it'll give players a chance to win a couple of Kirby-themed rewards.The seventh Maximus Cup runs until 11:59 PM PT on September 23. Like previous events, this one is point based; you'll earn points depending on how well you place in each match, and if you can amass at least 100 points by the end of the competition, you'll earn a special in-game theme based on Switch's new free-to-play game, Super Kirby Clash.The #Tetris99 7th MAXIMUS CUP is here to celebrate the release of the new free-to-start game, #SuperKirbyClash! Earn 100 event points to get an in-game theme AND 99 Gem Apples for use in Super Kirby Clash! Event starts on 9/20. @Tetris_officialhttps://t.co/jrWEmtDND8 pic.twitter.com/UfhRsYJryP — Nintendo Versus (@NintendoVS) September 17, 2019That's not all; this time, there's a second prize up for grabs. In addition to the Kirby theme, players who reach 100 points during the Maximus Cup will also take home 99 Gem Apples for Super Kirby Clash. Gem Apples are the title's in-game currency, and they're used to craft new gear, purchase items, and unlock levels. You can read more details about the contest on the Tetris 99 website.Tetris 99 is free to download and play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. If you have a paid subscription, you can also pick up a free bundle of Gem Apples for Super Kirby Clash right now from the Switch Eshop (as well as a free Spirit Board Challenge Pack for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). You can learn more about the service in our guide to Nintendo Switch Online.Meanwhile, the aforementioned Mario Kart 8 North American Open takes place on Sunday, September 22. The top eight players in that tournament will win 2,500 My Nintendo Gold points, which equates to $25 in credit for the Switch Eshop. The full contest rules can be found on Nintendo's website.Info from Gamespot.com

It's a good week to be a Nintendo Switch owner. This episode of New Releases takes a look at The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake, Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns, and Castle Crashers Remastered--all coming to the handheld console. Those aren't the only remasters either; Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is also launching this week. Finally, the zany indie Untitled Goose Game is also on the way.Castle Crashers Remastered -- September 17Available on: SwitchThe 2008 Xbox Live Arcade classic is out now on Xbox One, and this week Switch owners can enjoy the beat-'em-up action in four-player co-op or take each other on in the arena. This remaster includes the original game, plus all of its DLC, all running at 60 FPS. There's also a new mini-game called Back Off Barbarian.More Coverage:Castle Crashers Remastered Gets A Release Date on Switch; PS4 Version To FollowCastle Crashers Remastered - New Mini-Game GameplayPuzzle Quest: The Legend Returns -- September 19Available on: SwitchFor the uninitiated, Puzzle Quest is an RPG where you battle foes by playing a match-three puzzle game. Once you choose a class, you can cast spells and make attacks based on combinations of colored gems as you clear the board. The Legend Returns includes the original game and all previous expansions, plus a brand-new one titled Attack of the Golem Lord.More Coverage:Puzzle Quest Remastered "The Legend Returns" Announced For Nintendo Switch15 Minutes Of Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns GameplayThe Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening -- September 20Available on: SwitchThis is a full-on remake of Link's Awakening on the Game Boy. While it offers the same story and dungeons across Koholint Island, there's also a completely fresh art style, reimagined soundtrack, and even a special dungeon editor. Tap an Amiibo, and you can unlock extra mini-games and chambers for that dungeon-builder. Tap the Link's Awakening Amiibo specifically, and you'll summon Shadow Link.More Coverage:Zelda: Link's Awakening - Everything We Know About The Nintendo Switch RemakeGameStop Announces Exclusive Pre-Order Bonus For Link's AwakeningNi no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered -- September 20Available on: PS4, PCNi no Kuni's Studio Ghibli-inspired visuals were already impressive when the original released in 2010--the beloved studio actually animated the game's cinematic cut scenes--but the remaster somehow looks even better, running at 60 FPS. Otherwise it's the same RPG from nearly a decade ago. Speaking of which, the original Ni no Kuni (not the remaster) is also headed to Nintendo Switch on September 20.More Coverage:Ni no Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered RevealedNi no Kuni PS4 Remastered Breathtaking Gameplay | E3 2019Untitled Goose Game -- September 20Available on: PC, SwitchAs the name says, this game is about a goose, and that goose's mission is to bother the citizens of a small village. You'll do that by running around, flapping your wings, honking, grabbing items, and generally causing mischief. Oh, and this is a stealth game at its core. Why, what were you expecting?More Coverage:Untitled Goose Game Release Date RevealedE3 2019: Why Going Epic Store-Exclusive Was The Right Choice For Untitled Goose Game DevsThere's still more games to come this month. Next week, New Releases will shine the spotlight on some soccer with FIFA 20 and turn up the action with Code Vein and The Surge 2.Info from Gamespot.com

A couple years ago, I tried to pick up skateboarding again. It had been about 15 years since I last stepped on a board--15 years of growing up, gaining responsibilities, and building a solid foundation of fear and anxiety. But none of this came to mind until I stepped on the new $200 board I had just purchased and would soon fall off of. I had forgotten how to ollie, and with the short skateboard now feeling like a 50-foot diving board, there was no way in hell I was going to try to remember. The kid who was ready and willing to send themselves flying off a set of stairs was now an adult man, falling ass first towards the earth and wondering if it was too late to get his money back. Thankfully for him, skateboarding video games are pretty damn good, and that hasn't changed with the latest one, Session.Session is currently in Steam Early Access (and coming to Xbox One soon), and it could one day be the most in-depth simulation of skateboarding yet. Each foot is assigned to an analog stick and button. The sticks are used for performing tricks, while the buttons are used to push and gain speed. This leaves actually turning left and right to the respective triggers. Think of pulling the triggers as leaning: the further you pull them, the harder you lean.This control scheme will be extremely foreign to any Tony Hawk or Skate veteran--Session itself suggests it "sounds like witchcraft at first." It does take some time to get used to, especially when it comes to retraining your brain to use the triggers for turning and not the left stick. However, once this small hurdle is cleared, Session becomes immensely satisfying to play.Performing tricks almost feels like playing a fighting game. If you're skating regular (left foot forward), then you input a direction on the right stick and then finish with a direction on the left. For example, to do a pop shuvit, you want to do a quarter-circle on the right stick and then push up on the left stick. For an ollie, simply push down on the right and then up on the left--the exact same way you'd move your feet on a real skateboard. It's an incredibly satisfying system that emulates skateboarding like no other video game has. It's surprisingly enjoyable to just stand in one place and perform flips and shuvits. And when I finally nailed my first Treflip while standing still--a half-circle back on the right stick and then a left up-diagonal on the left--I couldn't wait to implement it while rolling.Session's sound design complements and enhances this realistic control method. The sound of the wheels rolling against the concrete, the deck slapping against the ground, and the trucks taking the impact after a trick are all so tactile that you can almost feel the coarse grip tape under your feet and sense the smoothness of the streets you're skating on. The sound and the controls--paired with an excellent hip hop soundtrack--come together to make a great foundation for an excellent skateboarding game. Now it's just time for the content.Session is currently in Early Access, so it's light on content and some features are in the early stages of development. The experience you'll be able to play on day one includes a single, large level with a great variety of spots for imaginative skaters. However, if you're dreaming of catching air and doing a benihana (or any other grab trick), then you might be disappointed. Grab tricks are currently considered an experimental feature by developer Crea-ture Studios and are only included in the game as of now to give players an idea of the developer's direction for the controls. There's no trick list for grabs, and I unfortunately wasn't able to perform any. The current version does, however, include a replay editor and video montages, so you'll be able to chop up your footage and create your own skate tapes. There's even a spot where you can customize your skater and deck to your personal preference.At the moment, there's a lack of polish in some of the visuals and non-skateboarding animations. You can jump off your board and run around, but your skater's model looks a little awkward doing so. Jumping back on the board can also look a little strange, with the board magically appearing under your feet when you press the Y button.When you're actually skateboarding, however, your skater animates very nicely, looking almost exactly like a real skater would--which makes it disappointing when you bail. Your character won't put a hand out to stop themselves from rolling into a wall, and as soon as you hit a curb or anything blocking your way, your character rag-dolls like every bone in their body suddenly disappeared. It didn't take long until hitting obstacles became a rare occurrence, but it would still be nice if your skater reacted more to their environment and was able to take a few minor bumps.Thankfully, none of these things ruin the experience, and if the quality of the actual skateboarding is any indication, then it won't be surprising if everything else falls in line over the course of development. With the amount of fun I've had skating, tricking, and bailing, I'm eager to see how Session evolves in Early Access.Session is available right now for PC on Steam Early Access. Its Xbox One Game Preview release is slated for October 2019. Info from Gamespot.com

We may only be halfway through the month of September, but Amazon Prime Video has already revealed what's coming out on the service for the month of October. Sadly, the list for the month is a bit underwhelming and lacks content. Check out everything coming out on Amazon next month below.If you're a fan of football, then you'll love what Amazon Prime Video has planned for October. Every Thursday Night Football game will stream live on the service. The October 10 game of the New York Giants vs. the New England Patriots will probably be the best Thursday night game of the month. However, if you're not a football fan, then there isn't too much else to look forward to.There are two promising Amazon Original Series headed to the service; however, neither of them have a specific release date as of this writing. The first is Jestination Unknown. Comedian Vir Das travels across India to find out what Indians find funny and how that culture responds to comedy. Additionally, the first season of One Mic Stand arrives: another Amazon original focusing on Indian comedy. The series follows Indian actors, politicians, and influencers as they're trained by professional comedians to get ready to perform stand up comedy.There is a small handful of movies headed to the service at the beginning of the month as well. This includes the 2001 film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, 2009's Astro Boy, and 1992's Patriot Games. It's a very light month for Amazon.Below, you'll find everything headed to Amazon Prime Video for October.What's coming to Amazon Prime Video in OctoberOctober TBD*Jestination Unknown: Season 1 – Amazon Original series*One Mic Stand: Season 1 – Amazon Original seriesOctober 1A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)Astro Boy (2009)Hoosiers (1986)Patriot Games (1992)The Accused (1988)The Great Gabbo (1929)Glorifying the American Girl (1929)October 3High Life (2018)Thursday Night Football: Eagles @ Packers (NFL)October 4*Goliath: Season 3 – Amazon Original seriesOctober 10Thursday Night Football: Giants @ Patriots (NFL)October 11*Costume Quest: Season 1b – Amazon Original seriesOctober 17Thursday Night Football: Chiefs @ Broncos (NFL)October 18*Modern Love: Season 1 – Amazon Original seriesKill Chain (2019)October 24Thursday Night Football: Redskins @ Vikings (NFL)October 25*If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: Halloween Special – Amazon Original series*Just Add Magic: New Protectors: Special – Amazon Original seriesOctober 26Killing Zoe (1993)October 28Unforgotten: Season 3Nobody’s Fool (2018)October 30In Search of Greatness (2018)October 31Thursday Night Football: 49ers @ Cardinals (NFL)Info from Gamespot.com

Bungie's latest Destiny 2 Vidoc discusses a bunch of new things to expect in the Shadowkeep and beyond--and also gave some fresh hints about where the game's story is going. One particular clue suggests Guardians are going to be dealing with time travel in the future, which could relate to ongoing stories with the Vex, the Hive, and the Dreaming City.In one shot during the Vidoc, director Luke Smith and production director Justin Truman are filling out a grid on a whiteboard that includes information about upcoming Destiny 2 seasons. At the top of the grid is a box that explains the top-level player goal of each season. For the Season of the Undying, which starts soon after the release of Shadowkeep, the goal is to "Dam the Flood." Since we know that Undying focuses on the Vex attacking the moon and other locations around the solar system in response to the Hive actions during Shadowkeep, the flood is likely the wave of incoming Vex. But the grid also shows Smith and Truman filling in the goal for the season after Undying, the Season of the Dawn. That box says "Fix the Timeline," a phrase that screams time travel.There's a lot going on with time travel in Destiny right now. First and foremost, the Vex are known as time-traveling robots who use simulations to try to create a future where they successfully take over the solar system, and they're a huge part of the new story content that's about to hit Destiny 2. Bungie says in the Vidoc that we're about to see the beginning of a story that unfolds across the entire third year of Destiny 2, culminating in Season 11 at the end of the year.There are also lingering time travel threads to deal with. The biggest is the "curse" that infects the Dreaming City, the endgame location from the Forsaken expansion. That place is trapped in a time loop that repeats the same three weeks over and over again. Despite dealing with the Dreaming City for nearly a year, it doesn't seem as though we're any closer to breaking the curse. Destiny 2 has dropped a lot more lore about that situation in the meantime, though, suggesting that a Vex mind, which was taken by Oryx and serves the Hive, has been the cause of the loop. What we don't know yet is how to defeat it, but lore clues suggest that solution might reveal itself with the release of Shadowkeep and the ability to boost players' Power levels up to 999 with the use of seasonal artifacts.There's also a story thread from all the way back in Destiny 1 that lore has suggested could come up again. That's the story of the Stranger, a character who appears in the original Destiny to send you to stop the Vex's plans, which are spinning out from a strange, out-of-time location called the Black Garden. You destroy the "heart" of the Black Garden in Destiny 1, seemingly putting a big damper on the Vex's goals. But as the Vidoc says, the Vex invasion in the Season of the Undying stems from the Black Garden--and it's also the scene of Shadowkeep's new raid, Garden of Salvation.Lore also suggests that the Stranger is a time traveler, showing up in Destiny 1 to get you to stop something that has already happened in her timeline. There are also some hints that the Stranger knows or works with Mara Sov, the queen of the Awoken and a major player in the Dreaming City story. Mara has been working off-screen toward some greater goal for most of Destiny 2's second year, but we know little about her goals and agenda.It might be that, after breaking the Dreaming City out of its curse, you'll then be tasked by Mara and the Stranger with some time-travel shenanigans to undo some of the damage done in Year Two. We know from lore that the curse is related to strengthening Savathun, one of the godlike sisters of the Hive's king, Oryx. Allowing the curse to go on for a year is probably a very bad thing, so maybe the next step to solving that crisis will be to return to the past and prevent it from happening in the first place.There were a few other interesting clues scattered around the Vidoc, too. It looks like we'll once again be visiting Rasputin, the giant artificially intelligent warmind who has been a central figure for the whole of Destiny. It also looks like the Infinite Forest on Mercury, another major Vex location, could factor in as well. Another look at the Dreaming City popped up in the footage near the end of the Vidoc (as did a lot of other things, like existing Strikes), which could be another clue.Unfortunately, we're left with a lot of speculation for where Destiny 2 is going in the future. If Forsaken and the last three seasons are any indication, though, we can expect Bungie to continue to pick up and run with plot and lore ideas that have been hanging around in Destiny for years. We might even finally see some definitive conclusions.Info from Gamespot.com

Another line has been drawn in the sand of the streaming wars. One of the biggest TV shows of all time has found a new streaming home in HBO Max. The Big Bang Theory, which ended its 12-season run earlier this year, will stream exclusively on HBO Max.The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which notes WarnerMedia has locked up the Big Bang streaming rights for five years on the upcoming service, while extending the show's syndication deal on TBS through 2028. As THR reports, the deal is worth billions of dollars. Deadline estimates the price tag is closer to $600 million. Regardless, the Big Bang Theory is pulling in more on the streaming front than both Friends ($425 million) and The Office ($500 million) did with their streaming deals.In a statement, Robert Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and direct-to-consumer, said, "Few shows define a generation and capture mainstream zeitgeist like The Big Bang Theory. We're thrilled that HBO Max will be the exclusive streaming home for this comedy juggernaut when we launch in the spring of 2020. This show has been a hit virtually around the globe, it's one of the biggest shows on broadcast television of the last decade, and the fact that we get to bring it to a streaming platform for the first time in the U.S. is a coup for our new offering."All 279 episodes of Big Bang Theory will be available on HBO Max when it debuts in spring 2020, though a specific launch date has not been announced. Joining the series will be the entire run of Friends--which is moving from Netflix--as well as Game of Thrones, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Batwoman, and a number of other library shows, along with a slate of original programs.The news of HBO Max obtaining the streaming rights to Big Bang Theory come as NBC announces details about its own streaming service, Peacock. That offering, it's been announced, will include new takes on classic shows like Saved By the Bell and Battlestar Galactica when it launches.Info from Gamespot.com

The Mandalorian showrunner and MCU architect Jon Favreau planted a slightly controversial flag in the ground this weekend at The Saturn Awards when he told Entertainment Tonight that he was interested in directing a brand-new Star Wars Holiday Special for Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+.For the uninitiated, the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978 featured--and this is not a joke--Bea Arthur working as a bartender in an alien cantina, a truly shocking amount of musical numbers, and Wookiees wearing pants. It's easily one of the more bizarre relics of those early Star Wars day and, while some fans understandably consider its cringe factor just too high to ever really get on board with, there are others, like Favreau, who would hope to preserve its memory."I love the Holiday Special--certain sequences more than others," Favreau explained to ET, "That's my generation. I loved the introduction of Boba Fett and that rifle that he had. That animated piece still hold up; it's pretty cool. I draw inspiration from that."He then, playfully, suggested that he needed to go pitch this idea to the execs at Disney+ so, while it's best not to expect anything concrete just yet, at least the possibility is there, right?In the meantime, Favreau's finished project, The Mandalorian, is just around the corner, hitting Disney+ at launch on November 12. It'll be joined with other day one content like classic Disney movies and TV shows. If you're not in the US, don't worry--rollout plans for international Disney+ platforms have been announced as well. Info from Gamespot.com

The world of PC gaming has gotten a bit more crowded. Publisher Rockstar Games announced a new PC launcher, and downloading it nets you a free copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.The Rockstar Games Launcher is a one-stop-shop for everything Rockstar Games, from launching titles like L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3 to purchasing Shark Cards, Grand Theft Auto V's premium in-game currency. Rockstar's new PC launcher will feature cloud saves, automatic game updates, support for disc-based and digital games (even if they're bought from another storefront), and more. San Andreas is offered for free for a limited time when you download the launcher, which is free to do as well. It's unclear how this launcher will impact Rockstar's games on Steam.Rockstar isn't the only video game publisher to dive into the PC launcher scene. Fortnite publisher Epic Games introduced the Epic Game Store in December 2018 and has quickly garnered both praise from developers regarding Epic's generous revenue split and complains from some gamers over Epic acquiring exclusives like Metro Exodus and Untitled Goose Game.The company was accused of tax evasion earlier this summer. According to a report by investigative thinktank Tax Watch UK, the whole of Rockstar paid zero corporation tax in the UK from 2009 to 2018, despite Grand Theft Auto V reaching an estimated total $6 billion USD in its lifetime.Info from Gamespot.com